Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-05-25
GUILTY HANDS.

Yes, sir, it was the spring of 1865.
You could tell that from the way the
clouds blew up from Richmond, but the
| Inhabitants of cole Squire Godbolt's"
quarters were the only ones who knew
that sign. Marin Hubby originated the
| Idea. She would stand in the midst of
% conclave of woolly heads, and pointing
to shadowy clouds just rising above the
horizon would roll her eyes in most orac-
ular fashion, and her words would
emerge ponderously, as the telling blows
of a sledge hammer.
DE smoke am 'cendin," she would
say, "and de Yanks am hittin hard.
Chillun, we am gwine to lebe here
soon.
No one doubted her. They had great
faith in Marin Hubby, and she told their
fortunes in coffee grounds and chased
| the witches away from their BEDS But
there was one man who did not believe
in signs That was Terror Fire. He
would grunt disdainfully at her prognos-
tications and heap ridicule upon her
signs.
'sNebber yo' min, Terror Fire." she
would scream wrathfully, ''some OBJ my
signs am gwine ter be yo' ondoin Now,
yo' min. Yo' amt done been bit fo'
times by a moccasin fer muffin. OATS
sign enuff dat de debble am in yer.
Now, all yo' niggers hear me talkin?''
1--WE hears yo', Marin Huldy," they
COW a,,6 To,.ro,, E;ro 1-yo,,11
a loud, slow laugh and trot off to his
cabin. He was great, Terror was. He
was the surly, cynical Diogenes of the
plantation, and Squire Godbolt often
found it i'll his heart to obstruct some of
his sunshine, and once he was aided and
abetted by Marin Hubby. You see it
came about this way:
Attached 70 the "'big house, and not
far from the quarters there was poul-
try yard, and in this poultry yard there
f1ourished and grew many fowls of both
sexes They were beautiful birds and
the pride of Mrs Godbolt's heart. Very
well. There were more hens than roost-
ers; consequently the latter were rare
and much priced. However, there were
several ROSTERS, but one big fellow, who
was sultan Of the haren. He "ruled the
roost, - and every morning just at day
74ss.5 ore nfou 1iti--s, T.,
be heard This fellow was named Adam
and was the apple of Mrs. Godbolt' S eye.
She knew his crow from all the others
and every morning would arouse herself
to catch the liquid notes of his early
salutation; then she would fall asleep
again, satisfied that he was there
But one day she awoke and listened,
and listened in vain, for the call Of the
chanticleer. The shades of midnight
vanished, and the rising sun peeped in
through the cracks, and still no sound
had reused the sleeping world. Not a
cock had crowed. They were waiting for
the great lord to have his say, but the
great lords voice was silent, and Mrs
Godbolt's heart shuddered within her.
She awoke the squire, and together they
repaired to the fowlhouse. There, OH
the roosts and in the nests and on the
ground, were all the chickens, safe and
sound, all but-Adam. Mrs. Godbolt
gave little scream, and the squire
rushed into the house and blew the horn.
Madly, fercely, he blew it, and the
sounds brought all the negroes into the
yard
"Now," said Squire Godbolt, 1T
want you all to listen, for I have got
something to say. You are all paying
attention?'
"Yes, sah," they chorused, and Marin
Hubby whispered, ode Emancipation am
done come; de smoke am 'cendin from
Richmond.
But she was wrong; the next words
showed how wrong and scattered all
ecstatic hopes.
'fWell," roared the squire, ssAdam
is gone, and I am going to find him.
Now, the niger who has that rooster
step up and hand him over"
His words fell like thunderbolt
They all knew Adam, and they saw
from the squire's determined look that
he meant what he said.
''Hand him over" reiterated the
squire and every negro's knees shook.
E"But we amt got him, squire, an
how can we han him ober when we
amt got him2''
1t was Terror Fire who spoke, and
some Of them wondered at his nerve, but
Marin Hubby smiled and shook her head
"Thunderationn' yelled the squila
"Well, he's gone and somebody's got
him, and mean to find out where he is"
They argued there for two hours, and
at the end Of that time were no wiser
than at first. Then Marin Hubby came
to the rescue. She stepped up to the
squire, and dropping a 'curtsy" wished
to have word i'll private. The negroes
were dumfounded.
''Marm Hubby couldn't a-stole dat
rooster they said. 'NIar1ol Hubby am
hones'!''
But whatever Marin Hubby was con-
Tossing it pleased the squire, and he
bowed his head and smiled two OF three
times during the discourse Then Malm
Hubby stepped back, and the Squire adj
Yaneed to the front,
''You may all go now" he said, chat
might at Z O'Clock want to see YOU
all back in this yard---every chick and
child ~ And they departed
Many OF them Stunned Marin Huldy's
cabin during the day, but the old wo1n-
an was busy up at the "big house" aud
was not aware OF it,
Night came and with it all the hands
from the quarters. They were all there
at O'Clock sharp. Ten minutes past
Squire Godbolt came out and after him
Marin Hubby and two boys with a great,
black pot The squire drew circle and
placed the inverted pot in the center.
Thenshe turned t6 the crowd.
Nov, = he said, "all Of you see that
pot? Well, that is to decide who stole
| Adam y There was show Of interest
adam is gone, and he has got to be
found, or his approximate whereabouts
Now, all Of you step up. l am going to
extinguish the light, and twill be dark
Then all Of you walk around that pot.