The age-herald., 1899-04-09

ain't my home, I dunno whar in de roun
 worl' I got any"
 There was break in Jeminy's voice ts she said this Buster John paid no atten- tion to 1t; but Sweetest Susan went close tc her and leaned against her, and the ne- gro woman put arm around the child. It was as if tramp steamer had thrown out an anchor within sight of the lights of home.
 ''Who cooked breakfast this morning?" asked Sweetest Susan.
 Me" replied Jeminy. 'I know'd some body had to cook.
 "I thought so," said the child. ''The bis cults were mighty good" It was some time before Jeminy said any thing. She rose and pushed the child from her, remarking: "I dunno what come over me; but eff l set here wid my army 'roun' you, an you talkin' dat away, I'll be boo h0o!n' fo' l know myself Git up fun dar, Druslla, 'fo' I break yo' neck" Before Drusilla could make any prepara- tion to rise there came a loud rap on the door-faeng.
 Nobody but old Fountain,' said the new conner; "old Fountain, as muddy as hog, and harmless as a dove" Harmless or not. he was certainly muddy. As he came in the legs of his pantloons rub ping together sounded as if they were made O. IeatEer His coat was full of red mud, and mud was on his coat and in his hair. 'Whar is you been?" asked Jeminy. Fur enough to go no furder," responded old Fountain shaking his head. q went a. huntin' freedom. De kin l foun will las me whet; promise you dat" You don't tell mep' exclaimed Jeminy. 'I does,' said Fountain, "an' l could tel you lots mo dan dat ef l had time. Dey sot me ter work liftin' waggin wheels out CT de quagmire, an den driver rap-jack- eted me wid his whip-well you see me Hnn't An of urafr hnfn n1iH you'll see me here termorrer an de day atter'
 An dey want no freedom dar?" ques- | ticned Jeminy. She spoke under her breath, as if afraid to hear the answer "I won't say dat" replied Fountain. Fer | dem dat like de kin 'awuz dar Sone | thought like de change, cut not me. I bless God fer what I seed, but l seed huff. l went an I come."
 'Whyn't you stop and wash de mud off | il de braneh?" Jeminy asked presently. No, not me- Fountain replied, still shaking his head. 'Ter stop wus ter stay. | 1 know'd dey wuz a branch at home; an mo dan dat, spring. De idee wuz ter | hurry back an see eff de natchel froun | had been left!'
 q blieve you!' signed Jeminy. q come mighty nigh gwine myself" You'd a-been sorry,' exclaimed Foun- tain; you'd a-been sorry plum ter yo' dy-
 
 head. well, been dar l been right wid um Yo' can't call it freedom alter yo
 wade through dat mud an water" Some one else came to the door. "Al eyes open!" cried the newcomer It was
 tho refrain of hide-and-seek and the ehil-
 dren laughed when they heard 1t. They
 knew the voice of Johnny Bapter. All
 eyes open!" he persisted I'm it. Ten. ten.
 double-ten, forty-ive, fifteen All eyes open?"
 With that Johnny Bapter walked in. He
 was thin-ooking negro, with long face.
 and mouth that was always laughing. He would have been very tall but he stopped
 trifle, and there was limp to his walk One of his feet dragged slightly, but he
 was nimble squirrel for all that. His clothes were wet, but not muddy. He hit
 his wool hat against the side of the chim- ney, and it left its damp print. He looked
 at the children and pointed to the wet
 place. "I tuck its dagarrytype,' he said