The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-18
GABRIEL TOLLIVER|
Copyright, 1908, by Joel Chandler Harris

hand: Rev. Jeremiah Tomlin will lecture here tonight, beginning at early candle light"
 The Rev Jeremiah, witnessing the per- formance, had his curiosity aroused: What Is de word you uv writ suh?' he inquired, and when Gabriel had read 1t off, the negro exclaimed: Well, suht You put all dat down, an it didn't take you no time; no, suh, not no time. But I might uv speckted 1t, bekase I hear lot CT talk about how smart you Is on all sides-dey all sesso."
 Nothing was to be gained by remain- ing so Gabriel bade the Rev. Jeremiah goodbye, and went toward Shady Dale. When he was we'll out of sight, the negro approached the blackboard, and, with the most patient curiosity, examined the an- nouncement that Gabriel mad written with his forefinger, he traced over the line, then, stepping back a few paces, he viewed the writing critically. Finally he shook his head doubtfuiiy, exclaiming aloud: Oats whar dey'll git us-yes, suh, dat's what they sho' will git us.'
 After which he carefully closed the door of the schoolhouse and forowed the path leading to Shady Dale
 The Rev. Jeremiah had taken a step which 1t was now too late to retrace. He was not a vicious negro. In common with the great majority of his race, he was eaten up by desire to make himself con- spicuous. It was natural therefore, that the Rev. Jeremiah should become the willing tool of the politicians and ad- venturers of the radical leaders of the republican party to assist In the spoila- ton of the south. The Rev. Jeremiah, once he had been patted on the back, and addressed as Mir Tomlin by white man, and that a man representative of the government, was quite ready to be- lieve anything he was told by his new friends and quite as ready to aid them in carrying out any scheme that their hatred of the south and their natural rapacity could suggest or invent.
 The Rev. Jeremiah, as he went along the path, mumbling out his thoughts, was simply putting together as many sonorous phrases as he could remember, and storing them away in view of the con- tingency that he would be caled on to address those of his race who might be present at the organization of the Union league.
 When the day was far spent, Nan and Tasma rid went wandering out of town in the direction of the schoolhouse. The excuse Nan had given at home was that she wanted to see Tasma Tid's hiding place. As they passed Tomlin's they saw the Rev. Jeremiah splitting wood for his wife, who was the cook. At sight of
 
 so loud that the parson paused in his labors and looked at her. He took off his hat and bowed to Nan, whereupon Tasma rid raised her hand above her head and indulged in a series of wild gesticulations, which, to the Rev. Jeremiah, were very mysterious and puzzling.
 What are you trying to do to Jere- miah?" inquired Nan, as they went along.
 Him fool nigger. We make him dream bad dream' responded Tasma rid curtly.
 Tasma rid led Nan to the old building and told her to walt moment. The Af- rican crawled under the house. and then suddenly reappeared at the back door, near which Nan stood waiting. Tasma rid had crawled under the house, and lifted a loose plank in the floor of the closet. making her entrance in that way. The front door was locked. but the back door was fastened on the inside, and Tasma Tid had no trouble in getting 1t open.
 It is fair to say that Nan hesitated before entering. but it was not her way to draw back, and she went in, Tasma rid refastened the door very carefully, and then turned and led the way to- ward the closet. The room was not wholly dark; one or two of the shutters had fallen off and in this way little light filtered in. Nan followed Tasma rid to the closet, the door of which was open.
 "Dis-a we house." said Tasma rid; "dis-a de place wey live at"
 Why did you come here?' Nan asked.
 ''We had no nurrer place; all-a we frien' gone; das why.'
 What further comment Nan may have made can not even be guessed, for at that moment there was a noise at one of the windows some one was trying to raise the sash. Nan and Tasma rid hA 11afr hrno fIo floty ltcta,
 She had no physical fear, but she real ized that she was placed In a very awk- ward position. She was devoured with curiosity to know whether the intruder really was Gabriel.
 As for Gabriel, once or twice he fancied he heard some one breathing, but he was a lad who was very close to nature, and he knew how many strange and varied sounds rise mysteriously out of the most profound silence; and so. instead of becoming suspicious, he became drowsy and he would have gone to sleep then and there. but for a mysterious splutter and explosion, which went off right at his elbow. He was in that neutR terri tory between sleeping and waking and he was unable to recognize the sound; and it would have remained a mystery but for the fact that a sneeze fS usually accompanied by its twin.
 The fact that some unknown person was joint occupant of the closet upset him so little that he was surprised at himself He remained perfectly quiet for awhile, endeavoring to map out a course of action.
 Who are you?' he asked finally. He spoke in a firm low tone
 In another moment Mans impulsive- ness would have betrayed her, but Tasma Tid came to her rescue.