The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-03-14

Epflraim could stay indoors and watch
for the people coming to cross. Isley
did their own cooking: they patched.
theN sCwed and often / have seen the
weeks washing. a dinSy array, adoril-
ing the branches of the solitary fig tree
near their door. They seemed to live
rather an isolated life. Most of their old
: time friends had died. or the years had
not the link which binds the older to the
younger generation, being childless; so,
feeling themselves separate and apart
from those around them. they drew
more and more within themselves and
became more and more necessary to
I each other. Theirs was a life of humble
] poverty and To the outside observer
idyIIic in its peaceful content Yet L.
who passed that way often and became
/ interested in the odd pair, soon discov-
I cred that i'm the breast cf one OF them.
! AT least, perfect ccntenment did not
/ dwell
Uncle Ephraim Webster was very anx-
iouS to make money: was almost ava
riciOUs il seemed. The desire showed it.
self in the loving glance bestowed on the
/ dollar dropped into his hand each month
! 10 settle for our monthly crossing. in the
nervous haste with which he FASTENED
/ to put us over. fearing a little delay on
! his part might make us desert TO the
| prosperous upper ferry: i'm the eIoquence
with which he dwelt on the danger to
( life and limb which passengers on the
steam ferry encountered through the
/ panic Of their horses at them there new
| fashioned steam fixius." while he des-
/ canted feelingly on his own interest in
us, his prOmptneSS and faithfulneSs in
/ being always on hand to cross at any
! hour. He resOrted TO many little odd
/ Johs 10 bring in pickles and dimes. lie
] PLAYED the part of village cob
/ bier and sat mp late at night
/ patching and residing old shoes He got
I ms mouse rent free by watching over the
| warehouse by the ferry for its owner.
| He caught fish and sold TO those cross
/ ing mis- ferry, and he raised a few chick
ems Tor sale. IN summer he bought
/ melons and resOd them TO the thirsty
( wdytarer; not. he said, that he cleared
! much in money. but most Of the people
/ ate them al his house and his horse
! and chickens got the benefit of the rinds
! and seeds. Yes. Uncle EphTaim undoubt-
1 eddy loved money and the general opin-
! ION was that ne had quite a sum boarded
/ mp. /. who knew him better. knew that
/ he had an ambition, master passion
/ which ruled his life. Few knew of it,
4 and ! quite aceidently found it out.
Uncle EFhraim had not always lived
: in this little coast village. The land of
his nativity was the land of cotton and
I corn. of large plantations and their in
! eVitable accompaniment OF Commodious
+ negro quarters Following the pillow all
/ day long with many a WhOOp and halloO
at his mule his own special care and
merry negroes. hauling To the gin and
/ then. browning event OF the year. hap
pieSt and meTTieSt season of sightseeing
/ driving the fOur-mule wagon laden with
/ cotton bales TO the distant city: those
/ We're his occupations from childhood 10
. manhood. and were as much a part of
! him as the breath by which life dweIt
/ In his body. To these his thoughts turn
! cd with the persistent fondness with
| which old age Clings TO youth. Though
/ G-T Of
! time his imagination fingered always
| around the old quarters. where. when
! the days work was done. laughing
! crowds assembled. testing telling tales
| and listening 10 the music Of banjo and
| fiddle. There the brief romance of his
] life was enacted for there ne loved and
! Won his sweetheart. Susie. There dwelt
his father and mother, his brothers and
F, sisters.
Torn from all these in his first man
| hood he had drifted from hand TO hand
| until the day of his freedom found him
| stranded here at Ford's Bayou. in a
/ country totally different from his own,
! among people in customs as unlike those
| with whom he had been raised as if
| they claimed different nationality. His
| esIg. tuned to the misic Of plantation
! sounds. shIank from the rasping and
| Earring of the saw mills, his heart yearn-
| ed for the green hills Of home. while
! his eye wearied on the everlasting
| stretches of pines aud marshes.
Distinctly ] recall the light which
! TRANSPORTED his face when | casually
a visit 90 NJ. ITO ~? Then YOU
| must have been near Chular' he cried.
with such animation stirring his frame
that ne seemed another being.
II made him open his heart and ne
! poured out his sorrows, and told me Of
! the one great ambition Of his life.
For years he had been trying TO earn
money to go back to Chula. once ne
had enough and was getting ready 10
! start when he was taken sick and after
! a long illness all that he had went to
| pay his drug and doctors bills
| Again he had almost enough, when he
| was robbed of his last cent For years aft
| er this he did not try. but gave way TO
ings regained their mastery over him.
and little by little he had again nearly
accumulated the amount he wished.
Il was pitiful sum he need. One hum
| dred dollars would carry him back and
buy some little tokens of remembrance
for his long lost friends, and another
| hundred would buy mule and give him
| a start. for the old man had a pride
| which forbade his returning after all
| these years as a beggar. Many a man
| has thrown away more in an hours
| reckless extravaganza without a thought
| to il. but To the old darkey It repre-
| scented the savings Of half a life. It's
| gain meant dreams fulfilled. happiness;
| its loss meant despair.
IAN things come 10 those who wait"
It's said. and at length to Uncle Eph-
! ralnl' came the desire Of his life.
| never saw a face so hope-lighted so
/ tremuous with joy and excitement as
| his the day he left Even the parting
| with Uncle Moses" his friend of later
| years. scarcely left trace OF regret,
| for his veins were surging and throb-
| bling with sweet memories Of youth and
| its loves.
II was in early fall and used TO
/ think Of him often i'm the DAYS that
/ came after. following the windings
! Of the white-aeeced cotton rows i'm the
| company of his restored friend. drinking
in the glory Of the changing season with
, all the bliss Of satisfied heart, Think
ing thus as I approacha the bayou one
| evening. | was surprised 20 sec a fanil-
lar form sitting by the ferry. Could
| IT, be Uncle Fps 90 Yes. and no. II
was the same old bent figure but the
/ face was changed. The hope which had
| irradisted n was gone and In its stead
| dizziness. a woefuI darkness had