Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1902-09-11
LEGAL
TENDER
BY ADDISON CLARK
Copyright, 1901, by Addison Clark
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

ssoIneu IKE a Well Kept flower garden
In those days the white house. set back
from the road i'll clump 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.
lie had had neighbour 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.
thick carpet of crab 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, for
there was left old Jerry, the last of a
hundred slaves. The old man turned
over restlessly in his bed and, putting
up a-thin, bony hand. pushed the gray
thair out Of his eyes.
Jerry" he called in a feeble voice.
: wrinkled black face appeared at
the door. Yes, Ma'se Tol. heah l isl
answered the old servant
"What do you mean leaving me here
alone? Where have you been all this
timer" @....
81 amt ben nowhar. Ma'se Tol, 'cept-
In in de kitchen. l amt lef' yo' but a
M'le minute
f"You have! I say you have, Jerry.
You've been gone an hour. Why don't
you bring me something to eat? Do
you think that because mans a little
sick he doesn't get hungry? 90
Eyes. sab. Ma'se Tol; yes. sab. De
edlnnah be ready freely; would "a
ben done. sab, only de hins somehow
don't lay no mo- today-no, sab. not a
single aig! An de co'nmeal am done
all gone an de bac'n an de coffee"
"Nething to cook. eh! Not 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. "I'ze jes' a-gwine to de
sto' movies a-gwine when yo' call
me. Yes. sab. Ma'se Tol. 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 beggarT' He turned over
IN feverish haste. his old hands trem.
bling nervously, and, reaching under
the pillow. took out a large wallet,
which he opened, displaying number
OF crisp new bills. Money! There,
take what you want!'
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 tenderiy. Eyes.
Ma'se Tol; yes, sab. De dinnah be
ready trectly," said he, and, bowling
and smiling, he shambled out of the
room.
Two stores, in one of which was the
postofice; ginhouse and a blacksmith
shop constituted the town. One Of the
stores was owned by Judge Hender-
sons former neighbor, who had gone
out joyfully to fight for the Union and
had come back broken, one legged, al
most pauper.
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
a busy. practical newcomer did gen
erai merchandise business for cash.
"Evenin', Mistah Ross said Jerry
to the man who came forward to take
his order.
Good evening, Jerry. How 10 Mr.
Henderson todayf" asked the proprie-
tor.
"Jedge Hindi'son. 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 l do anything for youT asked
Mr.. Ross.
'Yo' kin, sah," responded Jerry. and
he gave his order as If he were speak
ing to servant.
Eyes, 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 z cash business"
Jerry looked at him for a moment in
silence. ain co'se ! brung de money"
he said. "Does yo' t'ink done come
beggin' TO Ma'se Toll sump'n to eat?'
The proprietor unfolded the bill
which the old negro handed him. and
rs he saw what II was smiled in su
Derior manner. why. Jerry, this is
no good. This II not legal tender"
said be. '~Thts Is Confederate money
The Confederacy fell six months ago