The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1913-05-21
oBEYING ALL ORDERS
~ Z. l. TAFT.

bad nOWc, Nissan Anderson" ex,
claimed old Jim. venerable darby,
putting his head in 1t the back door
enc morning just ~ his master. .
farmer, in South Carolina, was sittins
down to breakfast.
whats the matter. Jimf" inquired
Anderson.
DO prise on IL done took sick and
u layin' down" m 1907
Mr.. Anderson went with Jim to the
pasture to SEQ the invalid OK. and TO-
gether they exhausted the whole range
Of remedies known in bovine oom-
plants. Deooctions Of herbs. spice
wood, pine tags. etc.. were resorted
to. but though copiously drenched with
an these. the OK did not rally nor
could six men with fence rails gain
sundcient leverage to pry him up from
the ground where he lay Respondent.
After spending the whole day in fruit
less attempts to relieve the apparent
~ dying animal. Anderson gave 1t up
a. . bad job about shutdown and
turned to 60 home. remarking to Jim
~ he started:
Anyway, don't want to lose his
hide, 20 you must come down here
anc skin him the first thing in the
morning"
The following morning Anderson
rather expected Jim to appear with
the hide at breakfast time. Over an
hour passed. but still the negro did
not arrive.
THAT pesky animal must be hard to
skin," commented the farmer. At
length, growing restless. he resolved
to 60 and see for himself what the
hitch was. AS q matter Of fact, he
felt somewhat uneasy over old Jims
prolonged absence. and feared that
he might have met with some mishap.
The colored gentleman in question
was not overburdened with brains, but
his faithfulness was beyond doubt II
there was one thing that Jim prided
himself upon more than another. 1t
was his accuracy In carrying out In
structions.
With Jim, to hear was to obey. and
he was never known to waste time In
unnecessary argument. Therefore.
Anderson reasoned. something extra
ordinary must have occurred to delay
lief then. when halfway between the
house and the pasture he met Jim. the
Precipitation standing in big beads on
his shiny black skin. the OK hide wav'
ing, trophy-like. In his hand. while .
look Of beaming complsosnoy over
spread his face.
What in the world made you take
30 long. Jimf'' asked his master.
"'Cause It was . awful job TO kstcA
him, Nissan Anderson" came the -
ply.
TO catch himi" repeated the faxn
er, with Q look Of Mortified surprise.
"Yassah. He done Glib me heap oh
trouble, dat OF did. done chase him
ober do pasture seben times fore he
let me git him"
"You-chased-him." gasped Andsr>
son. family.
"Yassah." continued Jim. proud sf
his eficient management. Den
knock him on de haid an kill him.
an den skin him. same ~ you toie
mo. II am q nice hide. too. Missah
Anderson. Dere amt no niggah On
dc place could q finer skinnin'. You
kin alters pend on ole Jim to do what
20 tells him."
Visions Of his favor1ts OF. as he ap-
peared in the heydey of his prizo-wtn-
ming triumphs. arose In Anderson's
mind, and the volume Of his wrath
swelled until 1t almost choked him.
He stood for an instant, . figure OF
dumb. righteous rage. unable to nnA
words to do Justice to the occasion.
At last he found his voice and. ad-
vancing a step. shook his fst In Jim's
sable visage.
"'Yes, indeed" he said. In accents
husky with uncomfortable bitterness
Il can depend on you-curse your
black hide.
Then. as though afraid to trust hin
self further. he thrust bis clenched
hands desperately into his pockets
and strobe swiftly away. Jim stood
watching the retreating figure. his
mouth wide open and an expression Of
deeply injured innocence stamped
upon his crestfallen face.