The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-07
PLANTATION PAGEANTs
. Visit to Billy Biscuit.

Wopbrtohf. 1899, ~ Joel Chandler Hdrrft)
As the kidnapped children we're preparing
to get in the buggy Drusilla made this remark
to Sweetest Susan:
"Ef nanny don't kill me dis day. it'll be
kaze I'm dead when I git dar."
At home Jemimy was walking up and down
wrinGinR her hands and making statement
that went far to show that Drusilla knew pref
ty we'll what to expect.
Il amt sleep n wink dis night, less'n you
kin call noddin' s%leepin'. not a wink an when
l does git holt er da. gal. I'm Rwinter make
her wish she'd "a stayed los"
Just because she STAYED with Sweetest su-
san. I suppose?' said Mrs. wyche.
Nom. not 'zackly dat" replied Je emmy.
but whynt she come on ter de house an
fetch little Mistiss wild her? She plenty big
nun fer dat. FL she'd "a come. little Mistiss
would "a come: you know.dat ~you'se'f. Oh.
eff l don't pay dat niger gal back fer de Of
and de now"
You'd better thank the Lord II you ever
see her again." said Sweetest Susan's dis
tire ssed mother.
III do dat. ma'am: I'll thank i'm on my
Bonded knee: an To- ] git IL onbent good. I'll
lay dat gal 'crost IL, an when 1 git done wild
'er. she won't git In no mo- wagRins-she
won't git tuck off by nobody. not twel she's
done grown. or after dey done put me on de
GOBLIN board. I may not know how Ter raise
children. but.I know how to make 'um stan
roun'."
All this time Mrs. wyche was lying upon a
sofa in a state OF collapse. while emmy
moro vigorous Tor more venomous as she
would have putsit). was walking up and:down
In the long hallway. wrineihR her hands and
Rroaning.
Morning came on, and II was light enough
to put out the candles, but they were left burn
ing. Presently q modest ray OF sunlight crept
in and played upon the wall opposite. 1t
seemed to be a signal. for the moment Mrs.
Wyche's eyes fell upon it she heard a sharr
knock at the door. Jemimy heard 1t. too. and
ran to push back the thumb bolt. Quick as
she had been Mrs. Wyche was by her side as
she opened the door. Aaron was standing on
the threshold. Mrs. Wyche held her breath
as he raised his hand and Jemimy LEANED
against the wall with a moan.
A safe. all safe. Mistiss. They're comm
in the buggy To Jemimy he said: e
breakfast. get breakfast! They're hungry"
Did you 60 with father?' Mrs. Wyche
asked.
Yes. Mistess."
II knew it," said the lady. The tone Of her
voice was full Of the liveliest gratitude.
Aaron bent his head. raised his hand and was
gone before they could ask any particulars.
Mrs. Wyche would have. called him back.
but at that moment she heard the sound of
buggy wheels and she kne " that the'kidnapped
children had arrived. Before she could dry
her eyes Sweetest Susan came running in and
rushed into her mothers arms with a glad
cry: whereupon the mother felt called uron to
weep a little more. though the tears that fell
now were far different from those that fell In
the dreary watches OF the night.
Drusilia came in Will less confidence. She
was not sure Of her reception. IHowdy
t nRem%l ooked fo q, Jssimi iris''SS' Sh' sa'a' an'
Come yer. gall" said Jemimy. She turned
Drusliia around and inspected her carefully.
shoS SS% e.. ,, fHs IT, Ss e.. $% i5s3.y ' did Soa cry
What had ter cry, ferF" exclaimed Jemimy;
Well. eli you'd "a been losted I'd "a cried"
remaf fbfs R Ism;imS broke down. Look YER.
niger! You better stop foolin' wild me. De
mex time you do lax you done done I'm
:. Whereupon JENNY fouted out and went
into the kitchen. whore she wen, about break:
last with surprising energy. talking to herself
1t .is, impossible to. describe tho keen dis
appoin II fIa, Of p Buster nne John "a w " e.. he rem "a me
able events of the night. He was disappointed.
first. because he had not been kidnapped with
waked TO Join in the search. He had an idea that
he had been treated unfairly. not by any par
IlruldT pGTSOn OF DtIstlS. u III SOUlt way.
It was Just his luck. he said, to he left out
when anything very interesting was going to
haDpen,; r,m He ,r IecoIl ed t the day syis he remained sx,sea La az
a pack Of hounds ran a gray fox right up to
the schoolhouse door aud caught it there and
partridge nest right on'the verge OF the play:
ground. and the nest had seventeen beautiful
eggs in it; There were'other occasions that
he remembered. and he said to himself and to
thar il was pretty hard that q girl
should be having such a fine time while he
But Sweetest Susan declared that it wasn't
q fne, time after all. She was asleep
thelsss. she felt that she had grown in i'm;
~portance by taking. part in the adventure and
cute in girls OF her age, but which are-well.
not so cute in grown women.
Buster Lohn s16mitted to them With very
s%trSntti"E himself II ssEeetest susan's adSsn;
himself with assertions as to what he would
done had he been in the wagon; He
lust AS sure as anything he would have walked
when the wagon jolted oyer n rock or a lump
Il hat the w Fosdi end w snsnIT SsNe f foans b Il as Ya n
deep trouble Buster John would have pulled
hay MHy' i yaa dH sseet any susan slsa%a; you N"o" you
Well. I'd have. had one If ! had been in the
saSon; would have guessed what was rolnG
"HSw came yoey didn.t?" inqaiced DrusilIa
.wl tn,' ter Podir rop of ,T ter slse SSu A f%S WHIT Ts w yoa
stay down dar an wake VEAL UNI ] don't
ike dish yer kinder guessin' wha: Guesses
But Buster John insisted that he would have
borrowed his Grandiather's pistol and hid him
.elf in the wagon. and when they came 10
ZONE dark SPOT in the road. then and there
would have demanded satisfaction. =,
Drusilla: !, he'd a grabbed you an
oiled yo' head in one err dem blankets. an Of
lat amt satffy you. he'd a RP you sump'n
That's all you know about pistols" said
Buster John imperiously.
No needs ter know bout pistols" replied
Drusllla. when you know bout folks. Why.
loney. dat ar man would "A eat you VI. eG you
les so much ez bat yo' eye at i'm. Amt /
lone see de way he chaw vittles. an how he
ak long wild hisself?'
Nevertheless Buster John insisted that he
would have rescued the:captives and brought
hem home In iumph
AS may be supposed. the strange adyen;
ures OF Sweetest Susan and Drusilla afforded
subject for a great deal OF gossip on the