The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-28
AARON IN THE Wild WOODS.
The Story of a Southern
Swamp.
BY JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS.
Copyright, 1897. bv Joel Chandler Harris.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE HAPPENINGS OF A NIGHT.

THE OF A NIGHT.
When Aaron and those who were with hin
reached the lot fence. which had been made
hIRh and strong to keep old julie, tho jump
ing mule, within bounds, not n sound was
heard on the other side.
"Youer takin' yo' life In yo' han. mon." said
Randall In q warning tone. "a Aaron placed
one foot IN the third rail and vaulted over.
The warning would have come too late In any
event. for by the time tho words wero on
Randall's tongue Aaron was over the fence.
Those who wero left behind waited In breath
LEES suspense for some ~sound-some movement
from Timoleon, or some word from the Arab
to guide them. But for q little while land
It seemed U be n long, long while to Little
Crotchett), nothing could be heard. Then,
suddenly, there fell on their strained ears the
noise that is made by a rushing horse, followed
by q sharp exclamation from Aaron.
what o pity IL he is hurt!" exclaimed the
Teacher.
Before anything else couli be said, there
came a whinnying sound from Timoleon, such
rs horses make when they greet those they are
fond OF, or when they are hungry and SEQ some
ono bringing their food. But Timoleon's whin-
nying was moro prolonged. and in the midst
of It they could hear Aaron talking.
"Ef horses could talk" remarked Randall.
I'D say dey wuz can on n big confab In dar."
Little Crotchett said nothing. He had often
heard Aaron say that he knew the language Of
animals, but the matter had never been pressed
on the lads attention as 1t was. years after
ward. on the attention OF Buster John and
Sweetest Susan.
Finally Aaron came 10 the fence, closely
followed by the slack Stallion.
Man, what you think?' said the Son Of Ben
I tn D.~l.11. ss-a ,.otar 49,, oarz mn fnJIar
since night before last"
DE Lord "a mcrcy!" exclaimed Randall.
Is anybody ever hear de beat er dat? No won
der he cotch dat ar niger an Bit i'm! When
de rascal git we'll + gwine ter AK Marster ter
le' me take i'm out an Ri' i'm a pa~ddlin'-an' I'll
do It right. mon."
MIR. Hudspeth made a mental note OF this
speech. and resolved TO find out II Randall
meant what he said. or vas merely Joking.
Man. give iue the Little Master" said
Aaron from the TOD Of tie fence. and run and
fetch two buckets CT water from the spring."
''Dey's water in de lot dar." Randall ex-
planned.
1T Is dIrtv." replied Aaron. THE grand
son OF Abdallah would de before he would
drink IT,
He leaned down and took Little Crochet in
his arms. The ruzzle of Timoleon was so
uchT tlht Luc lhu COulu leel Tue uOL ~
his ~nostrils. Involuntarily the Little Master
skuddered and shrank closer to Aaron.
He'll not hurt you." said Aaron. He
made a queer sound with his lips. and the
horse whlnnied. Now you may put your
hand on him-so." The Arab took the Little
Masters hand and placed 1t gently on the
smooth. sensitive muzzle OF the horse. The
lad could feel the nervous working OF limo
Icons strong upper lip. Then he stroked the
in less time Than 1t takes to write It down he
felt very much at home with the Black stall
ion. and had no fear OF him then or afterward.
from the spring. The Black stallion drank
all that was brought and wanted more. but
on Randnll's shoulder. and Timoleon. when he
finished drinking, was taken to his stable and
manner that It could not be forced open from
the inside. This done. Aaron returned TO the
others. relieved Randall of Little Crotche,t.
though the frail body was not much of q bur-
den. and tho three started back TO the big
house.
man. who was hurt by the horse" asked the
Teache;. as Randall babe them goodnight.
is dat. sub. I'm des ez sho ter raise weeks
brcf stay. in his body. Ell I'd "a been dat ar
boss and he'd done me dat away. I'D "a from
Piled de GIzzard ou!'n I'm. FL dey's anything
good fer. nothin' Niger"
Mr.. Hudspeth, knew enough about human
nature to ee able to catch the tone of down
right sincerity in the Negroes voice. and tho
fact not only amazed him at the time. but
ward. for his memory seized upon It and made
II mole important than 1t really was. And he
sHw and noted Other things on that pla9ta,ion
own mind the efficiency OF some of his strong.
est anti-slavery arguments: but 1t did not, for
1t could not. reach tho essence OF the matter
as he had conceived It,. that human slavery.
let II be national or sectional. or paternal and
pRtriarchial. was an infiction IN the master
"a well nS An | niu6flc8 IN tho negro.
So far so good. But Mr.. Hudspeth could not
ste then what he saw and acknowledged when
past. namely. that In the beginning. the
slaves who we're brouEh. here were redeemed
the bondage of death; that though they came
here as savages. they were brought In close and
stimulating contact with Christian civilization.
and SO lifted up that in two centuries they
were able to hear the promotion to citizenship
which awaited them: and that. although this
doubt. tumult and bloodshed. it was given to
human intelligence TO perceive In slavery. as
well rs in tho freedom OF the slaves. tho hand
bondage. hero the scheme OF a vast university
in which they were prepared TO enjoy the full
conferred on them. and which, though they
seem TO have been long delayed. have come to
them earlier thin to any other branch Of the
The Teacher who played his little part in the
adventures OF Aaron. played a large part In
national affairs ut n later day. He saw slavery
pass away. and he lived long enough after that
event 10 Tut on record this declaration, II ook-
ing back on the history OF the human race. let
us hasten to acknowledge. while tho acknowi-
edgment may be worth making. that two hnn-
dred and odd wears OF SLAYER as II existed in
The American republic is u small price tn pay
for participation in the ircStlmableb blessings
and benefits OF American freedom and Ameri-
can CITIZENSHIP" Ana as ho spoke the great
audience he was addressing seemed 10 fade be-
fore his eyes. and he found himself wandering
again on the old plantation with Little Crotch
EFT, or walking under the stariit skies talking
to Aaron. And he heard again the genial voice
of tho gentleman whose guest he was. and lived
again through tho pleasures and perils OF that
wonderful wear on the Abercronbie place.
But all this WAS. twenty-five years ngo, in
tho future. and Mr.. Hudspcth had moi even a
dream Of what that future was TO bring forth,
Indeed. as he followed Aaron and Little Crotch
EFT from the horse lot to the house he was less
interested in what the years might hold for
him than he was In one incident that occurred
while Aaron was pre-. airing 10 take the Black
stallion back to his stall. II. was puzzled and
wanted information. How did Aaron know
that the horse had gone without water and
foodT He observed that neither Little Crotch
EFT nor Randall questioned the statement whom
II was made. but treated IL 8s a declaration
beyond dispute. And yet the runaway ha;
been In the woods, and a part of the time was
pursued by hounds. He had no means OF know
Ing whether or not the Black Stallion had been
attended to.
The matter weighed on the Tenoher,a mind 20