The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-12-28

Un6I6, WIN AO ObilCI tadu ulC ltOO
log cabin that stood in the center.
A approached the open door of the
hut feeble voice from within called:
ais dat you, Marse Steny?" and then
hating steps sounded on the rude plank
floor. master, is you come fer ole
Prince at las'?"
In the doorway stood the bent and de-
crepit form of an aged negro. His hair
was white as snow, and his thin hands
were extended before him in supplica-
ton. His eyes, now dim, seemed daz-
zled by the light, but tears of joy flowed
down the burrows of his cheeks as he
eagerly tottered forward.
Z aI'ze watched fer you, Marse Steny,"
he said in broken accents. AS he took
my hand in his feeble fingers he bent to
kiss it. l gently told him that l was
not his master Tor moment he seemed
stunned; then raising his eyes and peer
ing closely into mine he dropped my
hand, and turning away hobbled back to
his hut. When entered few minutes
later he was seated by the vacant fire
place mumbling to himself.
So this was Prince, the strange being
whom the negroes feared and every one
wondered at. Looking at him now, I
could readily believe that he was quite
q hundred years old.
While Prince was muttering stupidity
to himself / glanced about the single
room Of the cabin. A great pile of lotus
seeds, gathered from the canals where
the flowers bloomed in abundance, was
stacked in one corner. Ravenous with
hunger I ate few. They were sweet
and pleasant to the taste, but soon caused
drowsy sensation. sat down opposite
Prince, and as night drew on and the
air grew chill l went out and collected
enough brush to start fire. The river
was still turbulent. Great blocks of
earth had been washed from either end
of our little island, which was rapidly
growing smaller.
Under the cheerful rays of the fire
Prince seemed to brighten up.
s.It's freshetin," I heard him mutter
two or three times.
ssYes, it is fresheting," said. The
words seemed to rouse Princes dormant
powers, for he half rose from his seat.
"Den Marse Steny'll GOMEZ ex-
claimed the aged darby as he raised his
trembling arms in prayer. "He allus
use ter come ober here to watch de
foods" said Prince, looking me straight
in the eyes. Every trace of infirmity
seemed to vanish. His mind was clear
again, but it was busy with events OF
half a century ago. He was slave once
more, awaiting word from his master.
ssDuz you know Marse Stenyf' asked
Prince. s'De one wot owns dis place an
all de niggers?"
.sNo," I answered gently; 81 am 3
stranger"
"Ain' you nebber hear tell bout how
is marry de young marse ter Missile
Grace, an how de ole marse is nebber
forgib me? But Marse Steny is promise
to come back for me, an he'll do it. !"
And Prince put out his wrinkled hands
to the blaze and gazed into the fire.
.sTell me about it" l asked.
ssWell, it was dis way" began Prince.
81 wuz ole niger wen de marse-dat
wuz my secon marse-is git kill in de fife
wild de Mexicans. Marse Steny been q
baby bout fibe yeah ole. Der ole missis
is glib me ter him, cos he granpa, wot is
kill, alwa's say he kin trus' me. Marse
Steny pa is trus' me too. An ebryting
90 long hansum like till de votin cum
bout Mister Lincum. Dat is bring trub-
BILE. cos Marse Elliott is jess cum wild he
family frum de norf, an he say he goin
ter vote for Marse Lincum. Dat is meek
my marse mad, and he say Marse Steny
mus stop visitin ober cross de ribber at
Marie Elliott's. Marse Steny been a
crowd up man den, and he say he goin
ter visit who he please. Dat wuz cos
Missile Grace Tub him, an he lub her.
Well, long bout harves' time Marse
Steny is come to me an say: Prince
sezee, you is Clergyman, ain your
sYes,' sezi, 4 is. Wot kin I do for you,
Marse StenyY I want yer to marry me
to Missile Grace, says Marse Steny, an
OATS as shoah as is sittin yeah now.
81 wsnter. larf at fust, but Marse Steny
is look so grade sees he been in dead
artist, SO I aim say nuthen, but bows
my head specially, an wen Marse Steny
git trou talkin ak him eff Missile Grace
goin ter low niger ter marry FER.
s'Marse Steny 1arf an say Missile Grace
is cum from Ian where it don't meek
no diffrens wedder you is wife er brack.
Den I know Marse Steny aim jokin, an l
is meek promise ter do wot he say.
" Prince sezee, you mus hide me in
yo' cabin for sebral days. an dat mite he
cum down ter de plantashun, an wen
all de niggers is gone down ter de quar-
tiers Marse Steny is cumin ter my cabin
un knock. I was sittin by de fire jess
like dis tinkin OBJ de time dat Marse
Steny wuz leetle boy an ulster cum to
see us niggers on de plantashun an eat
de same vitt7es wot we did. De ribber
wuz a-rizin fas', an allus liked ter listen
ter its roarin.
"Bress my soul eff Marse Steny didn't
stay all dat mite, an de mex and de mex.
Den he sen me up to de big house wild a
letter to he pa. I don't know wot dat
letter sed, but de ole marse wuz pow'ful
mad. He swar dat Marse Steny is a dis
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