The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1905-01-28
n Christmas
Episode In .S1avery

light snow rested on the moss hanging
from the trees, and there was thin ice
on the pools. A young girl driving
pony cart was coming down a road
and stopped before cabin. A negro
woman, followed by pickaninny four
years old, came out to where the cart |
stood.
"Clarisse," said the girl, "has your
missis said anything about what she
is going to do for you in the way of
Christmas dinnerT
mo, Missile Alice, she hain't said
nothin' bout dat But me and my ole
ner. We got heap O. trouble" She
drew near the cart and spoke low,
while tears filed her eyes. Mars
goin' to sell Bobby"
"Sell Bobby Separate you from him?
Surely, Clarisse, such thing hasn't
been done about here since She stop
ped. She was about to say "since a
slave mother had killed herself after
separation from her child"
Miss Alice Sinclair made an effort to
comfort the mother, but there was no
comfort. She knew that old Dufour
who owned this family, would sacrifice
them to his own interest.
"Goodby, Clarisse' she said touch
ing her pony with the whip. "God help,
| you"
On Christmas morning a servant
from the Dufour mansion came to
Clarisse's cabin with an order for her
and her husband to come up to the
house and bring Bobby. AS soon as
Clarisse heard the message she fell
over in swoon. JEFF, her husband,
caught her in his arms.
"Don', honey; dom do dat We got
each udder, and mebbe Bobby won
hab to go out o. de state. Wake up,
honey"
Clarisse revived, but only to clasp
her boy, vowing that she and he should
die rather than be separated. But her
good man finally prevailed and she
consented to go to their master. At
the house, assembled in the great hall
way, were number of the planters
and members of their families, includ-
ing Colonel Sinclair and his daughter
Alice. Dufour stood with his back to
the fireplace, while apart sat an I'M
attractive mana trader. Even those
who used a dealer in negroes looked
down upon him.
Tomorrow" said Dufour in surly
tone 81 have q note to pay of $500.
Mr.. Millikin, here from Savannah, Of
fers me the amount of my note for the
boy. If any one present can afford
to buy the whole family I'll sell them
cheaper than l would separate, or to a
trader"
There was no response. 1t would
have required between $1,000 and
$500 to buy the family, and the plant
> ers in the parish were all struggling
| against a slump in the price of sugar.
"well, my friends" continued Du-
four, "since you don't come forward
l see no way but to carry out the sale
? of the child. Dir. Millikin, your offer
is"--
zone moment, please"
I The words came from Colonel Sin
/ clair, an elderly gentleman OF benign
countenance, who rose as he spoke.
my friends" he said. my daughter
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r you. This Is Christmas morning
There are two ways OF celebrating Tho
birth OF him who brought peace on
O earth and good will 20 men'-one In oul
4 own families the other In the families
= OF the needy, We have already THU
y morning bsep occupied with the brst
y Here 10 ap opportunity 10 engage IN tb'
second, J propose that we buy fbl
child and give him as cbrlslipal
y present 70 his parents, J VII head
q subscription for tbe purpose viii 500
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