Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-09

here; dey got to kill me dead an tote me.
An den nanny walloped me-
You needn't to b'lieve word dat!'
cried JENNY, who came in at that moment.
II toP 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
waller 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, l dunno whar in de roun' worl l got
any"
There was 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. II
was as if tramp steamer had thrown ou
an anchor within sight OF the lights o.
home.
"Who cooked breakfast this morning.
asked Sweetest Susan.
Me" replied Jemny. ~ know'd some
body had ter cook"
'I thought So" said the child. "The bis
cults were mighty good"
1t was some time before JENNY sait
anything. She rose and pushed the child
from her, remarking: II dunno what come
over me- but eff l set here wild my arm
roun' you, an you talkin' dat away, II
be boo -hooin' TO- l know myself. Git VI
fun dar Drusilla, TO break yo' neck!"
Before Druslla could make any prepara
tion to rise there came a loud rap on thu
door facing.
Nobody but old Fountain" said the new
conner; "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 his coat and in his
hair.
"Whar is you been?" asked Jimmy.
Fur enough to go no furder," responded
old Fountain, shaking his head. II went
a-huntin' freedom. De kim / foun' will las
me whet, l promise you dat"
you don't tell mel" exclaimed Jeminy.
81 does" said Fountain, "an' l could tell
you lots mo- dan dat ef l had time. Dey
sot me ter work liftin' wagging' wheels out
er de quagmire, an den driver rap-jack-
eted me wild his whp-well, you see me
here, don't you? An eff we're bofe alive
you'll see me here termorrow an de day
after"
"An dey want no freedom dar?" ques-
| TONED JENNY. She spoke under ner Dreatn,
as II afraid to hear the answer.
81 won't say dat" replied Fountain. Fer
dem dat like de kin 'twuz dar. Some
mought like de change, but not me. I bless
God fer what i seed, but seed 'nuff !
went an come"
Whyn't you stop and wash de mud OFF in
de branch?' JENNY asked presently.
mo, not me-" Fountain replied still shak-
ing his head. Ter stop wuz ter stay. ]
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
LETT"
Il b'lieve yOu!" sighed Jeminy. 81 come
mighty night gwine myself"
You'd a-been sorry" exclaimed Foun-
tain; you'd a-been sorry plum ter yo' dyin
day. You see me?" JENNY nodded her head.
) We'll, ! been dar / been right wid UNI
Yo' can't call it freedom after yo' wade
through dat mud and water"
Some one else came to the door. "All
) eyes open!" cried the newcomer. It was the
refrain OF hide-and seek, and the children
} laughed when they heard IT, They knew the
voice Of Johnny Bapter. IAN eyes open!'
: he persisted. I'm it. Ten, ten, double
ten, forty-fye, fifteen! All eyes open?"
y With that Johnny Bapter walked in. He