The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1894-09-15
GUILTY HANDS.

GUILTY n
Yes, sir, it was the spring Of 1866.
You could tell that from the way the
clouds blew up from Richmond, but the
inhabitants of "ole Squire Godbolt's"
quarters were the only ones who knew
that sign. Marin Hubby originated the
idea. She would stand in the midst of
a conclave of woolly heads, and pointing
to shadowy clouds just rising above the
horizon would roll her eyes in most orac-
ular fashion, and her words would
emerge ponderously, as the telling blows
of a sledge hammer.
DE smoke am 'cendin, " she would
say, ''and de Yanks am hittin hard.
Chillun, we am gwine to lebe here
Soon"
No one doubted her. They had great
faith in Marin Hubby, and she told their
fortunes in coffee grounds and chased
the witches away from their beds. But
there was n man who did not believe
in signs That was Terror Fire. He
would grunt disdainfully at her prognos-
tications and heap ridicule upon her
signs.
"Nebber yo' min, Terror Fire, " she
would scream wrathfully, "some OBJ my
signs am gwine ter be yo' ondoin. Now,
yo' min Yo' amt done been bit TO-
times by a moccasin fer nuttin- OATS
sign enuf dat de debble am in yen.
Now, all yo' niggers hear me talkin?"
I'VE hears 20, Marin Hubby" they
would say, and Terror Fire would laugh
q loud, slow laugh and trot of to his
cabin he wa great, Terror was he
was the surly, cynical Diogenes Of the
plantation, and Squire Godbolt often
found it in his heart to obstruct some Of
his sunshine, and once he was aided and
abetted by Marin Kuldy. You see it
came about this way:
Attached to the big house. and not
| far from the quarters there was q poul-
try yard, and in this poultry yard there
fourished and grew many fowls of both
sexes. They were beautiful birds and
the pride of Mrs. Godbolt's heart Very
well. There were more hens than roost-
ers; consequently the latter were rare
and much priced. However, there were
several roosters, but one big fellow, who
was sultan of the harem. He ruled the
roost," and every morning just at day
his voice was the first living sound to
be heard This fellow was named Adam
and wa the apple Of Mrs. Godbolt's eye
She knew his crow from all the others
and every morning would arou herself
to catch the liquid notes of his early
s%alutation; then she would fall asleep
again, satisfied that he was there
But n day she awok and listened,
and listened in vain, for the call Of the
chanticleer. The shades Of midnight
vanished, and the rising sun peeped in
through the cracks, and still no sound
had reused the sleeping world Not q
cock had crowed. They were waiting for
the great lord to have his Say" but the
great lords voice wa silent, and Mn
Godbolt's heart shuddered within her.
She awoke the squire, and together they
repaired to the fowlhouse. There, on
the roosts and in the nests and on the
ground, were all the chickens, safe and
sound, all but-Adam. Mr.. Godbolt
gave . little scream, and the squire
rushed into the house and blew the horn.
Madly, fiercely, he blew it, and the
sounds brought all the negroes into the
yard
Now" said Squire Godbolt, Il
want you all to listen, for l have got
something to say. You are all paying
attention."
"Yes, sah," they chorused, and Marin
Hubby Whispered, DE Emancipation am
done come; de smoke am q 'cendin from
Richmond"
But she was wrong; the next words
showed how wrong, and scattered all
ecstatic hopes
- Well" roared the squire, adam
is gone, and I am going to find him.
Now, the niger who has that rooster
step up and hand him over"
His words fell like a thunderbolt
They all knew Adam, and they saw
from the squire's determined look that
he meant what he said.
"Hand him over" reiterated the
squire, and every negro's knees shook.
But we amt got him, squire, an
how al we han him ober when WI
amt got him?"
1t was Terror Fire who spoke, and
some Of them wondered at his nerve, but
Marin Hubby smiled and shook her head.
"Thunderation!" yelled the squire.
/ well, he's gone, and somebody's got
him, and I mean to find out where he is. -
, They argued there for two hours, and
, at the end Of that time were no wiser
than at first. Then Marin Huldy came