Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-12-01
Are your fathers poems published p

the other girls"
Did he make love to you?"
He broke my heart when he raj
laway. I cried whole week. But I go
over it. He seemed so big and grown
when he came home this last time.
was afraid to let him kiss me-"
Did he dare to try?"
mo, and 1t hurt my feelings. Yor
see, I'm not quite old enough to bt
serious with the big boys, and he looked
so brave and handsome with that ugly
scar on the edge of his forehead, ant
everybody was so proud Of him. / was
just dying to kiss him, and thought
1t downright mean in him not to Of
fer it,
Would you have let him."
IT expected him to try"
HE is very popular In Piedmont"
Every girl in town Is in love with
him."
And he in love with all?"
He pretends to be-but between US
he's a great f1irt. He's gone to Nash
vile now on some pretended business
Goodness only knows where he got the
money to go. 1 believe there's a gir
here"
"Why?"
Because he was so mysterious about
this trip I'll keep an eye on him al
the hotel. You know Margaret, too
don't you?"
Yes; we met her in Washington"
| well, she's the slyest flirt In town
it runs in the blood-has half-dozen
beaux to see her every day. She plays
the organ in the Presbyterian Sunday
school, and the young minister Is dead
in love with her. They say they are
engaged. I don't believe 1t. I think
| it's another one. But l must hurry, I've
so much to show and tell you. Come
here to the honeysuckle-"
| Marion drew the vines apart from
the top Of the fence and revealed
mocking bird on her nest.
She's setting. Don't let anything
hurt her I'd push her off and show
you her speckled eggs, but it's so late.
"Oh, / wouldn't hurt her for the
world" cried Elsie with delight.
| And right here" said Marion. bend
ing gracefully over a tall bunch OF
grass. "is a pee-wees nest, four darl-
| ing little eggs; look out for that"
Elsie bent and saw the pretty nest
perched on stems Of grass, and, over
it, the taller leaves drawn to point.
isn't 1t cute!" she murmured.
"Yes: I've six of these and three
mocking-bird nests. I'll show them to
you. But the most particular one of
all is the wren's nest In the fork OF
the cedar, close to the house"
She led Elsie to the tree and about
two feet from the ground, In the forks
of the trunk, was tiny hole from
which peeped the eyes Of wren.
Whatever you do, don't let anything
hurt her. Her mate sings Free -nigger!
| Free -nigger! Free-niggern every
morning in this cedar"
And you think we will specially en-
joy that?" asked Elsie. laughing.
Now, really" cried Marion, taking
Elsie's hand, you know I couldn't
think of such a mean joke. l forgot
you were from the north. You seem
so sweet and homelike. He really does
sing that way. You will hear him In
the morning, bright and early, Free.
Niger! Free-nigger! F'ree-nigger'
| Just as plain as I'm saying II"
And did you learn to find all these
birds nests by yourself?"
Papa taught me. I've got some jay
birds and some cat-birds so gentle they
hop right down at my feet. Some peo-
pie hate jay-birds. But / like them,
they seem to be having such a fine
time aid enjoy life SO. You don't mind
Jay birds. do you?"
"I love every bird that flies"
Except hawks and owls and buz-
Yards"
well, I've seen so few l can't say
I've anything particular against them.
"Yes, they eat chickens-except the
buzzards. and they're so ugly and
filthy. Now, I've a chicken to show
you-please don't let Aunt Cindy-she's s
% be your cook-please don't let her
kill him-he's crippled-has some
thing the matter with his foot. He
was born that way. Everybody wan
ted to kill him but wouldn't let them
I've had an awful time raising him.
bu. he's all right now"
| Marion lifted a box and showed her
the lame pet, softly clucking his protest
against the disturbance of his rest
"TI take good care Of him. never
fear" said Elsie, with a tremor In her
voice.
| Ard have a queer little black cat
wanted to show you, but he's gone
off somewhere. I'd take him with me
only it's bad luck to move cats. He's
awful wild-won't let anybody pet him
but me. Mama says he's an imp Of Sa-
tan-bu: / love him. He runs up a
tree when anybody else tries to get
him. But he climbs right up on my
shoulder. / never loved any cat quite
as we'll as this silly half-wild one
You don't mind black cats, do you?'
mo, dear; like cats"
Then know you'll be good to him
"Is that all?" asked Elsie, with
amused interest.
No, I've the funniest yellow dog
that comes here at night to pick uL
the scraps and things. He isn't my
dog-just a little personal friend OF
mine-but l like him very much, and
always give him something. He's very
cute thing he's nigger dog"
"A niger dog? What's that?'
HE belongs to some colored people
who don't give him enough to eat.
love him because he's so faithful tc
his own folks. He comes to see me al
night and pretends to love me but as
soon as I feed him he trots back home
When he first came, / laughed till
cried at his antics over a carpet-We
had a carpet then. He never saw one
before. ard barked at the colors ano
he figures in the pattern. Then he'o
lie down and rub his back on II anc
growl. You won't let anybody hur'
him."
mo. Are there any others?"
yes, I most forgot. If Sam Ross
contestants an idiot who lives a
the poorhouse-if he comes, he'll ex.
pect a dinner-my my. I'm afraid hel
cry when he finds we're not here! Bu
YOU can send him to the hotel to me
Don't let Aunt Cindy speak rough tc
him. Aunt Cindy's awfu!ly good tt
me. but she can't bear Sam. Sh'
thinks he brings bad luck"
How on earth did you meet him.
His father was rich. He was gooc
friend of my papa's. We came neal
losi"g our farm once, because banl
failed. Mr. Ross sent papa signed
check on his own bank, and told hin
to write the amount he needed on 1t
and pay him when he was able. Papa
cried over 1t. and wouldn't use 1t. ant
wrote a poem on the back Of the checl
! l-one of the sweetest Of all, think
In the war Mr.. Ross lost his two
Younger sons. both killed at Gettys
burg. His wife died heart broken, ant
he only lived a year afterward. HI
. sold his farm for Confederate money
ard everything was lost. Sam was sen
to the poorhouse He found out some
how that we loved him and comes Il
, see us. HIS as harmless as kitten
: and works the garden beautifully
"Tn remember" Elsie promised.
and one thing more" she said, hes
itatingly. Mama asked me to speal
? .lt. ho u,bv cha S1iDnp(