The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-12-30

mus tOHlOrrer. why, whats de mat
ter wild you. Marse Polk"
A sudden leaping Of the fla mes on
the hearth, making il lighter in the
yet dark room. revealed a stranse
look of suffering and worry on the
old masters face.
Il have a dread of tomorrow. Shad- |
rach, in spite of it's being Christmas. |
and a white Christmas. too. 1t is be-
cause of what have seen in a dream
this past night"
"Marse Polk. you'se gwine on 70
year Oh an dreams ain never give
| you no oneSineSs befO' is dey?"
Who is the richest man in Neck
lenburg county. Shadrach?"
Why you is sub, ov co'se. but
what's dat got to do wild dis v%ision?"
"A good deal, old friend; a good
deal. But, say. Shadrach. Bob Black
wood has made big money buying
cotton in his day. and Tom Brown
does the biggest mercantile business
in Piedmont North Carolina"
But dey amt none o dem Charlit
folks got de money you is. sub. Ef
yOu'se been dreamin' bout de riches
man in de county, I'm mighty feared
yOu'se been dreami bout youse'f."
Listen, Shadrach. l seemed to see
ghostly, invisible hands removing the
hanging holly OF the holiday season,
and in its stead they tied funeral crepe
to a door knob. Then I knew that
somebody was dead on Christmas day.
Thereupon a coffin came before my
vision, and along its side. in fiery let
tiers, was this inscription: The richest
man in Mecklenburg:'"
Il amt no prophet. MarSe Polk"
the servant broke in as the old plant
er concluded. Il ain nothin but a
. Episcopal Zion Church. 1t ain fer
me to say if dis is de han writin' on
de wall fer you, sub. You don look
1 NO'ly. like you was gOin' to be seized,
sudden-like. You ain got no misery
!. in you haid, is you. Marse Polk"
mo, / feel as well as | did yester-
. day, save for the bad night this dream
has given me-"
$ "Ner no survigerous gnawin' in yo'
vitals,
No"
"Dey'S some es says dream goes 10y
: cOntraries, but if you'll Reuse de like
t o. me fur de liberty I takes in akin dc
S question, Marse Polk, eff dis dream is
S to come true as meanin YOU is you
is ready for a sudden summons, subj?
n The old man turned his head thu
other way Oh the pillow.
II fear not, Shadrach." he answered
at last. sadly. MY chances of HEAVIER
X are not as god as yours. But listen.
may be foolish. 1t may be I'm in IN.
dotage. but anyhow ave one of tn
farm hands ride to Charlotte befor'
=, day-break tomorrow and tell DR.. 10
&c seph Graham that Polk Davidson
- wants him. And you. Shadrach, will
= sleep On the cot here in my room thi
ie Christmas eve. have a presentmen
:: that this dream will be fulfilled, a
was the one / dreamed on the secon'
day Of the fighting at Gettysbur
when my boy died on the slope Q
Cemetery Hill.
ID 1t was the servant. however. nc
a the master who needed the physi
clans services on Christmas morning
IN Paralysis shot its benumbing shat
Us into the former slaves weakened bod,
~ The master made his own fire Christ
er as morning.
IS do all you can for my old vale
Graham" he said. But the docto
Ia shook his head.
a He'll not live out the day" was th
III result Of the diagnosis. II appea,
to have weakened himself by ovel
as taxing his strength in his advance
y age"
". Have you over-exerted yourse
lie lately. Shadrach," the planter inquire
d. as the physician drove away.
Il hauled a DAD O. wood out q d;
no 'lowance O. my own, sub, to lie widd.
IN Clayton'S down in de bend o de rive
Dat triflin' boy O. her'n was on a sprs
an chopped a couple O sticks er 5
dH ucIc NcEu I no ilc1 IA IlFI IlOtS
lat I amt never been quite de same nia
IL sence, MarSc Polk. Wen say no m
:. bout dat. hOwsomever, but femme (
you dis? Wild me de sick man an yt
Gil we'll. dis Christmas day. what com
no ov de fulfllmen O yo' dream. Mar
'as Poke"
u "Shady-thc maSte used. the Wo,
.e. that was long years ago his endearil
Ter name FOR his little siave-ptaynnate
ms lit must be that you are tho r;che
man in the county. In the se!ishne
that has too much characterized n
ira life since We buried his mother q,
+ him. l concluded that I was the door
1u- ed rich nam of my dream. But &
doctor says YOU can't live throu:
lou the day. Shady. and You lave rich
ant that | know nothing Of. You have Ia
nay up treasure where il CountS-whe
the Good Book says the moths z
the thieves can't touch it,"
e'p 1T ain very becOnlin IN me TO S