The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-01-30
OLD HECTOR'S VISTA.

A large picture hung upon the wall.
The frame was handsome and massive,
the painting one of Sully's best; por-
traits of a gentleman and lady in middle
life. They sat side by side, husband
and wife. The former possessed a face
of much power, thought and frmness,
blending with kindliness of expression.
The features Of the latter were still
handsome, wherein gentle dignity
combined with intellect to attract a
study of the sweet face by all who saw it.
A very old negro sat on low stool be-
fore it. His head was white with the
SHOWS of many winters. His frame had
dwindled from its lnanhood's stature be-
cause of extreme age and feebleness. He
gazed long and earnestly upon the faces
enframed before him, AS a devotee saint
ly shrine might gaze and worship. It was
not the first time he had SO sat- Indeed,
it was his frequent pleasure to slowly
come on fine days from his humble cabin
to .'Mass Bob's" to hear ss'ittle missy"
play ON her organ, and sing to him the
sweet gospel hymns; to gaze, as IL en-
tranced, by the hour on the revefed faces
of 'sold NAUSEA an missus," which were
the greatest enjoyments Of his fading
life.
Ella Merton, 'ittle missy" turned to
look at the old man as he sat. For ten
minutes he had not moved.
"Uncle Hector" she said, 81 wish you
xxyo,,1l ta11 what x.o,, -,
you sit still SO long and look at grand
fathers and grandmother's pictures"
''Oh, little missy, dunno eff / kin tell
you. Seems like lookin' down dem Lom-
baady poplar abenus useter be in Lib'ty
county fore you was born. Hook down
an / look down, an pears like can see
ebery ting cher happen to me in all life,
an all member, too."
s'Do tell me about it. What ia the
first thing you seer
"Why, down yander way de trees go
little dey look like dey touch an meet
de sky. Isee great big ship. It is 80
far off I can't see 1t plain, but hear de
water on de outside go swish, swish,
swish, an know am dar wild lots O.
folks, and it's awful hot, an heap O. dem
die, an seems like de water neber gwine
stop goin' swish, swish, swish ON de out
side O. dat vessel. Den / see de quarter
at de old plantation in Lih'ty county,
an go to playin' wild sum buckra chill
len. Dey Is the fust w'ite chillen eber
see, an yer grandpa up dar is one O. de
ittlest ones, an q SO good to little
Af'can niger, an so pooty, dat | lub
'em straight off, an I hub 'em till yet"
'Go on, Uncle Hector"
"Well, den, we git de big boys, an
yer grandpa, ma e let me tex 'em wild
me a-fishin', an mex 'em w'istles, an
gun for shoot chiny berry, an we mex
rabbit trap an bud trap, an go in
a-washin'. an bring up de cows, an
swing on to calf tail, and go 'possum
huntin' till git bigger an go to pickin'
cotton an hoein' corn an all dat yer"
"Look down your avenue again, uncle,
and tell me what you see."
II see de big weddin' wen yer grand
pa e marry yer grandma an cut out lots
o. rich men wot useter court her, case
she shorely was de pootiest lady de sun
eber lite on. Den q went to e own PLAN
tation an TEX me an gang more, tell o
mex up 2 min' to move near Columbus
Were de Injuns was. Den p buy lam
fun dem Injuns an pay 'em all in goT
an silber money, an dey call EN- de
homes man wot eber lib, an tink de sun
pure rise an set in 'em.
''Yer grandpa e plant . corn plum up
10 Injun door, case dey peber move de
'Fust year, an dis de truf ! tell you, de
neber teef de fust roastin' year, nary one.
After vile de buckra and Injun gwine
tite, an dey all move off 'twixt dark an
iaylite, an tex all dere tings wild 'em,
peber Leah q mortar, nor pestle, nor
bread tray, nor piggin. clean to de barry
calabash, an fore de Lawd dey neber tex
a chicken nor nuttin wot b'longs to ole
NAUSEA. Dat shows de way Injuns will
ave wen w'ite men treat 'em right like
yer grandpa did. Well. e treat cherry
body right. Niger knew e had to wuk,
for true, but e glib em plenty to eat, and
TUX good care of 'em wen e sick an git
ole. An de fun we useter hab at Christ
masl an Fort O. Julyi an de barhecuel
AM wien we lay by de crap, AM de corn
shnckin's: Nigger don't hab de fun an
do frplic like dey useter in slah'ry times,
no mon, dat dey don't.
'sNow pears like Lombaady poplars
CROWN bigger, an ! kin see de daylight
'twix 'em, same like Christmas mark off
one year from amirrer.
"Ali de- chillen now growin' up, de gals
dey gwine off to school, an de boys to
college. An wen dey cum home for
holiday, missus gin 'em more partiesl
An den dey git married, one after anud-