Middletown transcript., 1902-11-08

aUAfIdfiA ktlElt blAS &tOStNs - y As.stA tAsSfs
to come to. But when lie went out that
night Jock was nowhere to be seen.
Jeems West come over last night 10 serape
his new fail handle with Peleg's piece Of
glass, and he told Us all about i, Jeema
did. Jeems said it was because of brcPk-
ing his fiddle over to Colchester that the
Doctor done it. Jcems said that the
Doctor had been drinking high AZ the
tavern, too. =
!" Tain't the first time he's beat Jock
till the blood run" said Mrs. Brown,
peering into the baker gloonlily and turn
ing the sheet Of biscuit so that they
would bake on the opposite side. She
did it from the force Of habit. She was
thinking Of Jock. What about the
fiddle and the muster?'
"Why, hain't you heerd tell about
that?'
mo; father was sick and couldn't 20
over to muster, and the boys had to stay
to home to thrash wheat. "
"Wall, twas this: That harum-scarum
lieutenant, Nahum Digby, was putting
the militia through, and he called a
double quick, first-off, then retreat the
next minute. Jock was playing as he
alwuz dooes, on the Doctors fiddle, along
side Saquish Adams with his file, and
Peter Searles with his drum. They turned
to and run when Digby called retreat,
but Jock is getting hard Of hearing and
he played right on. The militia couldn't
stop and they all run right over him.
His fiddle was broke and Jock was all
bruised up. The Doctor was back to the
tavern stand drinking turribly, but as
soon as he heerd of it he riz right up,
jumped onto his hoss and put for home
and overlook Jock jest as he reached the
clearing Seems says the Doctor slashed
Jock all the way with his whip. He was
on his horse, 80 Jock couldn't get away,
and when he got to the stable he waited
for Jock to put up his hoss,- and then
licked him with the bride. Thank ye,
Mis- Brown, must be going or my Goals
will 60 out" and taking her kettle, Mrs.
Dean went out just as Captain Brown
entered the kitchen, followed by Ben
and Give, each bearing two pals Of foam
ing milk. The boys had wooden yokes
on their shoulders, but the Captain had
no need Of yoke, his brawny shoulders
being sufficient unto themselves.
AS soon as the milk was strained the
family sat down to the breakfast table
with its mixture Of old world silver and
new world pewter. The parents ate first,
then Priscilla and her brothers sat down,
Give being called to take his fathers
place as mark of special favor, he hay-
ing done his morning chores in better
manner than Ben. Priscilla sat down
behind the silver tankard and pewter
teapot with knit brows and frowning lips
listening to her mother relating the story
OF Jocks flight to her father.
II hope the Doctor'll ketclr him, )" said
Captain Brown, crowding coal into his
cob pipe. Servants, obey your masters,
for this is right the Bible says"
"And it says, too, for matters to De
kind. Besides, Jock did obey. When
his wife was took back to Virginny and
the Doctor gave away their baby, it most
killed Jock, but he didn't say much.
You recollect, Aleck, how he bleached
ont SO in weeks time he was almost
white"
eyes, poor devil! do; but then you
can't say that slavery isn't ordained o.
God, 'Miry. It's all along Of the curse O
Ham, as Parson Winterblossam says"
''Cat's footr' said his wife emphati
cally. Slavery is permitted just as q
good many wicked things is"
"Wall, wall, you boys most through
If you be, you may haul down that lamt
you killed Yesterday. There's circle
round it tre'd as hard as flint where the
wolves jumped up at it and fell back, but
it was too high for them. Say, Priscilla
if that spark of yours comes to-day, tel
him I'm minded to sell him that ten-acrt
lot for what lie offered for it.
But before Priscilla could reply, tht
back door was cautiously opened and {
black face, SO distorted by blood anG
bruises as to be hardly recognizable
peered timidly into the kitchen. In I
second the three for the boys had gone
out in obedience to their fathers orders
knew it was Jock, Doctor Holt's negro
who stood there shiyering with the colt
and fright.
"Come in, come in, Jock, and sllet til
door ahint you," said Captain Brown
fkeep out the range Of the winder
| though, if you don't want to get ketchst
and took back"
"Don'tee take me back, don'tee tax,
me back 10 the devil old Doctor, pleaded
the black man, rolling up his eyes til
only the whites were visible.
''he WON'T" said Mrs. Brown, "h'
i amt no notion ont. Come to the fir,
and warm yourself real good, and Aleck'l
give you some rum to take off the chill
Poor creature, never see the beat on
how some folks can be so wicked to then
that's in their care"
| Priscilla, with gentle hands, was help
! ing the negro to wash the blood from hi
bruised face, though not without som
gestures Of disgust.
i "You won't give him up, Aleck," sait
his wife anxiously, in low tone. "Yol
know how he's abused him always. |
may be right to have slaves if You us
them we'll; but don't believe it's rigll
| to abuse them the way Jocks beef
| abused. You know I was thinking o
going up to Canady to see my sister
/ don't know but I'd better go this week
to-morrer, mebbe, and take Jock will
me-"
''Steal the Doctors Niger! I'm 'ston
islled at you"
1T hain't stealing. ! don't want him
i but lie might ride to Canady with me
seciug's how I'm going to visit Mere,