The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-24

AS Iaf dS l. KNOW lne only DlOL on
his stainless reputation was when the
new darkey from the North beguiled
him into taking Lne pig. That was
long time ago, and the whole family
agreed with the baby when she said
"he wouldn't have taken it, If he had
thought father needed II"
1t was this way. One evening late,
when l returned from town, L found
all the children in tears, and the
father looking very solemn. Sam had
stolen one of the pigs, had been ar
rested by order of the over jealous
butcher, who, poor man, was laboring
under the delusion that he was doing
the family a favor. and securing a
life long customer, when in fact the
children did not forgive him for years.
They set up wall when their faith
er explained that he could not take
the law in his hands and release Sam.
but in spite of his protests, which
must admit were rather weak, that he
could not encourage crime, by openly
sympathiZing with Sam, a cart was
sent down in the darkness, to the jail.
carrying enough hot sumner and blan-
kets for a good sized family. We (tne
children and u never knew exactly
how justice was satisfied, but | Will
never forget the look of the process
sion that filed across the back yard
early the next morning. First came
my nuSDdnu, IdIl anu SldleIys Will Tie
big smoke house key in his hand, then
followed poor crestfallen Sam with the
pig on his shoulder, close behind him
came the three little boys with their
handkerchiefs to their eyes. The pig
was put in the smoke house with his
companions. and though it was hog
killing time, Sam had eggs for his
breakfast because the children an-
nounced that he had said he never
wanted to see another piece of pig as
! long as he lived.
| Some weeks afterwards, my husband
and l, wanted to spend the day in
town, we had been in the habit OF
/ leaving everything in Sans charge In
| our absence and decided to do IL
again, so / called him to the back door
and said, Sam. l am going to town
| to-day, take care of my children and
my house for me-here are the keys"
! / remember still his look of mingled
gratitude and pride as he said Miss
Mary whoever lays de weight o. dere
| fingers on your children or your things
dis day, will have Sam to kill fust.
Sam finally fell in love with the
house girl and set up an establishment
of his own.
One day, one of the little boys found
Sam in trouble, his wife mad run
away and he had nobody TO look after
him, his pigs or his chickens. The
little boy arranged it all. father was
T. ! i
invest in the chickens, and as for sam
himself. nothing could be nicer than
for him to 1--we in the vacant room IN
the back yard. The arrangement be-
ing satisfactory to us all, the little
boys helped him to move that after
noon
1t almost broke my heart when I
had to tell Sam and the other SER
wants 1 was going to leave the farm.
1t was the day of the last hog killing.
and even the youngest little boy ceuId
not take an interest in his pig tails.
was trying to be brave and no. break
down when l would think that maybe
l would never see some of the dear
old faces again. l had neveH had
the courage to tell them / was going
to leave them, but they had hearo it.
Sam and Tom waited until l was
alone in the big kitchen and then
they came together. Sam was spOkes-
man: Miss Mary, we hears YOU is
gwine to leave us, but we fuses 10
blieve it th'out you say so YOURSELF
i The crisis had come. | tried to talk
fast and explain that / wasnt going
far just a mile, that they all could
come TO see me, that my grown sons
wanted me to go. ETC., but before
had finished Sam had drawn his rcd
bandana handkerchief out, Toms coat
sleeve was to his eyes, and had buried
my face in my arms and was sobDing
on the kitchen table. When we ndd
had our cry out together? sam an
nounced that "thela boys as he
called nv sons shouldn't carry us
away, that Tom could move up in the
yard and they would take care of the
little children and of me. When
still insisted that / must go. he SAID
/ he would go too. and, be 1t said TO MS
honor in this money loving genera
ton. that he went and worked for halL
what he could have made on the farm.
He is very susceptible and soon sue
cumbed to the charms of a town dar-
key. He took my advice and set up
housekeeping again on the farm.
where he has a corner in his "gyar-
dem devoted to the cultivation OF
roasting years for Miss Mary" He
feels much aggrieved If he isn't sent
for on state occasions to wait on the
table. One day when we were enter
tanning in a small way, and | failed
to send for him. not thinking that the
occasion demanded his presence, I'M
agine my surprise when l looked up
in the midst of the dining. and be-
held Sam, arrayed in my new buffers
finerv waiting on the table. He had
laid violent hands on the butler on his
way to the kitchen. stripped him or
his apron and jacket and appeared
: in his stead.
His speciality now is 'possum hunt
) ing, and the boys and girls of our lit
tie town want no better fun than TO
> provide themselves with a chaperone
and lunch. get Sam and his dogs. and
have a moonlight scramble over the
dear old farm after the 'possums.