The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-07-17

taught him to read, write and cipher.
A thousand common joys and a thou
sand common griefs bound the Africans
being TO the Caueasian's fate in way
that people brought up since the war
can scarcely appreciate. Tom was a
pagan in so far as Loyick was his demi-
god.
Mrs. Rosser lived near al land. and
when dinner was over that day her son
went with her into the negro quarters
to give some directions to her servants.
At the door they heard Tom talking TO
Aunt Aggie.
II tells you, nanny, he can jist beat
de United Earth runnin'. Don't |
member when he run round de man
from Louisville in a three hundred yard
dash? An hain't he beat everything in
dis lection precinct? Why, on de las.
day of lection, when Joe Hungate had
packed up his saloon traps ready to
leave, de young fellers begin ter jump
often de counter onto de groun'. Well
Mars Loyick loafed 'roun' tell de bes'
Jumper had made his bes' jump, den
Mars Loviek he j.st kindlely keerless-
like got on de counter, beat de bes'
lump six inches, turned 'roun, toed his
own heel-marks, an hoped back on de
counter jist like bird
Eyes, Tom" said Lovick, entering, but
none of those men were professionals.
This Hurst runs races for a living, and
[ suppose he knows all about the busi-
ness"
"An' | spose eff you fetch one or two
of your big jumps you'll git SO ever
lastin' far ahead o. him that what he
knows bout de business won't do him
no good"
.'If ii was q short dash | believe | could
beat him, but never ran mile
"Dis is Monday, an de race don't
come off tell next Saturday week, an
you can practice till then"
Right here Toms poor idolatrous
heart oyerfowed, and in animpassioped
speech he drew vivid picture of Loyick's
future; he dwelt with pathos upon the
hardships his young master was I'M
dergoing; he spat vile contempt at the
insignificant Virginian, and lauded his
masters prowess in almost Homerie
periods. He had habit of stringing to-
gether words that might have come in
the same column of a spelling book, and
he wound up by saying:
Mars Loyick, if you run wild de
Figinian you'll salivate i'm! Yes, you'll
deeimate i'm, propagate i'm, sublimate
i'm, devastate i'm, palpitate i'm, in
durate i'm, graduate inn"
IL '.eloquence is the art of persua-
sion," then Tom was a highgrade ora
tor, for he convinced his little audi
ence that the race ought TO be run.
Loyick's fostsr mother was weaving
back and forth under the spell of the
harangue and his real mother was
more affected than she would have adj
mitted. Lovick really wanted to run
the race, but had sternly repealed the
desire. He was now wavering, when
Aunt Aggie tremblingly said:
Honey, yo' jist go to Square Ted
good an put up dis yere niggah for de
one thousand dollars, like he says, an
den 90 an run de race"
II believe I'd run the race if were
you, Lovick. 1t seems almost providen-
tial that you have the opportunity"
said Mrs. Rosser.
Thus persuaded Lovick yielded. The
strongest arguments in the temptation
came from the one most vitality inter
ested The young student was indeed
peculiarly tempted. So he spent the re-
mainder of the day in negotiating the
loan from one Squire Tedgood, who
promptly advanced one thousand dollars
gage on Toms person.
The interim until the race was oc-
cupied by rigid training, and on the APP
pointed day Rosser was driven by Tom
to Lexington with the one thousand
dollar stake and entered for the race.
Hurst and Rosser were the only en-
tries. As Tom took his masters buster
he whispered
Mars Lovick, you'll beat him so bad
he'll be 'shamed to tell his name"
At the start Loyick sprang forward
and seemed easily to lead by two or
three yards to the first quarter post.
Of course the crowd was in sympathy
with him and Justify cheered. Tom was
wild. He waved the buster around his
head and cheered louder than the
loudest But after the first quarter
il was evident that Hurst was gaining
upon Rosser. The enthusiasm of the
crown subsidized and Tom walled out:
Hes ketchin i'm! Good Lord, he's
ketchin' 'iml Fetch one O. your big
jumps, Mars Lovick, or he'll ketch you
shore"
The racers neared the second pos.
abreast, and soon afterward Hurst be-
gan to draw ahead. Tom sprang up and
down frantically, beat the earth with
his buster and cried:
"R-u-n, Mars Lovick Run! rum
runl He's gwine TO beat you shore
eff you don't run hard"
Hurst was still slowly gaining. Tom
was now at the end of his own strength,
so he fell upon his knees and poured
forth the Lords Prayer at the top of
his voice. Opening his eyes, he saw the
distance between the runners still
widening. Closing them again, he re-
peated; Now i lay me-" in the same
high key and loud tone.
Even this was inellicacious, and Tom.
for the first time in his he, composed
his own petition.
"My good Lord" he cried, sis you
gwine for to let Mars Loyick git beat?
You shore won't low no sech skin an
bones 'scuse of a man beat de hes man