New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-03
TIE "FESSAH" IN GEORGIA.
,ov he STARTED A SCHOOL IN THE
COUNTRY.
COUNTRY.

,.od boen left by the O'CLOCK evening tra'h 10
49, cabin Of Frank Cuipepper. who had chosen
40 lowest and seemingly most unhealthfui spot
w 49, ,orro in which to locate his home. simply
because 1t was near spring tina, would reiicVe
49, -, m. necessity Of totem" water such
long distance. Although 1t was late ana star
,i,ht | had TO rap on the fence and yell but
o,co before Franks quick ear had arrested the
,o,se Whereupon about a dozen dogs OF All
s;zos and kinds with an indescrihaole barking
-, bowling made right for me- Realizing that
.scane was next TO impossible In the darkness or
enc night. and completely forgetting my wcari-
MOSS from my fourteen-me tramp, l CLIMBED
the nearest persimmon tree, an act which seemed
at the moment TO take more time than my tramp
had taken but which now seems 10 have been
very quickly done. Frank was only a moment
IN cottine 10 the door. which he had hesitatinSly
opened only about an inch; but after he was
satisfied that his dogs had the advantage OF me
no called out with so much harshness that
seemed to see his lips stick out through the
darkness. Who's dat out dar?" evidently mean
ing what do you want here at this time OF
night"
From my exalted position above the bowling.
barking dogs | began to tell him who was and
mon what mission had come. Then. ashamed
they should know a gentleman of my "sibilty.
de- Fessah." even though ii was dark and II
o'clock At night After they had sulked away.
Culpeppcr invited me down and. scarcely able
TO suppress the chuckling OF pride In his brave
dogs, ne began to offer apologies for them and
to explain away. with no invidious intention.
however. their seeming bad conduct on this oc-
easlon by saying. "Ole Zcke dat wuz right under
l. a. os
wat had ter hit DIES now freed me TO possums
dis pas week, yes ser. he sho did; but he ought
ter had bedder sense den run er gentum yo'
sibty up dat 'simmon tree"
.Culpepper had already anticipated my remarks
concerning supper and said: We'll. Fessah.
rpose you's mighty tired after 20 long walk,
but tell you des how It's: Me an mer ole oman
an dem nine chiliun tcck up all er dem two
runs; so I'm gwine Wild you up dar on Dc hill
ter Br'er Crouder's. Gaze he kin teck keer er you
cert'n an sho. fer he runs dis whole place"
Crouder did take Of me In fine shape and
next morning after breakfasting on fried chick
en-. milk and honey. which came from his own
hives. ne directed me to the deacons Of Mount
Nebo Baptist Church. who were members Of the
local Board Of Trustees. Although Croudcr him
self was not a member / knew from experience
that from the fact that he lived so well a
tenant farmer. he had much influence In the
community. and although he had only small
child OF school age. knew very well 1t would
mean much for me TO say to the members Of
the Board that had stayed over night with Mr.
Crouder
II was one Of the bright. sunny mornings in
May. such as are known only beneath southern
skies. with the air saturated with the aroma
coming from the purple clusters II blossoms on
the chinabcrry trees that stood in the corners
OF the Z gzag rail fence on either side 81 the
road. that I met my trustee Tony Fuller Of the
local Schoo Board. just as he had come at noon
from his plourhing TO feed" himself and mule
After The usual salutation. which he returned
by attempting to raise hts hat by the broad
brm that had Topped down in folds over his
ears. and at The same tire by slightly scrapng
back ,J0t extended my hand. meantime
pulling from my inside pocket recommendation
from the president OF Atlanta University az to
my good moral character and scholarship i'm
secure and 70 teach the school at Mount Nebo
Bapiis, Church. When presented this recon-
mendation 10 my trustee. he waved his hand.
Is really expected him to do and said: 'Lawi
honey Amt got book larnin'. you can des
read dat fer me" Whereupon l began and read:
This Is to certify" etc.
Well. sir. Fessah." said the old man. taking
out wad Of tobacco. wiping his mouth with his
caious palm and smiling over the sudden full
nlment Of earnest desire to have school In
bis neighborhood. "Us sholy is glad you coma
fer der's er powerful heap er ignuncy right thoo
yer. Yasser. you'd be s'prised TO see how much
gnuncy desc people knows. But. Bud. tell
hnav hndA Of