Evening star., 1899-04-08

Puster John and Sweetest Susan were
somewhat doubtful about her. For wo
man of sixty years, who had known hare
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 hail
bristling out gave her countenance such
tarly shrank back. They had never seen
her with her hair down before.
She raised her hands. BE afeard er any
an ev'ybody honey, but don't be afeard
er me. Dodge from one an all but don't
dodge from me. Not from me, No, my
Lord"'
Are they all gomez" asked Buster John.
Mighty nigh all. honey; mighty nigh all
un um- Dem whut went wuz big fools an
dem whut stayed may be bigger ones fer
all L know. I'd a-been gone myse'f but
went 'roun' yander in the graveyard whar
dey put dat cripple chile. an sump'in helt
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. l hope dey'll
fin it; dat l does"
Papa says all the negroes are free now"
said sweetest Susan.
Did he say dat? Did he say dat wild his
own mouf? Well, / thank my stars, I'm
free. den. Me an all de balance,'
so papa says, remarked Buster John.
Well said Dig Sal, .'ef I'm free l better
git up frum here an go ter work. What
does marster want US ter do? I'm gwine
up dar an ak i'm"
The children went to the other cabins and
found them empty, but in jennings house
they found Drusila crying. You may i'm
agine Sweetest Susan's grief when she
made this discovery. DruSlla was ready
with her tale of woe
Nanny wallOped me kase / won't go off
wild de balance un um,'' sobbed Drusilla
she say eff 1 stay here she got ter stay.
| tell her l do anything but dat; I'll tell
lies, Ill steal, but don't go off fun here;
dey got to kill me dead an tote me. An
den nanny wallOped me-
You needn't to b'lieve a word er dat"'
cried JENNY, who came in at that moment
Il tol dat gal it would be better for we all
ter go eff We wanter be free sho' huff, an
wild dat she fell on de flo and gun to wal
Ter an holler till l 'bleege to paddle her l
don't wanter go no wuss'n 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
de niggers on de mex plantation say. L
wuz born here, an eff dis amt my home
dunno whar in &c rOun' worl i got any,"
There was break in jennings voice as
she said this. Buster John paid no atten-
tion to it: but Sweetest Susan went close to
her and leaned against her. and the negro
u.
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 JENNY. II know'd some
body had ter cook"
Il thought so' said the child. THE bis
cults were mighty good"
1t was some time before Jeminy said any
thing. She rose and pushed the child from
her remarking: Il dunno what come over
ne; but eff l set here wild my arm roun'
you an you talkin' dat away III be boo
hooin' fo' l know myself. Git up fun dar,
Drusila, TO | break yo' neck!'
Before Drusilla could make any prepara-
ton TO rise, there came a loud rap on the
door-facing.
Nobody but old Fountain" said the
newcomer. "old Fountain. as muddy as a
hog, and harmless as dove"
Harmless or not, he was certainly mud
dy. AS he came in, the legs of his panta-
looms rubbing together, sounded as if they
were made of leather. His coat was full
of red mud, and mud was on his hat and
in his hair.
''Whar is you been?" asked JENNY.
Fur enough to go no furder," responded
old Fountain, shaking his head. Il went
a-huntin' freedom. De kin l foun' will
las me a whet; 1 promise you dat"
You don't tell mer' exclaimed Jeminy
Il does" said Fountain, ''an' l could tell
you lots mo- dan dat eff l had time. Dey
er de quagmire, an den driver rap-jack-
eted me wild his whip-well you see me
here, don't you? An eff we're bofe alive,
you'll see me here termorrer an de day
AFTER
AN dey want TO freedom dar?' aues-
toned Jeminy. She spoke under her
breath, as If afraid TO hear the answer.
Il won't say dat replied Fountain.
Fer dem dat like de kin 'twuz dar
Some mought like de change but not me.
bless God fer what 1 seed, but 1 seed
huff. 1 went an l come"
'Whynt you stop an wash de mud off in
de branch?" Jeminy asked presently
No. not me-" Fountain replied, still
shaking his head. Ter stop wuz 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 groun'
had been leftI"
Il b'lieve your sighed Jeminy. Il come
mighty nigh gwine myself"
You'd a-been sorry" exclaimed Foun-
tain; you'd a-been sorry plum ter yo'
dyin day. You see me?" Jeminy nodded
her head. We'll, / been dar. been right
wild UNI. Yo' can't call 1t freedom after yo'
wade through dat mud an water"
Some one else came to the door. "All
eyes openr cried the newcomer 1t was
the refrain of hide-and-seek, and the chill
dren laughed when they heard it, They
knew the voice of Johnny Bapter "AiI
ey es open!' he persisted. I'm it. Ten.
ten, double-ten, forty-five; fifteen! All eyes
open?'
With that Johnny Bapter walked In. He
was thin-looking negro with a long face,
and mouth that was always laughing,
He would have been very tall, but he
stopped a trifle, and there was lirnp to
his walk. One Of his feet dragged slightly,
but he was nimbie as a squirrel for ali
ig nln hAo - h,xt -