The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-10-30
BY AIIoe Lucinda wynn


fer.~
He was a comical figure on sun
days and holidays. when dressed in
his best clothes. He wore an old,
brown. battered beaver hat, and. on
warm days. a linen coat that had once
been white When my mischievous
young brother remarked upon the
superannuated appearance Of this
coat. he said. half playfully: Go way,
chile. dis co.ss Was in circulation hefo
you was bon"
He prided himself on his fine man
ners. and whenever lady addressed
him. took on his hat. and. bowing
solemnly and profoundly, held It In
his hand until she had passed on.
He was IN a constant state OF thank
fulness. and would say: Il thank YOU
sir" Tor a scolding as well as for .
favor
Passing through the yard one day
I saw him sitting motionless with his
head bent on his hand He had been
saving wood. but having become
weary. was resting upon = large
hickory log a crepe myrtle cast its
shadow over the gray figure, and
showed its pink petals slowly down
until they rested upon the brim Of
his old brown hat He had enter
tanned as often with stories Of his
life "befo' de war. and ! wondered
I ii he were living over. in dreams, the
wears when he was young and strong,
when he waF spoken OF as the best
hand on the place" the mconlit eve-
nings. when ne sat in the door OF his
little cabin in the quarters = singing
the favorite plantation songs to the
accompaniment Of his banjo, while
his wife SAT nearby rocking a little
one to sleep. keeping time to thc
fathers music. those days when his
voice swened strongest and sweetest
in the church GATHERINGS. the hap
uziags and the camp meetings.
Now the limbs we're stiff and mac
tive the voice weak and treble, and
the wife Of his youth had lain for
many years in the graveyard on ms
I lhinslope
went M to him and said, softly
"Are you well to-day. Uncle stephen
He looked up. smiled. shook hi
head and said. No Miss Alice
lrs got Oe misery in dis old hace
aesn ana was settin here restln
ana wonderin If de Lord would for
give a peer old aigger ike me at d
last
IN sunrise s.id: "why, Uncle
Stephen. are YOU not q Christian
He replied: NO, miss; ise
backsiider. ] used 10 be 'zorter. ou
/ I done lei ny Iigion drap. Ne churol
vent too deep in nay pocket ! wonl'
bin willin' to gib Is cents q month
bat dey wanted ne to gio dollar
. Nc. sir
Uncle Stephen was faithiulnes
itself to the family be served
Though TO old 10 work IN the field
he was invaluable in the yard snI
ssraen Re knew how To raise tn
! very finest az sweet potatoes an
wstermelons- Proud wss he whe
they were praised as the larses
ana hest in the country. Homes
truthful. Trustworthy. we never fel
unessiness about the home i lei
II uncle stephens care. One sun
ms- aii the fanny were away fo
. twa weeks The nights we're spen
I'm sleepless vigils hy Uncle Stephe
sor fear some midnight marsade
misht visit The fovlhouse or =
barn
/ hAd been attending school N
5 when | xeat home last summer fo
, TIE vacation / missed the old. her
fxare ana cheery salutaiion. One "a
rs winter before he failed to anpes
At tie usual time. but as he sometime
wsat away to spend several day
: wsth his zaar-ied daughter. the faEnil
. sis cot wonder at bis absence Afss
! thgee days had passed. howeTsT an
= had sent 20 ward. some one SCI
e seek hlza IN his atle house wnsE
hs lived 81 siOne
They we're eTieved and conscsenc
stricken % hud that the poor q
ran hsS lain sick for three day
~ no medicine or food He ~
wzas a comfortable IS possible.
zxvsicsaa was st once sent fer -
a TIA. ksnd frlsnas coai1 DC >.
saas. but their cxre was q
! avsil
Hs aiss amer : few 6Sys q 50
fe.aaE. Hzs iAss words we're E
B nrssssons e thzaks p --ae gc'oa vhi
T sssks wAcz he IA kose4 and ssT7F'
4 - io1g
. N dexsh he ssx c. keep wat'
! ssfu over the hoae wHsTe they dEe
HIS grave lies zesrov @ n ETe'
kfaslae. under s tAngis e 1ssszizi'
4 vines where ths zagnozsz trees dF'
= .hesr rose-cosored eenss ard the saoc
= iax hsras sing . each etAe- a. I