Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-12-22
CHAPTER ".
SLACK, THE FARMEE's son.

SLhCh, IfiE FAhiEl.S SON.
Mark took his pipe and went down TO
the yard to have Il smoke Going back
to the barn he entered into conversation
with an old darby sitting on a barrel by
the stable door and evidently master Of
the horse.
"Fine night, uncle"
"Yaa, berry fine night, eah."
"That'5 not very good tobacco you're
smoking, uncle. Nou'd better take some
O this hyar."
THANK y, sah."
"Do you hear any news. uncle
"Dan'l. My names Dan'l sab. No,
sab; don't git no news 'cept de sojers
is getting mighty thick at Chattenoogy.
/ DO you know how many are there:"
Il reckon bout free hundred thou
/ sand"
Mari, laughed.
you're not much at figures" he said.
go, sab, amt got no larnen."
"Uncle, | shan want anything of You
while I'm hyar, but you must have
/ somep'n to remember me by all the
same and Mark put new crisp dollar
greenback in the Old mans hand.
"Bress de Lod, You is de fines specer-
mon Oh po' white gentlemanI ebcr had
de facilatude Oh meeten.'
We'll, don't spoil it al by tellen
t'other hands. Koepit to yourself"
"Sho huff. amt gwine to tell no.
body"
Mark left Uncle Daniel chuclling on
! his barrel and strolled about tho
grounds. Presently he found himself
walking near the front Of tho house,
The mother and daughter sat on The
veranda in tho moonlight. Presently
the daughter cAme down the steps and
advanced to where Mark was lettering.
Mamma says that if you like you
may-ahe would he pleased to have you
come up and sit on the veranda.'
"Tha7lll you!' Mark was about to
lift his hat in his usual deioreutial man
her, but suddenly remembered that he
was not supposed to be q gentleman.
He followed the girl up to the veranda,
and she placed a scatter him near where
they We're sitting.
Your brother is good deal younge.
than you" said the mother when Mark
was seated.
ION, yes, ma'aln; he is ten years
younger"
you don't resemble each other at all.
You are light, and he IS dark
$50 We don't. Jdkeys my stepbrother,
you know"
"You didn't tell us that" remarked
the lady.
you're very thoughtful Of him." said
Miss Laura. "cCnsiGcriug he is only YOUR
stepbrother.'
"Naal, ma am, I'm very fond OF him
ali the same.
lie seems 70 be peculiar child"
Gas, Jakey, he is peculiar, very pc
culiar, ma'a:n."
"You haven't told us your name yet"
said the mother.
SLACK. I'm Farmer Stacks SON"
"IIow many field hands does your
father OWN"
Father, he don't own no niggers at
all. We're Jest only poor whites"
you're very fran, about it," said
Laura,
"Waal, there amt no use makcn pur-
tensions"
"And You 20 TO Chattanooga tomor-
TOW! aShtt t-'e HtDLI-l.
"Yas, ma'a1; callate ter do some
traden thar"
"Aul you win re urn this vay?"
II reckon I'll be along Ayar iii a few
days"
The mother continued tho pumping
process for awhile, but whether she
made 10 progress, or whether Mark
succeeded in establishing himself III her
confidence, she arose and walked with
all the sta,elncsa Of Il southern high
born mafron into the house. There size
resumed tho book she had becu reading
earlier in the evening.
Mark had kept up his assumed char.
actcr very Well during her presence.
Now that he was left alouo with the
daughter he was put to much severer
test, The Girl had something of the
stateliness Of her mother as that state
illness had appeared in her mother
youth. Mark had been soused from his
childhood TO meet refined bearing with
one equally refined that he found it d.f.
hcult to avoid doing 30 now.
Don't you love to look at the stars,
Mr., Suck asked the young lady
"WaGl, vas, Mis3'----
"My name is Laura Iain."
81 hev always been fond o tho science
Of lie paused; he suddenly reme,u
usved that p9Jr "Wnite trash We're rot
usually y-r.elin anvof -Ae sciences
Astronomy sAe supplied.
"Waal, yas."
"How did you come to learn astroao