The National tribune., 1898-04-07

worlds open to You. Goto the next County
90 to Kaintucl<y, Iniianny. Ohio, Illinoy,
kamskatky, New Quincy. Jericho, or Polk
informs lanyard, if you like"
"Afo' God, / don't know what tub do, o.
wha tub 60" said the negro despairngly
g If yo' Leah me here, know dat ole MASH
III fin me an done kin me daid'
"Nggers is like mules, y remarked the team
ster sagely. They only know two places in
the whole world |: their masters place and
somewhere else. They want to run away from
their master, but they haint nary idee whar
10 90 when they run away. A boss has more
sense n either a niger or mule. When he
lights out he's got some idee o where lie
wants t. 90. | tell you: Jest give that Niger
to me. | know what to do with him
know a man that'H give me 500 for him.
and I'll whack up fair and square with you
Shut up you mulet-headed mule-whacll-
err" said the Deacon irritably. You haint
got sense enough to take care o mules right,
let alone a man. ! wouldn't trust you an
hour with the poorest team on my place I'll
take care O this man myself, at least until |
kin have talk with the boys. Here, you
Niger, what's your Nance"
''Dcy call me Sam, mas'r," replied the
negro.
well, we'll change that You're free
man, and I'll give you another name. Pm
gon' to call you Abraham-A braham Lin
coln-the grandest name i'll the world to- day
For short, III call you Abe You must stop
calm me, or anybody. master, tell you.
You just call me Mister Klegg'
Mistuh-w what 2" said the negro, puzzled.
swell, jest call me boss. Now, Abe,
climb up into the wagon here, and come
along with me.o
9 He can't git into no wagon o mine"
said the teamster surlily. Government
wagons amt no passenger cnaches for run
away niggers. / didn't hire to haul ringers
on pleasure excursions That amt no part
Of white mans bizniss. Let him walk
alongside"
You dumbed citizen" said the Deacon
angrily. He had been in camp long enough
to catch the feeling of the men toward the
Quartermaster's civilian employees :. This
man shall ride in this wagon alongside o. me,
and you'll drive us into camp, or I'll find
out the reason why. Now Jest gctber up
your lines and start"
Il won't take no slack from no old Wabasl,
hayseed like YOU" responded the teamster
cordially. You can't boss me. You han't
no right. You can't ring me in to help YOU
e..
You come out here in the road and I'll punch
that old sorrel-top head o your'n."
And the teamster pranccd out and BRAN
dished his blacksnake whip menacingly.
1t had been many years since anybody on
the Wabash had dared Deacon Klegg to amatch
in fisticufls. The memory OF some youthful per-
formances of his had secured him respectful
immunity. His last affair had been a severe
suppression of noted bully who attempted
to crowd the mourners at camp meeting.
for the good order of which the Deacon felt
himself somewhat responsible. 1t took the
bully fully six manths to get over it, and he
went to the mour ners3 bench himself at The
next revival. Il
The Deacon Looked, at the gesticulatins
teamster a minute, apd the dormant i'm
pulse of his youth stirred again within
him. He laid his gun, down, and calmly slid
from the fodder to the ground. He pulled of
his coat and hat, apd laid them on the wagon.
He took the quid of tobacco from his mouth,
carefully selected h place for it on the edge
of the wagon-bed, laid it there on a piece