The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-02


| Gone, honey: de Lord knows whar
gone: honey. dc Lord knows how"
SHE turned as she spoke, and her
hair bristling out gave her countc-
nance such e wild aspect that the chill
dren inyoluntarily shrank back. They
had never seen her with her hair down
before.
She raised her hands. "Be afenrd er
any an ev'body, honey, but don't be
efeard er me! Dodge frum one an all,
but don't dodge frum me-not frum
me! No, my Lord!"
"Are they all gomez asked Buster
John.
Mighty nigh all. honey; mighty nigh
all un Inn. Dem whut vent wuz big
fools, IN dem whut staid may be bigger
ones fer all know. I'd "a been gone
myself. but l went roun yander in the
graveyard where dey put dat cripple
chile an sump'in helt me. couldn't
go way IN leave 'im." She was speak
Ing Of Little Crotchett, who had been
dead and buried these many long years
"Why did they go?" inquired Sweet
est Susan.
"Huntin freedom" responded Big
Sal. eyes, Lord, huntin freedom!
hope dey'll fin it, dat does"
Papa says all the negroes are free
now said Sweetest Susan.
"Did lie say dat? Did lie say dat wild
his own mouf? WE'LL thank my stars.
I'm free, define an all de balanccw
| $50 papa says" remarked Buster
John.
"Wcll." said Big Sal, "ef I'm free
better git up frum here an so ter work.
| What does marster want us ter do?
I'm gwine up dar IN AK 'im."
The children went to the other cabins
and found them empty, but in jennings
house they found Drusilln crying. You
may imagine Sweetest Susan's grief
when she made this discovery. Dru-
silia WAS ready with her tale of woe.
Nanny walloped me kase I won't
go of wild de balance Nv um," sobbed
Drusilla. "She say ef I stay here she
got ter stay. T. tell her do anything
but dat; I'll tell lies, I'll steal, but
don't go fun here; dey got to kill me
dead an tote me. An den nanny wal
loped me-"
You needn't to b'lieye word er
dat" cried JENNY. who came In at
that moment. II toll dat gal It would
be better for we all ter go ef we
wanter be free sho' 'nuff, an wild dat
she fell on de flo' an gun to waller an
holler till 'bleege to paddle her.
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. wuz born here, an ef
dis amt my home dunno whar In de
roun' worP got any,
There was q break in jennings voice
as she said this. Buster John paid no
attention to it, but Sweetest Susan
went close to her and leaned against
her, and the negro woman put an arm
around the child. 1t was as If Il tramp
within sight Of the lights Of home.
"Who cooked breakfast this morn
ingY asked Sweetest Susan.
"Me." replied JENNY. 81 know'd
somebody had ter cook"
II thought 80" said the child. ''The
biscuits were mighty g0od.'
1t was some time before JENNY said
anything. She rose and pushed the
child from her, remarking: II dunno
what come over me, but eff set here
wild my arm 'roun' yon an you talkin
dat way I'll be boohooiug TO I know
myse'f. Git up fun dar, Drusilla, TO
break yo' neck"
Before Drusilla could make any
preparation to rise there came q loud
rap OF the door facing.
Nobody but old Fountain" said the
newcomer. "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
pantaloons Rubbing together sounded
as If they were made OF leather. His
coat was full Of red mud. and mud
was on hia cont and In HE t:ss!!=s.
"Whar is you beenY' aHked JENNY.
eur enough to go no furder," re-
sroaded cid Fountain, shaking his
head. II went hunting freedom. De
kim f0un' Will las me q whet,
promise you dat"
"You don't tell mer' exclaimed Je-
miny.
az does" said Fountain, e.an 1 could
tell you lots mo- dan dat ef 1 had time.
Dey sot me. ter work liftin waggin
wheels out er de Quagmire an den a
driver rap jacketed me wild his whip
well, you see me here. don't you? An
eff were bofe alive you'll see me here
termorrer an de day atter.'
can dey want no freedom dar?"
questioned JENNY. She spoke under
her breath, as If afraid to hear the an
swcr.
81 won't say that" replied Foun-
tain. Fer dem Cat like de kim 'twuz
dar. Some mought like de change, but
not me. bless God fer what I seed,
but seed 'nuff. I went an come"
"Whyn't you stop an wash de mud
of in de branch?" JENNY asked pres
emily.
"No; not me-" Fountain replied, still
shaking his head. "Ter stop wuz ter
stay. I know'd dey wuz branch at
home, an, mo- dan dat, spring. De
idee wuz ter hurry back an see ef de
natchel groun had been 1eftv
4 II Dlieve you" sighed JENNY. az