The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1906-01-02

Ioriginal.l

on the pools. A young girl driving q
pony cart was coming down a road
and stopped before a cabin. A e
woman, followed by a ~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 a
Christmas dinner?"
NO, Missile Alice, she hain't said
nothin' bout dat. But me n my ole
man don keer bout no Christmas din
ner. We got a heap O. trouble" She
drew near the cart and spoke low,
while tears filled her eyes. Mars.
soin' to sell Bobby"
Sell Bobby! Separate you from him.
Surely, Clarisse, such a thing hasn't
beer done about here since She stop
ped. She was about to say since n
slave mother had killed herself after
separation from l:er child"
Miss Alice Sinclair made an effort to
comfort the mother. but there was nc
comfort. She knew that old Dufour,
who owned this family, would sacrifice
them to his own interest.
"GoodDy, CIarisse,' 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 a swOOn. jeff, her husband.
caught her in his arms.
Don, honey: Ion 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 lie 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 hal.
way. were a number Of the planters
and members Of their families, includ-
Ing Colonel Sinclair and his daughter
Alice. Dufour stood with ais back to
the fireplace. while apart sat an un-
attractive mana trader. Even those
down upon him.
Tomorrow" said Dufour in a surly
tone, Il ave a note to pay of $500.
Mr.. Millikin, here from Savannah. of
fers me the amount of my note for the
boy. II any one present can afford
to buy the whole family III sell them
cheaper than l would separate, or to II
trader"
There was no 1t would
nave required between $4,000 and
$2,500 to buy the family. and the plant
ers in the parish were all struggling
2OainSf q SlI1;nn in f11o nrioa Of GIIo0r
well. my friends" continued Du
four. 'since you don't come forward
| see no way but to carry out the sale
of the child. Mr.. Millikin, your offer
Is
Zone moment, please"
The words came from Colonel Sin
clair, an elderly gentleman Of benign
c~ountenance. who rose as he spoke.
My friends" he said, my daughter
Informed me of this sale. and l notified
YOU. This is Christmas morning.
There are two ways of celebrating the
birth of him who brought peace Oh
earth and good will to men'-one in our
own families. the other in the families
of the needy. We have already his
morning been occupied with the first
Here is an opportunity to engage in the
second. / propose that we buy this
child and give him as a Christmas
present to his parents. will head o
subscription for the purpose with $50"
Colonel Sinclair said a gentleman
sitting r. to him. 81 will subscribe
In equal amount"
The slave parents caught he drift of
the situation and listened eagerly for
every word. There were no more fifty
dollar subscriptions. but the smaller
ones, including $25 from Alice Sinclair
given out of her pin money, finally
raised the amount subscribed to $3.50.
Every one present felt that he had sab
scribed more than he could afford Du-
four. who regarded the whole affair as
an interference with his rights, stood
grimly waiting; the negro trader was
FUN bling with his hat: he father and
mother of the child, who were uncon-
scious OF his and their peril, looked on
with an agonized suspense. Then AL
ice Sinclair spoke:
"Mr. Dufour, will you not give some
thing?"
Dufour scowled. ST must have S4O0
tomorrow. Less will not serve" he
said.
Then the negro trader arose and
spoke: 81 Know nothin' is expected
from me, a niger trader. I'm used to
buyin' into families, and I've nothin
to do with other families as long as ]
must take care of my own It's my !
own family that moves me now Last
ummer me and my wife had a boy. We
hain't got bin now. We hain't got ans
children at all. l come ava from
home on this trip a-purpose to git rid
of Christmas. / wouldn't be there for
no money. seem my boy can't be there
too. | tell you what I'm goin to do.