The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-02-11
CHAPTER VI.
THE MAN OR BRUTE IN EMBRYO.

THE MAN DR. BRUTE IN EMBRYO.
Two months later General Worth.
willie busy rebuilding his mills al indie
pcndence. had served on him a ummon
10 appear before the Agent Of the Freed
mans Bureau at Ham5right and answer
the charge Of using abusive language
to ? freedman
The particular freedman who desired
to have his feelings soothed by law was
= lazy young negro about sixteen years
cid whom the General had ordered whip
ped and sent from the stables into the
fields on one occasion during the war
while on 4 visit to his farm. Evidently
the boy had = long memory.
Now don't that beat the deviI,'' ex-
claimed the General.
What is it, asked his foreman.
I've got TO leave my work, ride on an
Old freight train thirty miles. pull
through twenty more miles Of red mud in
= buggy to get 10 Hambright ana lose
tour days. To answer such charge as
that before some little wizen-eyed skunk
ar a Bureau Agent, My God. it's enough
10 make It Union man remember seces-
sion witt regrets!'
My stars. General, We can't get along
without you now when We are getting
this machinery in place. Send Il lawyer"
growled the foreman.
Cant do it, John-Im charged with a
crime"
Well. III swcar."
DO the best you can. I'll be back in
four days. if l don't kill q nigger!" said
the General with 4 smile. I've got q
settlement to make with the farm hands
anyhow"
There was no help for it. But when the |
court convened. and the young negro saw
the face Of his old master red with
wrath, his heart failed him. He fled the
town and there was no accusing witness.
The General gazed at the Agent with
cold contempt and never opened his
mouth in answer to expressions OF re-
greet al the fiasco.
y few moments later tie rode I'D to the
gate OF his farm house on the river hills
about a mile out OF town. y ~strapping
young fellow of fifteen FASTENED to open
the gate.
Well, Allan, my boy. how are your"
First rate, General. We're glad to
see you! but we didn't make a half !
crop, sir, the niggers We're always in
town loafns around that Freedman's
Bureau, holding meetings all night and
going to sleep in the fields"
We'll, show ne the books" said the
General as they entered the house.
The General examined the accounts
with care and then looked at Young
Allan Mcleod for a moment as though
he had made a discovery.
Young man you've done this work
Well"
7 tried to, sir. If the niggers disputed
anything, fixed that by making the
charge each item in two
ono p1 yorr aaoo,,. - +
an account kept separate for every mig
ger" |
Good enough. They'll get UP early to I
ahead of YOU"
I'm afraid they are going to make '
at the Bureau, sir. That Agents
'een here holding Union League meetings
Wo or three nights every week, and he's
got every niger under his thumb" h
The dirty whelp." growled the Cen f
raj. c
II you could see me out OF the trouble.
.ieneral, Id like 10 jump on him and beat h
be life out OF him next time he comes
ut here 3
The General rowned. d
Don't you touch him-any more than
on would 4 pole cat. I've trouble enough II
now" o
Il could knock the mud out OF him in Ia
" minutes II Fou say the WORD, SAID -
Han eagerly,
Yes. I've no doubt of it." The Gen Fl
al looked at him ~thoughtfully. b;
He was a wei knit powerful youth just ds
lrned his fifteenth birthday. He had W
d hair. u freckled face, and forid com on
eXion. His features were regular and
easing, and his S~talWart muscular
cure gave him a handsome look that
lp~ressed one with indomitable physical NJ
His lips were full and sensuous OF
s eyebrows straight and his high fore
ad spoke Of brain power as we'll as
rse power. g.,
he had a habit of licking his lips and no