The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-02
TIE LEOPARD'S SPOTS
CONTINUED from Page 90


mo, pardner you've been awful good
to US, but we'll get along somehow--we
can't take yer boss. It's all yer got now
ter make Twin on yer place.
"All got?" shouted Tom. Man alive,
amt you seed my ole woman, as fat and
Jolly and handsome as when / married
her 'Ieven years ago? Didn't YOU hear
her cryin' an shoutin like she's crazy
when / got home? Didn't YOU see my
little gal with eyes jes like her daddys?
Don't you see my cabin standin' as pur-
ty as a ripe peach in the middle of the
orchard when hundreds of fine houses
are lyin' in ashes? Amt / got ten acres
of land? Amt ! got God Almighty
above me and all around me, the same
God that watched over me on the bat
tlefelds? All / got? That old stack O.
bones that looks like er boss? Well
reckon mott"
"Pardner, it amt right" grumbled the
soldier with more of cheerful thanks
than protest in his voice.
"Oh Get off you FOOLS said Tom
good naturally, "ain't it my boss?
Can't do what / please with him?'
So with hearty hand-shakes they part
ed, the two astride the old horses back
One had lost his right leg, the other his
left, and this gave them a good leg on
each side to hold the cargo straight.
Take keer yerselves. boys. I'm all
right" answered Tom, as he stumped his
way back to his home.
A hound came close wagging his tail
and whining for a word of love and re-
cognition.
well, Bob old boy. you're the only
one left. You'll have to chase cotton
tails by yourself now"
Bob's eyes watered and he licked his
masters hand, apparently understanding
every word he said.
Breaking from his masters hands the
dog ran toward the gate barking, and
Tom rose in haste as he reeogniZed
the sturdy tread of the Preacher, Rev.
John Durham, walking rapidly toward
the house.
Grasping him heartily by the hand the
Preacher said:
tom. you don't know how it warns
my soul to look into your face again.
When you left, felt like man who had
lost one hand. I've found it today.
You're the same stalwart Christian full
of Joy and love. Some mems religion
didn't stand the wear and tear of war.
Preacher, it's good to have the Lords
messenger speak words like them. /
can't tell you how glad am to be home
again and shake your hand. l tell you it
was a comfort TO me when l lay awake
at night on them battlefields, wonderin
what had become of my ole woman and
the baby. to recollect that you were here
and how often Id heard you tell us how
the Lord tempered the wind to the shorn
lamb. Annie's been telling me who
w fphnd ont ho, 4ba,, ID, lox
there was nothin to eat. / reckon you
and your wife knows the way to the
house about as well as you do to the
church"
Tom had pulled the Preacher down on
the seat beside him while he said this
The dark days have only begun, Tom.
I've come to see you to have you cheer
me up. Somehow you always seemed to
me to be closer to God than any man in
the church You will need all your faith
now. 1t seems to me that every second
woman [ know is a widow Hundreds
of families have no seed even to plant,
no horses to work crops, no men who
Will work if they had horses. What are
we to do? l see hungry children in
every house,
Preacher, the Lord is looking down
here today and sees all as plain as you
and me. AS long as He is in the sky
everything will come all right on the
earth"
''How's your pantry?" asked the
Preacher
Don't know. Man shall not live by
bread alone you know. When / hear
these birds in the trees an see this OLD
dog Vaughn his tail at me, and smell
the breath of them flowers and it all
comes over me that I'm done KILN men,
and I'm at home, with bed to sleep on,
roof over my head, q woman to pet
me and tell me I'm great and handsome.
] don't feel like I'll ever need anything
more to eat. | believe / could live a
whole month here without eatin bite
Good You come to the prayer meet
ing tonight and say few things like
that, and the folks will believe they have
been eatingg three square meals every
day
I'll be there. I amt asked Annie
what she's got, but / know she's got
greens and turnips, onions and collards,
and strawberries in the garden Irish
taters ii be big enough to eat in three
weeks, and sweets comm right on.
The blackberres and plums and peaches
and apples are all on the road All!
Preacher, it's my soul that's been starv-
ed away from my wife and child"
You don't know how much 1 need
help sometimes Tom. l am always Civ
ing, giving myself in sympathy and help
TO others. I'm famished now and then.
feel faint and worn out. You seem to
fill me again with life
I'm glad to hear you say that,
Preacher. I get down hearted some
times, when / recollect I'm nothin' but q
poor white man. I'll remember your
words I'm going to do my part in the
church work. You know where to find
me-"
We'll, that's partly what brought me
here this morning. / want you to help
me look after Mrs CASTOR and her little
boy. She is Frustrated over the death
of the Colonel and is hanging between
life and death. She is in a delirious con-
dition all the time and must be watched
day and night l want you TO watch the
first half of the night with Nelse, and
Eve and Mary will watch the last half"
'Of course, I'll do anything in the
world | can for my CoIonpIS xvjdday