Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-08-25


log cabin that stood In the center.
A approached the open door Of the |
hut feeble voice from within called:
''Is dat You. Marse Stenyy'' and then |
halting steps sounded on the rude plank |
door. master. Ia you come fer ole |
Prince at lasT'
In the doorway stood the bent and de- |
crepit form Of an aged negro. His hair
was white as snow, and his thin hands
were extended before him in supplica-
ton. His eyes, now dim, seemed daz-
aled by the light, but tears Of JOY flowed
down the burrows Of his checks as he
eagerly tottered forward.
..Ize watched fer you. Marse Steny,r
he said in broken accents. As he took
my hand In his feeble fingers he bent TO
kiss it. gently told him that ! was
not his master. For moment he seemed
stunned; then raising his eyes and peer
ing closely into mine he dropped my
hand. and turning away hobbled back to
his hut. When entered few minutes
later he was seated by the vacant fire.
place mumbling to himself.
| SO this was Prince, the strange being
whom the negroes feared and every one
wondered at. Looking at him now J
could readily believe that he was quite
a hundred years old.
While Prince was muttering stupidity
| TO himself glanced about the single
room Of the cabin. A great pile Of lotus
seeds. gathered from the canals where
the flowers bloomed in abundance, was
stacked IN one corner. Ravenous with
hunger ate few. They were sweet
and pleasant to the taste, but soon caused
adrowsy sensation. sat down opposite
Prince, and as night drew on and the
air grew chill went out and collected
enough brush to start a fire. The river
was still turbulent. Great blocks OF
earth had been washed from either end
of our little island, which was rapidly
growing smaller.
Under the cheerful rays of the fire
Prince seemed to brighten up.
"lt's freshetin," ! heard him mutter
two or three times.
Yes, II Ii fresheting,- said. The
words seemed to rouse Princes dormant
powers. for he half rose from his seat.
Den Marse Steny'il come" ex.
claimed the aged darky as he raised his
trembling arms in prayer. He allus
use ter come ober here 10 watch de
foods" said Prince, looking me straight
in the eyes. Every trace Of infirmity
seemed to vanish. His mind was clear
again, but it was busy with events Of
half q century ago. he was q slave once
more. awaiting word from his master.
"Dnz you know Marse StenyT asked
Prince. DE one wot owns dis place an
all de niggersY"
.No." | answered gently; Il am I
stranger"
Ain you nebber hear tell bout how
| is marry de young marse ter Missi'
Grace, an how de ole marse Is nebbel
forgib me? But Marse Steny Is prornis'
, to come back for me, an he'll do it.
And Prince put out his wrinkled hand
to the blaze and gazed into the fire.
D tell me about it." | asked.
: "Well, il was dis way" began Prince
ii wuz a ole nigger wen de marse--da
wuz my secon marse--is git kill in de fit
/ wild de Mexicans. Marse Steny been
baby bout fibe yeah ole. Der ole missi
! | is glib me ter him, cos ne granpa, wot
] kill, alwa's say he kin trus' me. Mars
: Steny pa il trus' me too. An ebrytin
20 long kansum like till de votin cur
k bout Mister Lincum. Dat Is bring trut
I BILE, cos Marse Elliott is jess cum wild b
! family frum de norf, an he say he goi
1 ter vote for Marse Lincum. Dat Is mec
I my marse mad, and he say Marse Stem
mus stop visitin ober cross de ribber q
Marie Elliott's. Marse Steny been
| sln.. ha l,a s.nt
Q ter visit who he please. Dat wuz CO
!. Missile Grace lub him, an he lub hei
q Well, long bout harves' time Mars
y Steny IL come to me an say: Prince
Q sezee, You Is a Clergyman, ain you
i Yes sezi, Il is. Wot kin do for yor
t Marse StenyY 4 want yer to marry m
II to Missile Grace says Marse Steny. a
/ dats as shoah as is sittin yeah now.
u 81 wanter larf at fust, but Marse Stem
l. is look 90 grabe sees he been In dea
9 artist, SO | ain say nuthen, but bow
. my head specially. an wen Marse Sten
70 git trou talkin az him ef Missile Gras
goin ter low niger ter marry 'er.
% ''Marse Steny larf an say Missile Graz
y is cum from Ian where it don't mec
It NO diff'rens wedder you Is w'ite er bracl
10 Den know Marse Steny ain jolrin, an
70 In meek promise ter do wot he say.
n ".Prince,' sezee, you mus hide me
g yc' cabin for sebral days. an dat mite !
a cum down ter de plantashun. an we
70 all do niggers is gone down ter de qua
d ters Marse Steny Is cumin ter my cab
It un knock. was sittin by de fire je
q like dis tinkin oh de time dat Mar
y Steny wuz leetle boy an uster cum
70 see us niggers ON de plantashun an el
1. de same yittles wot we did. Do ribb,
g wuz a-rizip fas', an ailus liked ter lists
N ter its roarin.
X "Bress my soul ef Marse steny didn
stay all dat mite, an de mex and de ne,
y Den he sen me mp TO de big house wild
g letter to he pa. | don't know wot d.
Is letter sed. but de ole marse wuz pow'f
10 mad. de swar dat Marse Steny Is di
" grase ter de family, an dat no one mu
'p sber mention he name en- de famb
IN gain. tink. though. dat Marse Ster
N muster sed sumptin about votin Mr.. Lii
b cum, cos de marse ain eben ax mo wi
et git de letter from.
ne "Arter he git trou cussin he jess tui
- he back ter hide he tears 'Abosel. Alb
ID sci. my son Abosel, he say. Denis |
q berry words. Den he went inter ,
TO house, and frum dat day on he ain eb
at speak bout Marss Steny, an wun d;
ik wen de w'ite oberseer is mensun Mar
y, Elliott name de ole marse less tul