The sun., 1903-02-22

The surrender OF Ten. Lev "H'' "''S
the emancipation Of the negroes, made
great change in the prospects ana pros
perity of the Southern people. and brought
about many results, which, while dis-
agreeable In themselves, havc since WORKED
to the advantage of the whole country
Such country gentlemen "a Mr.. Aber-
crombie. who, it will be remembered. was
the grandfather of Buster John and sweetest
Susan, were compelled to give up the whole
some lives they had been leading, and LOOK
elsewhe re- for the means OF making living
But Mr. Abercrombie was more fortu-
nately situated than the great majority CT
the Southern planters. Some OF his former
slaves had gone 4 n with the Federai army
and others had wandered away. seeking
70 better their conditicn n.
But, with one or two exceptions. they all
came back to the old place. and announced
that they were not only ready. but eager 70
take up their work where they had lett "
of Under the changed conditions INV
could not be; but to each one VINO wa
WILLING 10 enter into a contract. the terms
OF wi ich were simple and complete, parcel
of land was allotted and he was duly In
stalled as tenant.
When the contract had been made PLAIN
70 them. they were quite ready to make
their marks on the document, and all were
willing that Aaron the son of Ben An
.bnuli net ms general superintendent
Under the terms Of the contract, eacf
tenant was 10 be provided with hall yea 9
supply Of provisions. seed for sowing, anG
implements for tiling the soil.
In tho allotment of land to the tenants
tL,N
inv who was the mother OF Drusilla-se-
cured a parcel at the u thest limits OF the
plantation. which was nearly three miles
from the home place. and not very Tar
from the modest farm Of Mr.. Bobs, where.
IA we all know, lived Billy Biscuit and
Cawkv the Grow.
This arrangement suited Jcmimy and
her husband very well. Tho success OF Mr..
Bobs as a small farmer had made very
deep impression on both whites and blacks
in that nei ghborhood and jennings husband
made UP his mind 10 discover how good
crop can be made in bad season.
For her part. Jeminv was very glad
TO get a vacation from the kitchen. She
had bsen cooking for many years, and the
business had grown somewhat monotonous,
especially since the beginning OF the war.
an event that marked the decay OF the old
socal customs that had kept the houses
OF the country gentlemen full Of company
half the y ar.
with the company in the house, Jeminy
had no objection to cooking in fact. she
delighted in it. for then she had an excuse
to pract 81 it as an art. But day In and
dav out, with nothing to cook but the plain
est food, and no company TO serve as an
excuse for an extra dish or two. cooking
became tiresome; and Jemimy was glad
to get away from the kitchen.
The only member Of her family who was
not glad OF the change was Drusilla. and
she didn't like it at all.
She had boon brought up with play
mates to choose from. as 1t were, ard she
was in no mind to bury herself on the plan
tation away from the compaEionship of
those who could amise her or whom sho
could amusc.
Shc did very well while her daddy and
sorn. of his friends werc buildir & tho cabin,
which took TO lorg time. the str'lctur'
boh made Of logs and plastered with
clay; but when tho cabin was completed.
AID they had scl.lcd down TO a lfo aa lorciy
as II they were il tho midst Of tho wilder
rcss, DrIsilla began to grow worry restless.
She pincd for tho compaIionship OF other
Children and she was constantly tcstgirg
her mother with requests to lie allowed to
60 back TO the home place and spend the
day with Buster John ard Sweetest Susan
The distance from Drusillas rev home
to tho Abcrcrombic place was r"arly three
miles. but little she cared for distance -
lors as she could frd playfcllows. She
%. H. bat h..
she wort tho more she wal tod TO 60. VI I'll
f..ally. Jcmimy had 10 "lay.~,wn &c Law
% hcr.
Thon Dr,isla suddenly romemt oroC
that Mr.. Bobs lived rot very far away
ard that by going thcic she would havo al
opportunity to play with Billy Biscuit
Thupupon she logan to plead with ho
mother to allow hcr to g. ard see Billy.
Wh'o shc was bcggiNg and pleading
oio day JemiIny heard some or" callir.I
from the head OF tho narrow lare tina
ran from the cabin TO the road.
Hush you big mouf Hush. I tell you
"A Jurimy To Drlisllla. Don't you hca
SON, un holcrin' dcy head OF? How XII
h'sr what dcyor sai' ef you keep o
ra,tlin' yo' tongue like a COW bcll?'
Then Jemimy with real JOY heard IN
voice Of Sweetest Susan calling her. an
when il seemed that she could not be hear
buster JOnn came 10 n"T aSsstailfF an
called
Drusilla. without waiting To ask he
mother. ran down the lane TO the childr. 1
and they were rs glad TO see her as she VI.
10 see them. They were ling TO sper
the day with Billy Biscuit, who was a grea
favorite with them
The children didn't wait to ask Jemim
IL Drusilla could go with them Duste
John ran down the lane and told her tina
they were going TO see Billy Biscuit, and ths
Drisill, was going with them; that the
were driving their pony and that Drusill
would ride with them.
Jemmy WIS very well satisfied wit
this disposition Of things. Nevertheless.
she remarked a. Buster John ran back Z
the road again
"Euh. dov nevn- ia ter fergit dat We u
done quit b'longiu' term"
Il g. 40 great distance to the home {
N'r Bobs. and the children soon arrive
tAe-e: bu, while they were vet on tho wa
while they were in sight of the house
thcy saw a little old man by the side Of III
rosd.
Thcrc is nothing strange In this har
st.tc'nent OF fact. but there was somethin
very strange about the li'tl, old man. II
had. very short legs and he wore yer
tall hat, while the tails Of his coat wer
not very far from the ground.
u he saw the children he gave no sigr
lie was poking about in the bushes wi,