The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-05-29

came from the quarters where long ago
the negroes sang on summer nights
like this, and the years rolled back
to give her again master and mistress
and the old care free, irresponsible,
happy life
We gwiue fix Ills hcah place up Wen
Marse tunnel come home" Aunt Char
lotte unused. Miss Dell say Marse
Cunnel daid. She say he amt nevah
gwine come back. Law Miss Dell alnt
know my ole marster Miss DELL l
say. my Marse Cunnel neyah brull he
wud ylt He done low he gwine come
back, an he comm Moughty long
time hit tex i'm. Spec he done chase
dem Yankees dat fur norf dat hit TUX
i'm all dis time to git back, But he
she gwlne come. | spec i'm erlong
emmy time. Law, law, 'twouldn't 'sprlse
me none to see Marse Cunnel walk in
dat are do dis berry minnit"-
In her eagerness she turned to the
open door. The words died on her lips.
Her jaw dropped, and her face grew
gray with fear.
A man stood In the doorway. Be
hind him the darkness made frame
FOR his figure, and the fire that flickered
on the hearth kindled there to light
the room-showed his ragged clothing,
| glinted on the tangled white hair that
covered his head and the white beard
that hung unkempt on his breast, His
eyes looked out hungrlly from beneath
shaggy brows
He took n step Into the room. Aunt
Charlotte rose to her feet.
is 1t you. CharlotteY the stranger
said. charlotte, where is my wife?
Where Is the homer Where Is your
little Marse John? l left them in your
care"
The old woman gave one cry of hap.
plness
"Marse Cunnel," she cried, my mar
ster Dress Gawd dat you come home.
Whut dey do to You, ole mnrse, dat you
look dat ole an po'?"
Il want my wife and child" the man
repeated sharply.
The old woman knelt mt his feet
"Marse Cunnel, dey bofe gone desc
many yeahs" she said, her tears be-
ginning to fall.
"Gone," he said after her-"both
gomez
81 done de bes' l could, Marse Cum
nell" she begged. "Gawd knows dat |
| KEEP dat trus de bes' | could. | KEEP
de grades lnoughty nice an green, sub"
"The gravesp this wreck of her old
master shouted. Dead Margaret
dead My Godl
He pushed AWAY Aunt Charlottes de-
tanning hands and rushed out Into the
night
"Lawd," Aunt Charlotte whispered,
kneellng with appraised hands where
her master had left her, You know dat
| done filled dat 'spons'billty de bes'
| dat kuowed how, o LaWd, You know
how | wuk with dem GRADES an cut
de grass and fotch de water nm KEEP
um green Miss Ma'grct, Miss Ma
greet, Use ole an lonesome. De 'spons'-
| bllity Is ober. AK Gawd to femme
| come erlong wild you nm lrr Marse
| John"
They found the colonel next morning
lying among the faded roses ON his
wife's grave And In the old kitchen,
ON the bed where Miss Margaret had
died, Aunt Charlotte lay her RESPONSE
billy over, the years of her trust full
filed.
Three days later. when the keepers of
northern Insane asylum came to Riv-
ervicw In search of an escaped patient
who had been M Inmate of the institu-
ton for more than 30 years, and who
had never been able to tell them where
was his home and who were his
friends they found two new graves In
the plat behind the rail fence
Master and mistress and faithful
servant were united St Louis Repub-
| lie.