The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-07-11


that first heard OF Uncle Onesimus, as
Clayton always called him. Clayton was
O curly-haired little fellow whom most
of US liked. We We're great friends.
though he was in the lower third form
and 1 in the upper fifth and meditating
the purchase of my first razor. Perhaps
a good deal OF Clayton's general popular
aty was due TO his plentiful possession of
pOcket-money and the liberal way in
which he expended it on the purchase of
comestibles. 1 had myself passed the
raspberry-tart stage OF school existence;
but there are other dainties, and, when
] had helped Clayton in his early efforts
at elegiac verse and rewritten his SEN
fences from Arnold" l was not too
proud TO accept offered refreshment.
After a time 1 learned that Clayton's
Ipecuniary prosperity was due TO frequent
remittances from Uncle onesimus."
Hes awfully rich. you know Clay
ton said TO me one day confidentially
''and he lives in New York
ITS very nice to have a rich uncle
] said sententiously.
''Oh. he's not really my uncle, you
know" the boy said. Il only call him so.
He was a great friend OF my fathers
when he was alive. And one evening he
came to our house and l had gone TO bed
II was quite a little fellow then, you
know-and he came up TO my bedroom
and looked at me while l was asleep,
and stood looking at me ever so long,
and / didn't wake up. Mrs. Higgins
she was my nurse-a sort of nurse. you
know-told me all about It, He went
away the same night. and my father
went away with him. And when my
father came back he brought me a box
OF figs and a whole lot of playthings
and told me they came from great
friend of his and that l must write
a letter and thank him"
whats his real name?' I asked care
lessly.
Clayton laughed.
Potts" he said, "and he's got such 4
funny lot OF Christian names-Onesimus
Washington Brutus Caesar. 1 always
write 10 him Dear Uncle Onesimus,
because my father told me to-
one day two terms later, Clayton told
me that Uncle Onesimus was coming
over To Europe.
"Hc'u come down here" he said. land
get me a half-h0liday And perhaps
he'll take me 10 London. Would you
like 90 go. too. B1ywick:
/ expressed a dlgnihed assent. as be-
came one newly promoted 10 the sixth.
1--WE often written TO him about you"
CLAYTON won't on. 'I've told him you're
my best friend. and that you've saved
M ever so many lIckings.
Clayton got quite excited as the time
for the expected visit drew near. and !
think almost every one in the school
knew when the boat that was bringing
Uncle Ouesimus arrived at Queenstown.
Then. one day, just after morning school,
Clayton came running up 10 me with
beaming face.
Hes comer' he cried out. "and I've
just been sent for. I'm sure he'll ask for
you. and Wen go up 10 London and have
a stunning good time. You'll come,
won't YOU. Baywick?"
lie ran of with his shining face. while
j reflected that an afternoon in London.
with the pleasant prospect Of a good
dinner AZ the close, was more alluring
than THE Seven Against Thebes."
Clayton came back In about fifteen
minutes. looking very crestfallen.
What's the matter, young 'un?" l
said. Isn't Uncle Onesimus going to
take you up to town.
"Oh. yes" he replied. and he wants
to take you. too. But"
He hung down his head, and something
like a blush was visible on his cheeks.
At last. with a great burst, the revela-
ton came.
Uncle Onesimus is a black man." he
said-''a real niger" He shot a rapid
glance at me.
do you mind II very much, Bay
wick? Some Of the other fellows have
seen him and they'll tease me dreadfully
thing like a tear hung in the little fell
lows blue eyes
Hes asked us for dinner" he added
land the Doctors given us leave"
/ acceded with due impressiveness, and
was led off TO see Mr.. o. w. b. c. Potts
otherwise Uncle Onesimus" lie was
a full-bloOded negTo-a tall, masslvely
built man. verging toward grayness. He
was most carefully and faultlessly
dressed; he wore gold-rimmed spectacles,
Ern.N - HwHH a.. IA
knob. lie greeted me with an air of
benevolent dignity, and he gained at
pnce high place In my consideration by
addressing me as ''Mr. Baywick" the
dignity Of the prefix being a quite unac-
rustomed honor
We were soon flying up to London.
clayton was quite relieved to see that
Uncle Onesimus and 1 got on so well.
pnd prattled merrily. The old man
Smiled spontaneously at his boyish
ne shook his head for a moment and put
On a grave and maglsterial air.
There's one thing I clean forgot" he
bald- didn't ask you any questions
about your work. Have you gotten on
well with your studies?"
And then ensued a few minutes of oral
examination. Uncle Onesimus began
with arithmetic, in which Clayton Ger
tainly didn't distinguish himself He did
better in Latin, however for he was able
20 tell Mr.. Posts the English Of e. pluri-
bus unum and Sic semper tyrannis. That
good man beamed bengnantIy through
bis Sold-rimmed spectacles, and said that
there was one or two things more he
would Ike TO ask him in Latin, but he
eould not remember them just then. a
little later Clayton was hoored again,
Tor he didn't know the meaning of the
name 'Onesimus,' and he couldn't say I'm
which book Of the bible II occurred.
Pressed on the point, he hazarded the
first book OF Samuel. whereat Uncle
pnesimus shook his head gravely and
looked at me. I was able to set Clay
ton right on both points, and | think I
rose some little in the old mans opinion
py elaborate etymOlogy, parading all
parts Of the verb ovivnui.
I never heard IL so we'll explained be-
fore" he said.
Our arrival at the terminus stopped
further examinations, and Uncle Onesi-
mus proceeded to give us a good time, as
he said.
He had taken box at the pantomime
which was then I'm mid-career and after
that was over we went around to a lew
eler's. where he bought scarf-pin for
Clayton, and consulted me as to what
Bort Of watch would be likely to please
q young friend Of his about my own age
We finished with a dinner In which /
made my first acquaintance with French
booking and drank my first glass of
Pommery and Greno.
When we were returning Uncle Onesi-
mus accompanied US 10 the station He
put Clayton into the carriage and drew
me aside