Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-08-17
ADAMS PICKANINNY.

CkANINNY. !
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
to pitch the circus tent should be favor.
able. none % eager that the tent should
b full He stole into the town to case
upon The eaudy posters that announced
the fact that eignorina Dingo, child
prodigy, would make her nrst appear.
anct that evening. and no pilgrim be-
fore . shrine could have Gased more
devotsdly upon bic patron saint than
did Adam upon the little figure thus
slarinSiy advertised.
All during The afternoon he went rest.
leesly IN and out the circus ring, rak.
Ing the sawdust and removing every oh.
stacle that might tend In any way to
make Floss stumble. And the coat Of
Floss, how Il shonei What did he care
that the clown kicked, the juggler cufI.
"a hint What heed paid he when the
stableman knocked him down because
bic ugly Niger face gave him the
"jumpsF His little pickaniuny was to
ride forth like queen, and the world
would b The better for merely looking
upon her dear form.
Half IN hour before the performance
began Mimi sent for Adam to go her
dress. On uptoe be stole into the room,
and when be met the smile Of the radi.
ant little child he suddenly stopped.
Then into the dog.like. weary eyes Of
the old man came bitter sweet tears.
"Oh, pickaninny. little angelr hs
cried, and then he fell on his knees.
I. "0et up. you stupid old ,Adami'' com.
manded Mimi, running toward her
friend and putting her arms round his
neck.
"oh. iillsy misssy. " makes ole Adam
feel 20 GOOD"
"Aiind and throw that bunch Of II.
lacs when leave the ring, ADAM" con.
tinued the child. "And isn't my dress
prstty-reai spansles. Adam. and open.
work stockings!'
"Ys bst lllsy missey, Adams got Q
bunch Of lubley white lilac. He bought
Il all hissslf. VIII missey be too proud
to come to him after all the shouun'
and clappin' and sib him kiss for true
Tubs sakef'
r. "I'll come 10 you. Adam. You may
kiss me now. Adam"
And hs kissed her.
When the time came for bic little
pickaninny to appear. hs grew horribly
nervous. He had been forbidden from
being near the ring. but what cared hs
for oil the orders in Christendom2
In the distance he could sse Mimi
mounting her little white steed, and
then Beppo. the riding master. sprang
on his own brown horse. and. taking
the long silken reins suspended from
Floss mouth. prepared to ride behind
the excited child. The music was be.
ginning to play an old plantation song,
and Mimi, blowing kisses, rode In front
Of Beppo into the ring.
The old mans heart swelled at the
round Of applause that greeted her.
Adoringiy be. watched the little figure
In IL diaphanous drapery. and be could
have wept for Joy when the frst ''turn"
was successfully accomplished. Pres.
entity the time arrived when Signorina
Dingo and Beppo were to Jump through
four gaily decorated hoops.
This part Of the performance filled
Adam with nervous apprehension. and
hs did not like tho look Of the great
brown horse In the wake Of the white
pony. He crept forward into an open.
Ing Of the ring. unheeding the blows
and curses leveled ut him. In bis hand
hs held Q great bunch Of lilacs. the
perfume Of which contrasted with the
close. unpleasant air.
What Q pretty waits tune they were
playing. and that darling pickaninny!
how well she Jumped! One ring was
successfully accomplished--two rings
when she slipped and fell In front Of
Beppo's horse. Just 40 bis master was
prepared to jump.
A shrill crp rang through the circus.
The multitude turned their faces shud.
deringly aside. and women tainted.
But instead Of little child vending
her way to the kingdom Of God, Jesus
saw At to call to him an old. old man!
For Adam. seeing the terrible danger
Of bis darling. had. with marvellous
agility, bounded forward and rescued
the child from beneath the trampling
hoofs. receiving the death wound that
might have been the fate Of his little
pickaninny.
And then for the first time, and, alas!
too late, they who had ever used rough
words to the old man spoke to him gen.
uy. Gently, too. they lifted him and
laid him on heap Of old sacking out
side the stable Of Floss. They did not
heed the bunch OF lilac.
He lay there moaning family as the
cool water was dashed across bis face.
and then he by and by opened bis dim
eyes.
"Pickaninny," he sighed.
"Here. Adamv cried the voice he
loved so well. And Mimi n her white
wings and white robe came and knelt
by his side.
mot hurt nowhere. honey dear?'
"!sowhere, Adam"
"Ain't got no bunch Of lilac, dearie."
The child hung tenderly above him.
"Oh, Adam! Are you Ill? Does 1t
hurt very much?"
"Don't cry. dear honey piclkaninny.
Ole Adam, he used to pain. Ebber since
he was q black boy baby he not had
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