The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-05-10
aaron in the Wild Woods.
The Story of a Southern Swamp.
- - z, JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS - - -
The Story of a Southern S
. = - JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS. -.o.
by Joel Chandler Harris.

| XIV
| LITTLE MASTER SAYS GOOD NIGHT
After George Gossetts two experiences in
the pasture he came to the conclusion that
| Il would not be profitable to do any more
| patrolling on tho Abercrombie place, but
this did not add to his good humor. He had
| his fathers surly temper. and, with *. a
vindictive spirit that entirely lacking
in the elder Gossett. Moreover, age had
not moderated nor impaired his energies. as
II had his fathers.
The fact that he had failed to capture
Aaron struck him as personal affront. He
was stung by it. He felt that he and his
rather had been wronged by some one, he
couldn't say who. but not by the runaway,
for what was n "nigger" anyhow? After
while the idea was borne in upon him
that he and his family had somehow been
'insulted" by the Abercrombies. He ar
rived at this conclusion by a very circuit
tous route The Abercrombies were harbor-
ing a yankee in their house. and if they had
the stomach to do that. why wasn't il just
as easy for them to harbor "pap's" runa-
way Niger. especially when they were so
keen to buy him?
Another thing that stung him, though
he never mentioned it. was the sudden and
unexplainabe attitude of his father toward
Aaron. Young Gossett had observed that
his father appeared to have lost interest
IN the runaway after Mr. Jim Simmons
failed to catch him. but the fact was not
impressed upon the young mans mind I'M
I'll the day he told the elder GOssett about
the queer sight he saw in Abercrombie's
pasture.
Were you hunting the runaway" his IA
Their asked with some impatence
why, no. pap. We weren't doing thing
in the world but crossing the pasture on
way to the Turner old fields"
ttssII h., 4 I a 1n4 ,, fv,
alone. If you don't youll get hurt L know
what I'm talking about"
This fairly took Georges breath away
why, papr' he cried. amt he your Mig
ger? Didn't you buy him and pay your
money down for him? Don't you want him
out Of the woods? And who's going to
hurt me pap?"
You mind what tell you" snapped tho
elder Gossett Pm older than you. and
when I know thing 1 know It Let tho
runaway alone"
IT I'm going to be hurt" responded
George doggedly. TIA like to know who'll
co it."
1t would have been better for both If Mr..
Gossett had told his son Of his experience
with Aaron As it was. George was in
danger of losing tho little respect he had
for his father. When he was warned that
he would be hurt if he kept on trying to
capture Aaron, he suspected at once that
the warning related to Mr.. Abercromble.
Who else would dare to hurt him. or even
threaten 10 hurt him? Certainly not the
runaway. Who, then. but Abercrombie2
The suggestion was enough. 1t made
George Gossctt so furious that he never
Thought to reflect that he himself had in
vented IT, Once invented. however. every
circumstance seemed to tit IT, His father
had suddenly lost interest in the runaway.
though he mad paid out money for him,
and had hardly received a weeks work in
return. Why2 Because Mr.. Abercrombie
had overawed his father in 4 crowd. just
as he did the day Aaron was sold from the
block. The young man had not forgotten
that episode. and his resentment was re-
was now reinforced ny Tilt .tsft
disguise at tho way his father had allowed
himself to be oVercome-and that. too. IN
regard TO his own property
The first result OF George Gossetts re- /
sentiment was his nearly successful effort /
to make the teacher. Richard Hudspeth, /
the victim of the violent and natural preju- !
dice that existed at that time against abo- /
litionists-an event that has been related /
I'm THE Story Of Aaron" Inc rescue of I
the Teacher by Mr. Apercrombie and the (
ract that George Gossett was knocked flat
bv the Black Stapion. caused his resent
mont 10 risa TO Z, white heat He brooded
over the matter until. at last. a desire to
ninra Arr Abercrombie became an uncon
-rollable mania, and it went so far that on
light infamed by whisky. he set fire 10 tls
dwelling house Of the man he believed
% his fathers enemy.
Then it was that Aaron rescued Little
rrotchett and Free Polly, and fell faintnS !
o the ground. And then It was that Mr..
3ossett seized the first plausible op2or-
unity that had presented itself to sell
AARON TO Mr. Abercrombie 1t is true, he
rove a sharp bargain. suspecting that the
unaway had seriously injured himself: b.
h. would have sold Aaron in any r'en'i
.eing anxious to get rid Of him.
George Gossett disappeared that hlshI
va vras seen no more in that region
-.are afterwards, homesick Georgian
turning from Texas. brought word that
,,,,r.a Cossett had made a name Tor nm
elf in that state, being known as tough
md "a terror
rt,s an I'll wind that blows no good 10 any
,n. George Gossett little knew, when ne
- ~ torch to the AbercrombIe dwell
~ trat the light OF IT would call Aaron
RIM inc wild woods and show him the
~. ~ i home where he was 10 live, happy
!, The love OF Little Crochet and OF emil
ren as yet unborn. and happy in the res
,ect and confidence OF those whose interest
re- served.
perbaps II George Gossett could have
ooked into the future. the blaze thAt pro-
luced these results would never nave oet Il
kindled. and. IN that event, the story Oh
aaron In the Wild Woods" could nave
,een spun out at greater length, but inc
inclusion would not have been different
Richard Hudspeth remathed IONS /
enough to see Aaron duly installed IN ms |
NV home. for the Abercromble mansion 1
,yas at once rebuilt on a larger scale imam |
ever. and to sec him serve as the mayor
4omo Of the establishment. But the de-
narture of the Teacher was not deiayeu !
for many months after his experience Win
the reckless and irresponsible young men
VINO had placed themselves under the lead
arsbip OF George Gossett. Duties more
pressing and more important than those
he had assumed in Georgia called MN 20
l,fs northern home, where larger career
waited htm-a career that made MN Ia
nous. ,..,-.,- -
tIe became the most intimate adviser OF
Abraham lincoln, and that great man
found in him what, at the outset. he iouho
4, few New England men, the deepest sym
ma inv and highest appreciation
It was characteristic of Richard Huus-
,,,tb +hat the treatment ne received at the
lie ~ George Ciossett and his night rid
.rs bred no resentment against the south
er, people. and the trait of character thaI
- The door Of his mind against all petty
..,,,t,,licas and rancorOus judgments was
nrociselv the trait that attracted first the
na,ice and finally the friendship OF AIR.