The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-02

With the rest he was brought 10
America, where he was sold to Nlr-
ginia planter, fetching very high
price. Along with him in the same
ship was an Arab girl, and she was al
so bought by the planter. Nothing
was said in the diary in regard to the
history of this girl, except that she
became Ben Ais wife, and bore HIM
a son and a daughter. The son was
Aaron, so named. The daughter died
while yet a child.
These things Aaron told the chill
dren, little by little and in a rambling
way, begging Buster John and Sweet
est Susan to say nothing about the
matter to any person, and threatening
Drusilla with uplifted finger that If she
opened her mouth about it that he
would put "the misery on her. Dru-
silla had seen negroes who were vic
TINS of "the misery which is the
plantation name Of the spell that con
iurers put on people, and she declared
over and over again that she wouldn't
tcll-"crossing her heart to show That
she meant what she said.
Can we talk with the animals sure
enough-the horses, the cows, the
sheep, the dogs, and the hogs?' asked
Buster John.
Aaron smiled as he answered: "A
little bit now, more pretty soon. The
sheep don't know Sheep don't talk
much around me. But the others are
talking all the time. You must watch
all the motions they make, shutting
the eye, switching the tail, Hopping
the ear, stamping the foot-all part
of the talk"
when shall we try?" asked Buster
John.
Right after dinner" replied Aaron
Wen go see old Timoleon."
"Timoleon!" cried Sweetest Susan,
in dismay.
Aaron laughed and nodded his head
Wen take him out of the stable and
see what ne says Timoleon's "A good
talker."
''Oh, I'm afraid to go." cried Sweet
est Susan. Mamma told me never 10
go near Timoleon's stable"
''Ill tell you de plain trufe, said
Drusilla, vehemently. II wouldn't go
up dar in dat fiel' whar dat boss is
| wouldn't go dar, not fer money. Amt
! done see i'm jump on niger man
an tar de cloze off'n i'm? Uhuh! you
don't ketch me up dar."
Little Missy win go with me" re-
marked Aaron. Then he pointed 10
Drusilla. You go or stay, but, look
out! No taxi"
"Ill sit on de fence an see de boss
eat 'em up" suggested Drusilla, by
way Of compromise.
She'll go if / do said Sweetest SUI
san.
"You mus not be agwine. den, was
Drusilla's comment.
Aaron looked at the girl so severely
that she shrank back.
Don't mind Drusilla,' said Sweetest
Susan. "She doesn't mean anything
she says, except when she asks for
something to eat"
after dinner wen go 10 see limo
leon. If he seems like he's in a good
humor," Aaron explained. ''well bring
him out. If he has been fretting Wen
let him stay"
This was perfectly satisfactory to
the children, especially to Buster John
They went to play, but they only
pretended to play. All they could do
was to discuss what they had already
seen and heard and what they hoped
TO see and hear Time seemed to pass
very slowly. They sat down and
talked, and then walked about and
talked, but still it was not dinner time.
They would have become very impa-
tient indeed had not Buster John
CHANGED 10 hear the big gray rooster
call out to the yellow hen:
Run, run, run. Here's a bug!
The yellow hen went running, but
Just as she reached the gray rooster
he turned and walked away with great
dignity, saying: Come on, let's go:
come on.
II might have known it. com
planned the yellow hen; you are like
all the rest of the ROSTERS. \ respec-
table hen can't depend on anything
you say"
Come on. come on" said the big
gray rooster, strutting along Il was
just trying to get you away from that
one-eyed dominicker. He's not fit
company for you TO associate with"
''Hoity-toity!" cried the yellow hen.
"And didn't | see you this morning
scratching your toes off for the Fries
land pullet?"
Buster John and Sweetest Susan
laughed heartily at this, but Drusilla
was very serious.
II dunno which de wuss,' she cried,
'chickens or folks"
After that time no longer hung
heavy on the children's hands When
the dinner bell rang Buster John and
Sweetest Susan were on hand promptly,
with their faces washed and their hair
combed. They were so anxious to get
through their dinner that they ate
rapidly, and this attracted the atten
ton OF their mother, who wanted to
know what they had been doing to
make them so hungry The only sat
isfaction she got was request to
"Please, ma'am, make haste and have
some dinner fixed for Drusila."
This was very soon done, and in Il
little while the children were ready to
go with Aaron to see Timoleon
CHAPTER H.
RIDE on THE BLACK STALLION
\ II ae 81 "a.