The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-06

she say she thinks l get red oh my rheu-
matiz' In jail. Ole Tuggie Bannocks can't
get me out nights ter Witch-ride me-"
The discounted sheriff at last rode slowly
on, while Cuddy again hobbied alongside,
STU cheerful, still p-hilosophizing, still adj
vising. Mr.. Cranston was puzzled. He could
not abandon his prisoner. nor could he per-
suade or force him to pay the debt; still
less could he hurry him, and the time TO
was close at hand. At last. completely baf-
ned and conquered, he suddenly exclaimed:
Here. Cuddymonk. I've had enough of this;
take your bundle; I'll pay your debt TO old
Hazard, and the costs, too"
Mass Cranston, is dat de way yer does
yer duty? Use agoin' ter Jail ef l hab ter
walk dere alone, an tell de jedge dat de
constable run off an left me. / amt no run
nagadore. Use goin' in de cause OBJ de right.
You'se rested me, an Use agoin' ter stay
rested. / nebber see a jail anyway, an 1
wants ter see one. Times nebber'H be good
in dis country till boff people an rulers
KNOWS al erbout de INSTRUCTIONS oh de
land"
Again did the baGled sheriff explain and
expostulate and seek to rouse in Cuddy a
sense OF pride and dread OF shame. It's
most time for lection day. Cuddy. You'll
never be elected again If you go to jail.
They'll never want a rogue for %gov'nor."
Cause de gov'nor am a rogue this year
amt no sign de next one won't be" an
swered wise Cuddy. And when the con-
stable had Strengthened out Cuddy's ambig-
uous thought, he said to himself that black
politics were much like white;
Il can't see why all you blacks are so
dishonest and tricky
why, Mass Cranston" with an in
jured but unresentful air., .."dey has ter
be-dey so KEEP down. 1t all de fault oh
dat nrageous ole George Washin'ton.
When he a-dyin' he roll his eyes an say
'Forebber keep de Niger bowman ii
take a hundred years TO work out a dyin'
spell"
This astounding piece of post-mortem
news about the Father of his Country
was new to the constable, though 1t was
commonly believed by negroes then as
now. He answered Cuddy severely and
sharply:
who told you that NONSENSE? It's no
reason, anyway. There is no need for any
Niger TO be dishonest unless he wants to-
Now, Mass Cranston, dis's jess de way
/ looks at ii. Times nebberll be good in
dis country till tings is fixed an proput-
tvs divided so no one can't be poor; den
no one can't be dishonest. cause eff dey
has plenty dey won't want ter be-"
The constable felt that IL was useless to
argue further with such a philosopher, and
5o1e.c on for some cia time time in . slle1ee; then %bat hH
you take to go home again? can't bother
any longer with you. I've got to go to
Wexford tonight, and you can't walk
there"
The old negro shook his head profoundly
and thoughtfully and sighed deeply, as
though a~bsndo1ing with Keen L1e regret - =
said SOlemnly:
mo bribe'l ebber soil dis hand while
IL fills de office OBJ de Gub'nor's seat. But
dey so say de best charm eber seed te,
bring good luck forebber is ter look at q
constable .a-dancin' ober runnln' water
floor. I'll hole de boss an sing old
Charmany Fair an you dance, ter bring
good luck ter me in de lection next week
Den / s'pose I'll hab ter glib up going tel
Jail dis time just ter please yer"
The constable was stunned by this au'
but battiGbu Being s" t%horoughly Convinced that Cuddy
was half demented. he thought IL better tC
yield at once to the stubborn Negroes con.
much-wasted time. He jumped from hi:
horse and angrily yanked off Cuddy':
blankeetful of Jail equipage and threw /
on the ground. He glanced apprehensively
up and down the road 70 see that there
was no approaching traveller to spread tn
tale of his ridiculous discontinue and alb
middle of the bridge and began to sullenlI
dance to Cuddy's lively and rollickin;
dance tune. The jolly song and dismal jig
We're nearly ended when a most SURPRISING
and ineXpiicable event took place. The con
stables sedate and quiet horse gave a sud
den snort. reared. broke away from Cud
dy's restraining hand and plunged violentl!
down the hill.
stop her! Stop her, Cuddyr' roared Mr.
Cranston. as he suddenly stopped his forces
dance and began TO run
II amt agoin' ter run none after dat oil
boss. said Cuddy: Use got de Rheumatic
as you can dance. You can't catch her
dough-" he called after the retreating sher
if. 81 know she's conjured by de way sh
AAAAa - - ~ ~ - So ~ 49,
constable a dancin' ober runnin' water"
AS the constable shouted Whoa at tn
top of his lungs and chased wildly dow
the hill out of sight, Cuddy walked to tn
| side of the bridge and threw into the waite
the long. sharp locust thorn that had don
such sly and good execution as a spur, a
a 'conjure" to the sheriff's steed. Then h
sat down by the side of his blanket bundl
in the hot monday sunlight. and he tool
out his fiddle and scraped and sawed to IN
bees, and birds, and butterflies like a joll,
yellow Pan. And he chuckled, and laughed
and whispered, and sung. and once b
jumped up and danced through 'Old Char
many Fair with a brisk vigor that put {
shame the unwilling and clumsy efforts o
the constable. and made the tow tongs an,
the blue coattails snap and flap around hi
shriveled old yellow legs. 1t was c~ertainl,
most astonishing to see such agility an
activity in a man SO aged, and in one s.
rheumatic and SO witch-ridden an hour pre-
viously. At last q passing farm wagol
picked him up and carried him and hi
great bundle TO his own door.
AS CuddymOnk replanted his early pota
toes the following morning, he once NOR
so~liloquized to his wife:
II tell you, Rosann, dat ole fool OBJ
Cranston won't nebber rest me fer deb
no more. 1 amt goin' TO raise no more pigs
anyway, even eff / does get EN- somewha
cheap. 'Tatoes is better'n pigs. Times neb
ber'n be good in dis country till ebbery
body stops raisin' pigs an plants 'tatoes
dat's de true secret OBJ dis pollitercul crisi
oh dis land"
Alice Morse Earle, in the Independent.