The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-04-10
It was the first time master had forgot
ten them since the surrender, and now
they needed help badly.

| It was the first time master had forgot
ten them since the surrender, and now
they needed help badly.
Now and then in his misery Neck look
ed furtively and uneasily toward the box
chained to the bedpoSt. The guardian
ship Of that box had grown heavier year
by year, yet he felt that he must be true
to his word to old master and not give it
over to young master, who was now him
self So years old. until he should plainly
need it most. But Meek had reasons Of
his own for being very anxious to deliver
to master that strong box. Neck recalled
with grief and fear JOHNS never allay-
ed curiosity concerning the contents of
the box He sighed q great deal by his
freside and kept his old pistol loaded.
| Dusk was settling down when tramp
ing hoofs reused the old couple by the
fire, and then at last came the long looked
for basket from Tolstone House.
But such small basket!
"You see," said the boy who brought
the basket, "times is hard wild us. Been
gettin hard a long time. Us amt got
turkey ourselves. Sold all our turkeys to
git Mr.. Lewis home from de college at
| Sewanee. He gotter go to clerking at
Mr.. Jenkins store in town at $40 a
month. De ole place gwine be sold
mortgage sale next month. I'm leavin
next week. Colonel say he amt able to
keep no servants"
Leaving the poor little present, pack
age of tea crackers and robin pie, the
boy was off before the old people had
reused themselves from the shock Of his
news.
Real want at Tolstone House! The
place was their ideal Of all that was rich.
beautiful and generous. They both sat
silent awhile, casting solicitous glances
at the robin pie and tea cakes.
There was a long pause, then Rebie
said, "a young, tender goose amt bad
eatin."
Now, though Easter, as they called
him, might, as the ages Of geese 80. be
expected to have many year before
him, yet he could by no means be called
young and tender, but so he seemed to
these fond old people.
Fer young masters sake" murmured
Meek, tenderly stroking the gander's
white head as Easter Kissed softly and
upturned questioning pink trimmed eye.
Us Cdu put ulul live Ill paShSI oho
start by soon daylight"
81 must carry dat box to young mas
ter"
"You tote de box. I'll tote de goslin."
Latterly Meck's uneasiness over the
box had kept him wakeful, but that night
the knowledge that he was so soon to get
rid Of the great responsibility acted like
a sedative on the weary old brain.
Old Rebie, however, kept awake as
long as the pet Of the household remain
ed restless, and it was late ere she, too,
sank into heavy slumber.
But at midnight both old people were
shaken roughly from their slumbers by
loud note Of terror from Easter. Oats
dat gander! Kill him." said mut1ed
voice in the cabin.
Instantly Meek snatched the old pistol
from his pillow and cooked it with loud
click.
Lord, have mercy on me-" groaned
Neck, "but II you was my own son I'd
kill you If you got dat box. If don't SEQ
you git empty handed out dat do TO
count three, you is dead nigger fer
sho."
Then Aunt Rebie screamed louder than
Easter, and the two cowardly thieves
made dash for the door. AS they leaped
out the two old people saw that one was
their scapegrace, their sorrow, JOHN.
Meek made fast the door again. Easter
Kissed in exultation. The rest Of the
night they sat by the hearth guarding
their trust. Next morning at dawn the
old couple were off, laden with box, bas-
ket and blunderbuss. The sweet April
air was all astir with fight and futtering
of bird wings. The fence corners were
blue with wild violets. The golden bells
Il the jasmine sweetened every swamp
and field.
At last the white pillars Of Tolstone
House came in sight. The poor old peo-
ple were admitted, and Rebie presented
her gift-Easter.
Easter behaved very handsomely. He
turned up one bright eye on the master,
the other on the mistress, who wept at
the gift of her former slave. Master,
too, must wipe his glasses. Neck put the
box on the table before the colonel. From
his neck he took the key on its leather
string. Old master had given it to him
long years before, when the now staid
cid colonel was wild spendthrift.
After much ado it opened. The lid was
lifted. The glow of gold and the sparkle
Of Jewels shone before the amazed eyes.
A yellow letter told part Of the story.
The colonel's recollections of his early
escapades filed up any blanks.
"And Easter save us all dat money"
cried Rebie, and she reiterated the story
of how the sagacious gander had awak-
aned them in the night,
Easter shall never be eaten," declared
mistress. Indeed, Casters age had al
ready given bond that he should never be
eaten with pleasure.
So it came about that the colonels
young son visited a home Of rejoicing
instead Of one of sorrow.
The two old people went but once more
to their cabin in the lonely swamp, and
then only to move all their belongings to
a house Of their own in sight Of Tolstone
Place, gift Of young master.-New
York Evening Post.
An Easter Scene.
+brouoh Y,olichod pQnpS