The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04
PLANTATION PAGEANTS.

BUSTER JOHN SEES HOBO.

Now the lucky chance which gave Buster
John an opportunity to see the fox hunt was
both curious and interesting. The date was
fixed upon. and the ohidren's grandfather in
vlted tho hunters to spend the night with him.
! so as to have an early start the next morning
So one Friday aftern oon-the hunt WAS to take
place on Saturday-the hunters began to ar
rive some sinRly and some in couples. until
all had arrived except young Maxwell and his
hound Hodo. Mr.. Fitzpatrick came. bringing
Music and Whalebone and Tip. with others.
Mr.. Collingsworth brought Fanny and Rocket
! and Barlow. with their chorus: and Mr. Den
| mis- brought Rowan and Ruth and Top and
| Flrt There were other hunters with their
| doRs and one or two gentlemen who had no
dogs but who wanted to see the sport.
But these hunters. their friends and their
dogs were not the ones Buster John wanted TO
see. 80 he continued to watch the big gate
| at the head OF the avenue. Sweetest Susan
watched with him. Drusilla being busy help
| ing their mother. who. as a good housekeepsr.
| looked after her dining room and was not
afraid to 60 into the kitchen. Buster John
was anxious lest young Maxwell would fail to
como. and said 80 many times He had once
heard his grandfather reading something that
Maxwell had written in the county paper.
and he had also heard the negroes talking
about the young man. how clever and kind he
was. And then his horse Butterfly ana his
hound Hodo. What wonderful tales old Foup-
tain and Johnny Bapter had toldsabout these
animals
But whom the sun.was about an hour high.
and just az Buster John.hsd given UP all hope.
he saw tho big gate swing open. large dog
came through. and aftsr him rider on a sor-
rel horse. Without. his horse
the rider pulled the gate to. and. leaning down
until Buster John could see nothing hut one
OF his feet pressing. against the saddle. fas-
toned the catch. Buster John had mover seen
tho gate opened and shut In this fashion be-
fore. for the latch had been purposely fixed
low 80 that. the little negroes could open the
gate for vehicles going out ard coming In.
The dog waited with much dignity for tho
gate 60 be shut, and then came trotting along
the avenue. close at the heels OF the cantsrinR
horse.
That's him." cried Buster John. clappinR
his hands How often had Johnny Bapter and
old Fountain described tho horse and rider.
" Pale little Teller; look like he bout twelve
year OIL. RanRy sorrel horse. wild long manc.
and tail dat drag dc groun'." The tail was
tied up. owing to the muddy roads. but the
mane was loose and gave the horse very at
tractive and picturesque appearance.
Both Buster John and Sweetest Susan ran
to meet young Maxwell. but Johnny Bapter
was before them.
''Howdy. Marss Jos9" Dried Johnny Bapter
ioyously.
Why. howdy. Johnny Bapteri" Then AZ
the children came up. Maxwell shut both eyes
tight. and said: Watt Johnny Baptsr. I'll
bet you q twist OF tobacco that the young man
over there Is Buster John and that this beau
tiful young lady over here is Sweetest Susan."
While he was speaking Johnny Bapter pushed
the children around deity so that they s1-
changed positions.
Then: III take de betl" exclaimed Johnny
Bapter.
You've lost" said young MAXWELL. look at
my hand" 1t was open; the forenaEer was
pointing at Buster John and the little finger
at Sweetest Susan.
This sort OF an Introduction charmed tho
children. who were shy. and.put them at their
ease at once.
Here's your tobacco. Johnny Baptsr. Now
don't feed my horse till come out tonight
and do put him In dry place whore the wind
can't strike him. and. II you have time. wash
his legs. The roads arc awful. HANG my sad
die and blanket on the side fence yondsr. III
70 in and tell them howdy. and then I'll come
out and look.after them"
He went In tho house With each OF the ohil-
dren holding him by hand. He seemed to
be child with them. He shook hands with
cused himself ON tho plea that he wanted to
have "a frolio with the children. He was II.
but had none Of the. characteristics OF that
age. He was even more juvenile in his ac-
lions than Sweetest Susan. He made the
children call him Joe. and asked them whore
there was a sheter.wher he could put his
saddle to keep 1t out OF the dew
Make Johnny Banter hang 1t up with the
rest in the carriage house." suggested Buster
No" ssid Young Marcel; This is a pc
visible string Sure enough! Mhsn they
directly under this, saddle, and blanket which
Johnny Bapter had placed on the fence, You
well but you can't see the string"
Buster John suggested the old carpenter
r%nce T To 0 nS the en-
pile OF shavings in the shop. and Joe Maxwell
said II was the very place Of all others So he
the shavings together and told Hodo he could
60 to ted. and pull the cover over his head
wy" "W IL he s sta yfSi buster John asked
The other dogs were al fastened up in the
blacksmith shop to keep them from going
Young Maxwell laughed. He'll stay there
till come after the saddle. unless l call him
en ssH t. The Ss .nd
said M SrfS'"n
heard heap of loose talk about this wonder
full dog OF yours. l lay you I have two can out
foot him: Dennis has another, and .Kipat trick
another Whereve you hid him2 | dent
mind dark horses in politics; but don't like
Then you'll not like Hodo," remarked Joe
Maxwell Tor he's very dark. almost black.
The hound instantly came from the shed,
and stood looking at his master. his head
turned expectanty TO. one side. This Ges-
ture, as you may call it. was somewhat comi-
ga. but it was impressive. too Hodo was
large for a hound but very compactly built.
His breast bone and foreshoulders were very
prominent. his chest was deep and full. his
hams were almost abnormally developed. and
his tail ran to a keen point. His color was
glossy black except for a dash OF brow and
white on his breast and legs and a white strip
between his eyes. His ears were shorter
and build were on the order OF a finely bred
bull terrier. only on very much larger scale.
. You call that a houndT remarked Mr.. Col
linRsworth jokinGly.
n the Birds9nG dogs are hounds" respond
He's pretty dog" said.NIr. Kilpatrick. but
he'll have some, warm work cut out for him
in the morning"
During ths brief conversation Buster John
had approached CLOSE to Hodo. and now laid
his hand on the dog caressingiy. Hodo
tlnched aB IL hA had been stung. and hnarled