The Citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1903-1912, 1908-09-26
JUNGLE
sTFpHEN''
- co Lucinda Wynn

he told me that he was in existence
before the hills just in sight beyond
the fields. The small boys of the
neighborhood looked upon him with a
kind of superstitious awe, and as they
bathed in the cool stream or SHE'D
pebbles at the frolicsome little perch
that could be seen In its clear water
they told each other in low tones that
Uncle Stephen" long, long years be.
fore, had dug out Sandy creek and
piled up the hills on the other side"
Like most OF the old negroes,
Uncle stephen" did not know his
age, but always reckoned time from
some event that greatly impressed
his simple. superstltious mind. When
asked the number of his years he
would say: Il dunno 'zactly, but
was IL de same year dat de stars
fell"
days and holidays. when dressed in
his best clothes. lie wore an old
brown, battered beaver hat, and, on
warm days, 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 coat was IN circulation befo'
you was BON"
He prided himself on his fine man.
ners, and whenever a lady addressed
him, took off his hat and, bowling
! cAlnptp1Ny apI npnfnnnJI,. hold m
his hand until she had passed on.
He was in a constant state of thank.
| fulness, and would say II thank you,
sir" for a scolding as well as for a
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
I his old brown hat. He had enter.
tanned us often with stories of his
| life "befo de war;" and | wondered
II he were living over in dreams, the
years when he was young and strong,
when he was spoken of as the best
hand on the place" the moonlit eve.
nings. when he 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 the
.ather's music; those days when his
voice swelled strongest and sweetest
In the church gatherings, the bap.
things and the camp meetings.
Now the limbs were stiff and mac
tive, the voice weak and treble. and
the wife of his youth had lain for
many years In the graveyard on the
hillslope.
went up to him and said. softly:
! Are you well today, Uncle Stephen"
He looked ups smiled, shook his
head and said: mo. Miss Alice;
rs got de misery In dis old back
sgin. and | was settin here restin'
and wonderin' II de Lord would for
give a poor old niger like me at de
last"
In surprise | said: why, Uncle
stephen, are you not Christian"
He replied: mo. miss; Use a
backslder. | used to be 'zorter,' but
done let my 'liglon drap De church
went too deep in my pocket. | would
bin willin' to glib Is cents a month,
but dey wanted me to glib dollar
No. sir"
Uncle stephen was fathfulness
itself to the family he served
Though too old TO work in the field
he was invaluable in the yard and
garden. He knew how TO raise the
very finest of sweet potatoes and
watermelons. Proud was he when
they were praised as the largest
and best in the country. Honest,
truthful, trustworthy, we never felt
uneasiness about the home II left
In Uncle Stephens care, One sum.
mer all the family were away for
two weeks. The nights were spent
In sleepless Yigils by Uncle Stephen
for fear some midnight marauder
might visit the fowlhouse or the
barn.
had been attending school and
when | went home last summer for
the vacation | missed the old, bent
figure and CHEEKY salutation. One day
the winter before he failed to appear
ut the usual time, but as he sometimes
went away to spend several days
with his married daughter. the family
did not wonder at his absence. After
three days had passed however and
he had sent no word some one went
to seek him in his little house, where
he lived all alone.
They were grieved and conscience.
stricken to find that the poor old
man had lain sick for three days
with no medicine or food He was
made as comfortable as possible, a
physician was at once sent for and
all that kind friends could do was
done, but their care was of no
avail.
He died after a few days of suf-
terlng. His last words were ex.
pressions of thanks to the good white
folks" whom he had loved and served
so long.
L. aaoth bo seop,s 4, boon match