The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-29
FELLOW MORTALS
golden memories and as beautiful as it va,
impossible!
BY LYDIA PERKINS,

= (.
golden memories and as beautiful as it was
impossible!
One day George Harries, one of the most
unregenerate negroes in all New York. sided
up on their front steps and pulled the bell.
negro is not naturally tramp, but he was
idle and thought he could bully something
from these forlorn old people,
Mrs. Curtis opened the door aud looked her
wrath at his presumption.
docs yo' hab any wuk TO- a po' cullur
MANI" he drawled insolently.
"No; l don't want any niggers to work
for met she blaZed out. Get Off my front
steps!' She was preparing to slam the front
door when he Jerked on his n.thy hat and
burst out:
| "Fo' de Lawd, / didn't know 70 waz
south'n lady; deed didn't, little mistiss.
| Kin yo' give a po' niggah bite o. somethin'
| to eat. an III wuk my hngahs to de bone:
| deed I will
And that was the beginning of strange
| ousehold-George Harries, crap shooter, low
comedian and natural singer and dancer, and
these poor, fine old southern people And he
was as faithful as though he was their slave
they as autocratic as though ne was theirs
by right of purchase.
So on this sunny afternoon in spring he
shufIied along the street, dipping into old
haunts that had not known him for year.
| When he reached one of his former stands.
ne looked shrewdly about for policeman
and, not seeing one, began with great yigor
and skill what is known to the initiated as
buck dance" By the time he had danced
for five minutes the crowd was SO dense about
the performer that it took a tall man to peep
| over the heads.
George paused in his dancing, took OF his
4 hat and. singing in musical voice, coon,
/ coon, coon, went around collecting. This
was all very well, but policeman sauntered
up. Finding the attraction was live negro
and not dead horse, he virtuously redis-
tributed the coins to the amused crowd. and
George took a free ride to the police station.
{. By the time he was hustled before the desk
/ his most reckless look had settled over his
! hardened face. The magistrate, who was
looking bored, reused slightly when the officer
explained that the negro was indulging in
disorderly dance
why were you dancing?" he asked, with .
yawn.
/" Cause wuz,', was the suIky retort
George said the magistrate severely, II
had hoped you had stopped your evil living.
1t has been nearly year since you were ar.
rested
! A stibtle change passed over the homely fea-
lures
Deed, boss he suffered, 81 been livin'
all right an wuznt doin' nothin' to-day
cept a little dancin l amt shot no craps
! Ill Il yedll luOS-uO, SAN Decu, JSu8cs LILO
fellow suddenly blubbered. II don't know
what my pc ole marster an mistiss is gwine
to DO eff you sen me down. It wuznt TO- mo
I wuze dancin; it wuz TO- dem-fo' Gawd it
wuz. Dey's quality folks, an dey'd sta,ve
befo dev.d baig.
That's a likely story began the police
man contemptuously.
, The magistrate motioned him to be quiet
as he said more kindly:
George, suppose you show me what sort Of
a dance this WAS
| The negro's face broke into sudden smiles
Like so many of hds race, he had childish
smile and beautiful teeth. He stepped forth
: willingly, and it was pleasure to watch thu
t posturng and gestures SO absolutely African
d and yet dramatic.
: The magistrate watched him intently When
! he had finished and leaned painting against
r the desk. his honor shot sarcastic look al
c the policeman and ranped out, Cease dis
+ missed. !"
: George lost no time in putting the police
station behind him. He was hustling along
e toward home when sharp-faced, theatrical
k looking man overlook him and briefly ex.
planned that he had seen him cance and
v wanted TO engage him for his company, {ol
: Innstrels ae-= tFisI
George had been in New York too long tt
make an easy bargain, and at last the theat-
n rical manager reluctantly came to his terms
b George even got an advance on the strict
l. promise that he would report that night fol
s orders Then he flew over the ground to tbs
Custis fiat.
d He fell up the steps and burst into the
v kitchen where Mrs. GUSTS was cooking Z
r rneager supper.
r Law, little mistiss,'' he calculated moi
g forgetting to pull off his hat, deed d
o Lawd has f1ummuxed dat brack cloud over
y an Oars some o. de silver linin' right dar.'
: And he trumphantly gave her S..
: Then he told how he got the money. Thu
t poor old lady s tears were streaming and hi
v himself was sobbing like child.
S George she said brokenly 'the ways OF
Providence are past finding out
And he answered humbly
n Oats so. little mistiss; OATS so.''