Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-10-01


leu him u he win send coin or United
states notes we win be glad 10 serve
him."
TDe sick man awoke from a fitful
malnber as be heard step upon the
ntssrs- For a moment he lay staring
10 at the ceiling and trying to straight.
en- out the tangle in Ills thoughts
Jerry he called at length impatient.
iy. "Yoa lazy uigger. why don't yea
come on with my dinnerf Didn't 4
tell you was hungryY'
Yes. sab, Ma'se Toi, heah II. ssh.-
answered Jerry. coming half fesrfuiiy
into the room. "But--but, Ma'se Toll
Hts Ups were trembling. and the tears
were streaming down his face.
We'll. what Is Il? What do you
stand there whimpcring like a baby
FORT WHAT'S the matterY"
"oh, Ma'se Tol.s cried Jerry. falling
upon his knees beside the bed, ''he say
de Cornfede'ey done busted, an de
money amt no goodP
The money no goodi Sam Ross said
thatr cried the old man In shrilL,
cracked yoics. Hes liar, Jerry. IN
go right down there and tell him so.p
He lifted himself upon his elbow and
struggled to sit upright In bed. bat the
exertion was too much for his feeble
strength, and he fell back weakly unon
his pillow.
Then he lay for an hour rnving in,de-
iirium. alternately curslng the man
who had refused TO take his money
and begging Jerry TO bring his dinner.
The cid negro remained for a long
time. kneeisng by the bed, moaning
and praying and begging "afa'se Tor
just to be quiet. and Jerry would soon
have his dinner ready. Then q light
broke upon his darkness. He arose
and. taking the discarded bin. went
again down the road toward the vil.
lage. He would try the other store.
Ne doubt Captain Rob would take the
money. and his master need never
know where the things came from.
"Evenin'. Cap'n Bob" said Jerry to
the one legged man who came forward
to meet him.
Good. evening. Jerry" answered the
old soldier. How is Judge uender-
son todayT'
Mighty poly. sab: mighty poly,
Csp'n Rob. CANT somehow eat muffin,
an he hoagry iaik. too, all de time.
Don reek'n yo' got muffin TO a sick
man-no s,ze'u er conmeal or coffeeT'
Jerry handed the storekecper the bin
and stood watching him closely while
he examined H. When he had looked
at It carefully and turned 1t over aud
examined Il OH the other side. he turned
TO the old negro with an understand.
fag look. why. OF course have, Jer.
ry: anything you want" said he.
"An@+on'. Cap'n Bob. am de money
good p asked Jerry anxiously. Ca Sc
Mistah Ross. he say de Cornfcde'cy
done busted an de money ain't no legal
tlndah.''
sam Ross IL liar. Jerry, and
scoundFsi too. III tell him so the FIRST
time see him. The money is good for
anything 10 this store"
He stnmpcd about noiSlIy on his
wooden leg, swearing softly 10 himself.
until lse had made up doxan packages
and placed them on the counter meat
and eggs. curnmeai and coffee and
whatever else the menger resources OF
the small store afforded.
Jerry. tell Judge Henderson that
ana pleased to serve him" said he as
be handed the parcels TO the old negro,
"and Say Ia him that VIII call tonight
TO ask about his health and to break
with him a bottle Of the old ~ III
wager he hasn't Smacked his lips over
anything as good as that these twenty
years"
'Gawd bless yo'. Cap'n Bob" an
swerci Jerry. with tears Of gratitude
in his eyes. "Yo' am sho' nun white
man"
mo thanks al ALL Jerry just little
matter OF business. And. Jerry. walt
here's your change"
When the old negro had gene. Cap
tain Robert Stephens. some time soldier
and gentleman, hobbIed back to the
rear Of his small store. kicked open the
stove with bits wooden leg and. unfold
ing fresh. new Confederate bill. tore
IL into bits aud dropped IL inside.
Legal tender! Legal tender" he
muttered. why. the brute-aBd the
old man xtarvfng to deathw