The Portland daily press., 1894-07-13
jocks LII BOY.

81 can't lot you off now, jock ex-
postulated impatiently. 'sThese lines
must be run by Saturday. and you are the
best chopper have. Can't you wait till
next week."
Jock looked down at me a little re-
proachfully thought.
''I'ze bleeged ter go, boss, he said de-
cisively. 81 done tole yo my lip boys
wuss. Marg'et's lobe jes fotched me de
news. I'd like pow full ter hep yo' all,
but jes' cayn't, dom yo' see?"
Every well,'' answered irritably as
opened my pocketbook and counted out
the money due him. "Only don't come
whining around after more work. can't
be forever taking on new hands and learn
ing them the ropes. I want men who will
stand by me"
I spoke rather more vehemently than
meant to, but liked Jock and was very
unwilling to have him go. He had only
been with me few weeks, but was al
ready worth any two men had. Consid-
erably over feet in height and strong
and massive in proportion, he was at once
fertile in expedients and perfectly obedient
to orders. These two unusual attributes
were what had recommended him to me
In the first place. for my experience with
negroes had taught me that they were
usually dull and shiftless. But Jock was
different from any man had ever met
white or black. He was an interchangeable
hunter and fisherman, and there was not
bird or beast or phase of wood life with
which he did not seem to be familiar. And
his familiarity was not that of ignorance.
I was often astonished at the stray bits OF
scientific information which came uncon-
sciously from his lips. He never seemed
to get weary, and out of work hours was
usually off in the woods or busy about
the campfire. Most Of our game was
caught by him during the night, and in
deed most of it was prepared by him also,
for he seemed to know more about cook
ing than our camp boy himself Nearly
every day he brought me delicious stew
or roast which he had prepared himself,
and always presented it with some such
remark as, Ode doctor show me Bout
dis, or, IBIS de way de doctor done hit. ;"
Twas thinking regrstfully of these extra
dishes as I turned my instrument around
and sighted, back over the line. Every
thing was all right, and I signaled the
rear man to come forward. AS took out
my field book to make some notes was
conscious of a slight touch ON my shoulder.
"What, not gone YETI" I asked.
mo boss; I cayn't go dis away. Eff !
aln't come back no mo-, I don wan yo'
t'ink OBJ me as no count niger. jes'
'bleeged ter 60"
t'Oh, that's all right" I answered,
little ashamed of my ill temper. you
needn't mind what I said about not com
ing back. 1 was out of sorts. If I have a
place, shall be glad to take you on any
time
The black face cleared instantly.
"T'ank yo', boss! Tank yo', sab!
like yo' all's wuk. Yo'se de bes' boss I'ze
had, 'cet'n de DOCTOR
glanced down the line. The rear man
was fully one-fourth of a mile away and
walking slowly. 1t would be 10 minutes
before he would arrive. I slipped the field
book into my pocket and sat down upon
a stump.
"Who is this doctor you are forever
talking about, Jock?" asked. II am
getting curious about him.
Jocks face became grave once more.
fancied I could see tears glistening in his
eyes.
He's de bes' man dat cher lib, sab; de
bes' man de good Gawd cher made. I been
his body sarbent for 10 year, an wuk for
him, an watch ober him, an nuss him. I
watch him so almos' know w at he t'ink
bout. He didn't hab no TO- ks, nowhars
an he ulster say dat war his'n's family
He TUX me in de woods wen he hunt
bugs an things, an he TUX me in de city
wen he wuk for de pore folks. He done
let me hep in mos eberyt'ing he do"
"How came you to leave him?"
81 didn't leabe him, sab; he done lef'
me. De good Gawd tux him. Wen de yal-
Ter fever bruk out, he wuk night an day.
LAX he alters do. Mos eberybody git outen
de city, but de pore folks halter stay, an
de doctors an muses. halter stay ter look
arter 'em. DR.. Hatton stan hit for seben
week, den he TUX de fever an de-
"Dr. Hatton!'' I exclaimed. "That
name sounds familiar
"Co Sc hit do, sab. De papers war full
OBJ hit. De doctor war rich man, an he
done glib bofe his life an money to de
cause. reckon de whole worl done hear
bout'n him. He wuk night an day. all de
time, an nebber fought OBJ RESI-"
'And you remained with him through
it alp" asked
sob co'se!' Jock answered simply.
De dOcUor lowed war gOou NE p. war
big an strong an could wuk roun an lif'
de sick fo'ks.''
''And you didn't get the fever?'
"No, sahp' showing his teeth little
"I reckon dis nigger's skin too tick for
fever git frou. Wen de doctor die hab
no wax, so l nuss roun till de winter
come an brek de fever. Den pick up all
de doctors things. Yo' see," his voice
growing low and tremulous, ''de doctor
done tote me sell eberyt'ing he hab lef'
an buy me iii home somewhat. I git
fo' hundred dollar an come isaway. Yo'
know"
nodded had often seen and admired
Jocks little vine covered cottage and
wondered at his exquisite taste in shrubs
and flowers. On one occasion had met
him walking back and forth, grooming
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