Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-06-09


ready pitched his bundle.
Mumbling after the fashion Of old
darkies meaning smile upon his lips,
which, after all, is merely thinking
aloud, Isam brought from the well filed
depths Of his kit a small stone jug.
Soon, after certain rites and ceremonies
appropriate to the occasion, he approach.
ed the major. and with a triumphant
flourish extended large tumbler of red
liquid from which gracefully arose q
small forest Of mint
Dun foun er moo spring" he said,
but the man propped against the cypress
was motionloss, and his hands were
folded peacefully in his lap.
STOPPING down, Isam peered cautious
ly under the broad hat brim, with the
Whispered ejaculation: "Lor bless my
soul, cf he ain dun gone ter sleep!
recken dat las ten railer was pow 'ful
wurrin ter r man r his fat Mass
Craffud, Mass CraffudI" No answer
came
Getting down on his knees, he care
fully inserted with spoon few drops
If the beverage between the lips Of the
sleeper and allowed them to percolate
downward As the apple" of the
,ightened throat darted up and glided
iown again into place he whispered:
Mass Craffud, es yer dun fainted?'
The eyes opened. and the major sat
bolt upright The next minute he drain
ell off the drink and sat contemplating
the honest face, in whose eyes was Pc
culiar look.
''T'ank de goodness exclaimed
Isam. II bin er holdin dis hyah julup
hyah fur half er hour. Ain nev'r
known yer ter balk at er julup TO en-
40 yeaurs!"
THAT came in the right time, IsaIn,
and it s good whisky" said the major
heartily. Where did you get it,"
"Yessir, chuckled the negro, hits
good, but hit ain good ter ask er stray
hen watts layin IN yer orchud whar
she belong or how many teef she got. +"
The major realized that he had be-
come guest. He laughed. sank back
against the tree and soon again was lost
in slumber When he awoke, there had
been decided change in his surround
ings. A low fire burned few yards
away, and sundry fiips Of bacon Were
browning in frying pan set jauntily
thereon, while from the ashes beneath
the brown ends Of hoec;ikes protruded.
Tain but cr bite" said Isam
alphabetically, but DIES wait tell de fish
git mixed up wild dem sum or desc days,
en- den you see wat hit IS ter be loos'
en- free. "
To h. loose and freel The major fixed
his eyes upon the old negro as he pro-
duced tin platters from his kit and trans
ferred the smoking viands, humble but
savory, from the frying pan. The words
haunted him. and rs the smoke arose
there foated upon his vision pictures
of boyhood's escapades. Isam had be-
longed to him from his own infancy,
though FOR the first 10 years the question
of ownership seemed altogether unset
tied, for the negro was five or six years
the senior. How they had hunted and
strayed off and set gums for rabbits and
snarcs for birds and robbed nests! Loose
and freel Old IsaIn surveyed with proud
satisfaction the majors fierce attack
upon the morning meal.
''Derc ain 10 spring chick'n en- der
PAN" he said scCtcntiorsly, but er
fuss rate app'tite kin git des' Is good er
grip on er Zip er bacon es hit kin ON er
yaller leg chicken "
There il something in that, " said
the major. Get your flip, you black
rascal. and go TO eating" But lsam
shook his head.
''No, sab. Wen er nigg'r feeds, he
don wan no w'ite folks roun He wan
ter git off en- mop de pan 'thout tract n
'tention ter hisse'f." "
1T seems 10 me, said the major, as
he transferred another flip Of bacon to
his platter, that il must be mighty
hard for an honest niger to live com
fortably out here. "
Is;lm's face took on look Of personal
injury.
"Er homes nigg'r," he said, stirring
mp the ashes and inserting fresh cake
"don' eat no mo- out hyah den he do at
home, not bit. Rashuns es rashuns
ennywhar you fine EN- En- hear say, y
he continued significantly, "w'en folks
goes or vis'tin dey don 'quire Is ter dc
year marks nv de pig, wen backbone
ell spar ribs en- chine es sot out. "
"Your idea of etiquette is perfectly
sound. Isan. "
''En der only time wen folks watts
vis'tin got cr right ter git der backs up
es W EN- de gem man feed 'esse'f high en-
feed { others low"
With an air of dignity the old negro
gathered up the remnants Of the spread,
the major having finished, and retired 10
allay the pangs Of an increased appetite,
but he was doomed 10 further delay. A
most profane ejaculation fell from the
majors lips and came to his ears.
''Des' es | said, dere tits ergin-ter-
hacker now" He put aside the repast
and grumblingly Investigated the kit
once more. ''En l reck'n n wen he see
dis yer bag er terbacker he go'n ter want
hits ped gree all way back.