The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-08-01
SELECTED STORY.
jocks LIP Boy.

Jock looked down at me little re-
proachfully 1 thought.
"I'ze blceged ter go, boss" he said de-
sisively. II done tole yo' my liz boys
wuss. Marg'ets Tobo jes' fetched me dc
news. I'd like pow full ter hep yo' all,
but jes' cayn't don yo' seer"
every well, I answered irritably as
I 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 1 want men who will
stand by me"
spoke rather moro vehemently than
meant to, but l liked Jock and was very
unwilling to have him go. He had only
been with me u few weeks, but was al
ready worth any two men had. Consid-
erably over 6 feet in height and strong
and massive in proportion, he was at once
fertile in expedients and perfectly obedient
20 orders These two unusual attributes
were what had recommended him to mo
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 1 had ever met
white or black. He was an indefatigable
hunter and fisherman and there was not n
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
10 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, dis de way de doctor done hit"
Twas thinking regretfully of these extra
dishes as l turned my instrument around
and sighted back over the line. Every
thing was all right, and 1 signaled the
rear man to come forward. AS took out
my field book to make some notes l was
conscious of slight touch on my shoulder.
"What, not gone YETI" asked
mo boss; l cayn't go dis away. Eff
aln't come back no mo-, l don wan yo'
t'ink oh me as no count Niger. l jes'
'bleeged ter GO
''Oh that's all right" 1 answered, q
little ashamed of my i'll temper. You
needn't mind what said about not com
ing back. 1 was out of sorts. If have a
place, shall be glad to take you on any
kime'
The black face cleared instantly.
t'T'ank yo', bossl Tank yo', sahl
like yo' all wuk. Yose 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. slipped the field
book into my pocket and sat down upon
stump.
'Who is this doctor you are forever
talking about, Jockf" I asked. II am
getting curious about him."
Jocks face became grave once more.
GAncied could see tears glistening In his
eyes.
Hes de bes' man dat eber lib, sab; de
Ses' man de good Gawd eber made. been
his body sarbent for 10 year, an wuk for
him, an watch ODER him, an nuss him. l
watch him so l almos' know w at he t'ink
bout He didn't hab no folks, nowhars,
an he ulster say dat I 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
sst me hep In mos eberyting he do"
"How came you to leave himr'
~ didn't leabe him, sab; he done lef'
me. De good Gawd TUX him. Wen dc 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
AFTER em. DR.. Hatton stan hit for seben
week, den he TUX de fever an de-
'Dr. Hattonp' exclaimed. "That
Aame sounds familiar"
"Co'se hit do, sab. De papers war full
oh hit. De doctor war rich man, an he
done glib bofe his life an money to dc
sause. I reckon de whole worl done hear
bout'n him. He wuk night an day, all de
time, an nebber fought OBJ res.
"And you remained with him through
Il allf" asked.
lob co'sel" Jock answered simply.
~De doctor lowed l war good hep. war
big an strong an could wuk roun an lif'
Dc sick folks"
''And you didn't get the feverS"
"No, sah" showing his teeth little
~ reckon dis nigger's skin too tick fol
fever git frou. Wen de doctor die, hal
NO wuk, so l nuss roun till de winter
come an brek de fever Den pick up all
de DOCTORS things. Yo see" his voics
growing low and tremulous, de doctor
done tole me sell eberyt'in he hab lief
an buy me li'l' home somewhat. gil
To- hundred dollar an come isaway. 70
knowf"
nodded. had often seen and admired
Jocks little vine covered cottage anC
wondered at his exquisite taste in shrub
and flowers. On one occasion had met
him walking back and forth, Grooming
some strange Africa melody to pitifu
mite Of humanity in his arms. Perhaps
bhis was he "ifr boy he was 80 fond Of.
''How Sofs your little boyt' asked.
"Dunno, sab. Reckon hes heap ol'eI
n his size, on count o. bein twisted an
disj'inted. Yo' see, boss, hit didn' peal
5es' right for me ter use de DOCTORS money
for myself. Seemed lax hit orter go tc
de pore folks, lax dc res OBJ his forchune
But dar war de orders. So I buy dc
house an den hunts roun an fms de
skimpines' pickaninny l kin - one dat
ain de leastes able ter keer for himself
an sets out ter raise him. My ole nanny
come lib wild me an hep look out fol-
t'ings. Den cherry summer I goes dowI
% der city an brings up whole passed. o
chilluns outen de street an GIBBS 'em {