Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-02-07
THURMONT.

figure had drawn Thomas Dexters at.
tention from the other children for a
few moments, and wher presently, lie
turned toward them he saw them seat
ed In a row on a bench, and saw also,
to his amazement that their faces
were blackened.
"They're playing niger minstrels."
exclaimed the cobbler. cts q favor.
ite game with the little cusses."'
The band was complete in all its de-
! tails-bones. banjos, the imaginary In.
struments being illustrated with amaz-
ing vigor by the performers-tenor and
falsetto voices, and middle man.
The songs were for the most reminis-
cences, the airs being faithfully enough
rendered. and the words such as hap
pened to come to them.
Jokes and witticisms were freely
banded, and hugely enjoyed by the
performers and their audience of one
the pretty Saranne.
The entertainment, indeed. appeared
to be devised chiefly for her amuse-
ment, and the little queen thoroughly
appreciated It,
And now, colored bredren, "sald
Dot-and.carry.One, "Ill give yer Put
Him in His Little Bed for dc special
benefit OBJ ole Tommy Dexter You'll
all on yer strike in with 'Alleyloojah'
aud Mother, Dear Mother"
After which prelude he delivered
himself Of the following extraordinary
composition, with great spirit:
Put HIM III his little bed,
Mother, dear mother.
Stingy Tommy Dexter's dea:
AlIeyloojah!
Al'eyloojah!
Well nebber, nebber see him more,
land don't want to)
Mother, dear mother.
No more, no more. nebber no more,
! Mother. dear mother.
Then Dot.and.carry- -one rose from his
seat and executed a savage and exul-
tant dance over the imaginary grave
with such surprising v.gcr that 1t
brought down the house: and the one
1t delighted most was SaranIe.
"Thank yer.' whispered Thomas
Dexter to the cobbler. II think I've
had enough"
And he crept out of the cellar and mp
the rickety stairs, and out OF Paradise
Buildings with sickening feeling in
/ his heart, unconsciously murmuring the
lines:
He's gone ober de golden shore.
Alleyloojah!
Well nebber, nebber see him more,
| (And don't want to-
Mother, dear mother.
| No more, no more, nebber no more,
Mother dear mother.
Arriving at his dwelling place, an
other adventure befell him.
He saw woman looking ut the
shutters. and he confronted her.
It was his wife, Polly They gazed
at each other in silence for a little
while. Polly first broke the silence.
II came to see," size said. II heard
you was dead, but you're pretty lively
! Tor a dead un. Don't be scared-I amt
going to worry yer. 1t worn't for my
own sake come, but for" she broke
,ff suddenly and burst into loud laugh
well. what do it matter whose for.
ch: | say, old man. I've hecrd you'd
got lots o tim
I'm not in want" he said. shortly.
Gould spare a matter of five pound
if was to arsk you for itf'
II could ii dared to-"
VIII yer:'
NO"
You old skinhint," she said, "do you
think want it for myself?'
IF it's not for you. who do yer want
the money for?" asked Thomas Dexter.
IF was to tell yer" she answered,
tapping him roughly on the breast.
yer'd know us much as I know.
wouldn't yer? If Pm alive when yer
a.laying on yer deathbed, send for me.
old man, and I'll tell yer something as
will make yer sorry you didn't fork out
the flyer asked yer for Goodnight,
Tommy"
He made no effort 10 stop her, and
he saw, as he looked after her. what
he had half suspected, that she had
been drinking.
He attached no significance to what
she had said, and. strangely enough,
startling and unexpected as was her
appearance, he soon forgot her.
He stood ut the shop door for long
time thinking of it. and then. urged by
an impulse, the reason OF which he
could not have explained. he directed
his steps in the direction OF Paradise
Buildings.
When he reached it ne walked
straight to the part Of tho cellar inhab.
tied by Little Make Believe and her Sis
ter.
They were alone; the rougher chit.
dren were gone.
Saranne was asleep and Little Make
Believe was sitting on the floor beside
her sister, nursing her knees.
She looked up at his entrance and
would have risen, but he kept her in
her position by laying his hand light
~ on her shoulder.
1t was a kindly touch and any alarm
Little Make. Believe may have felt was
dispelled.
He knelt and looked at the fair head
pillowed in sleep on the hard boards.
He had seen such face III idealized
pictures of children and angels but
never, until now, in real life.
"Was it for her you took the pie2'
he asked.
Eyes, sir"
"Did you have no money!"
"Not copper"
Nave you any now"
mo. sir"
IIa toolx 4hraa L.incht el.tllinna {rona