The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1896-11-06

. - II u p,
there!' he called, running forward TO
the negro coach.
he steps were overfowing with pick
aninnies, so black that at first sight
their small features would have been
/ lndistinguishable but for the wide
crease on each face, filled with even
rows of teeth, startlingly white in con-
irast with their sooty environment.
A fat. good-looking negress, holding
az oval bundle, wrapped in an old
shawl close TO her breast. seemed to be
the center of the crowd, and an old, old
negro man, grizzled and wrinkled, was
hanging around its margin.
is you got um all, Sister CallineY'
he asked, anXiously.
'Clar if / knows" said the woman.
running her eye over the company.
Pears lax dere's one on um missin'!"
All aboard" shouted the conductor.
and the train moved.
Hayr, mistah!" shrieked Sister Cal
line, ''you'se ca in off one O. my chin"
The conductor laughed good ma
| turedly, and was gone
Oh moaned the woman. He's
done ca'ed Off one on um, suah!"
The station agent sauntered near. He
wore that intensely bored expression
only possible to a man who spends his
life in a piney woods clearing, seeing
-four trains a day go in and out and
playing checkers on barrel head in the
intervals.
"Orter have tied 'em along a rope SOS
they couldn't get away" he said.
Sister Calline turned her black velvet
orbs in his direction.
You call dat train back, l say" she
cried. He's done ca ed off one O. my
chiren."
"S'pose | can call the train back"
SAID the man, contemptuously. IF
you're sure one of em is missin' you'll
have to set down and wait here till the
train comes back. They'll bring it,
reckon"
''Oh, my pore lii chle!"
Tears began to stream down the black
face.
The wrinkled old uncle looked deeply
distressed.
is yu pint blank suah one on um's
missin', Sister Calline?" he asked, SYM
pathetically.
Her eyes wandered vague and
troubled, over the dusky, shifting crowd
OF faces.
Use mos puffickly suah," she said
Better count EN-" suggested the
agent. How many are there, any
howe"
"pere's Lu Roxy Adeline, Lucyal lier-"
Use here, nanny" interrupted
long -limbed girl of IA.
II told you TO count 'em," said the
agent, impatiently.
Il cayn't coun', mas'r! Is bawn
afore de wah. But, anyhow, dey say
dere's leben oh um."
"Sister Calline," said the old man,
tenderly, les we set right down hyar
an III coun' um fer ye Is scholar"
You sholy is kind, mistah," said
Sister Calline, gratefully, sitting down
on the edge of the platform.
The agent laughed shortly and turned
away.
The grizzled old uncle took red and
yellow handkerchief from his pocket
and carefully busted the end of the
planls before he took his seat.
He wore a threadbare black suit
which had undoubtedly once moved in
high society.
Sister Calline looked at him with in
terest.
u reckon dat you mus be preacher,
sah," she said, deferentially.
MADAM, | is. Is been preachin de
Word desc nine year, eber sence my pore
old lady died l was powerful sinner
afore dat"
Sister Callne looked awed.
II was, suah." said the old man,
retrospectively. "But rs come inter
de kingdom now. suah, 'nuff, bress de
Lord. Is you got husband, Sister Cal
line2"
Use a pore wilder, mistah. viii oil
desc chlen to scufile fer, an de Lawd
knows what is gNine ter do"
Uncle glanced at the bundle in her
arms. 1t had begun to move and whim-
per.
dat your baby, chile?" asked uncle.
innocently.
'Dis my baby" replied Sister Calline.
looking down at the sooty mite in her
arms with maternal pride.
MY po ole man neber see dis baby.
He was blowed up by de biler Dustin