The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1894-10-23


around the door had been frightened
into silence. We went to the little
washhouse, expecting to find Roxie
over the tubs, up to her elbows in
soapsups, when there she sat on
stool, looking every bit as miserable
as did the old fellow on the step.
What is the matter3" we asked.
She took but feeble notice of our
presence, and went on wringing her
hands, rocking herself to and fro, and
making little doleful noise that
sounded very like the cry Of the
mourning doves, which kept up their
ceaseless ''Ooh-ooh- ooh" back of the
college, and made us homesick.
Aunt Roxie, tell us what troubles
you," we said. Cant we help your
She reached out her hand in a help
less, entreating way, and we rushed
to her and knelt about her, begging
her not to cry, for Roxie crying was
as pitiable sight as ever looked
upon.
Honey" she whispered, "dis ole
woman is mighty sor'ful. You see
dat ole man on de stepp
"Yes, I'VE answered. "Who is he2"
She did not reply, but continued to
moan and stare into vacancy with
wide open, tear dimmed eyes. Pres
emily she got up, went to the little
window and looked at the old fellow,
then came back murmuring, Its
him, it's him, after all desc yurs, it's
him"
"Roxie," came the plaintive cry,
"oh, Roxiel'
She staggered to her feet, then
! sank down again.
Oats somebody what l ulster
know" she whispered cautiously,
back in Tenn'see long go. OATS
all, honey"
Perhaps it is not him, we said,
thinking she would rather be brought
to believe herself mistaken.
"Dis ole woman's sutten en- sho',"
she returned. "Ain't I done toted
dem luks in my head all desc yurs9
Ever day I says ter myself, 'Dere's a
gray HAIR, en- dere's wrinkle, en-
dere's crooked laig, en- dere's a
stopped bac, en- it's all so. OATS
de same ole niger rze been totin
roun in my head en- studyin over
all desc yurs."
She went to the window again,
then came back and sat down.
Tell us about it, we said, "and
perhaps we can help you"
"Yuse done done all, she announc.
ed. you brung him here, know.
That was startling. We wanted an
explanation.
Hit wuz dem pieces ter de papers.
Dat wuz de reasin 1 wrote EN-, SOS
he'd see 'em en- know l wuz Twin en-
dom well. En- dat's where Roxie
Scales kems in, whut you argifed sc
much over. wuz a Scales, en- is g
Scales-Friday is ole med up name
But didn't reckin he'd KEN trackir
down hyur when l he'd de paper sont
ter him."
why don't you go and speak to
him, Roxie2 He has come long dis
lance to see you. Go, Roxie."
II wudn't speak ter him fer dis
yeth" she cried. Oats a ole mar
ried Niger. "
Roxie was a rigid moralist, but here
was something we could not under
stand.
ken, sit down, she said at last
II see l halter tell ter set my owl
kerrickter street. Long go l wul
young, en- l blonged ter gemmar
in Tenn'see. So did Jabe. OATS hin
out dere. We co'ted en- married Ell
wuz so happy, en- bom-by a baby
KEN. Bout dat time we TUX Tumpy
whut didn't hev no nanny, ter raise
She wuz 10 den-10 yurs ole. l XIII
hear dat lump singin yit, a-rockin d.
crib, wild de baby a-squallin EN- hel
a-pattin ter drown de yells, Ell
me a-wukin in de feel close by
long de row, side O. Jabe's. Del
lump wud bring us water in de Ions
ha'dle gourd, en- I'd drink fust Ell
Jabe mex. Den lump would skee
bac' wild a basket on her head TEL
keep de br'ilin hot sun off, en- dancil
Juba un'er de shade. We sorter KEEP
ter ourselves, kase Jabe wuz counted
lakly, en- we wuked de patches O
COOLERS en- watermilluns by dt
branch, en- de gyardens, en- de ticklisl
wuk dat old mistis wudn't let nobody
else fetch. But one day ole mawste
went en- died, en- Jabe fell ter de son
Mawse Aleck, en- fell ter Miss Sallie
En- Miss Sallie she married, en- he
man nuver blieved in ownin niggers
but he b'lieved in sellin 'em en- putin
de money fer 'em snug in his peck
cts. He sol me, en- / wuz kerrieC
way off ter Mississippi. l begged him
en- Miss Sallie beg him, but she WI
leetle, EN- he was big en- domineeril
en- med her pass her cawnsent.
"'Fo' goin went ter de crib en- tul
a long LUX at dat po' leetle sleepil
baby, whut wudn't soon hev n,
nanny, en- Jabe was cryin fit te
die, en- lump wuz yellin on de do
step. 1t wuz wuss'n dyin stiff dead
hllt whit kem 'Way after dat WI