The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-29
the rim of his grass hat and shuffies his
shoes on the dusty planks

the rim of his grass hat and shuffies his
shoes on the dusty planks.
The last rays al the sun are lingering in
the tops of the tall trees that rise out of
the yellow water and the cool air of the
Southern evening is waving the young
canes and freshening the pungent odor
rising from the thick carpet of lily pads
spread like green blanket on the surface
of the swamp The dust of the road is
taking on darker shade with the first
falling of the dew. and as old Washington,
basket in hand, shuffies along at
respectful distance behind his young
masters his shoes leave a white track in
the sand.
The negro's old heart swelIs with pride
as he sees his young masters walking hand
in hand in the soft light falling through
the tangled branches. and ne mutters half
audibly to an imaginary stranger: 81
haint got no book learnin'. boss, and my
hearin's mighty pore, but l got heap o.
sense, l is. Dus l know dem chiiun3
Why, sab dem chilun is Marse Dupont's
chilun, sah Dun tended UNI bofe since
dey was bohn, sahl Marse Tom, sab, he
gwine Nort, sab. afor' sun up to the big
school. OATS whar he is, sab. Good Lor',
Marse Tom love leetle one like he was
gal. See how close dey walk hole o. hans
up de bridge. De ole man can't help it,
sab but he done hub dem chiun hissef
like dey was two gals Reckon it gwine
e mighty nigh bus Marse Toms heart t.
leave the leetie possum. Ole Marse saws
Use free niggah, sab all de free de ole
man wants is t stick by dem chiiun."
Unconscious of the water Tapping
against the timhers of the bridge. un-
conscious of the hoarse chorus of the
frogs filling the air. the brothers think
only of the happiness of tonight and the
parting OF tomorrow.
The tears stood in the brave little
ArthurS eyes as he looked careessly at
the swaying festoons of gray moss and he
even withdrew his little fist from his
brothers grasp and thrust both hands
into his pockets to emphasize his indie
pendence as he spoke. I'm glad YOU are
gong to college, Tom. l know you will
learn to be a great lawyer and so 10 con-
gress from Grand Gulf. If the captain of
the River Queen don't take IN the plank
the minute you SO on board I'll ride my
pony on deck. Hurrah for the River
Queeni"
Lieutenant Brown. of Battery Q, then
serving with l. of our regiment. had been
classmate and roommate of Tom Dupont
at college, and there is where the remote
connection comes in with Battery Q. In
the old brick dormltorieS at Yale brown
had become familiar with Toms family
history; how Toms father had been
raised IN New Hampshire village. and
how lie married Toms mother and a cot
ton plantation and a colony Of slaves at
one happy ceremony. lie knew the fam
ily circumstances which had prevented
Tom seeing his mother and brother dur
ing his whole college career - Circnn
stances not necessary 10 relate in the eyo-
luton OF the facts Of this story. Brown
had read stacks OF the elder pupont's let
tiers To his son, all breathing devotion
TO the Union, and other stacks of
mother-let:ers. running over with love
and bright hopes Tor the years to come
He had shown US at the camp on Pebbles
farm, when Tom had just left the officers
quarters full ~ laughter and high spirits
photograph Of Arthur at II. which he
told us was counterpart Of one Tom al
ways carried IN his inner iacket rocket
and said his prayers 10 before going into
battle. TX was \ handsome chlid's face
with blue eyes and brown curls. and that
is all | remember OF 1t now except that |
read the name Of the photographer and
the words Grand GUii on the back OF the
card while IL was il the hands OF the cap
tain.
Over our coffee that night as We sat
around smudge tire 10 keep the moSQui-
toes az bay. Lieutenant Brown told Us OF
the railway tourney Of himself and Tom in
the summer Of lS6l from New Haven 10 s..
Louis: how they sped on night and day
across the continent, the strange hurrylng
of troops. the music 81 the camps and the
wonderful new homage paid 10 the won
derfui old flag, which seemed hourly 10
develop new phases OF sym o!i> meaning;
how their patriotism Was tanned 10 =