Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1902-09-27
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LEGAL
TENDER
By ADDISON CLARK

By ADDISON CLARK


somcd like well kept flower garden.
In those days the white house, set back
from the road in Il clump of live oaks,
WAS astir with life and youth. The
master had been 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 neighbor then whose
heart was very near to his own, but
the war had come and changed every
thing. Robert stephens, the ncighhor,
had gone away to join the Yankees,
and friendship WAS changed to bitter
hatred.
The masters sons, ncphcws and
friends had also gone to the war, some
from the north and others from the
fouth. His slaves had left him ut the
first rumor of freedom, and the old
rlHce soon fell into decay.
\ thick carpet of crab grass and wild
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
dcScrtcd-no. not quite deserted, for
there was left old Jerry, the last of Il
hundred slaves. The old man turned
over restlesssIy in his bed and, putting
up Il thin, SOny hand, pushed the gray
hair out of his eyes.
Jerry he called in a feeble voice.
4 wrinklcd black face appeared at
the door. Yes. Ma'se Tol heah | is"
answered the old servant.
"What do you mean leaving me here
alone: Where have you been all this
timc?"
Il amt ben nOwhar. Ma'sc Tol, 'cept-
in in de kitchen. | amt lcf' yO' but Il
lille 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 be cause Il mans Il little
sick he doesn't get hungry?'
"YcS, sab, Ma'Sc Tol; yes, sah. De
dinnah be ready i'rcctly; would IA
BEN done. sab, only de hins somehow
don't lay no mo- today-no, sab, not a
single aig! An de coumpal am done
all gone an dc hac'n an de coffee"
Nothing to cook, ch. Not Il thing to
eat In the house, and I'm to lie here on
my back and starvc, am l, just be-
and get something's
Yes. sab, Ma'Se Tol; yes, sah," said
Jerry unraSily. "I'Ze jcs' a-Gwinc to de
Sto' now--j"S' a-gwinc when yo' call
me. Yes. sah. Ma'Se Tol, but-but de
money done all gone too"
Money! That's what is the matter,
is it: Well, why didn't you say 50?
What do you stand gibbcrinS there for
and not tell what you want? DO you
think I'm beggar:' lie turned over
in fcvcriSh haste, his old hands trcm-
bling ncrvOusly, and, reaching under
the pillow, took out Il large wallet,
which he opened, displaying number
o! crisp new bills. Money! There,
take what you WANT
y 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 t'rcctly," said he, and, bowing
and smiling, he shamblcd out of the
room.
Two stores, in one of which was the
postoticc; Il ginhousc and Il blacksmith
shop constituted the town. One of the
stores was owned by Judge Uendcr-
sons former neighbor, who had gone
out joyfully to fight for the Union and
had come back broken, one legged, al
most Il paupcr.
But it was not there Jerry went. He
well knew that his master would eat
no food from that store. So he passed
it by and went on to the other, where
busy, practical newcomer did gen
cral merchandise business for cash.
''Evcnin', Mistah 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.
''Jedgc Hindison, sab, am bcttah,
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 you?" asked
Nh Ross
"lo' kin, sah," responded Jerry, and
he gave his order as if he were speak
ing to Il 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 cash business
Jerry looked at him for n moment in
'ilcnce. "In co'se brung de money"
he said Does yo' tink l done come
beggin' fo' Ma'se Tol sump'n to eat?"
The proprietor unfolded the bill
which the old negro handed him, and
as he saw what it was smiled in SUI
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
gro, trembling with anger and disap-
pointment. "Ain't Ma'se Tolls money
good as any money? Amt my Ma'se
Tol Hind'son ge'm'n? Amt he pay
his debts?" His voice broke to a sob
and tears filed his eyes. "Ain't de
money to buy my po' marster sump'n