The National tribune., 1901-02-14

LINE MAfCh! SHOUTED 81.
ah. Smite him, hip-and-thigb, as Joshua
done the Amalekites-ah. I'd be glad to
go with you, beloved brethren, and die
leading you in defense of yer homes-ah,
but | must go on, and rouse the people
elsewhere-ah. long to put myself at yel
head-ah, and"-
Forward, double-quick, left into line
MARCH" shouted 81. They all dasheo
up in front of the tavern, and came to
halt with guns leveled.
Halt, there. Throw up your hands
every one of you. Don't one of you move,
on your lives" sternly commanded 81.
bringing his Springfield to bear on the
Elder.
-, for the Lords sake, don't shoot,
Mister" begged the Elder. Don't shoot
I'm minister o the Gospel. I'm man
peace. l hain't never had nothing t do
with the army"
Purity preacher you are" said Shorty.
You old whangdOodle hyena. Hells fui.
of mighty sight better men than you
are"
Pete and Sandy charged up with shriL
yells, catching lite Brown and Tim Scads
in the midst OF hasty retreat, and whip
ping them back TO the crowd with hickory
switches. The boys had their guns, with
their brides, in their left hands, and long
withes in their right.
orient t hit man that-a-way what never
done nothing t yo'uns.'
Say, my good young friend" pleaded
the red-nosed Tim Scads, you orter be
keerful bout striking a white man and
gentleman. I'm an older mann yo' air,
and father of family
Nice father you are, you old swill-tub,"
said Sandy, giving him another vicious cut.
IF | had yaller dog that'd own you for
a father I'd kill him. Get back to the
rest, before l do worse to you. Get, L
say"
Say" implored Tim, you rayly orient
t strike a white man with whip afore
niggers. Tain't decent. Twill take away
all their respect"
Pete and Sandy looked around. They
had been so absorbed in watching Sis
movements that they had not noticed that
Uncle Ephraim and Aunt Minerva, fol-
lowed by the rest of Mr.. Benjamin SmalPs
negroes, had come up close behind and
were eager spectators of events.
old soak" shouted Sandy. Lose the re-
spect of the niggersl You were crazy to
hang a white man, whose finger nail was
worth more than your rum-pickled old
carcass. Hustle. Don't waste time talk
ing, or won't leave well place on you"
GLORY to God" shouted Aunt Minerva
Ann, dat I've libbed long enough t see
OlG 1lLu oCuuS WdHOpeu ue HledutSl
pup dat ebber sucked aigs. He meaner'n
airy niger dat ebber wore wool. He pur
tend t be gemmen, and steal de coppers
often n daid nigger's eyes. He lay wake
nights t tink OBJ cussedness t do t pore
Niger. De only wuk he'd ebber do would
be t jine de patterole, jist TO de fun OBJ
lickin' niggers. He lick me wen l wuz
leetle gal, just TO de fun OBJ hearin' me
holler Hit him again, young mas'r.'
There's welt for the sake of Aunt
Minerva Ann, and there's another for Un-
cls Ephraim," said Sandy, bringing down
his withs with all his strength.
Hit him q few for me, SANDY" said
81, land don't let 'em be love taps,
neither. Then you might add a few for
nuisance to it all his worthless life"
He amt gittin' lick amiss," remark
ed the Elder, in an undertone to the man
next to him. He was beginning to recover
a little from his fright, for Sis attention
had been directed away from him, and the
dreadful muzzle of that Springfield rife
was pointed elsewhere than toward his
head. Though l hate t see hit done by
Yankees, an afere the niggers. The way
I've wrastled t no effect with that onre-
generate, desartless. guzzlin' ole sinner, an
tried t win him from his evil ways. He's
Knocked at me, fer chicken-eatin' hoss-
tradin' ole hypocrite, an now judgment
has come onto him fer his railin' agin q
minister O. the Lord"
Now" said 81, addressing the crowd,
"I want you all to mOsey over there to
them trees that you fixed up to hang US
last August, and set down fiat ON tho
ground Forward-March"
The crowd looked at one another, but
the boys were in hurry, and hustled tkeu
along in no gentle way. The Elder
brought up the rear as slowly and digni- |
tiedly as he could, with the muzzle of |
Harry Joslyns gun punching him in the
back.
DO be keerful with that there gun, my |
young FRIEND" demonstrated the Elder.
Gums air orful things. You never know |
when they're goin' off,"
''You needn't be SO blamed particular
about a few minutes, you old hunter of
fried chicken and wheat biscuits" Harry !
answered. Or whether you're shot ac-
cidentally or on purpose. You're going to
be pretty soon, anyway"
''You don't mean t say that you think o
shootin' reggerly ordained minister o the
GospelT gasped the Elder. "Thatd be
wuss'n heathenism."
We'll. mebbe, being a minister will