Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-12-13
ON 7T@E 40 EXPRESS

AS tho $40 train began to pull away
from the Alexandria station an old,
white haired negro hurried across the
platform and swung himself on the rear
ear.
Here is a seat, UNCLE" called a young
man. "You look tired"
The negro shuffled forward eagerly.
Eyes. sab. Tank 20. sah." he said
gratefully as he sank down. ''I'ze plumb
beat. Done walk mons'rous long way
dis yer mawnin. Yo' see." as the young
man folded his paper and slipped it into
his pocket, "Marse Henery an me lib
over in Prince George county. an larst
week Marse Henery he up AN die. Dat
lef' me by myself"
II see, and you are going south to look
for work."
mo. sab; goin back home-goin back
to ole Georgy. I amt been dar in mos
thutty year." he went on slowly; mot
sense de Linkum men took we all's mig
gers. Oar was whole passle OBJ 'em. but
dey all done bruk away. Den de sheriff
SOL de plantation an dar want nutten
lef we all but de norf. Yves 'bleeged ter
hab money ter lib"
"And you stuck to Marse Henery?"
The old negro looked at him in sur
prise.
Job co'se," he answered simply. 'T'ze
de body sarbent, an Marse Henery
couldn't git long 'thout me. He's a
gentleman an pended on bein TUX car
OBJ. But I'ze 'bleeged ter be way in de
daytime. case I'ze carpenter an alters
lab plenty wuk."
"What did Marse Henery do?''
"Marse Henery" Indignantly. "Why.
he's gentleman, ! tells yo'. He amt do
nutten. He amt nebber learn do things
like common wife folks. He hab niggers
for dat"
"You don't mean that you have sup
ported him ever since the WARP"
The old negro drew himself up with un-
conscious dignity.
"Yo' goin talk like dat. amt got
uutten mo- ter splain."
IL beg your pardon" said the young
man hastily. "Please go on"
The black face relaxed.
"Yo' amt known Marse Henery," COM
miseratingly, $50 yo' don't un'stan. OBJ
eo'se | wuk for him. He car for me befo'
de wah, didn' he? What niger good for
but wuk, like known
A boy came through the car with bas-
het of sandwiches. The young man
boughtstwo and handed them to his COM
Danion. The old negro's eyes gistened.
"T'ank yo', massa. Tank yo'. sah!" he
said gratefully. 81 didn' hab no break
1as', an moneys too scase ter buy things
On de road. / war 'lowin ter fill up after
done reach Georgy."
A few minutes later there was a slight
rpple through the car. The conductor
lad entered and was calling for tickets.
The young man produced his and held
= in readiness. The negro fumbled anx-
husly through several pockets and finally
remembered that he had pinned his to his
hat lining.
"Done tux cherry cent could scrape up
Ter buy dat" he said triumphantly as he
produced it. But das all right. l kin
vuk. an folks don't need money wen
dey's home. Moneys for trabblin."
In the seat behind them was shabbily
dressed woman whose face had an anx-
tous. frightened expression. Crowded on
the seat beside her were several bundles,
and in her arms was white faced, big
eyed baby. When the conductor touched
her shoulder, she started uneasily.
''Ticket, please"
A red flush of shame spread over the
voman's face. then it disappeared. leav-
Ing her white and logged.
II haven't any"
"Very well. If you get off at the next
seation, it will save us the trouble Of put
ting you off," and he turned to the oppo-
ste seat.
The woman's eyes grew big with terror
- she sprang up and caught him by the
arm.
"Don't do that, sir! For Gods sake,
cont put me OFF, she implored hoarse-
y. "I've got to go. My husband has
written for me to come. He's-he's dy-
pg" And great sob rose to her white
Ups. but was resolutely choked back.
II tried to raise money" lowering her
voice so the other passengers could not
hear. "but l couldn't. We sold every
ting we had so he could go south, as
the doctor ordered. And now he's-he's
---oh. my God! my Godw
She turned from him and sank weakly
INTO her seat. The conductor shook his
head
''I'm sorry, madam" he said kindly,
out we have only one rule. You must
pay or get off. / can't risk breaking
ne rules. Ticket, please"
The old negro rose slowly to his feet.
size feared yo'll hab ter put me off,
po. boss" be said humbly. Its mon
Srous hard wuk for pore niger like me
ter raise money for ticket"
"Off at the next station" broke in
TIE conductor harshly. "We'll be there
h minute. II 1t was not so near, I'd
dow the train and put you off, This poor
woman has some excuse, but you-bahw
The young man was about to make a
protest, but something in the old negro's
face restrained him.
Before the conductor reached the end
q the car the speed began to slacken.
The old negro rose and turned to his
companion.
"Reckon l better be leabin," he said.
Tank yo' for dem san'wiches. an hope
yo'll member me kin'ly. Here, Missy"
to the woman, who was gazing stonily
from the window. and dropping his ticket
into her lap. "here's yo' ticket. reckon
20 done drap it. hope yo' fin dat hus-
ham amt so bad as yo' t'ink."
And before she could recover from her
1ewilderment he had left the car and
vas shutting down the platform. The
young man half rose to call him back.
Then remembrance of his own re-
sources or perhaps of some one waiting
Cor him caused him to sink back on his
seat and stare blankly at the window.
A the train moved out he saw the old
negro trudging along beside the track,