Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-15
WHERE THEY LEFT DADDY.
He Was Old and Helpless and They Thought
They Couldn't Tote Him Along.
fba

He Was Old and Helpless and They Though,
They Couldn't Tote Him Along.
From the New York World
cart drawn by a single OK drove up to the
depot platform and middle-aged colored man
and his wife and five children got out They
mad bundles and were going up to some point
In Georgia. The cart was driven away by a
negro boy and twenty minutes later one of the
queerest old darkies you ever saw came down
the street it had taken. He was bow-legged,
humped-backed, gray-headed and lame and he
looked to be hundred years old.
Thar comes daddyr' exclaimed the woman
as she caught sight of him, and each one of the
children echoed the cry.
The old man hoped and hobbled in q queer
way, and he locked scared and envious as he
finally arrived at the platform. Just then the
husband came up and demanded:
Now, what yo's doin' yere, ole daddy?"
II dun can't stay-'deed l can'tr replied the
old man.
But yo's got to! Didn't we talk it all ober
Didn't we dun say we couldn't take yo'?''
"Chilens!' said daddy, as he reached out
his hands, "doan' leave the ole man we're! He's
dun gwine to starve to death if yo do! Moses
Mary-take de ole man long up to Gawgia wild
20"
We began to make inquiries, and We found
the family to be squatters on piece of land
four or five miles from town. Moses was his
own son and for four or five years the old man
had been almost helpless and consequently q
burden. To get rid of him they were going
to journey to new location, leaving him en-.
tiTelv alone on the squat" to live as best he
could.
THEY HAD TALKED IT OVER
two or three times with him, but he was so old
and childish that he had not fairly understood.
They had secretly laid their plans and had
| slipped quietly away in the morning leaving
him fast asleep. When he awoke and missed
| them he set out for the depot, and here he wal
| to appeal to his own flesh and blood not to be
| left behind
The daughter-in-law seemed to be bite,
| against him and to exercise strong influence
over the son. While he stood there begging fol
his life, as it were, she rose up and gave him 9
| slap and said:
dts no use, ole daddy! We hain't dun gwine
to take 20, an il You doan' go back I'll hur
yo' powerful bad"
Several OF us interfered to prevent furthe,
| assault. The old man took it meekly anc
| turned to the son with:
.Moses. yo' was de only chile got Wa!
| bresh?'
49,, I've !! dun can't take 20, cause yo'' too ole
mel"
II say we amt going to take yo'!" bluntly
| exclaimed the woman.
Gran chillen!' he pleaded as he turned t.
the little ones lis yo' all gwine to leave yo' oil,
| gran ladder to starve an dep
They were silent
| "?es, yo' crar right out now. 20 useless
trash, shouted the woman, looking around il
defiant way; and after looking from one t.
another in hopes to arouse pity the old mar
half fell, half rolled off the platform, ant
walked down the track. 1t was straight ava,
| for two or three miles and he had shambled of
to a distance about forty rods when he saw a,
express coming. He was facing it. He hobblet
a few yards further and then halted, faced
about and dropped on his knees right in til,
center of the track 1t was half minute be
| fore we understood. Then it was too late Tn,
engineer whistled and we saw fire fy as the ali
brakes Rugged the wheels, but the heavy trair
could not be stopped. When it drew up at tn,
depot there were splashes OF blood on the pilo
and the limp and broken body of old dadd,
was lying in the hazel bushes up the track.
| N. QUAD.