The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-11-17
Roses and
Repentance
BY ". A. WAYNE
Copyright. 1909. by American Press
Association.
By ". A. WAYNE

the low bending dogwoods and upon
the little cabin in the half acre clear
ing that was devoted to chicken rails
ing and sweet potato growing.
There were odors of new growth in
the air. the CLINT of fresh green among
the foliage, and from a branch of the
Towering dogwood a mocking bird was
singing its delirious joy of the spring
sunshine and flowers.
A white haired negro came slowly
around the cabin. grasplng With both
hands large bowl from which a
piece had been broken. As he APP
peared there was sudden eommotion.
which spread quickly TO the remote
parts of the clearing and TO the I'M
dergrowth beyond. and chickens of all
sizes and colors came squawking to-
ward him with wings outstretched
and feet scarce touching the ground.
He scattered the food among them.
After the chickens had. with Impair
TALLY and many admonitions 10 be-
have. received all the food from the
hand of the old man, he then sought
IL plank where the sunshine fell warm
and unbroken and closed his eyes and
spread out his trembling arms that he
might enjoy 1t to the full.
There were sounds of dishes being
washed In the cabin. the swish of n
broom, the passing of a hot iron across
newly starched cloth and above all the
hubbub of eager. expectant. joyful
voices. The day was not an ordinary
one; that was evident.
A hoe leaned against the cabin.
mattock lay upon the ground near the
door, saw still pressed its jagged
teeth into the trunk of half sawn
branch at the meager wood plle-all
these implements of toll as they had
been left when work WAS over the
night before.
No one came to resume work this
morning, so 1t was evident that some
thing out of the ordinary was going
on.
Presently dusky young face APP
peared at the window.
Hey. gran'papr shrill. childish
voice called. Nanny say fo' yo to
come in TO yo' clean shut. Yo' gwine
dress up fus' case yo' wax slower"
Grandpap moved toward the cabin
AS he went In troop OF six picka-
ninnies came tumbling out. all boys
but one. A peremptory voice followed
them.
Now, doan yo' chilluns go fur off.
Soon's yo' gran'pap's done fix yo'
gwine be fix too. Now, min"
At one end Of the cabin rosebush
clambered up and about the low
caves. AS though through previous I'M
Outstanding. the boys began to side
toward this. keeping an inquiring look
upon their sister the while. But not
until one of their hands reached slyly
toward freshly opened rose did she
notice. Then she said:
Stop dat. Washunton Ain yo
member dat nanny say all dem roses
gwine be save fo' Aun' Celia's mar
rge%
But new ones done bloom after
nanny say dat" expostulated Wash
ington petulantly. "'Sides, hits man
cipation an 'mancipations moren jes'
marr'ge."
Il don't keer. OATS what nanny
say, an 20 all know nanny ain say
one ting twice"
"Yo' gwine be telltale, Macie?" scorn-
fully.
mo. ! ain gwine be telltale But
OATS what nanny say. an yo' know
nanny mighty sot on what she say
Yo' know dat. doan yo'?"
Washington looked doubtfulIy at his
companions and from them back to
the roses.
"Dey gwine look mighty nice on we
alls new clos" he said wistfuly. AN
dar's shorely too many for jes'
marr'ge. An dey keep openin' up all
de durin' time. Nanny ain gwine
car To- jes' one rose fo' we alls man.
cipation. Yo' know dat. Macie."
Macle did not answer. and Washing
ton went on persuasively:
"Yo' know dat two nickeIs l done
make totin' tings. Macie. Well. rs
gwine spen' hit all TO- sweet stuff. an
yo'se gwine hab half. An. sides. yo'd
shorely look mighty fine long o. one
dem roses pinned on yo' blue caliker.
yo' shoreiy would"
Macie besitated.
Oars mo- roses openin' up. sho
nuf." she said thoughtfully. AN I
don low mammy'd car. much. spe
cially If she didn't know An marr'ge
ain muffin to Emancipation nohow.
Den yo' say right bout dat rose look
in peart long O. my caliker. Yaas.
reckon jes' one rose dat away gwine
be all right: but min. you. half dat ar
sweet stun longs to me-"
"Chilluns chilluns. Wh'ar yo' all
be? Come. rusticate yo'se'fs now.
Gran'pap's done fix an gwine up de
road. Yo'se to foller him. Den Nose
an nell come long. We hit de road
faster dan yo'll alls. Quick, now. Yo'
heah me?"
Their hands were already plucking
the forbidden flowers, but at that call
the roses fell to the ground. momen
tarily unheeded in the sudden conster-
nation. then were picked up and hur-
riedly concealed about their tattered
clothing. AS they shuffied round the
corner Washington slipped In behind
his companions. But in hts trepida-
tion be neglected entirely to conceal
the rose. The sharp eyes at the door
caught sight Of the protruding stem.
"Wha' dat 20 got inside 20 shut,
Washunton?" she demanded. Her
gaze swept over the guilty faces; then
she stepped outside and walked de-
liberately round the corner Of the cabin
to the rosebush. There we're telltale
leaves and bits of broken branches
upon the ground.
so yo' didD' keer muffin TO- what l
'spressly ordered" she said at length,
with mingled regret and reproach in
hAw r.