The Savannah morning news., 1903-06-21
"THE GENEROSITY OF JEREMIAH"
BY CHARLES E. FOY.

ing root of large live oak. and point
ing to another "a twin from the same
paren) about four feet distant, invit-
ed my quondam friend to be seated
and state his business.
He accepted the proffered seat and
cooled" Il cannot bring myself to say
saD himself upon II.
He did not seem to be in a laxative
mood. He looked up into the tops Of
the trees as though he would find some
thing WHICH had escaped him long ago.
His pale blue eyes then roved around
the yard. After seeing everything
worth looking at, he probably reu1em-
bered that l was sitting alongside Of
him. He turned his head in my dlrec-
ton, and in a slow. drawing voice,
asked:
Air you Mr.. Forester"
| said, Yes; what can l DO for
you?"
Again his eyes sought the branches
of the trees. and after lingering there
awhile returned to earth. He took off
his wide rim wool hat, ran his bony
fingers through his long red hair and
said:
EFF you bees Mr.. Forester, my name
is jeremiah Fyall."
l told him ! was happy to meet him
and glad to make his acquaintance.
After looking again into the top Of
the trees probably to see II any
changes had taken place, since he last
saw them, he said
II hear-an-tell you has a vacant
house on your plantation, an would
like to git some one to go cen it,
/ admitted that such was true
statement of facts. / had an empty
house. and would like to get a good,
Industrious man as tenant. / even
went further and remarked that the
tenant who had last occupied the
premises was a good man and mad
only moved away because he wanted
to go to the city, where he could edu-
cate his children; that he had left the
dwelling and outbuildings in order, and
was always doing something TO inn
prove the place.
He said: Yes, / hear all the land
owners down on the coast makes the
tenant do a lot towards buildin' up
their places, but here is one coon that
don't build up no mans place. My
good natur' dom for other people an
agivin' things away is what keeps me
po'. My ole woman says some day
will give the shut off my back. Now
ef / kin git your place to go cen an
you put It cen good order, In leave IL
like l fine it, but as fur buildin' an
fixin', not for Jerry"
We came to terms, however, and
Jerry moved in.
All Of that spring when business CALI
ed me to the part OF the plantation oc-
cupied by Jerry, / would see his SLIM
tall figure sitting at the foot of a tree
doubled up like a jackknife, whiting
a stick or he would be standing at the
head OF row. looking like a markers
stake watching a ragged little negro
boy pulling the bell line over an old
white horse.
Jerry had traded his tackey.
Wen the spring waned, summer
came and went, and the fall was upon
us. The poplars had decked themselves
out in their golden panoply and the
Dlackgum trees looked like the burning
bush that appeared to and frightened
Moses. The song OF the harvester was
heard on ali sides, and nature was
dressed in her bridal robes for her
coming marriage with death.
The rentals were due and the ten
ants were pushing forward with their
work 10 meet the obligation.
On the morning Of the day OF pay
meDt the last one 20 arrive al the Of
fee Was jeremiah.
lie was riding this time.
lie had q halter Of cotton rope tied
around the old white horses neck for a
bride, and q piece Of bagglnR in lieu
u saddle, his long legs dangling on
each side like pieces Of hose pipe.
lie rode 40 10 the door and often
looking W into the AIR, ~ and down
the road. then into The once window,
said
'~faiW 10 use - light ! lus' come
% fell sou I've done moved Crops
was a failure aW } aiu'f madf n0fhi1'
Nufb falkin bout 10 how, Ell 4 oainf
pay 10 rent. I've bolped youF place
powerful though. e0nflderu ! tuck
tuo biaekleck Ftumpg oaten Iiaekls,