The Delta independent., 1909-12-03
said Cameron. as be TUNED .v.v

night. when he was alone again. "Dey's
somethin' wrong hyah, suah, an It
ain no medicine sickness, nohow Dat
Mist Cam'ron am mighty smaht
man, but he am sholy a fool pussen T.
be zasperated wild dat lobely Miss
Willoughby, an she SO nice an pretty.
too"
Merry Christmas. Midnight" ex-
claimed musical voice at the boys ell
bow, and the lad almost fell backward
as he turned and looked into the smil-
Ing face of young girl, fair-haired,
blue-gray eyed and dainty.
''Why-why-good ebenin', Miss
Willoughby. Merry Christmas. Skuse
me fo' not SEEM you, but ah done
fogot my mammals, All guess, TO- de
time bein'. All was JUS thinkin' bout
de folks OBJ NAH family.
why, Midnight. you never told us
about your folks as long as you have
been serving papers at our house. Are
your folks alive?"
Jus nah ole gran'mammy, an she
lib wild some ole fr'ens OBJ de family,
an All sens her de money dat she
need t lib on. All ain had no daddy
an no nanny fo de longes' time,
cause dey bofe froze T. def in de bluz-
zard what come long bout six year
ago."
How did you ever happen to come
here?" @ f
Mist Cam'ron. done brought me
hyar. You see, nah nanny been q
cook an nah mammy's sister nurse
In Mist Cam'ron's family 70 near 80
year. an when Mist Cam'ron come
hyar nanny az him T. git me . job
some day an den he SEN TO me. He
try me TO cook but All guess Ah'm
a pretty bad cook-ennyway Mist
Cam ron he say one day why not staht
a news-stan' an he give me de money
--an' dats all de hist'ry what is bout
me-but. Miss Willoughby, Ah'm glad
you come long tonight. cause All got
a Chrismus present TO you-some
mistletoe. fine big branch what NAH
granmammy sens up from Marylan'-
git 1t offen de trees right in de
swamp back O. de shanty. All vans
t ak you eff yo' will please be so good
an kin as t come 'roun' in nde
mawnin' an buy de frs paper, cause
1t means good luck, you know"
Why, 1t will be a pleasure, Mid
night, not only to bring good luck to
you, but to get the mistletoe."
Hardly had the Christmas horns
blown their first greetings of the day
when Midnight saw two figures com
ing down the street from different di.
rections. One was Cameron, walking
slowly along the main thoroughfare,
and the other was Miss Willoughby.
Merry Chrismus!" called Midnight,
even before the young lawyer had
reached the stand "Ah hopes you is
feelin' bettah dis mawnin'"
Thank you. Midnight: I feel ali
right. Here. hurry up with that mis-
tletoe and give me that first paper
you wanted me to buy" he added. |
quickly, as he glanced up the street |
and saw Miss Willoughby approach
ing briskly.
"Ah-Ah-Ah-doan know les wha'
All did wid dat mistlemtoe-ain' All one
fool niggah? All put it right hyar. un-
der dis shelf jes two minutes ago,
but All can't find it." he replied. rum
maging nervously among a pile Of pa
pers underneath the top shelf
Merry Christmas" called another
voice. and Midnight raised his head |
and smiled into the face Of Miss VIII
loughby, who stood at the other end
Of the stand. taking great pains not to
see Cameron, who was striving equally |
to avoid her.
Where is that mistletoe you want
ed me to have. Midnight? You see. |
got up very early to be the first one
here, and you know you promised 1t
to me-"
We'll, ef dat ain de funnies' thing"
replied Midnight. laughing mischiev-
ously. "Ah sholy had two fine pieces
OBJ dat mislemtoe right hyar, but Ah
can't fin 'em t save nah soul Ah
done promise dis t you, Miss
Willoughby. an deed All done promise
it t. you, Mist Cam'ron TO- yo' motha.
an All sholy doan know what T. do
bout It, All can't bus 1t in two"
Half unconsciously the two young
persons reached for the bough, then
hesitated.
why. Of course, let Mr.. Cameron
have 1t for him mother" spoke up
Miss Willoughby.
Give 1t to Miss Willoughby." said
Cameron. Perhaps you will find the
other piece after awhile"
'Ah'll give 1t t. Miss Willoughby ef
Mist Cam'ron'll tote 1t home TO- de
lady"
The girl glanced at Cameron, and In
another moment the young couple
were walking away from the stand
carrying the bunch of mistletoe be.
tween them. Midnight grinned as he
leaned against his stand and com
mented:
"Ah guess Ahll take dis otha piece
right Qfraiphf nm Mro Cavr,roo x..l