The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-02-04

''Hessa, mere is a sum OF money for
you and Noah. 1t is half Of what l
have got. Take good care Of 1t, be-
cause you will meet many dishonest
people who will try to take 1t away
from you. You have both been faith
full servants. Nay, you have been
friends to me and my family. Nay,
even more than that, Hessa-you have
been one of us. If there is anything
we can do, If there is anything you
want to make you comfortable, let US
know. Come and bid us goodby be-
fore you CO." The colonels voice
broke queerly.
Hessa was standing there staring
from master to mistress. The bag OF
gold pieces hung Imply from her hand
She looked frightened, but some pur-
pose within impelled her to go on.
"Ps mighty sorry, but ives gotta
go. rs cooked up a sight Of vittels,
Miss Catherine. Dey's a COZ ham an
To- pies an big fruit cake, an Noah
he's toted all de wood inter de cellar
an filed all de wood boxes amer
AACocu OuUOCA1y bunlSucN1, anu pTeS-
emily they heard the outer door close
loudly.
They did not look at each other after
that. The blow had fallen.
The great clock In the hall chimed
8 and and 10 and IL The colonel
sat with his eyes fixed on book, but
not once during the hours did the
turning Of leaf break the silence.
Mrs. Partridge knitted increasingly,
only pausing to unravel her work and
reknit the skipped stitches.
Just after midnight there was the
noisy rattle of wagon wheels on the
highway, accompanied by negro voices
lifted In song and excited chatter 1t
was undoubtedly the freed negroes on
their way north, and they were going
to stop for Hessa and Noah There
must have been several box wagons,
for there was a din of confusion out
side the Partridge gates. Then there
came loud talk from the negro quar-
tiers, and the colonel and his wife
heard Hessa's commanding tones rails
ed above the tumult
After awhile the wagons went away,
and all sound ceased Even the neg
lected fire had dwindled into sound
less breaking embers, and the candles
were burning low. 1t seemed as
though an end had come to everything.
Catherine" said the colonel kindly.
'Richardw Her voice trembled as
their eyes met Her hands few up to
her face, and her tears fell unrestrained.
The colonel knelt beside her, his one
arm around her slender shoulders.
'They were all we had left that made
1t seem like old times" she sobbed.
II know, know" he .soothed gently.
1t was some time before they looked
up to see in the dying candlelight Hes
sa's great bulk in the doorway. Over
her shoulder peered Noah's rolling eyes.
"Ah, Hessa, you have come to say
goodby?" said the colonel, lifting his
frail wife to her feet and leading her
to the emancipated slaves.
mo, no, Marse Kunnel; we come ter
say 'Howdy' all over agin! Huccome
dem niggers stopped heah, but Noah
an me we couldn't go away an leabe
yoh an Miss Catheriner'
''Dis am all de home we got in de
worr. Dere won't any place eber look
jes' lax dis we're one" sobbed Noah
sinking to his knees beside Hessa and
laying the bag Of gold at the colonel's
feet
Il guess dat Marse Abe Linkum didn't
mean US niggers to break our hearts
goin' norf, so | guess he won't care
SOS ives happy. Noah, yoh lazy ole
niger, yOh mend de fab an make q
blaze in de bedchamber while | gifts
mob candles an makes a milk punch
| declare eff it amt tomorrer mornin
already" Hessa scolded everybody
back into smiles once more.
AS they went to their cabin after be-
loved master and mistress were abed
and sleeping Noah pinched his wifes
fat arm
"Ole woman, yoh's free. Does yoh
feel any diffe'nt?" he demanded doubt
fully. His own face beamed content
ment.
Hessa shook her arm free "Oh, 20
erlong. do, Noah! Whut time | got to
be t'inkin' erbout foolishness when
dunno eff dere's any eggs TO waf1es IN
de mohnin'?"