The morning times., 1897-02-28
AARON IN THE WILD WOODS
THE STORY OF A SOUTH
ERN SWAMP
BY JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS
Copyright. 1897, by JOEL Chandler Harris
CHAPTER ".
tBetween Midnight and Dawn

Swamp, he went along the path to the
spring, stopped on his hands and knees
and took long draught OF the cool water.
Then he went in tie rear OF the negro
quarters, crossed the orchard fence, and
passed thence TO the flower garden in
front OF the great house. AT one corner
OF the house large oak reared its head
above the second story. Some of its
limbs when swayed by the wind swept the
dOrmeT window thaJ JUttcd oct FROM lit
tie Crotchetu's room Behind the red cur
tain of this dormer window a light shone,
although il was now past midnight. 1t
shone there at night whenever Little Croft
chett was restless and sleeplcSS ana wanted
&c see Aaron. And this was often, for
the youngster, with al his activity, rarely
knew what it was TO be free from pain.
BB, for has Journeys miner and youdcr on
the Gray Pony he would have been very
unhappy indeed. All day long he could
make some excuse for putting his aches
aside; be could even forget them. But at
night, when everything was quiet, pam
would rap al the door and insist on coming
in and getting in ted with him.
Little Crn,chett had many qualntthoughts
and queer imaginings, and one of these
was that PaiI was a sure-cHough SOME
thing or other that could come in at the
door aud - oJt when al Ctplsc = little
goblin dressed in red flannel, with IL
green hat running to sharp peak at the
top, and a yellow taSsel dangling from
the peak-a red flannel goblin always
smelling Of camphor and spirits of tur-
pentine. SOmetimeS-and these were rare
Hights-the red goblin remained away,
and then Little CrotcheTt could sleep
and dream the most beautiful dreams.
But usually, as soon as the night had
fallen on the plantation and there was
no longer any Hoise il the house, the
little red goblin, with his peaked green
nat, would open the door gently and peep
in TO see whether the lad was asleep
and he knew at a glance whether Little
Crutchett was sleeping or only fegning
sleep. Sometimes the goungs,er would
shut his eyes ever go tight and lie as
GlI as mouse, hoping that the red
goblin would go away. Bat the trick
never succeeded. The red goblin was too
smart for that. If there was a blaze in
the fireplace he would wink at il very
s1lemnly: if not, he'd wink at the candle.
And he never was in any hurry. He'd sit
squat on the floor for many long mo-
ments Sometimes he'd run and jump
in the bed with Little CrutChett and then
jump out again Sometimes he'd pretend
he was going TO jump in the bed, when
suddenly another notion would strike
tim and he'd turn and run out at the
door and not come back again for days.
Bat this was unusual. Night in ana night
ont, the year round, the red goblin rarely
failed TO show himself in Little Crotchetts
room and crawl under the cover with the
lad. There was bit one person in all that
region whom the red goblin was afraid of.
anl that was Aaron, But he was an OBJ
slinate goblin. Frequently he'd stay after
Aaron came and try his best to fight it
out with the Son OF Ben Ali; but in the
end he wo I'D have g. There weretimes.
however. when Aaron could not respond
TO Little Crotchett's signal Of distress-the
light in the dormer window-aEd at such
times the RED goblin would have everything
his own way. He would stay till all the
world was awake. and then he'd sneak off
10 his hiding place, lca-ing Little Crotchett
weak and exhausted
Thusit hapDaneI that while Chunky Riley
was taking an uneXpec elrideol the White
Pig. and afterward while the tlree men
were sitting on the pasture fence beyond
Crotchett good deal Of trouble. No mat
ter which way he turned in bed, the red
goblin was there. He wa ithere when Aaron
came into the flower garden. He was there
when Aaron stood a, the foot of the great
oak at the corner Of the house He was
there when Aaron put forth his hand. felt
for and found one of the iron spikes that
had been driven into the body Of the OAK
In,
Crotchetu and tugging at his back and legs
when Aaron pulled himself upward by
means of the iron spike; when he found
another spike; when. standing on and hold
ing to these spikes. he walked up the trunk
OF the tree ffit were ladder, and when
he went into Little Crotchett's room, by
way OF the dormer window. The real name
OF the red goblin with the red hat was
Pain, as we know, and he was very busy
with Little Crotchet this night, and
though the lad had fallen into doze.
he was moving restlessly about when Aaron
entered the room. The Son OF Ben Ali
stepped TO the low bed. and knelt by it,
placing his hand thai the night winds had
cooled on Little Crotchett's brow. touch
ing it with firm but gentle strokes. The
iad awoke with start. saw that Aaron
was near, and then closed MS eyes again.
It's long way for you to come,'' he
said. There's a lot OF things for you in
the basket there
III twice as long it would be short for
ne, replied Aaron Then, still strokiRg
Little Crotchett's brow with one hand,
and gently rubbing his body with the
ether, the son Of Ben Ali told of Chunky
Rleys ride on the White Pig. With
his eyes closed the lad could see the
whole performance, and he laughed with
sc much heartiness that Aaron laughed
IN sympathy This was such rare event
that Little Crotchett opened his eyes TO
see il, but he soon closed them again,
for now he felt that the red goblin was
pFeparing to go
I sent Chunky Riley said Little Crotch
EFT, after while. They're after You
tCmOrrow-Jim Simmons and his hounds.
And be has a catch dog with him /
sIw the dog today. Hes naTued Pluto
Hes big and black, and bob-tailed. and
his ears have been cropped Oh, I'm
afraid they'll get you this time, Aaron
Why not stay here with me tomorrow
and the next day?''
''IIere?'' There was a note Of surprise
III Aaron's voice.
Yes What's to hinder you? | can keep
everybody out of the room, except
Except Somebody said Aaron, smIl-
ing. mo, no! The White Haired Master
is a good man. Good to all. He'd shake
his head and say, Runaway hiding in my
house. That's bad, badr No Little Mas
ter, they'll not get Aaron. You sleep.