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

S@ 49,
"You are aring 10 run array. isamr'
slaves with whom he was upon singu.
lar but easy terms. His broad. rolling
fields. his almost boundless pastures,
his solemn frunted and tall columned
house. his comfortable quarters,
where dwelt the negroes, all bespoke
prosperity and independence. Independ-
ent hc was No prince ever ruled with
sway more potent than this bachelor
planter. surrounded by his blacks and
acknowledging none other than his own
will.
This marked character was man be-
low medium height. His figure inclined
very decidedly 10 portliness and beyond
a long. narrow mustache and thin i'm
perial of black and gray his face was
clean shaven. Iron gray hair in abund'
ance crcpt ont from under the white
felt hat he generally wore. and his mix
cd suit Of gray was illumined by ruf-
f,cd shirt and broad spreading cuffs OF
the finest linen.
Self willcd and eccentric are weak
words with which to stamp this gentle
mans actions. In the long days OF his
idlcncSs, when the legislature was not
i'll session. the negro was an unfalling
source Of amusement and study 10 him,
and his sole diversion, for he despised
books from the day he left college, and
beyond a sporting journal and paper
from a neighbOring city he had no peri
odical. OF course he was a Whig.
Upon the day which l have selected
TO open page in the experience Of Ma
jor Crawford Worthington he was sit
ting upon his broad veranda, which
swept back from the front around 10 the
shady eastern exposure and overlooked
the spacious back yard Twoscore
pickaninni,s in short shirts had serum
bled in front Of him for small silver
coins as he scattered them upon the
ground beneath. The tears wrung from
him by their contortions and funny pos
turcs had dried upon his cheeks, and
weary of the sport he had turned away
the black athletes by means Of few
gourds OF cold water skillfully applied
u their half clad forms, had settled back
10 enjoy the afternoon and fell a-dremn
Ing.
He remembered, in that easy method
common to dreams, how years before he
had sat upon that same porch watching
u fayorite old negro catching chickens IN
the yard 'Isam!' he had said, and
moving with jerky little motions that
seemed always To attune themselves 10
his masters moods rs expressed in his
tones Isam had minced up the steps.
'Isam," he had continued, you are
fixing 20 run awayw
He remembcred the startled look that
swept over the funny little mans coun-
tenance and his answer:
Lord mussy. Mass Craffud, whoev'r
hyah de like er dat:''
YES, sir, and YOU are fixing to start
right away. "
There had been genuine grief in the
negro's voice as he replied:
"Fo' Gawd, Mass CrafTud, you dun
got de wrong nigger dis time. Isam is
nigh enter so year ole, en- he ain nev'r
lef' de place ON er run yet. No, sahf'
Isam, however, spurred ON by the sug-
gestion. bad really run of, and the over
seer had secured the country for him in
vain The black was enjoying freedom
beyond recall, but one morning while
the major was breakfasting alone, and
his two servants who attended the table
were busy with fiybrush and waffies,
Isam suddenly stood in the doorway.
His clothes We're torn and soiled. and
his face wore hangdog look that was
in truth comical. Since that day old
Isam had run away annually about the
same time of the year, and this without
any apparent cause.
Evidently this was what the major
Was thinking Of, for smiles came and
went upon his face like shadows under
the swaying mimosa And when at last
his eyes fell again upon the old negro:
"Isam!" he said, just Us he had spo-
ken years ago
"Yes, sir, and the jerly little tunes
were the same.
You are fixing to run away, Isam!
Mel and again that reproachful,
protesting voice.
"Yes, you; just as you have for years.
You are getting ready TO start. / have
had my eye on you for week. But"
said the major, fixing his lips after the
Worthington fashion, II am going to
know this time where you go and WIZ
you CO."
There was silence full minute; then
the negro spoke:
Mass Craffud, deed en- / dunno
'zactly how ct is Hit jes' sorter strikes
me, en- I'm gone TO / know't. En- dat's
er sollum fac, sho."
We'll" said the major, then go
when it strikes you. 1t is relief to get
rid Of you occasionally. But if you get
off this time without letting me know
when you start I'll cut your ears of |
when you come back-if DON'T
And Jsam halieypd him