The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1902-12-31
FeIlosa,
MorfuL
By LYDIA PERKINS
By LYDIA PERKINS
Copyright, ie0s, by tho

h s. s. Mcclure Company ]
you are worthless niger, George"
Yes, little mistiss."
"And your master and / will have to
20 TO the almshouse."
Eyes, little mlstiss; spec yo' WILL"
Then what will become OF you,
George?"
Go dar too
DO you think they would take in a
niger? You are more likely to get ON
the chain gang"
"Te, he, he, little mistissr'
What are you giggling about?'
"Dey amt no chain gang. We goes
on de fahm."
You have been thereT"
Yes; l got sent dar bout yeah
ago"
George, have you been a crimlnal?'
His mistress looked at him with shrink
Ing disgust
"Spec | has," he returned glIbIy. 81
been mos eberyt'ing shooter,
buck dancer an de res, an crimnel,"
he added, with touch of pride.
Mrs Gusts was paying no heed to
the negro now. She looked dreamily
out through the window at the mellow
sunlight OF spring. A longing came
over her for her old home. She had en-
dured the long and cruel winter with
stoical patience, but the reluctant
spring made the sap of yearning rise IN
her veins. Suddenly she buried her
face In her handkerchief, and like
faithful dog George began to whine:
Oar little mistiss; jes' yo' walt till
&C udGer side de cloud fummux over,
an yo'll see 'nough silver to mex a
braid pan"
"Oh, go away, you worthless nigger!'
Mrs. Gusts exclaimed, putting down
her handkerchief, and he jumped ex-
travagantly just for the delight of hear
ing her sweet old laugh, like the ring
Ing of pure thin silver
But, George" Mrs. Gusts resumed.
with renewed dignity. lit is true that
your master and I are seriously think
Ing of seeking public assistance" Her
delicate cheek flushed at the admission;
but, seeing his look of childish horror.
she proceeded firmly:
we cannot longer meet them, and we
must ask for help"
She threw up her little figure and
proudly left the room, but she stumbled
OH the threshold, and the negro, with
intuitive devotion, knew that her eyes
were blinded with tears.
He stared with dropped jaw at the
open door through which she had gone.
Then, with volatile grin, he jumped
TO his feet and, performing skillful
clog dance, seized his disreputable hat
and bolted from the house.
About year before this Mr. GUSTS
and his wife had drifted to the great
city of New York. They came from
Georgia, leaving their home desolate in
order to be near their daughter, who
had married clever young artist. 1t
did not take the parents long to discov-
er that their son-inlaw had difficulty In
supporting his little family, so they,
protesting grandly that they had an
ample income, moved to a cheap little
fiat on the east side and In the fright
full closeness of a few narrow rooms
began an existence that was slow tor
ture TO their pride.
One day George Harries, one of the
most unregenerate negroes in all New
York, sided up on their front steps and
pulled the bell. A negro is not natu-
rally a tramp, but he was idle and
thought he could bully something from
these forlorn old people.
Mrs. Gusts opened the door and look
ed her wrath at his presumption.
Docs yo hab any wink fo' pc cul-
fud MANI" he drawled insolently.
mo; | don't want any niggers to
work for mel" she blazed out. Get of
my front steps," She was preparing
to slam the front door when he jerked
| off his filthy hat and burst out
"'Fo' de Lawd. | didn't know yo'
wuz south'n lady; deed ] didn't, lit
tie mistiss Kin yo' give POI niggah
a bite o somethln' to eat. an I'll wuk
my fingahs to de bone; deed will"
And that was the beginning of a
| strange household = George Harries
| crap shooter, low comedian and natu-
raj singer and dancer, and these poor
fine old southern people. And he was
| as faithful as though he was theiI
slave-they as autocratlc as though he
was theirs by right Of purchase.
| So on this sunny afternoon in spring
he shufiied along the street, dipping In
to old haunts that had not known him
for a year When he reached one OF
his former stands, be looked shrewdly
about for policeman and, not seeing
one, began with great vigor and skill
what is known to the initiated as Q
buck dance" By the time he had
danced for five minutes the crowd wal
SO dense about the performer that 4
took tall man to peep over the heads
George paused In his dancing, tool
of his hat and, singing In muslca
voice, coon, coon, coon," went arount
collecting This was all very well. Blu
a policeman sauntered up. Finding thu
attraction was live negro and not
dead horse. he yirtuously redistributet
the coins to the amused crowd, ant
George took a free ride to the polio,
station.
By the time he was hustled befor
the desk his most reckless look hat
settled over HIS hardened face. TIL
magistrate, who was looking bored
reused slightly when the officer ex
planned that the negro was INDUCING
In disorderly dance.
"Why were you dancIngf" he asked
with yawn.
"'Cause ! wuz," was the sulky re
tort.
George said the magistrate severe