The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-02-22

and Cephas catching a certain humorous
CLEAN in the gentleman,s eye, began to
smile Now, then said Captain Fal-
coner. with an answering smile, how
would YOU like to. go with me?'
II think l would like it, replied Ce-
phas with a broad grin; I think that.
would be fine
And what does Mr. Sanders think of
it?" the captain asked.
well | hadn't looked at it from that
point of view said Mr.. Sanders. Il
lowed maybe that the best an cheapest
plan would be for me TO take the little
chan down IN fGtrh I'm S
Cephas; well go an see your nanny,
an see Of weSea4 b..
you GO You'IlShaye to do your best. ~
son; I'll coax, an you must wheedle."
A they went OUT Cephas was laughing
at Mr.. Sanders's remark about wheedling.
The younsster was IN exper, IN that bus
mess, He was his mothers only child.
what troubles me, Gephas,'' said Mr..
Sanders, Is how you can git message
to Gabriel wiout lettin' tn cat out'n the
bag. He'll be surrounded In sech way
that you can't git a word WI i'm wi'out
telln' the whole cahoodle."
AT that moment. Mr., Sanders heard
small voice cry out something like this;
'Phazasee, Phazasee, arawu ooya inga-
gog9'
TO which jabbering cephas made
prompt reply: 'iya ingagog ota amy
savvy ota eesa gibbleable''
"ooya ihfa Ooya ibfal" Jeered the
small voice.
Mr.. Sanders looked at Cephas in as
constituent what kinder lingo Is that2"
he asked.
Its the way we school children talk
when we don't want anybody to know
Tntxta rod
where ] was going, and l told him l was
going to Savannah to see Gabriel"
Did he know what you said?'
"Why, he couldn't help but know, but
he didn't believe It; he said 1t was fib."
well I'll be Jigged!' exclaimed Mr..
Sanders. "Call that boy over here"
Cephas turned around-they had passed
the house where the little boy lived-and
call out: "onnajal OMAHA. Stermera An
dersa antwasa ota eesa ooya"
The small boy came running.
Mr. Sander questioned him closely and
he confirmed the Interpretation of the
lingo which Cephas had given to Mr.. San
ders.
do you mean to tell me- said Mr..
Sanders to Cephas when they had dis
missed the small boy, that this kinder
thing has been goin' right under my
nose. an l not KNOWN word about itf
How ID you pick up the lingo?.'
Gabriel teached 1t to me replied &C.
phas. He talks 1t better than any OF
the boys, and l come next" This last
remark Cephas made with blush.
do l look pale, my SOM" inquired Mr..
Sanders, hopping his red face with his
handkerchief Cephas gave negative
reply by shaking his head. Well L. may
not look pale. but shoreiy feel pale"
Here I've been buttin' my head agin
trees, an walkin' in my sleep tryin' COR
to study up some plan to git word to Ga
briel, an here you walk along the street
an make me a present of the very thing
l want. an l amt even thanked you for
IT,,
A great deal of pressure however haa
to be brought to bear on Cephas'H meth
err. But at Inst with many n EiEh ana
some tears, she gave her consent for her
onllest. her dearest Snd her bestest, to
go on the long journey, And then, utter
corsentinR she was angry with herself
because she had consented. In short. she
was as miserable ana as anxious as
mothef-love can make woman. ana
poor Cephas never could understand un-
til he became a grown man, and had
children OF his own. how his mother could
make such a TODD over the opportunity
that Providence had thrown In HIS. way
She said he must be sure not to fall, IN the
ocean. and he must keep out OF the way
Of the railroad trains She cried silently
all the time she was packing his modest
supply of clothes in valise, and pitt
some tea-cakes in one corner and q IT.
tie Testament in the other. 4~
1t was arranged that Cephas was to &C
to Savannah with Captain Falconer, ana
return with Mr.. Sanders. The arrange
ment took place when Mr.. Sanders re-
turned home after his visit to Cephas's
mother, and was of course conditional on
her consent. which was not obtained al
once.
In the course of few days orders came
from Atlanta for Captain Falconer 10
turn over the command of the detach-
ment to the officer next in rank ard pro-
coed to Malvern. where he would ind fur
Their instructions awaiting him. When
the time came for Cephas to be OH With
the captain, you may well believe That he
found that parting from his mother was
not such fine thing after all. He watch
ed her through a mist Of tears, ana
waved his handkerchief as long as he
could see her; and then after that he was
the lonliest little fellow you have ever
seen. But. after all boys are boys ana
the feeling Of lonliness and detection were
away after awhile, and before he had
gone 4many miles, what with making the
acquaintance of the driver who was
rrivate soldier and getting on friendly
arrived at the point where he felt as IL
travelling was the most delightful Thing
in the world especially If a fellow has
been intrusted with a tremendous secret
that nobody else in the world knew be
sides Mr. Sanders and himself.
For as soon as Mr.. Sanders discovered
that the captain would be willing to have
Cephas go along, he had taken the little
chan in hand and thoroughly impressed
upon his mind everything he wanted him
to say TO Gabriel and he was not salts
fed until Cephas had written the message
out in the dog-latin of the school children
and had learned 1t by heart. Mr. San
ders also impressed upon the little lad q
mind the probability that the captain
would be curious as to the nature of the
message; and he gave Cephas plausible
answer for every question that an in
auisitive person could put to him. and
made MIN repeat these answers over ana
over again In fact. Cepaas was com
PEELED to study as hard If he was In
school, but he relished the part he was to
play and learned 1t with a zest that was
very pleasing to Mr.. Sanders Only
hour before he was to leave with the cap
tain Mr. Sanders went to cephas home,
and made him repeat over everything he
had been taught. and the glr eness with
which the little lad repeated the answers
to the questions was something wonder
full in so small chap.
Don't, git lonesome. Cephas," was the
parting Injunction of Mr.. Sanders. Don't
forgit that I'll he on the train when the
whistle blows. I'm gwine to start right
off You may not see me, but I'll not be
far off. Keep stiff upper lip. an don't