The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1894-09-08


log cabin that stood in the center.
A approached the open door Of the
hut feeble voice from within called:
lis dat you, Marse StenyY' and then
hating steps sounded on the rude plank
floor. Master, is you come fer ole
Prince at las'T
In the doorway stood the bent and de-
crepit form Of an aged negro. His hair
was white as snow, and his thin hands
were extended before him in supplica-
tion. His eyes, now dim, seemed daz-
zled by the light, but tears Of joy flowed
down the burrows Of his cheeks as he
eagerly tottered forward.
"l'ze watched fer you, Marse Steny,"
he said in broken accents. AS he took
my hand in his feeble fingers he bent to
kiss it. | gently told him that l was
not his master. For moment he seemed
stunned; then raising his eyes and peer
ing closely into mine he dropped my
hand, and turning away hobbled back to
his hut When entered few minutes
later he was seated by the vacant fire
place mumbling TO himself
SO this was Prince, the strange being
whom the negroes feared and every one
wondered at. Looking at him now
could readily believe that he was quite
a hundred years old.
While Prince was muttering stupidity
to himself glanced about the single
room Of the cabin. A great pile of lotus
seeds, gathered from the canals where
the flowers bloomed in abundance, was
stacked In one corner. Ravenous with
hunger | ate few. They were sweet
and pleasant to the taste, but soon caused
drowsy sensation. | sat down opposite
Prince, and as night drew on and the
air grew chill | went out and collected
enough brush to start fire. The river
was still turbulent. Great blocks Of
earth had been washed from either end
of our little island. which was rapidly
growing smaller.
Under the cheerful rays of the fire
Prince seemed to brighten up.
Its freshetin," heard him mutter
two or three times.
Eyes, it is fresheting," | said. The
words seemed to rouse Princes dormant
powers, Tor he half rose from his seat.
Den Marse Steny'l come,' ex-
claimed the aged darby as he raised his
trembling arms in prayer. He allus
use ter come ober here to watch de
floods" said Prince, looking me straight
in the eyes. Every trace of infrmity
seemed to vanish. His mind was clear
again, but it was busy with events of
half century ago. He was slave once
more awaiting word from his master.
"Duz you know Marse StenyS' asked
Prince. "De one wot owns dis place an
all de niggersY
NO" | answered gently; 81 am a
stranger"
"Ain' you nebber hear tell bout how
is marry de young marse ter Missile
Grace, an how de ole marse is nebbeI
forgib me? But Marse Steny is promise
to come back for me, an he'll do it, >
And Prince put out his wrinkled hand,
to the blaze and gazed into the fire.
Tell Inc about it, | asked.
"Well, it was dis way" began Prince
IL wuz ole Niger wen de marse-dai
wuz my secon marse-is git kill in de fife
wild de Mexicans. Marse Steny been q
baby bout fibe yeah ole. Der ole missi.
is Glib me ter him, cos he granpa, wot i.
kill. alwa's say he kin trus' me. Mars,
Steny pa is trus me too. An ebryting
20 long hansum like till de votin cum
bout Mister Lincum. Dat is bring trub
BILE. cos Marse Elliott is jess cum wild h,
| family frum de norf, an he say he goir
ter vote for Marse Lincum. Dat is mech
my marse mad. and he say Marse Steny
mus stop visitin ober cross dc ribber a
Marie Elliott's. Marse Steny been 4
crowd up man den, and he say he goir
ter visit who he please. Dat wuz Coz
Missile Grace Tub him, an he Tub her
Well, long bout harves' time Mars,
Steny is come to me an say; Prince,
sezee, you is a Clergyman, ain you?
Yes, sezi, Il is. Wot kin do for you
Marse Stenyy 4 want yer TO marry m,
to Missile Grace says Marse Steny, al
OATS as shoah as is sittin yeah now.
al wanter larf at fust, but Marse Stenl
is look so grade sees he been in dea(
artist. SO ain say nuthen, but bow
my head specially. an wen Marse Steny
git trou talkin ak him eff Missile Grace
goin ter low niger ter marry 'er.
"Marse Steny larf an say Missile Grac,
is cum from Ian where it don't mecl
no diff'rens wedder you is wife er brack
Den know Marse Steny ain jokin. an
is meek promise ter do wot he say.
prince. sezee, you mus hide me il
yo' cabin for sebral days, an dat mite h
cum down ter de plantashun, an WEI
all de niggers is gone down ter de quar-
tiers Marse Steny is cumin ter my cabii
un knock. | was sittin by de fire jes
like dis tinlin OBJ de time dat Mars
Steny wuz leetle boy an ulster cum I,
see us niggers on de plantashun an ca
de same vittles wot we did. De ribbe
wuz a-rizin fas'. an allus liked ter lister
ter its roarin.
Dress my soul ef Marse Steny didn'
stay all dat mite. an de mex and de mex
Den he sen me mp to de big house wild
letter to he pa. don't know wot da
letter sed, but de ole marse wuz pow'fu
mad. He swar dat Marse Steny is a dis
erase ter de family. an dat no one mus
cher mention he name en- de fambl,
gain. tink, though. dat Marse Stem,
muster sed sumptin about votin Mr.. Lin
cum, cos de marse ain chen ak me wa
| git de letter from.
"Arter he git trou cussin he jess tur1