The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-07-29
On the I4c y
y Express.
BY Frank II. Sweet.

AS the 7:i0 train began TO pull away
from the Alexandria station. an old,
white haired negro hurried across the
platform and swung himself onto The
rear car. He was very black and very
dusty. and the single occupants OF seats
looked apprehensive rs he shuffied diff
IDENTIFY through the car. But he did not
offer to sit down. When he reached
the opposite end, he took hold OF q seat
to steady himself and gazed around Gu
riously, his big wondering eyes rowing
from one face TO another with the eager
scrutiny of child.
Evidently he was very tired, for his
shoulders began TO slope, and every few
minutes he shifted his feet as though
they hurt him.
At last q young man lowered his
newspaper.
"Here Is q seat, uncle" he called,
''you look tired"
The negro shuff1ed forward eagerly.
"Yes. sshl tank yo', sahl" he said.
gratefully, as he sank down. 'T'se
plumb best. Done walk mons'rous long
way dis yer mawnin'. Yo' see," as the
young man folded his paper and slipped
it into his pocket, 'Msrse Henery an
me lib ober In Prince George county,
an larst week Msrse Henery he up an
die. Dat lef' me by myself"
81 see; and you are going south to
look for work."
No, sab goin' back home-goin, back
to ole Georgy." Into his eyes came q
look OF eager expectation, and he
stroked the back of the seat softly, as
though it were his old home In far-away
Georgia.
81 amt been dar In mos thutty year."
be went on, slowly, mot sense de Lin
KUN men took we sll's niggers. Oar
Was Q whole passel of 'em, but dey all
dun bruk away. Den de sheriff sol de
plantation and dsr want nutten lef'
we all but the norf. We's bleeged ter
hab money ter lib"
"And you stuck to Marse Heuery?"
The old negro looked at him In sur
prise.
''Oh co'se" he answered, simply.
Use de body sarbent, an Marse Hen
cry couldn' git long 'thout me. He's
q gentleman, an pended ON bein' TUX
car ub. But Use bleeged ter be way
In de day time case I'se .. carpenter
an alters hab plenty wuk."
"What did Marse Henery do?"
"Marse Henery,' Indignantly, "why
he's q gentleman, tells yo'. He amt
do nutten. He amt pebber learn do
things like common w'ite folks. He
hab niggars for dat"
"You don't mean that you have sup
ported him ever since the war"
The old negro drew himself up with
unconscious dignity.
"Yo' goin' talk like dat, amt got
nutten to splain."
81 beg your pardon" said the young
man, hastily, please go on"
"Yo' amt know Marse Henery, Z"
commiseratingly, $50 yo' dom un'stan'.
oh co'se I wuk for him. He car TO- me
before de wah, didn' he? What niger
good for but wuk, like to know"
A boy came through the car with q
basket OF sandwiches. The young man
bought two and handed them TO his
companion. The old negro's eyes
glistened.
"Tank yo', massal tank yo', sah!'
he said, gratefully. 81 didn't hsb no
breakfas', an moneys too scace to buy
t'ngs on de road. / war 'lowin' ter fill
up arter don reach Georgy."
A few minutes later there was q
slight ripple through the car. The
| conductor had entered and was calling
for tickets.
The young man produced, his and
held IL in readiness. The negro FUN
bled anxiously through several pockets,
and finally remembered that he had
pinned his to his hat lining.
Done TUX ebery cent could scrape
up ter buy dat" he said, triumphantly,
as he produced it. But das all right.
l kin wuk, an folks don't need money
wen dey's home. Moneys for trab-
blin'."
In the seat behind them was q shah
billy dressed woman whose face had
an anxious, frightened expression.
Crowded on the seat beside her were
several bundles, and in her arms was
q white-faced, big-eyed baby. When
the conductor touched her shoulder she
started uneasily.
Ticket, please
A red flush Of shame spread over the
woman's face; then 1t disappeared,
leaving her white and dogged.
81 haven't any"
The conductor grew stern.
Very we'll. II you get OF at the
next station it will save US The trouble
Of putting you or" and he turned te
the opposite seat.
The woman's eyes grew big with ter
ror as she sprang mp and caught hin
J by the arm.
Don't do that, sir For Gods sake
. don't put me Of" she implored hosrse
lly. "I've got To 60. My husband ha!
written for me to come. He's-he'
dying" and q great sob rose to he
II