The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1901-1903, 1902-09-14
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Observation-Disclosures
LEGAL
TENDER
BY ADDISON CLARK
Co1nrinht. 1901. hl Allison Clnrl.
By ADDISON CLARK
Copyright, 1901, by ADDISON Clark
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

In those days the white house. set back
from the road in clunp of live oaks,
was astir with life and youth. The
master had been a justice Of the peace
and had run for the legislature Men
had called him Judge Henderson, and
he had walked with his head erect.
He had had a neighbor then whose
heart was very near TO his own, but
the war had come and changed every
thing. Robert stephens. the neighbor,
had gone away to Join the Yankees,
and friendship was changed to bitter
hatred.
The masters sons. nephews and
friends had also gone to the war, some
from the north and others from the
south. His slaves had left him at the
first rumor of freedom, and the old
place soon fell into decay.
A thick carpet of Grub grass and wild
morning glory vines had spread over
the fields where had once been rows of
cotton and corn. All was silent now in
the house among the live oaks.
Upon bed in the large sunny front
room upstairs lay the master. sick and
deserted no. NOT quite deserted, fer
there was left old Jerry the last of
hundred slaves. The old man turned
over restlessly in his bed and putting
up thin, bony hand, pushed the gray
hair out of his eyes
"Jerryr' he called in a feeble voice.
A wrinkled black face appeared at
tn III Z if-1
answered the old servant.
What do you mean leaving me here
alone? Where have you been all this
timer
Il amt ben nowhar, Mase Tol, 'cept-
In In de kitchen. 1 amt lef' yo' but a
lie minute"
You have! l say you have, Jerry.
You've been gone an hour. Why don't
you bring me something to eat? Do
you think that because a mans little
sick he doesn't get hungry"
yes, sab, Ma'se Tol; yes. sab. De
dinnah be ready freely; would "a
ben done sab, only de hlns somehow
don't lay no mo- today no, sab, not
single aig! An de co'nmeal am done
an AtiAA al AN RtAN II an ut NOlltts
I Nothing to cook, eh! Not a thing to
eat in the house, and I'm to lie here on
my back and starve, am l, just be-
cause you're TOO lazy to go to the store
and get something's
Yes. sab, Ma'se Tol; yes, sah," said
jerry uneasily. 'Ize jes' a-gwine to de
sto' MOVIES a-gwine when yo' call
me. Yes sab, NIa'se Toll, but-but de
money done all gone too"
Money! That's what is the matter,
| Is it, Well why didn't you say so?
What do you stand gibbering there for
and not tell what you want? DO you
think I'm a beggar" He turned over
in feyerish haste, his old hands trem-
| bling neryously and, reaching under
the pillow, took out a large wallet,
which he opened, displaying a number
Of crisp new bills Money! There,
take what you wantr
a look Of awe came over the old ne
gro's face then he smiled as with
trembling hands he took one of the
bills and folded it tenderly. Yes.
Ma'se Tol; yes, sab. De dinnah be
ready freely" said he, and, bowling
and smiling, he shambled out of the
room.
Two stores, in one Of which was the
postotlice; a ginhouse and a blacksmith
shop constituted the town One Of the
stores was owned by Judge Hender-
sons former neighbour who had gone
out joyfully to fight for the Union and
had come back broken, one legged, al
most a pauper.
But it was not there Jerry went. He
wei knew that his master would eat
no food from that store. So he passed
! it by and went-on to the other, where
a busy, practical newcomer did a gen
eral merchandise business for cash.
"Evenin', Mlstah Ross" said Jerry
TO the man who came forward to take
his order
Good evening, Jerry. How is Mr..
Henderson today? asked the proprie-
tor
"Jedge Hindison, sab, am bettah,
tank yo'. He am healthy, sah," re-
turned the old negro, Strengthening up
his bent form and looking with con-
tempt on the questioner
Can | do anything for your asked
Mr.. Ross.
"Yo' kim sah," responded Jerry, and
he gave his order as if be were speak
ing to a servant.
Yes, to be sure" said the proprietor
when Jerry had finished, but excuse
me. All, but Jerry, did Judge Hender-
son send the money? You know we
do only a cash business"
1 Jerry looked at him for moment in
silence. "In cose I brung de money
he said. s)oes yo' t'ink l done come
begin fo' Mase Tol sump'n to eat"
4 The proprietor unfolded the bill
which the old negro handed him, and
as he saw what it was smiled in a SUI
perior manner. why, Jerry, this is
no good This is not legal tender"
said he. This is Confederate money.
The Confederacy fell six months ago,
and Confederate notes are no longer
legal tender. They are not worth the
paper they are printed on"
"Ain't no good? Yo' say de money
amt no good?" responded the old ne
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