The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-01-19
tI Gu"n ms own infancy,
- years the ques-

- years h ques-
.A.I .4oi altogether
unsettlcd, for the negro was five or six
years t..o sollor. How they had hunt
ed a-a "t",. OF aud SGT gums for rab-
bits and snares for birds a4i robbed
nests! Loose "~1 trH", on Lsam sur
veyed with p.v,.! a-.-.,..~,.on tie ma
jor3 ilo1ce attack upDl the morning
meal.
'Dere am no spring chick'n en- der
pam" he said snntr .opsly. but er
fuss rate app tire A-li.t dcs' es good
er grip on c. tap or LaCun es hit kin on
er y..ior ie' chicken.
There is something in that. said
the major. Get your flip, you black
rascal. aad GO to eating" But Isam
shook his head.
mo, sab. Wen err niger feeds. he
don wan no wife folks roun. He
wan ter git off en- mop de pan 'thout
'tract'n 'tention ter hisse'f."
1T seems to me-, slil tho major. as
he transferred another flip Of bacon to
his platter, that it must be mighty
hard for an honest niger to live COM
fortably out here"
Isam's face took on a look of personal
injury.
Err homes nigg'r." he said. stirrir'
up the ashes and inserting fresh cake,
don eat no mo- out hyah den he do al
home, not a bit. Rashuns es rashun,
Annywnar you fine 'eln. En- | hear
say" he continued significantly. wen
folks goo. CT vis'tin d~y don 'quire es
ter de year MARKS nv de pig, Wen back
bone EN- spar ribs en- chine es sot out. "
Your idea Of etiquette is perfectly
sound, Isam.'
En- der only time wen folks waits
vis'tin got er right ter git der backs up
es wen de gem'man feed 'esse'f high en-
feed t others low
With an air Of dignity tho old negro
gathered up the remnants of the spread,
i the major having finished and retired to
allay the pangs CT an increased appetite,
but he was doomed to further delay. A
most profane ejaculation fell from the
majors lips and came to his ears.
"Des' es | said, dere it's ergin-ter-
hacker now" He put aside the repast
and grumblingly investigated the kit
once more. EN- | reck'n wen he see
dis yer bag er terbacker he go'n ter
want hits ped gree all way back
Nevertheless he produced it, with a
handful of corncob pipes, and cutting a
reed stem handed to the major the fin
est smoking outfit in the world. AS
Isam skillfully balanced a glowing coal
upon the little heap of tobacco he con-
cluded:
Somehow nuther sump'n said bout
time de runaway noshun struck in.
'Isam, you go'n ter see com'ny terday,
and hits go'n ter be Mass Craffud, SC
l DIES laid in er bag spesh'ly fur m"
The major merely drew in and ex-
PEELED a cloud of smoke. He contented
himself with saying, You are very
thoughtful" and laughing softly to
himself Isam retired to his meal. AS
he finished and stuffed his own cob pipe
full of natural leaf and perique-
brought along especially for his master
-Isam cast bis eye skyward.
Mos 10 er'clock. Mus be movin
out er hyah. Bineby overseer en- houn
be long in er hurry. Got ter git whar
meat es thicker too. Dat bacon en- hoe
cake hard ter heat, but dey don half
fill de bill wild er runway niger. Des
wait twell we git er mess er redbelly
en- brim, en- l reck'n sho' huff de fun
go'n ter b'gin ter start. Time we uz
go'n. Mass Craffud."
The major rose and followed cheer
lily. Skirting the swamp, Isam soon
found . hog path, and presently the
runaways anne in sight of the river.
A batteau was tied up in a little branch
neal by, and in it lay an AK and a
paddle.
"Isam," said the major as he clam
bered in, ''how does it happen that you
find a beat and Ak all ready here. and the
runaway notion only struck you just be-
fore day this m~orning:'
Isam shook his head as he chuckled:
Hit ain de rite time er day ter
'splain things, Mass Craffud. Dere
ain no tellin wat time dem houn's
go'n ter strike er hot trail, en- de tree
dat you kin cline ain go'n ter lif' you
out'n de reach Nv a dog" The little
boat, propelled by vigorous strokes, shot
out into the river. and gliding under
the willows bore its passengers swiftly
down stream.