The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-11-18
fsUNCLE
STEPHEN"


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
kind OF supersiuous 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. superstitious mind When
asked the number Of his years he
would say. y dunno 'zactly. but
was u de same year dat de stars
:eu.-
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 mischieyous
young brother remarked upon the
superannuated appearance OF this
coat. be 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 OF 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: 7 thank yDu.
sir for a scolding as well as irg 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. vas 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 Us often with stories Of his
life -befo de war" and l wondered
II be we're 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 ere
nings, when he sat in the door OF his
little cabin in the quarters singing
the fayorite plantation songs 70 the
accompaniment OF his banjo. while
his wife sat nearby rocking little
one TO sleep. keeping time TO the
fathes's music. those DAYS when his
voice swelled strongest and sweetest
in the church gatherings. the hap
things and the camp meetings.
Nov the limbs we're sti1 and mac
tive. the voice weak and treble. and
the wife OF his youth had lain for
many years in the graveyard on he
I hillslope.
] I vent up to him and said. softly:
Are sou well to-day. Uncle Stephen 2"
tie looked up, smiled. shook bis
mead and said 10 Miss Alice;
+ rs got de misery IN dis Old back
agin. and I vas settiH' here restIa'
aud vcnderin' if de Lord would for
/ give a poor old niger Ike me at De
last"
In surprise I said: ~Why. Uncle
/ Stephen. are you not a christIanEr
He replied: mo. miss Use a
backsIider. used 10 be zorter.' but
I done let my ligion drap. De church
went too deep IN M pocket would
bin wilIin' to gib Is cents > month
but dey wanted ne to gib dollar.
70, sir"
Uncle Stephen was fsithfulness
itself to the family be 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
wasermelons. 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 Il eft
In Uncle Stephens care. One sum
mer all the family were away for
two weeks. The nights we're svent
IN sieeplsss gizfis S. Uncle stephen
for fear some midnight naarauder
might Visit the fowlh0ase Or the
barn
I had been attending school and
/ when vert home last summer for
/ The racaiIon 7 missed the old. bent
/ fgure and cheery szIatation One day
the winter before be failed TO appear
at the usual time. but as ne sometimes
Hent away to spend several days
with his married daughter. The family
lid not wonder ar his absence. After
I three DAYS had passed. however and
be had sent no wwd. some one went
to seek him IN his little house. where
he lived al alone.
They were gTieved and conscience
stricken TO find that the poor old
man had Jain sick Tor three days
Eith no medicine or food He vas
made az comfortable as possible, a
physician Eas At once sent for and
All thar kind friends could do vas
done. but their care vas Of 20