Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-01-01
FeIlo6,
MorfuL
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,
GeorgeT
go dar too"
do you think they would take in
niger? You are more likely to get on
the chain gang"
''Te, he, he, little mistiss!"
what are you giggling about?"
"Dey amt no chain gang. We goes
on de fahm."
"You have been there?"
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 l has," he returned glibly. II
BEEN mos t'ing-crap shooter,
buck dancer an de res, an crimnel."
he added, with a touch of pride.
Mrs. Gusts was paying no heed to
the negro now. She looked dreamily
out through the window at the mellow
sunlight of spring. A longing came
over her for her old home. She had en-
dured the long and cruel winter with
a stoical patience, but the reluctant
spring made the sap of yearning rise in
her veins. Suddenly she buried her
face in her handkerchief, and like a
faithful dog George began to whine:
Oar, little mistiss; jes' yo' wait till
de udder side de cloud flummux over.
an yo'll see 'nough silver to mex a
braid pan"
"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, "it is true that
your master and 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:
we cannot longer meet them, and we
must ask for help
She threw up her little figure and
proudly left the room, but she stumbled
on the threshold, and the negro, with
1ntuitive devotion, knew that her eyes
were blinded with tears.
He stared with a dropped jaw at the
1C1, fnI oh
Then, with volatile grin, he jumped
to his feet and, performing a sl1illful
clog dance, seized his disreputable hat
and bolted from the house.
About year before this Mr.. GUSTS
and his wife had drifted to the great
city Of New York. They came from
Georgia, leaving their home desolate in
order to be near their daughter, who
had married 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 a 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
SEork, sidled up on their front steps and
Msnlled the bell. A negro is not natu-
II lily a tramp, but he was idle and
zS ought he could bully something from
rs Sc forlorn old people.
NJ. Guctic nnona1 tho door. ond 1ooJ-
r. her wrath at his presumption.
AZ Does yo' hab any wuk TO- po' cul-
Ks MANI" he drawled insolently.
V 10; 1 don't want any niggers to
II X for mel" she blazed out. Get off
HS Nfront steps! She was preparing
rs fam the front door when he jerked
" lis filthy hat and burst out:
M 'Fo' de Lawd, didn't know yo'
al south'n lady; deed 1 didn't, lit
rs nistiss. Kin yo' give po' niggah
" lite O. somethin' to eat, an I'll wuk
II fngahs to de bone; deed will"
7E I'D that was the beginning Of a
Ks inge household - George Harries,
" shooter, low comedian and natu-
e. r. singer and dancer, and these poor,
1N O1N oOuIASlu Auu NC Wdb
* faithful as though he was their
IL Ie-they as autocratic as though he
H theirs by right of purchase.
n ) on this sunny afternoon in spring
* shut11ed along the street, dipping in
IL Id haunts that had not known him
r. year. When he reached one of
" former stands, he looked shrewdly
sSS 1T for policeman and, not seeing
~ began with great vigor and skill
~ Mt is known to the initiated as
dance" By the time he had
ced for five minutes the crowd was
Tense about the performer that it
r. tall man to peep over the heads.
Gorge paused in his dancing, took
4 bis hat and, singing in musical
"coon, coon, coon," went around
citing. This was all very well. but
,iceman sauntered up. Finding the
Lotion was live negro and not a
horse, he virtuously redistributed
coins to the amused crowd, and
rye took a free ride to the police
pn.