The age-herald., 1899-04-09

Il don't know what you are going to lo,' said Sweetest Susan, but 1 am going to ind Drusilla. I haven't seen her since last night
 Sweetest Susan went toward the negro quarters, followed by Buster John, and as they went along they We're even more and raore impressed with the silence that had fallen over everything. On all rainy days, except this particular day, so far as they could remember, they couldn't go within a quarter of a mile of the quarters without nearing singing and loud laughing or the sound of negroes shuffling and wrestling But now the whole place seemed to be de- serted. Big Sals cabin was the first they came to- The door was open and they en- tered. For moment the interior was so dark that they saw nothing, but presently they could see Big Sal sitting on the floor carding out her grey hair Usually she wore it in wraps, but they were now un- twisted, and as she carded them out, they stood at right angles to her head, and gave her a very wild and ferocious appearance.
 She neither turned nor paused in the carding when the children stepped some what tmidly in the door. People said sine was sullen; but she was very sensitive and tender-hearted, and always furnishing for some one to love. The negroes thought she was both cruel and suspicious, and Buster John and Sweetest Susan was somewhat ! years. who had known hard work. and trouble with it, she was well preserved.
 Aunt Big Sal,' said Sweetest Susan, "where is everybody"
 "Gone, honey, de Lord knows whar; gone, honey, de Lord knows how"
 She turned as she spoke, and her hair bristlng out, gave her countenance such a Wild aspect that the children involuntariy shrank back. They had Dever seen her with her hair down before,
 She raised her hands. "Be afeard CT any an ev'ybody, honey, but don't be afeard CT me! Dodge frum one an all, but don't dodge frum me. Not rum me! Mo- my Lord!"
 Are they all gone?" asked Buster John.
 Mighty nigh all, honey; mighty night all un um. Dem Whut went wuz big fools, an dem whut stayed may De bigger ones, fer all know. I'd a-been gone myse'f, but wen 'roun' wander in the graveyard, whar Gey put dat cripple chile, an sump'in helt me- I couldn't go way an leave i'm" She was speaking of Little -Crotchett, who had been dead and buried these many long years.
 "Why did they go?'' inquired Sweetest Susan.
 "Huntin' freedom" responded Big Sal. "Yes, Lord. huntin' freedom! I hope dey'll fin it. dat I does."
 Papa says all the negroes are free now,' said Sweetest Susan.
 "Did he say dat? Did he say dat wid his own mouf? Well, I thank my stars! I'm free den! Me an all de balance!'
 "So papa says,' remarked Buster John.
 We'll, said Big Sal, "ef I'm free better git up frum here an go ter work. What does Marster want us ter do? I'm gwine up dar an ax i'm"
 The children ent to the other cabins and found them empty, but in Jeminys house they found Drusilla crying. You may im- agine Sweetest Susan's grief when she made this discovery. prusilla was ready with her tale of woe.
 Nanny walloped me kase won't go off wid de balance un um," sobbed Drusilla. "She say eff I stay here she got ter stay. tell her do anything but dat; I'll tell lies, I'll steal, but don't go off fum here; dey got to kill me dead an tote me- An den mammy walloped me-"
 You needn't to b'lieye word CT dat!'' cried Jeminy, who came in at that mo- ment 'I tol dat gal 1t would be better for We all ter go ef we wanter be free sho' huff, an wid dat she fell on de flo and gun to waller an holler till bleege to paddle her. I don't wanter go no wuss' II she do, but dey say dat If we don't go way from whar we b'long at, we never is ter be free Dat what re niggers on de nex plan- tatIon say. I wuz born here. an ef his