The Newtown bee., 1896-11-20

while it was still light enough to dis tiUguish objects at a considerable dis taucc, stood a fat, amiable-looking Negro woman, looking of toward the hjghroad that led to the city,
 "Time dat Album I.inbum wuz hyah, decd it ann" she grumbIed, goodnatur- cdIy. "Spec' he jess fooIin long de 4trccts. Ioolin' in de sto' wjndrrs, an -pplljn, out de word on dem scanIoue thcaytor pjctcrs. Ercr Sutbrp, he low lat boy kin read printin mos oz good es he hin, aready. I mck preacher O dat chile, sho; cf libs, an nothin' don happn. done sabe up Hcbcu dolIara an o'tepu cents i'll de tin box.
 She checked herself suddenly, tasting A suspicious glance upon the form of a whitc-haircd old Negro, stretched upon the bench that raualong the front of the cabin, apparently sound asleep. A gen. tie snore proceeded from his open mouth, and his wrinkled countcrancc wore an expression of exceeding .peace. A look the reverse of peaceful disturbed the placidity of the woman's face ns she looked upon the sleeper.
 "Uuccome me ter tck an ma y dat DO ole no count nigga, wonder" she nut tered. Then, with a sigh of resignation "'Spec' it mus be de cross de good Lawd gib me fer ter cay! Brer Sutbee, he lone read it outn de good Book-'dy Lawd chase in dem he slubs.' Mus Tub me a heap mon | dcsarbs. Dat DO ole cotton-top nigga dur, he sholy hcz chasr me in, What wid his wun4ssness an his mean ways, an his appetite-'m, m ehOIy would like ter know, she added, regarding with contemptuous smile the old darky's emaciatcd form, "wbar it all goes at--au dem cabbage an yam8, an chickn an rice, an co'a-pone wha' dat DO ole racky-bones swalIer. sholy would!"
 At this moment the woman's attention was diverted by the appearance of a strange figure striaing along the path toward her. It was a very aged and very tall old Negress, clad in skimpy black garments, her deeply lined face crowned by a great white turban, under which her sunken eyes rolled uncannily. At sight of Aunt Cisly she stopped and stretching out one long arm cried shrilly:
 ''Is yo' lamp done trimmed? Is yo lamp done trlmmed?" Then coming a step nearer, and lowering her voice tc an awesome whisper, she added: "Lis ten ter me! De Day ob Jedgment is close at han! De Lawd promised mt sign, an de sign done come. I wu; settin' in de do, an all ter oncet dt dogs dey come a-whinin' an a-scrouch in 'roun' like dey skeered, an no ibin creatur' in sight! Den looks up an seen de stars a-fallin' fum de sky An den all of suddnt dey come voice-a shoutin' in ma years-'De Bridegroom comin' sDe Bridegroom comin! Is yo lamp done trimmed an burnin'? Remem Der de foolish vargins !'' Her outstretch ed arm fell to her side, anu adding, in s more natural voice; ''I'se done warned ye, Sis Cisly!" she turned and strodt away as she had come.
 Aunt Cisly watched the strange fgurc out of sight, then, wiping her dripping forehead, she exclaimed:
 "Great day in de mawnin'! Sis Beau chump cert'n'y do skeer me wen she gi dat away Mebbe somep'n gwine happ'I aho 'nough dis time. I sholy does wisE Album Linkum wuz hyah."
 A chuckle interrupted her sollloquy The old negro had risen to 8 sitting posi- tion, a cunning grin on his wrinklec countenance.
 "What dat ole 'Ooman a-doin'g' ht said, rubbing the bald spot on the top ol bis head; "what she a-whoopin' an a hollerin' roun' hyah fur, wakin' people fum dey peaceful slumbers? Dat what wan know"
 His wife looked at him with mingled contempJ and anxiety.
 "Time ye wuz woked up," she said bitterly, ''ye pol backslidin' ole sinner Sis Beauchump, she done heerd voice what say de Bridegroom comin' shc nough; an what gwine do now, lak ter know! Marry drap ob ile in de can long O 'pendin on you fur ter tek 1t to de sto, ye wufliss ole livin' skeleton, you Better listen to de warnin' yerse'f, 'stid- dier settin' dar grinnin' lak 'possum An git down on yer knees an pent 'fo