Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-06-25
8SISTER CALLINE'S CHIL'EN.
oooooooooooqoooCaoooo ooocoooooooooooooooooc

kind old face. He had been IA good
darky from his youth up, and his past
was purely fictitious.
What de mattah wild you ole lady
you done LOST" asked Sister Calline.
"Consumpshun, replied the old man.
solemnly. 1T runs in our family. Ole
Cunnel kcnt'S ma died oh it. an de
cunncl'S first wife died oh it an lii
mistiS died too. An den my ole lady
look it an she died. Its a turrible de
cease"
Dat sholy is So coincided Sister
Calline "'ScuSe my Insurance akin
You. miStah. Does you cit you libin
preachinf"
DE folks pay me some. an den Use
got Il nice piece o Ian an lii house.
My ole mas'r give um ter me-" said the
/ ld,man. with modest pride.
"Sho! Amt you too old ter wuk?"
Il wuks some, an de ars helps
me. Use de onliest one oh de ole sar-
vcn's lef'. Use % year ole.'
"Sho, now" said Sister Callne, much
impressed.
How ole You is, Sister Calline?-
hopin' you'll 'ScuSe me fer AKIN"
Il dunno 'zarrly." said Calhne, study
ing little. Il 'Spect Use GO-gwine on
30"
They had become so interested in
their humble annals that the pickanin-
MES had been lost sight of. They We're
scattered along the railroad line gam
boiling like menagere turned loose.
Does you wan me tn cOun you
chiren, Sister CallineT
"Cose does. Hyar! You-al. Come
hyar."
The children paid no attention
"Dey needs disserplainin', Sister Cal
line"
He rose. "Chil'en. chil'enw he called
in voice of authority.
The black cloud drew together and
pore down on the StatiOn-hOuse.
Now yOu-all stand still ontwell dis
genelman couns' you," commanded
the mother. "Lu Roxy. min yersef.
Abe linkum, stan up. Don Scrouge
so. How he gwine coun' you. eff you
lodges rOun' dat away"
mild degree of order mt last pre-
vailed and the old man began.
one, two, thee. fo fibe, six, seben,
nine eight, ten! Dere amt only ten"
'Dawter be leben, suah." said Sister
Calline. "Oh, what | gwine ter do?"
"Ill coun' 'um Ober agin'," said the
old man. kindly.
Sister Calline wiped away her tears.
You am so kind, mistah! | knowed
You was good man when Brer Mar
TN toIe me ter keep long er you on der
train"
An | knowed YOU was good wo-
man when Brcr Martin tole me You
take good ca o Sister Calline.' says he.
Now I'll cOun' 'um agin."
zone, two, thee" and so on. They
went over and over this. but by no
legcrdemain of counting could ten be
made eleven.
SISTER Calline grew more and more
distressed and was just breaking into
hysterical Sohs when the train whisilel
ut the next station below.
They both Sprong up and Callinc
screamed TO the children, who como
lying across the track like n tlocl; of
wild blackbrdS.
When the train drew up and the CON
ductor stepped off, there was Calline
to meet him.
Please, mistah; has you brung back
my chileT she tearfully pleaded
He looked at her.
"Donncr ind blixen! What do Won
mean, womany
Use got 'leben chilcn," groancd Sis
ter Callinc, "an' dis genelman has
coundcd 'um ober an ober, UNI dere
amt only ten"
The conductor ran his eye over the
group.
y score of heads were thrust out of
the coach, ana II murmur of amused
sympathy stirred along the line.
"II-mw
He pulled forth his book hurriellv
ana turned over the pages.
Pass Callinc jackson and eleven
chllurcn.'
He glanced over the black. bohbip-
heads and hack ut the woman.
His eye fell on the bundle in her
arms.
Great JoYe! What's the matter with
the baby making clcvenT"
There were roars OF laughter and
much waving of hats and handker.
chiefs as the train moved out.
You done counded um wrong. Mis-.
tah,' said Sister Calline. looking up 70.
proachfully at the old man.
us dey all hyarT he asked. with dig.
nifty.
"Co'sc dcy'S all hyar."
Den don't dat pintediy show dat I
coundcl UNI rIrhtY"