The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-11-02

side stood the queer negro boy, Sam.
Dismounting, assembled the few steps
that led up to the gallery, and, intro
ducing myself to the owner, begged
permission to pass the night. The gen.
tleman welcomed me cordially and
babe me make myself perfectly at
home His name, he told me, was Ar
thur Delon, and he was the proprietor
Of large tract of land that lay be-
tween Bogville and Madden.
Turning to Sam, who had stood all
the time staring at me, he told him to
take my horse to the stables Sam at
once obeyed, casting at his master
look of affection as he left to do his
bidding. Mr. Delon now asked me
to enter the house. Doing so he
showed me to room and told me to
get ready for supper He returned in
a few minutes and showed me at once
to the dining room, where supper was
already prepared, although it was barely
dusk We were waited on by Sam, who
stood behind Mr.. Delon's chair and
executed each little order as though it
were very important matter. l could
easily see that he was deeply attached
to his master, for it evidently gave him
great pleasure to obey his orders
When he was unoccupied he would
stand behind Mr.. Delon's chair look
ing at him with sad, earnest gaze that
made his large. black eyes almost beau
tifuI.
Supper being over, my host invited
me to smoke cigar upon the porch
Thither we went, and together walked
slowly up and down in the moonlight.
We had been there but a few minutes
when we were joined by Sam, who car
ried his banjo. He came up to Mr.
Delon, and taking his hand walked by
his side. At length Mr. Delon told
him to sing. He at once seated him
self upon the steps and began playing
upon his banjo. He sang song after
song, while the shadows deepened
around us. and the stiffness of night
was only broken by the voice of the
negro and the tinkling of the banjo.
At last his master told him to stop.
He obeyed at once, and upon being
told to leave US he arose, and taking
Mr.. Delon's hand kissed it, and saying
GOOD night" he turned away and left.
When he had gone l asked Mr.. De-
lon what was the cause Of Sans great
affection for him. Delon turned to me
and said:
l will tell you. Five years ago l
CHANGED to be riding through the
woods, along the very path that you
travelled today, when / heard faint
cry 1t proceeded from dense thicket,
and at first I thought it was the cry of
some wounded animal. For a few
minutes listened, and again heard
it. This time thought it sounded like
the voice of human being, and get
ting off my horse forced my way into
the thicket. Again l heard the cry,
and going little farther found a lit
tie negro boy lying naked upon the
ground and apparently dying He was
so weak that he could not talk, and
from time to time he would utter the
faint, despairing cry that had attracted
my attention.
picked him up, and carrying him
out of the thicket, wrapped him in my
saddle blanket and brought him to my
house. Here he has been ever since.
He soon recovered from bis weakness,
which was due to starvation, but his
brain was affected, and he has been
ever since as you have seen him today.
All that his brain is able to grasp is the
fact that I saved his life, which he says
is mine The strange part of his delu-
sion is that some day he will give his
life for mine and save me as I saved
him. He will never leave me unless I
order him to, and at night he sleeps in
my room He will will wear nothing
except my old clothes, and will listen to
no one except myself. Sometimes his
devotion is almost pathetic, and at
times / have had to take him with me
when l went on trip to keep him from
running away, hunting for me, as he
calls it.
His only passion besides his fQndness
for me is his love for music. The banjo
that I gave him is his constant COM
panion, and he will sit for hours as you
saw him today, singing plantation songs
and straying aimlessly through the
woods. After had brought him home
the first word he uttered was Sam, and
Sam named him. How he came in
the sad condition In which I found
him, whether he was always half wit
ted or whether his mind was affected
by the suffering he experienced know
not, but have always felt that fate
threw him in my way for some purpose,
and I will always keep him with me.
Such was the story of Sam as told
me by his master. It was now quite
late, and showing me to my room, Mr..
Delon bade me good night. For some
time lay awake, thinking of Sam. ]
could almost see the little black face,
filed with look of affection for Marse
Arthur who had saved his life.
It was broad daylight when I awoke
next morning, and I could hear Sans
banjo already tinkling, and Sans
voice singing the song that first heard
him sing Arising I dressed and went
out upon the gallery. Here / found
Mr.. Delon sitting on the steps, while