The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-05
LITTLE EFRUM'S RIDE

They were standing on the street corne
watching the cars on Shreveport's ne,
belt line. One was a well dressed, wei
fed looking negro, perhaps a preacher, a
he wore linen buster and carried cane
The other was dirty, half clad and mucl
bepatched, and had woodsaw slung acros
his shoulder.
Look at dat Electrified car" said No 9
"T1ook at her, sir, how pretty she roun da
curve Whoopee! Look at herl Eff des
here ain the cut'uses things ever ] did see.
Every wonderful, indeed" said No
superciliously.
81 tell you dere am nothin desc her
white men can't do. Dere am nothin. sir
Seem like to me heap er times dey kin bea
God Almighty hissef."
"No, sir" said No. !, more evidently s
preacher, mo, sir; dey can't never do dat >
well, dey is dope it," responded the
wood sawyer eagerly.
prove it, sir, prove it." said the preach
er, flourishing his stick grandiloquently.
Amt de white man done made ice in d.
GUNNER time? Is you ever hear tell er God
Almighty dom dat?"
And the wood sawyer watched the cars
alone
Randy" said Uncle Nose. seating him.
self in the chimney corner to partake of his
simple supper of corn bread and bacon,
"whar's Efrnm2"
Dunno" was the IacOnic reply. as Ran
/ dy put hunk of bread in her mouth.
/ Amt he come home YETI" said Uncle
Nose.
Il aim seed dat good for nothin. triflin
nir | 6Tlnnn
tall bout him, you hear me? How you
speck me to keep up wild dat chile? He
aim no count no how, 'cep fur to CAD about
and play craps. More'n likely OATS whar
he is now, wild some er dem low life mig
gers piayin craps"
Randy wiped her greasy mouth on the
back of her hand, filled it again and was
silent. Uncle Nose looked at her doubtful
~. "Speck it 'ud do any good fur me to
call him. Randy" be said
Call nothin, you ole fool you. How be
gwi' hear you an be way over yan'er by de
big house THROWN craps?" responded his
unamiable spouse.
Thought you say you dunno whar he
at, said Uncle Nose.
Randy cast upon her husband look of
whitening scorn, which made him, to say
the least, sorry that he had spoken.
GLOW gwi' know" she said. But eff
don't skin him alive when he gifts backI
I'll learn him how TO run off an leave no
body here to fetch in water an pick up
chips"
The last piece of bread was left on the
bench, the last slice of bacon stewed in the
skillet on the hearth. Cncle Nose eyed
them wistfully. His wife's ill humor was
ominous. SteaIthily he slipped the broken
bit of bread into his pocket. THE boy'll
he hungry when he gifts home" he said to
himself Randy stopped forward, took
the last slice of meat and "sopped" her
crust in the hot grease. Uncle Nose stirred
about restlessly.
"B'lieve I'll 90 git some water" he said
after pause.
Randy looked at him sharply. ~Gwi
take all de water ont'n de bar'ls?" she
said "Yon'er two bucketsful now. Jest
wanter git out to go look for dat trlf1in
Efrum."
de river is risin mighty" interposed
Uncle Nose by way of diversion. DE levee
from here to de cut Off is right looser, an
de bank is Gavin all along"
whats dat got to do wild it?" said
Randy testify. "Ef de whole plantation
was to cluff off into de river Efrum
wouldn't git hurt; he's too no count tOdie"
After that burst both husband and wife
iapsed into silence The minutes dragged
heavily. Finally Randy bestirred herself
and b gan to prepare her bed
''Seem like | wish dat chile nd come
home" said Uncle Nose at length as he
went to the cabin door and looked out
Its a mighty Gu some kind err night some
how. De river is Jest a boomin an de levee
is powerful loosen. Wonder whar Efrum
is' lie forgot himself, or rather his
spouse, in his edgerness, but was suddenly
recalled when she showed him one side and
shut the door.
lem lone" she said. He's off shootin
craps somewhat. | tell you. Lem lone
Ain de Bible done say. 'Efrum is fined to
his idols Lem LONE"
Oats so, Randy" said the old man
thoughtfully. Dat so. Lem lone. But
l trust de boss won't ketch him"
well, fur my part, wisht de boss
would ketch all NV EN-. He gwi' dock de
wages err de grown ones an whup de young
ones dat he kotch THROWN dice / dom
keer eff he do ketch EfrEn; amt done
tole him to stay here an fetch in de wood
long wild dem low life niggersl Lem
lone, l tell you. lie done lined to his
idols"
Oats So" said Nose, and thereupon
they 10th betOok themselves to bed and
were soon asleep
Where was the recreant Efrum all this
time? Away off in the back part of the
plantation, and squatted around smooth,
hard beaten place 10y the roadside was 4
group OF negroes. men and boys, big and
little, They were playing craps" The
mt light of a torch shone upon their
dusky faces, upon the little circle of ground
in their midst and ginted ever and anon
upon the dice that dropped noiseleSsly from
one or another dirty hand
Seven, 'leveui
l!t-tull Suslei
Way down in Georgy!
Craps, Craps!
Got you faJed fur fifteen centst"
These arA ike CALCULATIONS they called
out now and again in soft cultural tones.
shake 'em up, Efrum." cried a chorus
of voices rs slender. half clad, very black
hoy leaned well forward, rafting the dice
in his hand
Hear dat hoSSs gsllopin. " suddenly ex-
claimed a man on the outer limit OF the
group,
It's de boss. boys. out'n de light said
another more excite,ilv.
In an instant ali was dark. ard when the
boss galioped up not even the sound 70
scurrving feet was 10 oe heard
Efruu had sprung 10 his feet when t!st
first alarm was giver. and thrusting III,