The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-08-18

gan Mimi sent for Adam to see her dress
On tiptoe he stole into the room, and whel
he met the smile Of. the radiant little Chill,
he suddenly stopped. Then into tho dog
Hike weary eyes Of the old man came bit
ter sweet tears.
"Oh, plckaninny, little angel" he cried
and then no fell on his knees.
"Get up, you stupid old AdamP' com
manded Mimi, running toward her frient
and putting her arms round his neck.
"Oh, lilley missey, ye makes ole Adam
fool so good"
"Mind and throw that bunch of lila,
when leave tho ring, ADAM" continued
the child. And isn't my dress pretty
real spangles, Adam, and openwork stock
ingsr'
"Ye bet, lilley missey, Adams got a
bunch OBJ lubley white lilac. He bought II
oil hisself. Will missey DO too proud to
come to him after all the shoutin and clap.
pin and glib him kiss for true Tub sakeS''
"Ill come to you, Adam. You may kiss
me now, ADAM
And no kissed her.
| When tho time came for his little picka-
ninny to appear, he grew horribly nervous.
He had been forbidden from going near
the ring, but what cared he for all tho Or
doris IN Christendomp
F! In tho distance he could see Mimi
mounting her little white stced, and then
Beppo the riding MASTER sprang on his
/ own brown horse, and taking the long
silken reins suspended from Floss mouth,
prepared to ride behind the excited child.
The music was beginning to play an old
plantation song, and Mimi, blowing
kisses rode in front of Bcppo into the ring.
Tho old man s heart swolled at the round
of applause that greeted her Adoringly
he watched the little figure in its diapha-
nous drapery, and he could have wept for
joy when the first turn" was successfully
accomplished. Presently tho time arrived
when Signorlna Dtngo and Beppo were to
jump through four gaily decorated hoops.
This part of the performance filled
Adam with nervous apprehension, and he
did not like the look of the great brown
horse In the wake Of tho white pony. He
crept forward into an opening Of tho ring,
unheeding tho blows and curses levelcd at
him. In his hand he held grcat bunch
of lilac tho perfume of which contrasted
with the close, unpleasant air.
What pretty waltz tune they were
playing and that darling pickaninny how
well she jumped! One ring was SUCCESS
fully accomplished-tw rings-when she
slipped and fell in front of Beppos horse,
Just as his master was preparing to jump.
A shrill cry rang through the circus.
The multitude turned their faces shudder-
ingly aside, and women tainted. But, in
stead of little child vending her way to
the kingdom of God, Jesus saw fit to call
to him an old, old mani
For Adam, seeing the terrible danger of
his darling, had, with marvellous agility,
bounded forward and rescued the child
from beneath tho tramplng hoofs, receiv-
ing tho death wound that might have been
tho fate of his little pickaninny
And then for the first time, and, alasl
too late they who had ever used rough
words to the old man spoke to him gently.
Gently, too, they lifted him and laid him
On heap of old soaking outside tho stable
Of Floss. They did not heed the bunch of
lilac.
He lay there moaning family as tho cool
water was dashed across his fuce, and then
he by and by opened his dim eyes,
"Pickaninny," he sighed.
"Here, Adam p cried the voice he loved
20 well. Here" And Mimi in her white
wings and white robe came and knelt by
lis side
"Not hurt nowhere, honey dcarp''
nowhere, Adam"
"Ain't got no bunch of lilac, dearie."
The child hung tenderly above him.
'Oh, Adaml Are you very illp Does it
lurt very muchp"
Don't cry, dear honey pickaninny. Ole
Adam, he used to pain. Ebber since he
vas black boy baby he not had much
nck. But nebber mind lnissey; all ober
ow"
Are you going to die, Adam, dear?'
"Tink so, pickaninny; ole Adam, he no
lore good-ole 'orscs, ole dogs, ole mig
crs, who wants emf Very weary, too,
lisscy, lub."
Poor old Adami Shall pickaninny sing
o him?"
The sufferer feebly nodded
And then from among those squalid
there arose tho sound of
hild's puro voice.
do not think that Adam was aware Of
he hymn his darling was singing. He
My knew that it was exceeding sweet
nd that burden seemed to DO slipping
way from his aching shoulders. The
ravo old mouth smiled quietly, he
tretchcd forth his trembling hands, and
wo tears tricklcd from his dying eyes
In tho ecstasy Of the moment no forgot
ven pickaninny--forgot all save that no
ias no longer sore distressed.
"'Our Fador which art in 'ebbcn'-is |
hat right, pickaninny? Our Fadcr, the
My Fader Adam ebbcr knowed. Dying
int SO bad, pickaninny"
And Jesus knew it, too, for surely death |
'as never kinder than to that poor lonely
Id man. For he touched his eyes and gave
i'm beautcous Visions he passed his hand
own the aged form, and rest most ex-
uisitc stole into the aching limbs. "Come
mo, my servant whispered the kind
'od God, and with sigh of perfect trust
dam mcckly folded his hands and went.
All, you weep, little pickaninny, for the
yal friend who, like the Great Example,
ave his life in exchange for yours. Sure
you would not have him back, pickanin-
" He suffered greatly. The world has
, room for such as he. Go back to the
ng and find his bunch of lilac Kiss him,
,ar, and say goodby.-Mrs. Alfred Hart
Sketch.
mi tIu d.. |