Evening star., 1897-07-31
UNCLE TOMS GRATITUDE

Uncle Tom got to town early yesterday
morning. The locusts were already buzz
Ing in the trees about his cabin when he
started forth. though the sun was scarcely
above the horizon, giving warning of the
hot day to follow. DE lurkus he know 1t
gwtn ter be hot he said as he hung his
brush over his shoulder and shuffied along
the road. There was lot of work before
him In the city. 1t was the day for "totin' I"
ashes from the back shed of his best patron
ard there was job of whitewashing to be
done.
Uncle Tom is getting very feeble The
time was when he would bask in the sun
all day and Its burning rays could not add
darker tinge to his bare back Then he
was nothing but little pickaninny. His
na1r Is as kinky now as it was then, but 1t
Is white, and his head shakes as he walks.
with Feeble step and bended back He has
10 10 Morh @ Tor the hoe-cakc and herring. and
ne mas little cabin over the river where
there are lot Of little pickaninnies who
remind him of what their grandfather was
gea gears 1 ago: The old man totes ashes and
ooes @ ODD jobs of whitewashing in the city
during the day. and lugs home his little
Store OF provisions at night.
The warning of the locust was not mis-
T 1Tcs.aing Ihe day was a scorcher. Uncle
Iohn toted ashes all the forenoon and then
was out in the sun the rest of the dav
Wnitewashing the shed and the back fence.
" men the days work closed he said thai
so'iienow i ne dld not seem to stand work as
~ ne useu 10: AS he turned his steps toward
the Long bridge it seemed as II the dis
'anee nee mad grown greater during the day.
ne stfeetS seemed to have grown mar
,ar, "a ai.o the houses on either side looked
'eiy tuii ana seemed to sway and totter
speck it's one of them thar veartb
qcakers a-coming," he muttered. suddenly
y sot dsrk, and the old man sank to the
pavement and rolled over into the pnttar
his eyes were closed and he breatheG heay-
ny. Some little children PLAYING under a
tree ran away and told their parents that
street snrse was Tso drunken man lying in the
street. Two or three women poked their
reads out of the neighboring windows. and
tne chiidren began to gather in a group
tim1dly at distance. The old man Law
tnere' tne srn shining in his face, and
bcred. oe 10
PRESENTLY gentleman. who was sitting in
nls library enjoying the comfort of his
gu en, esslng gown and slippers. while he read
Inc Star and famed away the recollection
OF a hard days work at his office, looked
laZily out the window. He saw a group of
children forming a circle around a pile Of
rags in the street. Then he saw that the
rags covered an old negro. Hurrying out
ne took the old mans head on his knee
and bathed the old black face and loosened
the ragged old coat from his shoulders
Ifen the gentleman'S wife came out with
csmphor fnd with ice, and the two knelt
down in the dusty street, bathing the old
mans face and head and rubbing his rough
black hands. 1t was long time before the
Ole man showed signs of consciousness
but after while he opened his eyes. aud
presently was able to rise and to walk by
leaning heavily on the genteman's shoul-
der. He wanted to get to the Alexandria
cars. so as to go home to his cabin in Vir-
ginia. The gentleman assisted him. The
two walked laboriouSly down the street to-
ward the Long bridge station, with all the
children in the neighborhood flocking be-
hind, the number increasing at every block.
The old mans arm hung around the gen.
t'emans neck. the ashes and whitewash on
his ragged sleeve making mark on the
dressing gown. and the gentleman's arm
was around the negros waist, 1t being nee
essary to support him as he walked.
When the old man was helped up the high
steps of the cars he turned to his ben
e1actor.
Il speck dat was a sho nuf sunstroke,"
he said. and then he added:
Deed rs grateful to yo'. Is got a chick
en- Is goin' to fetch yo soon's l comes in
again.