Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-02-22
SILAS JACKSON.
ny Paul Laurence dunbar,

his little world looked at it, he might
have spent oil his days on the little
farm where he was born, much as
many of his fellows did. But no, For.
tune had marked him for her own, and
it was destined that he should be
known to fame He was to know a
broader field than the few acres which
he and his father worked together,
and where he and several brothers and
sisters had spent their youth.
MIR. Harold Marston was the instru-
ment Of Fate in giving Silas his first
introduction to the world. Marston,
who prided himself on being, besides
man of leisure, something of SPORTS
man, was shooting over the fields in the
vicinity of the jackson farm. During
the week he spent ip the region, need
Ing the services of likely boy, be
came to know and like Silas. Upon |
leaving, he said, Its a9pity for a boy |
as bright as you are to be tied down in |
+ this God forsaken place. How'd you |
like to go up to the Springs, 81, and |
work in a hotel?"
The very thought OF going to such a
place, and to such work, fred the boys
Imagination, although the idea of it
daunted him..
IA "fd like it powahful well, Mistah
Ma'ston," he replied.
"Well, I'm going up there, aud the
proprietor of one of the best hotels, the
Fountain House, is very good friend
! of mine. and I'll get him to speak to
his head waiter in your behalf. You
want to get out of here, and see some
thing of the world, and not stay cooped
up with nothing liyelier than rabbits,
squirrels and quail. "
And so the work was done. The
black boys ambitions that had only
needed an encouraging word, had
awakened into buoyapt life. He looked
his destiny squarely in the face, aud
saw that the great world outside
beckoned to him. From that time his
dreams were eagle-winged. The farm
looked narrower to him, the cabin
meaner, and the elods were harder to
, his feet. He learned to hate the
plough that he had followed before in
dumb content, and there was no longer
joy in the woods he knew and loved.
Once, out Of the pure joy of living, he
had gone singing about his work; but
now, when be sang, it was because his
heart was longing for the city of his
dreams, and hope inspired the song.
However, after Mr.. MaIston had been
gone for over two weeks, and nothing
had been heard from the Springs, the
hope died in Silas' heart, and he came
to believe that his benefactor had for
gotten him. And yet he could not re-
turn to the old contentment with his
mode of life. Mr.. Marston was right,
and be was "cooped up there with
nothing better than rabbits, squirrels
and quail. ~ The idea had never &C.
Cured to him before, hut now it struck
him with disconcerting force that there
cRp,atbinfr in him ahnrc his Sn
roundings and the labor at which be
toiled day by day. He began to see
that the cabin was not over clean, and
for the first time recognized that his
brothers and sisters were positively
dirty. He had always looked on il
with unconscious eyes before, but nov
be suddenly developed the capacity fol
disgust
When young 'Lishy, noticing hi
brothers. moroseness, attributed it t
his strong feeling for a certain damsel
Silas turned or him in fury. Ambition
had driven out all other feelings. anC
DEFY Manly seemed poor and common
place to the dark swain, who mont
bef0re would have gone any length t.
gain a smile from her. He compare,
erything and everybody to the glor
of what he dreamed the Springs and il
inhabitants to be, and all seemed chea
beside.
Then on day when his spirits wer
at their lowest ebb, passing neighbo
handed him letter which he ha
found at the little village postofice.
was addressed to Mr.. 81 jackson, an
bore the Springs postmark. Silas wa
Immediately converted from raw bach
woods boy to man of the world Say
the little notes that had been passe
back and forth from boy to girl ut ii
little log school-house where he ha
gone four fitful sessions, this was h
first letter, and it was the first tin
he had ever been addressed as Mr.
He swelled with pride that be couI
not conceal, as with trembling hant
he tore the missive open.
He read it through with glowing ey
and a growing sense of his own il
portance. 1t was from the head wait
whom Mr.. Narston had mentioned, al
was couehed in the most elegant al
high sounding language. 1t said tn
Mr. Marston had spoken for Silas, al
that il he came to the Spring
and was quick to learn, Ito aoeui
knowledge" was the head waiter
phrase, situation would be crowd
for him. The family gathered arou
the fortunate son, and gaZed on b
WIN awe Wnen ne impaired the go
news He became, on the instant
new being to them. 1t was as if he b
only been loaned to them, and was n
being lifted bodily out of their wor
The elder jackson was bit doubt
about the matter.
"Of co'se ef you wants to go, Sill
! amt a-gwine to gainsay YOU, an
hope it's all right, but sence freed
dis hyeah piece o. grouu's been &C
enough flu me, an reckon y
mought a. got erlong on it
but pap, you see it's diff
now. It's diff'ent, all | wanted wa
chanstir
''Well, reckon you got it, 81,
reckon you got it. "
The younger children whispered Il
after they had gone TO bed that mig
wondering and guessing what the q
place to which brother 81 was 90
oould be like, and they could C
picture it as like the great white dor
city whose picture they had seen in
gaudy Bible foisted upon them /
passing agent
AS for Siles, he read and reread
letter by the light of a fat pine l
until be was too sleepy TO see, and e'
word was craven on his memory;
he went to bed with the precious p;
under his pillow. In spite of
drowsiness, he lay awake for somo ii
gazing with heavy eyes into the d
ness, where he saw the great city
his future: then he went to slee