The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-02-09
THE MYSTERY OF BIG MATT"

Robbed Him, Of One of the Joys Of
Life.se
On Belle Isle plantation long ago
lived big Matt" He was self
taught carpenter and a good one, black
as jet, jovial and loved Of the children
at the "big house." but with wild
strain in him that demanded just so
much freedom every six months.
Slaves were not given holidays when
they thought they needed rest. big
Matt" knew this fact as we'll as he
knew anything. He took his. When
the fit seized him he disappeared At
the end of three weeks his longing for
savagery would be satisfied. He would
come back then with sheepish face,
quietly take his whipping, listen to the
seedlings Of his wife and go back to
work.
"Big Matt" got gentleness from his
mother, who was Zanzibar woman
and house servant. The rowing blood
was in him, however. and would not
| out He was mystery to many, be-
cause he was never captured, though
pursued with vigor. 1t was necessary
to maintain the discipline Of the plan
| taton, and the best dogs obtainable
| were put behind him. Always his trail
ended in the swamp, at point three
quarters Of mile from the furthest
cultivated land. The dogs faulted
there, suddenly and absolutely. They
were cast about in every direction, but
could not recover. His master ques-
toned him closely many times, but
could get no satisfaction. wen ] gifts
dar," he would say, with a mellow guf-
faw. as rich and true as the big string
of a bass viol, II jist melts. OATS wat
/ does. Den / elects merse'f tergedder
furder on"
big Matt" ran away many times
and was whipped many times and for
given many times His periodicals"
became a recognized thing. They were
always followed by the fruitless chase
and the return of the wearied and dis
gusted planters and dogs. Eyes, suh,''
Colonel Sails would say to some neigh
boring crony when the mint stood dark
green in the tall glasses and the spoons
tinkled on the rims, he's gone agin.
Dogs followed true as hair to the
place near where killed the big buck,
an then went whimpering around like
, children b'lieve they were afraid
; sub. actually afraid. He'll be back In
three weeks, I s'pose, ragged an dirty
, an hungry-tired Of Twin on lizards
: an birds. What am to do? 7 can tie
) up the wuthless black rascal, sub, an
| strip his wuthless black hide off'n his
, wuthless black carcass, but it does nc
good. Nobody will buy him. I'll be
pestered with the vermin until he dies
9 Colonel Sails was hardly sincere ir
l this. He would not have taken two
; thousand dollars for Matt, which his
9 neighbors knew.
l The time came when big Matt
4 forced his way into the innermos
e chamber of the colonels heart and
} abode therein, black as he was fol
I many and many a year. "Pidgy" wa:
D three years DID, the newest conner intt
Y the "big house." and its tyrannou
e mistress Her father was rather an ole
man when she came, and, as is not in
frequent with old men so blessed, III
: belonged to her body and soul. Colone
!. Sails would arise, 1t was said, half {
4 dozen times in night and tiptoe to he
. cot and gaze upon her sleeping. All o
! the other fruits Of his union with "Mis
Ida," as the slaves called their mis-
tress, were as dross beside this child
= "Pidgy' had been told to keep ava.
from the Quarters" and consequent.
= went there whenever she could escap
. surveillance. She was in search o
:. folklore tales and sweet potatoes roast
: ed in the ashes, and always foun
them.
Aunt Mandy" who was favored o.
the day in question, left her alone for
little space while she gossiped with
o neighbor. The cabin in some wa
= caught fire. The flames spread rapid
i ly. Aunt Mandy" as is the time-hon
ored custom Of her sex, jumped excl
teddy up and down and screamed
- Now and then tiny cry came from
the wee one as she CROPPED blindly.
The interior of that cabin was blood
red when big Matt came bounding
% with the speed and courage of an arm.
Of chieftains. He hurled his hug
:, form through the door, from which TIL
v black smoke poured, and reappeared il
an instant bearing "Pidgy" in hi
~ arms She bears a slight red scar upol
her forehead to this day. The slav
: was burned about the arms and legs
and Miss Ida nursed him. When h
got out of bed he was formally manu-
lie mitted. The colonel called him
= "wuthless rascal from force Of habit
lie but his voice trembled and his hant
l. shook as he gave him the paper whicl
recited that he was a freeman and toll
% the reason why.
p Now, 1t is a remarkable thing tina
n, this son of West Coast kingling di
lie not know what to do with his liberty
m When his period" came around he ra
away. To his disgust nobody followe
to him. He did not have to dodge posi-
" BILE witnesses of his flight He did no
ST have to fool any dogs. He melted an
t. collected himself together again. bu
" there was no reason for it. All the oil
zest was gone from life. He fel