The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-08-05
JEUNCE.'
A Charcoal Sketch Drawn frcm
Real Lifo.

MISS May says please look at dc
waiter-it's specimen Of early re-
porsse"
These words were addressed to me by
the messenger who had just brought
me a present Of fruit from a friend
Before looking more particularly al the
waiter. l looked NJ the delivcrer of the
message lie was small negro whose
height indicated that he was about
eight years Of age. but whose shrewd
and serious face might lave justified a
claim 10 eighty years of human expert
ence. lie was literally as black a.
SCOT and the color Of his Skin was
startiingly brought ont by the long
white apron. whose snowy amplitude
almost covered his entire person.
When he spoke he showed two enor-
nous front teeth. As white - his apron.
His face and hands and close-cropped
wool were scrupulously neat. and he
had altogether an air Of decorum and
self-possession that formed . strong
contrast 70 the rest Of his class.
what did Miss Mary tell yon to tell
me?" ! asked. for the sake Of hearing
the message repeated. and he said il
over with the same exactness. Then
he said good evening. and went softly
away.
1t was what knew Of the first estate
Of this little negro that made hrs pres
ent condition Of mind and body 50 in
teresting 10 me. had first heard Of
him as the victim Of the most ATTRACTIONS
cruclties on the part Of some negroes.
not his parents. with whom the little
black wait lived
he had been whipped and cufTed and
beaten. and absolutely burned with hot
irons and struck with sharp instruments
until some ncighbor. hearing Of these
ciueltics. brought the child into town
and. telling his story, gave him mp 70
the officers of the court TO be disposed
Of
The miserable little specimen. . mass
Of rags and sc airs and wounds. was then
put up at the courthouse and offered 10
anyone who chose 70 take him home.
y Be bound 70 them until his coming Of
agc.
Naturally. claimants were not very
Plentiful; but the pitiful tale was told
. lady whose kind heart IL touched.
and she took him Her friends protest
ed. and reminded her that the child.
LITTLE a. he was. had been declared an
inveterate liar and thief.
but as these witnesses against him
were the negroes who had treated him
with such cruelty. she refused 70 take
Weir evidence, or rather 70 share in
their blame.
II suppose" she said. s.that he had
Y steal to escape starving: and then TO
Ae 70 escape beating. And IL You ex-
peci the mature spirituality which
would have prevented these things from
achild with his beginnings think you
are unreasonable. am willing 90 try
whether good treatment won't produce
good conduct. just as bad treatment did
Dad conduct
~ she got from somewhere suit II
A''lc clothes for him. hap-hnzard at.
snu sent coiorcd woman TO scrub the
sn'ia thoroughly and put these clothes
=. nun and bring him to her
mat evening he was ushered into her
resencc as she Sat alone in her pretty
s'""ing-room. and she told the maid
n"o brought him 70 close the door and
'easc him with her.
ms clothes were big enough for two
S,s p his size. and they made him
,s I'M ~ the more pathetic as he stood !
Mn s.'ng ms big eyes and gazing n her |
MI. = mixture Of defiance and terror.
."ha' y your namc?" said Miss Mary.
AK ennce. was the answer. elected !
M" sort Of srasmodic hiss nom be- |
'"esn his big front teeth.
1again..' ''s' manner ~
surrA repeated tie ch,is