Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-02-11
"Gwine Back Home"

"Gwine Back Home"
As we waited in the l.. & y. depot
at Nashville for the train, some one
began crying, and an excitement was
raised among the passengers. \ brief
investigation proved that it was an
old colored man who was giving way
to his grief. Three or four people re-
marked on the strangeness Of 1t, but
for some time no one said anything to
him. Then depot policeman came
forward and took him by the arm, and
shook him roughly and said
See here, old man, YOU want to
quit that You are drunk, and you
make any more disturbance I'll lock
You up
Deed, but haint drunk, re-
Piled the old man, as he removed his
tear-stained handkerchief ze lost
ed my ticket an money, an dat's
what's the matter"
"Bosh You never had any mon
ey to lose You dry up or away you
CO.
What the matter yere 2' queried
a man, as he came forward.
The old man recognized the dialect
of the Southerner in an instant, and
Iepressing his emotions with great
effort he answered
Say, Mars Jack Izo bin robbed.
MY name is White.
"Wen, then, Mars White, somebody
has done robbed Inc of ticket an mon
ey."
Where were you going ?'
"Gwine down into Kaintuck, whar'
was bon an raised.
where's that
Nigh to Bowlin' Green, sab, an
when the wah dun sot me free ! cum
up this way. uaint been home sence,
sab. ~
And you had a ticket
Yes, sah, an ober $50 in cash.
Bin sayin up fur ten vars, sab.
What do you want to 90 back for?
TO see de hills an de fields, de to-
bacco an de con, Mars Preston an
de good old missus. Why, Mars White
Ize dun bin prayin fur it 70 twenty
vars. Sometimes de Iongin has cum
till | couldn't hardly hold myself
Its too bad.
DE old woman is buried down ddr.
Mars White-de old woman an free
chllen. kin member the spot same
as if | seed it Yesterday. You go out
half way to de fust tobacller-house,
an den YOU turn to de left an 60
down to de branch whar de wimmen
used to wash Dars for trees on de
odder bank, an right under EN- is
whar dey all is buried. kin see it,
I kin lead YOU right to de spot"
and what will you do when You
get there" asked the stranger.
$50 up to de big house an AK Mars
Preston to let me lib out all de rest
OBJ my days right dar Ize ole an all
alone, an l want to be nigh my dead.
sorter company fur me when my heart
aches.
Where were you robbed ?"
"Out doahs, dar, | recken, in de
crowd. See p De pocket is all cut
out. Tze dreamed an pondered-lze
had dis journey in my mind fur y 'ars,
an now lie dun been robbed an
can't go -
He fell to crying, and the policeman
came forward in an Odicious manner.
Stand back, sir 4" commanded the
stranger. Now, gentleman, you have
heard the story. I'm am going to help
the old man back TO die on the old
plantation and be buried alongside Of
his dead.
80 am !" called twenty men il
chorus, and within FIVE minutes We
had raised enough to buy him ticket
and leave $50 to spare. And when
he realized his good luck, the old
snow-haired black fell upon his knees
in that crowd and prayed
Lord, Ize been a believer in You
all my days, an now / dun axes You
to watch ober desc yere white folks
dat has believed in me an helped me
to 90 back to de ole home.
And l DO believe that nine-tenths
Of that crowd had tears in their eyes
as the gateman called out the train
for Louisville.