Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1908-02-13

morning-gl ories-springing up
from their couch of passion flow
ers-were clambering round
nodding stalks of maize, like In
dian maidens winding their
arms about plumed Indian war;
riors; and here, there, every
where in the meadows, silky
white carpets of spider webs
were cleaning with dew, where
the dancing fairies, surprised by
morning, had left their jewels.
There was stiffness in the air,
undisturbed by except the occa-
sional scolding of a squirrel in
the tall hickory, or by the drow-
sy dropping of nuts. The year
was dying and Jim was dying
with the year.
He waned thinner and thin
ner; and the wistful look in his
sunken eyes would haunt you.
At any hour of night, if you
passed his lonely cabin, you
might hear his violin grooming
like mad Cassandra. But If he
saw Alick Ga rare occurrence,
since that good friend was a
house-servant, one of those col
ored aristocrats, who never min
gled with black plebeians of the
field) the look in his eyes would
have touched Alexis heart, had
HAD not that heart beat time for
a fop and fool. Once and again
the Major put the old question,
but, getting the old reply, the
master would shake his head
later when, after making a GOOD
report on jim, the overseer sug-
gested his reinstatement.
One day, the hands were har-
vesting near the railroad which,
after curving through a dense
thicket of pines, came in a
straight line down the fence. At
right angles of this steel turn
pike of traffic, upon which it
opened through wooden
latched gate was lane leading
| to the mansion. 1t was hedged
by hawthorn, and over-arched
by oaks with an ever moving
roof of rustling leaves, through
which the wind battered with its
bare feet, when the birds were
at martins or vespers. Because
of it's delightful shade, it was a
favorite haunt of the little ones;
and all this morning little Rose
had been frolicking here, while
the labprers toiled yonder.
i Noo2 at last! The sunburnt
4 oversdr squinted at the sky and
"recH2ned it was time to knock
off SPELL at which all cluster
ed, with African antics and
laughter, around the dinner
buckets and pail. How sweet
the spring water tasted from the
gourd! What white bread ever
equalled those yellow pones
baked in fragrant hickory ash
es? Where was the down that
might compare with natures
heaped counterpart of scarlet,
golden and russell leaves? All
were happy except Jim. I'm
aware that he was to be given
his old place that night, he was
leaning on the fence and envy
ing the squirrel his appetite. 1t
was not dinner-time at the Hall,
though else how could Alick be
sitting with the nurse in the
lane, and Notwithstanding her
genteel protests, measuring her
waist with his arm, and her lips
with his mustache, until she did
not notice little Rose, lifting the
latch?
Noon The fast mail is over
due! There is a distant rumble
swiftly coming nearer and grow
, ing louder, until, bursting
through swaying pines, the To-
connective plunges down, with
thunder crashing beneath its
wheels, as, painting in its gar
ment of smoke and flame it tow
ers up and swells out at each
} rapid bound along the singing
/ rails. Its hoarse whistle gives a
} sudden long, blood-curdling
, Shrek. The brakes grind down
, until dust and sparks leap in
clouds beside the coaches. There
the child stands. The sunlight
, laughs in her golden curls, and
a. Mind L. r,laNinn with her