New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-03
NETWORK TRIBUNE ILLUSTRATED SUPPLEMENT.

mo- chillun thoo yer den you ever seed anywhar.
but it's des lack l tell you dcs now. we's all
chopin cotton now. an you know desc wife
folks gwinter dcy wuck done TO- dey sec
any black folks scttn down gittn book larnin'
Ez fer ez Mr.. Wecr's cuncern he done tole
me lass time seed i'm In town dat II WIZ all
right. an dat he'll ccpt any teacher dat comes
fun me an Brer Simkin an Brcr Zckc Thomas
So. OATS all you need ter bout dat An
now Of you des come in. Fessah. an wait tel
mer ole oman kin fix dinner. III sen mer little
boy wild you ter de udder brudders"
Walking into the yard from the fence where !
had been talking all this time. and seating my
self upon the little porch Of ;he cabin which had
the additional shade Of q large red oak, felt
much relieved. and began to consider the house
and premises as TO their cleanliness. etc, con-
sdering their merits a boarding place. Mean
time overheard the following conversation:
"Unker Tony" said a whining little voice
"who dat on Dc poach?"
Hush yo' mouf. gall" said the old man. en-
dcavoring 10 keep all conversation concerning
de new Fcssah" from reaching my ears. and
continuing to the other farm hands. He sholy
is highly edicated kin see dat much dcs by
looking at i'm. Den you know he come fun de
college way up in Atlanta, an by DAT you know
he blcese ter be good"
Seeing one of the young ones chasing n chick
around the yard knew dinner was being
deferred my account. and the anrighted
chicken was to be added TO the boiled pork and
"collud greens" that were already awaiting the
hungry farm hands.
After seeing the local Board II Trustees OF the
school. and after being examined by the School
Commissioner and securing my license to teach.
opened the school on the first Monday in June.
For the first three weeks my school small.
as will be explained by this conversation with a
patron:
Say Mr.. Daniels. when am going to get
some children from you
well. Fcssah. it's dos lack dis: I'm g~inter
SEN you mcr little sal. Callnc. in De mawrin'
Gaze she's mighty smart I'm got two boys yer.
but dcy amt gwintcr Farm nuthin'. sarnt bofc
er TO Fcssah Gipson two munce lass yeah
an dcy went three rnunce 10 dat. an nair one
er um can't keep my counts straight save dey
life. An ez I'm wuclln fer Mr. Jones hats
he won't let me spare nair ono er urn now. no
how. out Dc craps. but dcs soon II us lay by
dis cotton I'm gwinter sen bofc er um three
weeks anyhow. don't kerc what Mr. Jones say
Gaze | don wan my chlun ter cum long In
ignuncy eZ DID"
Another problem that confronted me in open
ing my school was that Of securing ages. This
Is usually the method: Mr.. Cross. how old IS
your little girl Maiinda7 am required. you
know. TO keep a record Of tho chiliron's ages"
We'll. Fessah. less sec." he said evidently
much puzzled by the question. "'Limdy wuz
tawn DE fus yeah stayed Wild Mr. Smif les
bout cotton chopin time" (which means IN
May). an US stayed dare two ycahs after dat
an den us moved over de creek an made TO-
craps over 1crc. an den mex. L. me see. us
moved over ter MI Putney's home house place.
but US couldn't raise nuthn on dat wono out