Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-04-22

| for wrongdOin'! If we could hit on ii
plan to have them things go back to the
| family they b'lOngs TO the old boy
would quit noticn' of us so close and
! particular Wes in worse fix than
we ever been in yet tonight, and if we
don't watch out plaques worse than
the white preacher tell about is 'goin
to 'stroy us finally
But the family all is dead or else
move off. even the house burn down
and the land sell or goin' to be SELL"
said Mr.. Beckwith.
Il know. Uriah. what was it the old
boss used to think more of than any
thing else sides good eatin' and drink
in and he wife and children"
"A good horse" ventured Uriah. His
wife looked disdainful.
His hounds, fishn?" Heartsie shook
her head.
Il dunno. less 'en you mean his mig
gers. Since you talk bout givin' of the
things back. suppOSin we dig deep in.
his grave and bury 'em there. He'll
His grave right there by the church
without no headstOne."
Heartsie still looked inscrutable.
They ain't doin' nobody no good in
the trunk and they wouldn't be dOin'
no good bury in the ground" she said.
"Since you amt member nothin' |
mind you how the marster think n
heap of he church, how he never miss
Il Sunday 'tendin' there and was high
sitting member-that's just the same
as saying he give money reg'lar and
heap of it. Now, if we give them things
to the church in he name it would be a
tenement just like it tell bout in the
book"
Mr.. Beckwith was strongly stirred.
He gazed at his partner as though he
thought her inspired.
'lf we could give them things to the
same church." went on Heartsie, my
poor Regina would rest more content
eder in her grave and we'd have better
luck to pervide for her orphan chile"
glanc.ng at the corner where Humpy,
rolled up head and ears, slumbered
peacefully. rs wished many times
had had the spunk to own that my gal
took them things and give them back
as was right and proper. When Gina
was little and used to lift things out of
ladies' rooms and out of the pantry
closet | used to steal 'em back in place
and scold and whip her, but, after she
got crowd and was such likely gal
as could speak up so smart, hated to
own as she was common nigger
thief"
How you am to give these things
back, babyT" asked the old man. "The
church is shut up these days. There
never is anybody strrin' bout there"
Il hear Em-line say Yesterday that
there's goin' to be preachin' there this
Sunday. People is comm over here
from the city and they goin' to dredi-
cate it over again. She say it's 'ver-
sary and that it's the oldest church in
the whole country. There's to be a
excursion"
But how we kin manager"
Il plan it out like this" saidHeartSie.
"When they lifts the collection (dey
calls it the loftory in the white folks
church, you could tote up the things
and hand 'em in and 'splain where they
come from and how it is 'tonement
we made wild EN-"
Before all the people?'
Yes. Course the book say about ac-
knowledgin' before men. would say
it myself. but it amt respectful for
women to speak in church, and If |
patch you Improper seeming and do you
up shirt with rice starch you'd look
better than me-"
The rededication of st. Jude's took
place the next Sunday. The eXcur-
sionists were there in numbers. Many
saw the old negro. with his gray wool
cOmbed into order and his shabby suit
brushed slick and span walking up the
aisle at Il respectful distance behind the
acting vestrymen. Only those nearest
could hear what he said. as. having
deposited his burden. he bent low be-
fore the church officers and made hur-
ried obeisance to the minister. Before
they had recovered from the surprise
sufficiently to question him he was al
ready half way to the door. mopping
his brow that was moist with the
stress of eXertion.
Luck will turn now. see if it don't"
said Heartsie, as she Joined him.-New
York Evening Post.
Killed by Tn m