The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-23
PLANTATION PAGEANTS.
A Strange Wagner.
cepprfpat. 1893. BY Joel Chandler Harrt,.

John and Sweetest Susan clnmbered on Aunt
Minervy AIMS OK cart they shouted to their
grandfather. the White Haired Master. that
they were going to town and didn't know when
they would return. But as 1t happened they
were to return very soon. for they hadn't conc
far before they met q covered wagon. drawn
by two large. fat mules. The driver was q
white man with II very red face and eyes as
small and as restless as a mink's. He had
sandy hair. mixed with gray. and he worea
faded gray uniform. When he saw Aunt
Minervy Ann and the children he began to
sing. but. In spite Of the singing. which grew
louder as he came nearer. Buster John and
Sweetest Susan thought they heard a child
crying and sobbing when tho two vehicles
passed each other. Aunt Minervy Ann was
sure she heard It. and she declared that there
was something wrong about the man; she
could tell by his peculiar appearance.
Sc she advised the children to jump down
and follow the wagon as far as their gate II no
further. They might ind out something and
be able to do somebody a good turn. Sweetest
Susan didn't see the necessity OF this. but
Buster John was keen for anything that
seemed to promise an adventure. He jumped
from the cart and ran back after the wagon.
while Sweetest Susan followed more leisurely.
She followed fast enough. however. to catch up
with the covered wagon. which was not going
very rapidly. The wagon was the kind used by
the North Carolina tobacco peddlers. The cover
was higher at the ends than In the middle. The
pole stuck out behind and q water bucket was
fastened to 1t. A trough for feeding the mules
was swinging across the rear. and this. with
the jutting pole. enabled Buster John to climb
up and peer into the wagon. At first he saw
nothing but q lot OF bedclothes piled up on
some bundles OF fodder. but presently he heard
sobbing again. and. looking closer. he saw a
little child lying on its face in an attitude OF
despair.
At first Buster John thought OF crawling into
the wagon and asking the child what allied 1t.
but the man who was driving was in plain
view. and. though Buster John was bold
enough for a small boy. he was cautious. too.
The child seemed to be not more than 3 or 4
years old. and as it had on a frock. Buster john
couldn't tell whether it was a boy or girl. While
he was considering what to do. the child raised
its head. saw him and walled: 20. Please tate
me out er hero =, Buster John fell rather than
Jumped down. for he was afraid the man
child appeared at the back part OF the wagon.
At first it seemed that the little creature was
came it or the driver reached back and cut it
with his whip. for it fell back with n loud wall
Of agony. a wall that sounded like the cry of
n, SSss.s wsr susan = pe was b5 ready Sys to e Jybh her Was sy an:
KIP ie q y nv iohN VI s"o uh'
%T&ha!s,ss the mattel mater t NTH n yGur .9!eNRzr rid. ,
or course you can ride. Climb W. ] amt got
time to stop"
baby int in the e" wagon n" 3 cried Buster 'J John pnV q the
top OF his voice. u.,
sus pont H Hpuh heard an IL WHAT Sros you :said da'' sweetest
The man looked at them with twinkling
that's all I've got to say"
Buster John was not to he put Town that
way; he was very close to home now-in fact.
he could see the tall form Of his grandfather
standing on the knoll above the spring watch
had been a long day since one had come along
that road going n that direction. 80 Buster
the front wheel OF the wagon. close 20 the heels
Of the of mule.
You know what said, ! asked you what
in the .waeeini. Why. they amt no baby in
a mouser. We need mousers where I'm
sd b J caleb Issn liz n s9sn idaia,Snsn' a tspa ASKED sysT' 5 ran
to go and see about the baby in the wagon.
telling him hurriedly how queerly the man had
But the White Haired Master shook his head.
Hes Snly PLAYING with YOU he said, TO- .,.u
Minervy Ann had said 90, Buster John began
She Looked appealingly at her grandfather. her
.yF NHat i I: Sweetest" the White Haired
"That poor little baby" she said. controlling
herself The best she could; I'm dream about
well. don't cry: we'l see about It," re-
driver bowed politely and would have gone on.
hut the White-Hsired Master moti9ned him 70
pulled up his mules. and, sat on the seat ,ex;
pectantly. with a grin in his face that was hall
You come from Milledgeyille way?' the
Who told you p the man asked quickly,
NO. said The White Haired Master; trown.
Ing Tb q ', man auirS EsI ''mEl slj inIn eome from that.
What news'" asked tho white-Haired
Lots an lots ! couldn't tell YOU in a week
d e51ID,I r sDs4 9IH?ds9H .a know 9Srni Ria tiRRpin'' rarin'
"%el!; IowS yop TaS they're tarin4 Up thi
'roun' the fire a time or two. an then I picked
up this waggin and mules and come on bout
The man wagged his head up and down; and
r rnlIed it s Ir9% gjs s!fs to 'o a s Eesy s sRs ssi1 msnn hi:
The children's grandfather tried to find some
basis for the mans strange actions: tried tc
Then he asked:
What have you in YOU wagon ?"
We'll. fust an last. I've got SOM few bed
cloze and some few ruflage for the mu les an
then-well, yes. there's u cat | picked UP. q
regler, mouser, She growls. but there ain
nothin' the matter wi err.
cover was lifted high enough for the child tc
nut its head out. Its little face was distorted
with fear or DESPAIR.
Me amt no tat" she cried my NANNY
say I'm her 'itty bitsy baby my daddy say I'm
his big 'tty man; my nunky tall me- Bill
wanter Sc" my daddy an nanny" The chilo
had cried and screamed so much that its voice
had a harsh and unnatural sound: 1t pierced
the tender heart Of the White-Haired Mastel
like a knife and reused him to a fury OF indig
NATION.
scoundrel? 2" he cried. He passed through thu
gate and was now close to the man.
That's what" answered the man with
chuckle, He'll bite, an he'll scratch. an hel
do he look like a biscuit? You wouldn't wan
me to call him a chicken. would you %
He stuck out his tongue as he said this. ant
looked about as foolish as 1t Is possible for
grown man to look. and the Rrandfather's In
~dlgnetion changed to a feeling of amazemen
and disRust.
rs the child yours? p he asked.