The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-08-01

yo' know, sah" abruptly, wat I'ze
wukin up hycr ferT'
ITO earn some money, l suppose" l
answered
Oats hit, prezac'ly, sab. But l al
need no money for housekeepin l raises
gyardcn truck an chickens an things, an
l goes flshin an huntin. No, sah Use
gittin money for dat liz boys musician
in. He's plumb 'stracted bout an origin.
Use been totin him up ter Mis- Hun'cr-
ford's lately, SO It he mout lis'n ter her
playin. An, fer fac, sab, dat III boyd
jes' cock his head on one sido whilst she
played u chime, den he'd clomb up on dat
stool an play the same chuno right smack
frou, cherry dot an skiver prezac'. Mis-
Hun erford low u war truly 'stonishin.
Yes, sab dat boy gwyne hab an origin, an
Use gwync hab him learn play jes' lax
white folks off'n paper"
At this moment the rear man came up
and stood waiting for orders. Jock ducked
his head and was turning away, when
called him back. Unclasping the glittering
chain from my watch, l handed it to him,
"Givc it to the little boy, l said "and
tell him it is from ono of his daddy's
friends,
JOCK s face grew radiant, A present for
himself would not have given him half
the pleasure.
The next week my chief sent instruc-
lions for mo to repair to Terrcbonne and
survey some swamp lands. l had been
there before and knew the place well. In
the winter it would not have been so bad,
but nowl | crushed the brief note i'm
patiently in my hand.
But there was no help for 1t, so we set
about breaking camp. The next day we
we're ready fer departure.
As we stood on the platform of the little
way station, waiting for the train, saw
the big, well known figure of Jock hurry
ing up the track. In few moments he
stood beside me.
Clar' for hit, boss, 1 war feared I
wouldn't cotch upl" he painted Use
moi run de BRET outen me-"
l welcomed him heartily. His broad
shoulders and knowledge of woodcraft
would be invaluable in that out of the way
place. The terms of his service were
quickly arranged, and then 1 asked him
about the little boy.
II dunno for shore yet, sab, he said
gravely "De doctor low he war in bad
fix an better be sont up norf to a gran
hospital. He low de boy cayn't ncbber be
raised lax he is, but dat maybe dc big
lax udder boys. Eff dey do dat with
a rare smile, IN shorely tank de good
Lawd all de res oh my life"
1T will be very expensive venturcd
Eyes, sah SO de doctor tole me. He
lowed he'd AK Jedge Hun 'erford ter hep
some, but done stop dat" throwing his
head back proudly. II don't ak no hep
longs 1 kin hep myself. De liz boys
mine, an I'Ze de one ter take car oh him.
Then, with n slight quaver in his voice,
he added abruptly, 81 done sol de house
an pigs an things"
"Why, that's too badl' I exclaimed in
| voluntarily. Wasn't there any other
wayf"
mo, sab, an de house an things didn't
| fotch quite enuf De li'l' boy'll halter be
thar mos year, an doctors stuff an nus
sin coss heap. l done hire room for
my ole nanny an will send her sompin
cherry mont. All de rest mus go ter de
hospital. l splained hit ter de doctor, an
he lowed he'd fix hit all right
$50 you have already sent the boyf"
"Yes, sab. De doctor done sont nuss
wild him yes day"
A faint whistle in the distance an
nounced the approaching train. hastily
| gathered up my kit and stood waiting.
|
deaux. The next day we purchased pro-
visions and set out for the scene of our
labors. Three months later received in
structions to cross over into Texas. 1t
was spring before we returned to Florida.
One day Jock burst into my tent with
an open letter In his hand.
He's done cured'' he cried radiantly
"all de twistes an disj'ints TUX outen
him. He's comm home now, walkin
from de kyars lax udder boys. Glory ter
de LAM But scuse me, boss" lowering
his voice suddenly TIE tickled clean
frou. reckon yo'll halter lemme off few
days I mus see dat li'l' boy"
"Of course. But will you come backf'
"Suttin'ly, sahl l mus work right
peart now an mex heaps O. money. Oars
dat boys origin, an dar's dat home I'm
gwyne ter buy back. Yes, sab, I'll mos
shorely come back. ''-F. III. S,ceet, in Shor
| Stories.