The Press., 1903-04-02
FeUo6a,
MorfaL
By LYDIA PERKINS
By LYDIA PERKINS
Copyright, 1909. by the

you are worthless niger, George"
Eyes, little mistiss."
"And your master and will have to
go to the almshouse."
Eyes, little mistiss; spec yo' WILL"
'Then what will become Of you,
George?"
go dar too"
do you think they would take in a
niger? You are more likely to get on
the chain gang"
'Te, he, he, little mistissv'
what are you giggling about?'
"Dey amt no chain gang. We goes
on de fahm."
"You have been thereY
Eyes; l got sent dar bout a yeah
ago"
George. have you been a criminal?'
His mistress looked at him with shrink
ing disgust.
"Spec has" he returned glibly. 81
leen mos eberyt'ing-crap shooter,
luck dancer an de res, an crimnel,"
.e added, with u touch of pride.
Mrs. Gusts was paying no heed to
lie negro now. She looked dreamily
1T through the window at the mellow
;:nlight of spring. A longing came
,-cr her for her old home. She had en-
ured the long and cruel winter with
stoical patience, but the reluctant
iring made the sap of yearning rise in
r veins. Suddenly she buried her
:ce in her handkerchief, and like a
i, .ithful dog George began to whine:
Oar, little mistiss; jes' yo' wait till
;.e udder side de cloud fiummux over,
IN yo'll see 'nough silver to mex q
braid pam"
"Oh, go away, you worthless niggerw
Mrs. Custis exclaimed, putting down
her handkerchief, and he jumped ex-
travagantly just for the delight Of hear
ing her sweet old laugh, like the ring
ing of pure thin silver.
But, George" Mrs. Custis resumed,
with renewed dignity, lit is true that
your master and l are seriously think
ing Of seeking public assistance" Her
delicate cheek flushed at the admission;
but, seeing his look of childish horror,
she proceeded firmly:
LAS simple as our living expenses are,
must ask for help"
She threw up her little figure and
proudly left the room, but she stumbled
OIL the threshold, and the negro, with
intuitive devotion, knew that her eyes
were blinded with tears.
r. He stared with dropped jaw at the
open door through which she had gone.
Then, with volatile grin, he jumped
to his feet and, performing a skillful
clog dance. seized his disreputable hat
and bolted from the house.
About a year before this Mr.. GUSTS
and his wife had drifted to the great
city of New York. They came from
Georgia, leaving their home desoIate in
order to be near their daughter, who
had married a clever young artist. 1t
did not take the parents long to discov-
er that their son-in-law had difficulty in
supporting his little family, so they,
protesting grandly that they had an
ample income, moved to cheap little
fiat on the east side and in the fright
full closeness of a few narrow rooms
began an existence that was slow tor
ture to their pride.
One day George Harries, one Of the
most unregenerate negroes in all New
York, sided up on their front steps and
pulled the bell A negro is not natu-
rally a tramp, but he was idle and
thought he could bully something from
these forlorn old people.
Mrs. Custis opened the door and look
ed her wrath at his presumption.
Does yo' hab any wuk TO- POI cul-
lud man" he drawled insolently.
"No; 1 don't want any niggers to
work for me" she blazed out. "Get of
my front steps!" She was preparing
to slam the front door when he jerked
Off his filthy hat and burst out:
"'Fo' de Lawd, 1 didn't know yo'
wuz south'n lady; deed didn't, lit
tie mistiss. Kin yo' give a po' niggah
a bite o. somethin' to eat, an I'll wuk
my fingahs to de bone; deed WILL"
And that was the beginning Of q
strange household - George Harries,
crap shooter, low comedian and natu-
raj singer and dancer, and these poor,
fine old southern people. And he was
as faithful as though he was their
as autocratic as though he
was theirs by right of purchase.
So on this sunny afternoon in spring
he shuf1ed along the street, dipping In
to old haunts that had not known him
for year. When he reached one Of
his former stands, he looked shrewdly
about for policeman and, not seeing
one, began with great vigor and skill
n fn fhn fnf% fu%n =
buck dance" By the time he had
danced for five minutes the crowd was
so dense about the performer that It
took tall man to peep over the heads.
George paused in his dancing, took
or his hat and, singing in a musical
voice, "coon, coon, COON" went around
collecting. This was all very well. but
a policeman sauntered up. Finding the
attraction was live negro and not q
dead horse, he virtuously redistributed
the coins to the amused crowd, and
George took free ride to the police
station.
By the time he was hustled before
the desk his most reckless look had
settled over his hardened face. The
who was looking bored,
reused slightly when the officer ex-
planned that the negro was indulging
In q disorderly dance.
why were you dancingr' he asked,
with yawn.
"'Cause I wuS," was the sulky 70
tort.
George" said the magistrate severe
ly, II had hoped you had stopped your
evil living. 1t has been nearly a year
since you were arrested"
A subtle change passed over the home
~ features.
"'Deed, boss" he suffered, II been