Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-02-21

up ter taime on the niger question. 1
know 'em like a church steeple. When
bought that ar boy, now comm three
year, seed he was a sprightly niger,
one er yer ambitious sort, what would De
mighty apt to git fractions and DE maxim
tracks onless I got holt on him. 80 SEE
to him, Ham, you're sprightiy mig
ger, one Of the raal ambitious sort, now
aincher?' He allowed he warn't nothln
else. WAL seq /, Ham how'd you
like to buy yourself, an be free niger,
an hev house OF yer own, an woman
of yer own, all jess like white folksY
'Lor,' seq he, 'Massa, I'd like 1t heap.
WAL seq l, 'you jess scrabble round
an raise me seven hundred dollars an III
sell yer to yerself, and cheap at that.
WAL, he picked up the bits and quar-
tiers right smart. He's ben at IL, lam
min ahead raal ambitious, for bout
three year. Last Sunday after church
he pinted up the last ten of the six hum
dred. So allowed t wuz come time TO
sell him. He wuz gettin his head drawed
an his ideas sot on freedom very on
healthy. | didn't like to disapp'int him
to Their last, so allowed twas jest as
well to let you hev him cheap to 90
/ down river. That's how TO work them
| fractions runaway niggers. That ares
! my patent. You ken hev it FOR nothin.
Haw. haw."
"Haw, haw, haw! You are one er
Their boys. I'm DUN sorry that are trick
| can't be did twicet on the same Niger.
| reckon ne knows too much for that.
Wall, s'pose we walk round to the GAIA
boose fore we go to bed an see CT hes
chained up all right.
They went out.
Bi6dulph spoke first.
"What are we going to do now?'
Try TO abolish slavery in Hams case.
Come: wen go buy him a file"
We bought our files and made for the
! calaboose. 1t was stout log structure,
! with grated windows. AT one OF these,
by the low moonlight, we saw negro.
1t was cold and late. Nobody was near.
We hailed the man:
Ham"
That's me, massa."
you are sold to go south tomorrow
morning. II you want TO get free,
catchm
! Brent tossed him up the files.
Catch again." said Biddulph, and up
went a rafting purse, England's sub
Sdy.
Hams white teeth and genteel man
ners appeared at once. He grinned and
whispered thanks
us that all we can do" asked the
/ baronet, as we walked off.
Il .s.fI s.Trnsr him m
gnaw himself free with that Connecticut
rat tail"
Ham against Japhet; l hope he'll
! win"
What horse beyond all horses yours
is" said Biddulph 10 me next morning,
as we rode aloug cheerily through-the
fresh, frosty air OF December. think,
when your continent gets TO its tinality
! in horSeGesh, it will beat our island.
Think what training such trip is.
! This cOmrade OF mine has come TWO
/ thousand mites with me-bg thought,
| eh!-and he freshens mp with the ozone
| of this morning as il he had been in
| the stable a week, champiny aSphodel."
Fulano felt my commentator. He
| became electrified He stirred under
me. | gave him rein. He shook him
self out and began TO recite his accom-
| plishmentS.
He doubled his legs under him and
went off In high, jerky leaps, twice his
| length every one.
He numbered along, shoulders low,
head handled like a battering ram and
! tail stiff ont like steering oar.
And he shambled forward in loose
| iointed canter, looking back furtiyely
like thief, sorry he didn't stop 10 steal
the other goose, but expecting Stop
thief. every minute.
The day, after the crisp freshness OF
| it's beginning, was belated day oil In
dian summer: mild as the golden morn
| ings OF that calm, luxurious time. We
stopped 10 noon in sunny spot OF open
pasture near wide muddy slough Of
the Missouri.
We camped by fallen cottonwood
near the slough. The atmosphere was
hopeful. We picknicked merrily, men
and beasts. Three gentlemen at once"
over a chicken soon dissipated this and
| it's trimmings. We lighted the tranquil
calumet and lounged, watching our
| horses at their corn.
Presently we began TO fancy we heard,
then to think we heard, at last to be
sure we heard the baying OF hounds
through the mild, golden air.
"Tally-ho," cried Biddulph, what a
day for fox hunt! This haze will
make the scent lie almost as well as the
clouds"
Emusic! Music" cried he again
springing up, as the SOUND, increasing,
rose and fell along the peaceful air that
lay on earth so lovingly.
emusic, IL it were in Merrie England,
where the hunt are gentlemen. A
cursed uproar here, where the hunt are
stealers," said Brent.
NO" said Biddulph. "Those are
fables OF the old, barbarous days OF the
Maroons. can't believe in dogs after
men until see it"
"I'm afraid it's our friend Ham they
are after. This would be his line OF
escape"
At the word, rustling in the bushes
along the slough, and Ham burst
| through. He turned TO run. We
shouted. He knew US and fuaR him
self. livid with terror and painting with
flight, upon the ground at our feet-the
poplar niger"
"0h. massa" be gasped. "Dey's gone
sot the dogs on me- Whatll do?"
! "Can you swim?" said for to me he
was kneeling.
mo. massa: or I'd been across this
yer sloo for dis"
''Can you ride?"
"Reck'n kin, massa."
A burst from the baying hounds.
The black shook with terror.
I sprang 10 Fulsno. Work for you,
oid hov',, said 10 him. az / flung the