The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-02-14

He walked meditatively back to the
cabin and peered through the pailing
into the chicken yard. 81 reckon 20
chickens would be mighty glad to git
away. But doan' know whit gran
ny'd INK erbout dat
All the afternoon little Azariah pom
dered over the story Of Abraham Lin
coin and the lesson taught by his mo-
BILE life. Toward night he went the
lonely two miles Into Collinsyille to
replenish the moIasses jug AS he was
leaving the town on his way home he
came across that scapegrace Caesar
Woodson. and. wonder of wonders,
that marvelsofs hardness and abandon
ed wickedness was bawling Justify in
the back yard of his fathers isolated
cabin.
"Mah pappy he's gone ter jailr' he
'wept noisily In response to Azariah's
solicitous inquiry. "Kunnel Fem he
tole de constable dat dere wuz only
i've chickens lef' in his roos', an he
said pappy he'd sold 'em ober ter de
town foIkses Am all becuz de kunnel
could only find FIVE chickens in his
Ioos' deg locked my pappy up!''
Henry Woedson's reputation as a
connoisseur Of ane poultry was too
well known In the county for Azariah
Ichabod Peters to express much sur
prise or Indignation over that colored
gentleman's Incarceration In the lock-
up. Nevertheless as he left his play
mate and went his holneward way his
little heart was filed with pity for the
genial Mr.. Woodson, who was confined
within four walls away from the sun
shine and the crisp February air and
corn pone and sweet potatoes. iAza-
riah wondered what Mr.. Abraham
Lincoln would have done In like cir
cumstances, and he finally concluded
that Mr.. Lincoln would have made
every effort to obtain the freedom Of
Henry Woodscn and restore him to
the bosom Of his family.
Azariah hid his .molassesi jug, r. he
hedge, and, turning his shiny n
boots toward the town he ha
lett, he trotted swiftly back, IT, -.
and twisting until he reached tue
small, isolated brick building that
served as a temporary place OF con
nnement for the evildoers OF the vicm,
ity- The little boy crept up under TIE
small barred window, and in the f
Ing darkness his form became part u
the shadows. a
Hi, Mr.. Woodsonr' he Missed anx-
iously.
There was shutting step across the
floor, and Henry's rich voice came IL,
q hnshing whisper: who's dere3 Is
dat yo', Caesar. yo' linn oh Satan?"
ut amt Caesar It are somebuddy
ike Marse Abe Einkum come to set
yo' Free" whispered Azariah. "Jess
yo' tell me how an kin do it,"
'Lawsy mel calculated Mr.. Wood
son. "Lemme see. / reckon oughter
know dis we're ole lookup like alike
coop. He, he! Whoever 70 be, do
yo' know whah my house is?"
''Yaas'
'Weil, yo' run erlong an bring me
er crowbar outer my shed. Put yo'
ham inside de do an It's in de corner.
Fetch it heahi
Azariah went and without adventure
be returned. with the desired imple-
ment. and at Henry's direction be
handed it through the barred window.
That gentleman grabbed It hastily.
.'I'm mighty obleeged to you, an
better not guess who 20 are. but yore
shore mighty little Teller. Now, 20
better run erIong befo' de guard comes
back from he's supper. Nobnddy II
know twas 20 dat helped me out
erway, an / shall git to Richmond as
fas' as l kin till de smell OBJ chicken
hes gone from de kunnel's nostrils-
he, hey' he chuckled gleefully.
"Goodby," whispered Azariah Icha-
bod Peters. ~ spect yore mighty hap
by to be free
"Glory, chile, dat l am said the
grateful Mr.. Woodsons Nov, yo' run
erlong home. li'r Azariah Ichabod Pc
tiers Abraham Lincoln! I'm gwine ter
be freer'
Azariah scampered away and re-
claimed his molasses jug; and as he
trudged the weary lonely two miles
homeward every step Of his soft rub
Der boots seemed to emphasize Henry's
words in his happy heart;
"IiI' Azariah Ichabod Peters Abra-
ham Lincoln"