The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-03-28


sibllity OF fried chicken. They decided
him.
as yo' cake" he grinned.
The two boys walked cautiously q
the edge OF wung Sins laundry root
and peered down. Crap shooting was Z
serious offense. and Shack was careful
10 keep this retreat on the laundry rooi
from the knowledge Of the police.
See anything. Cunyf" he whispered
as they glanced sharply from side 70
side.
''oniy dat fruit seller on de corner
He ain min
1rasping the edge Of the roof with
their hands, they swung over and
dropped lightly to the ground. Then
they scurried round the corner Into
Bay street and were lost In the crowd.
Cuny's mother lived In a small tene-
ment In the colored district. She was
ironing when the boys arrived. 's
'Dat yo', Cunyf' she called as they
darkened the low doorway. 'Come
right In, honey. An who's yo' frien' 2,
Him Shack, nanny" answered
Cuffy rather proudly. "Yo' done heah
me tole bout him."
Goose | has, honey, co'se has" the
woman exclaimed. leaving her ironing
and coming forward cordially, Glad
TO see yo', Shack. Come right In, boy.
done heah bout yo' heaps O. times
ST down In dat rockln' cheer. Dar,
dat's right. SO yo's Shack. Law, law!
My boys done tole bout yo' no end
Say yo's able do anything yo' set out
for; dat yo's de mos promisin' black
boy In de whole city, She returned
TO her ironing and worked vigorously
for several minutes, then: Does yo'
know, honey, dat's a mighty fine say
so? De mos promlsln' boy! Dat
means dar's gran wuk befo' yo'-gran'
wuk, honey. We black folks need jes'
sech boys to grow up an lead us. rs
glad you an Cufy am frien's. He's
good boy, but easy led. He needs
strong, true frlen's to show de way.
Wha's dat, Cuffyi Shack goin' stay
all night? Shore 'nough? Law, law!
OATS good! Now yo' boys jes placate
'mong yo'se'fs while get dis ironin'
on; den we's hab supper an mo- talk.
Cuffy. yo' put dat mllyun In pail O.
col water"
Shack had listened without any at
tempt to answer, but bis eyes and ears
were keenly alert. This was an ex-
pe5iencs wheh yas sse eRfSetm S lime nsE q 1f sd
just. He had peered into rooms be-
fore now and had generally been driv
en- AWAY with broom or poker, but he
did not remember any Of them that had
been quite SO clean and coy as this
scantily furnished room, and certainly
none Of the women had been like this
one who was actually treating him as
though his presence was desirable. But
of course he was right in his declara-
ton that nanny was detriment to
q big boy. This was only an unusual
side he was seeing; presently would
appear some weakness with which he
could overwhelm Cuffy.
But what appeared presently brought
him half to his feet In sudden wonder,
derislon. contempt. There was Cuffy
actually telling his nanny about the
crap shooting and the money he had
lost, and more wonderful yet, instead
Of scoldlng and Furnishing him as ordl
nary women would have done. this
nanny was patting her boys cheeks
and talking In low, earnest voice,
and. yes, they were both crying.
Shack drew hard, deep breath and
waited In momentary expectation Of
hearing his own name. But, no, Cuny
only spoke OF himself and then went
back toshis chair by the window, where
he sat very sober and thoughtful. And
bis nanny began TO put away her
ironing aud prepare for supper,
After supper Shack returned to the
rocking chair, feeling very comfortable
and contented. And the puzzling nam
my, after she had cleared the table and !
washed the dishes, came and sat down
between him and Cuffy.
''Co'se yo' goin to Tuskegee when yo'
get able, honey" she began. and then,
accepting this for fact and unob-
servant Of the indignant scorn on his
face, she went on ip an almost reveF-
ent voice: Hits gran ting, dis
school; n gran. noble ting. Wat we
black folks lax is KNOWN tlngs an
dis school will glib us dat heapln' up
an runnin' ober. Yo' boys dat projec'
1,r schooiin' can be mos anything yo'
aim for-preachers, doctors, lawyers,
railroaders--jes' lax w'ite folks. Hits
gyan' ting to be . strong boy like
yo', wild all desc t'ings on aheadn Her
hand sought shack's shoulder and rest
ed there caressingiy. Some day.
honey" she continued gently, "yo'lI
likely be ridin' In yo' own kerrIdge an
he'pin' all de black folks round yo !
hope yo'll sort O. look out for CuHy.
He's n good boy. but tes' little weak
sometimes. When yo'se bofe at Tus-
keeee don let-.h'm shoot craps an
t'lngs like dat He'll heah TO yo'. I
Promis yo'll keer for him, honey"
Again Shack's breath came hard, but 4
her hand was upon his shoulder, her /
eyes looking into his. He tried to 4
SCOT and jeer, but the words stuck In
bis throat, and only husky "Yes'm.
WIN came to bis lips. Then be rose
suddenly TO bis feet. only to sink back |
into the chax. bot and trembling. for
this strange nanny had kissed him.
Il knowed yo' wouid. honey" she
said softly. ''but I wanted to heah 20
promisr. A boy lax yo' nebber forgets
his promise"
Shack mnde desperate effort 10
break from the spell that was closing 1
In upon him. Missionaries he did not !
mind. but this nanny was approach /
Ing him In an unrecognized way. II he /
wished 10 humiIiate Cuny be must 4
keep better control OF himself. But be
only said
school like dat cos q heap"
"No. honey; hits made for pore fo'ks
like we all Me an cuHy low on get !