Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-09-30
BRIGHTLIGHT.

some water wv mar In dc name err
goodness is dat young niggah gomez
She called again but much louder
and with moro emphasis Bright
light! Oh Bright.ight!"
This time she was rewarded with
'.Hoo. hoo nanny" and little
black specimen Of humanity came
running breathlessly up to her.
'Whar you bin ct 20 kant year wen l
call you?" she said sharply scanning
his face.
Il des bin down iu-in-de-grove
err" His hesitation caused her to
doubt him. and selling him by the
arm she said threateningly: Look
yer Brightlight Jackson, don't you
dast to tell me any OF you lies, for de
Lord knows l yeard 'nough OF dem
fun yo' daddy"
Il ant telin' you no lies nanny.
sho' | ant exclaimed the boy. look
ing bravely up in her face. 'Is bin
with Mis- Edit in de grove gatherin'
ferns"
EFF you've bin wild Mis- Edit hits
all right en- den agin eff you've bin
down in de boss lot pesterin' erlong
wild dem mules hits all wrong. You
hear me speakP" Yes en- -
She turned to go in the house. but
before she reached the door she
stopped and seemed TO reflect for a
moment then turning to the boy she
said severely: You min what done
toP you bout dem mules kaze eff /
ever see you riden' dem again LAX l
did yestiddy. I'll slop you down! l
say l will!'
The boy trembled from head to foot
and cast a beseeching look toward
the grove, as II expecting someone to
come to his rescue. You neen't ter
be skeered, | ant going to tuch you
you kin go erlong now and tell Mis-
Edit how you been disobeyin va
nanny. Hitll be mighty curious
thing eff Satan don't get you count ef
20 doin's
Brightlight needed no urging. In
q thrice he had cleared the fence and
was scampering Off toward the grove
Aunt Fannie was housekeeper to
Judge johnson and his granddaugh-
ter Edith. She had been in the fam
lily ever since she could remember.
Her parents had died in the judges
service and were buried in the family
graveyard. She could remember the
war WELL being quite a good sized
girl when it broke out She recol-
lected what an excitement there was
among the negroes after the issue OF
'Lincoln's proclamation. She could
shut her eyes and SEQ the scene all
over again. How the Judge came out
on the veranda and called the negroes
together. She heard him tell them
'they were free and he hoped they
would be as faithful in their future
duties as they had been to him"
Some wept and others grinned. but
they all left with the exception of her
parents who stoutly refused TO take
their freedom. preferriug to
remain with master who
was ever kind and indulgent
rather than go into world they knew
SO little about And Master Frank"
the judges son. how we'll she remem-
bered him, tall and handsome. with a
quick, impulsive temper and decided
manner. He was attending college
In the North when the war broke out
and one day the judge received a let
ter the contents of which made him
turn pale and grasp a chair for sup
port Fannie's father. who was body
servant TO the judge brought the let
ter When he saw his masters agi-
tatiou he asked il anything had hap
pened to Master Frank" The Judge
took the old servant by the hand and
said, with a tremor in his voice:
Tom you have always been good
and faithful and / know you love Mas.
ter Frank but henceforth never men,
ton his name In my presence. He is
no longer a son Of mine; have just
received news that he has enlisted in
the union army and is now fighting
against his own people,"
The judge remained firm. and when
the war was over he sent his son word
that he never wished to sec him
again. Years passed. but no tidiugs
came OF Master Frank" IL the
father was proud so was the son for
a reconciliation was never attempted.
house with letter for the Judge.
Aunt Fannie. who was then young
woman. was helping hor mother in
the cabin when sho saw her father
come out OF the big house and hurry
toward them somewhat excited. He
told them TO get his clothes ready as
he had received news that Master
Frank had died, leaving a daughter.
a child OF three years. TO the care of
his father. The Judge was absent
about month. and when he returned
he brought Edith with him. The
judges wife being dead the sole care
OF Edith was intrusted to Fannie.
What changes had taken place in
AUNT Fannie's" life since thenl Her
parents were dead and she had mar
ried worthless fellow who deserted
her before the birth OF her child.
Edith had grown up tall and hand
some. with her fathers eyes and de-
cided manner.
On the opening OF the story he was