The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-05-04
GUILTY HANDS.

CLOUDS DbeW up from Richmond, but the
inhabitants Of "ole Squire GodboIt's"
quarters were tho only ones who know
that sign Marin Hubby originated tho
idea She would stand in the midst Of
cunclave Of woolly heads, and pointing
to shadowy clouds just rising above tho
horizon would roll her eyes In most orao-
ular fashion, and her words would
emerge ponderously, as tho telling blows
of slcdgo hammer
"Do smoke am 'oendin," she would
say, land dc 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 one man who did not believe
in signs That WINS Terror Fire. He
would grunt disdainfully Mt her prognos-
dcations and heap ridicule upon her
signs
'Nebber yo' min, Terror Fire, " she
would scream wrathfully, "some OBJ my
signs am gwino ter be yo' ondoin. Now,
30 min Yo amt done been bit fo'
times by moccasin fer nuttin OATS
sign enuff dat dc debble am in yer.
Now, oil yo' niggcrs hear me talldnr'
I'VE hears yo', Marin Hubby" they
would say, and Terror Fire would laugh
loud, slow laugh and uot of to his
cabin He was great Terror was He
was the surly, cynical Diogcnes of tho
plantation, and Squire Godbolt often
found 1t In his heart to obstruct some of
1Nax IA
allotted by Marin Hubby. You SEQ it
came about this way:
Attached to tho "big house" and not
far from the quarters there Yves a poul-
Try yard, and in this poultry yard there
fourtshod and grew many fowls of both
sexes They were beautiful birds and
the pride Of Mrs Godbolt's heart Very
we'll There were moro hens than roost-
ersi consequently the Inter were raro
and much priced. However, there wro
several rooetors but ono big follow, who
wns sultan of tho harun- He "yuled tho
roost, =" and every morning rust at day
his voice was tho first living sound to
BIO heard This fellow was named Adam
and was the apple of Mrs. Godbolt's eye.
She knew his crow from all the others
and every morning would arouse herself
to catch the liquid notes Of his carly
salutation; then she would fall nsloep
again, satisfied that he was there.
But ono day she awollo and liste,ed,
and listened in vain, for the call of tho
chanticlccr The shades OF midnight
vanished, and the rising sun peeped in
through the cracks and still no sound
had reused the sleeping world Not
cock had CrOwcd They were waiting for
tho great lord to have his ''say, but the
great lords voice was silent and Mrs
Godbolt's heart shuddcrcd within her.
She owokc the squire, and together they
repaired to the fOwlhouso There, ON
tho roosts and in the nests and m the
ground, were oil tho chickens safe and
sound, all but-Adam. Mira Godbolt
gave little scream, and the squire
rushed into the house and blew the horn.
Madly, flcrccly, he blew it, and tho
sounds brought all tho negroes into the
yard
Now" said Squire Godbolt, Il
want you ell to listen, for have got
something to say. You arc all paying
attention.
Eyes sah," they ctorused, and Marin
Hubby Whispered. "Do Emancipation am
dono como; do smoke am 'ocndin from
Richmond"
But sho was wrong; tho next words
showed how wrong. and scattered oil
ecstatic hopes.
Woll," roarcd tho squire, adam
is gone and am going to find him
Now, the Niger who has that rooster
crffr MI IL
His words foil like thundrboit
They all know Adam, and they saw
from tho squirrels determined look that
he meant what he said
'Hand him over" reiterated the
squire, and every negroes knees shook
but VIC amt got him, squire, m
how can we han him obee when we
mn't got himT'
It was Terror Fire who spoke, and
some Of them wondered OF his nerve but
Marm Hubby smiled and shook her head
Thunderationp' yelled the squire
well, hos gone, and somebody's got
him, and mean to find out where he is "
They argued there for two hours, and
ct the end Of that time were no wiser
than at first Then Marin Hubby camo
to the rescue. She stepped up to the
squire, and dropping a "curtsy' wished
to have "a word i'll private. The negroes
were dumfoundcd
Marin Huldy couldn't a-stolc dat
rooster" they said. ''Marm Hubby am
honcs'r'
But whatever Marm Hubby was con-
Tossing it pleased the squire, and he
bowed his head and smiled two or three
times during the discourse. Then Marin
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