The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-10-30
DREAM THAT CAME TRUE
BY A. q. COOPER.

Felix's back ached, for he was bent
and old. Precipitation poured over his
black face in little rivulets. His
faded, patched hickory shirt was wet
and streaming, and chung tightly to his
muscular body. ...
He had been hoeing corn since early
morning; he looked down the long
row still to be hoed, and knew when
he reached the end he was to turn
and hoe the next row back, and SO on
endlsssly. -;s'
He glanced fartivcly up at the white
farm house. Yes, the boss vas sit
tiAg ~ the shady porch; he dared not
step hosing NOR sit down.. 80. 49,.
A Assk Of crows few over the field,
sawtng. The heat danced in simmer
ing waves across the corn; the chop.
shsp Of hts hoe beat In rhythm with
the throbbins muscles of his aching
hack. -.
"oie Boss wouldn't bIeeve me y I
said Is SICK" he muttered; besides.
he was hungry-his empty stomach
efenored for the corn bread with mo-
Iassss, the chunks Of fat pork and
black soffee he would get for dinner.
Ns couldn't afford to plead sickness.
Ne was man with hoe. was Felix.
but 10 had his dreams-and an alb
ssrbfng ambition. He Strengthened up
axd wiped his streaming face on his
ohnHy shirt sleeve; a. he did 80 q
carfikgs swept into view ON the high
way. Il wac drawn BY . spanking
fexA sf bays, and driven BY Jen-Ar
unbsay4bis and stush-Np niger. that's
N4St - was! Didh1 cam his ssltl
HsA bis chin up and paid no attention
u Kslfx's "GDsd Hhawnin'."
HI binss buttons SlittsrsA IN ths
sun anA Tsitx would rather have vorr
Ais shining silk haA than . hinS'i
srsv1.
ne Judge and Miss Elisabeth wss'
n he carriage. Miss Elizabeth wave,
It hin, and somehow his back ache,
less aad ~ tiny blades Of corr
trsmSisd in . vagrant breeze. Man!
times had Felix gone to the 5udg
and asked to be his coachman.
what" exclaimed the practica
Judge Aren't you old Baxter's Lag
Felix?"
. "Yas. Judge; vas. sab, 1 wuk ful
Mistah Baxtah-yas, sab! But l ain
lazy-no. sah!"
"G'long of. Felix, glong, glong!
said the Judge testify, waving hir
2 aside as he would a fly that annoye
him. Miss Elizabeth had stolen GU
o as he skunk away with his ragged ha
in his hand and his eyes bent moodil
on the ground.
l. Never mind. Felix. you list kee
8 oomin' and dadll take you yet" s
r he had kept heart and held on to hi
= dream. He stood looking after tn
q carriage as 1t rolled along the he
road, saw 1t wind up the hill and di
appear in the cool forest of oak.
He was still leaning on the hand
q Of the hoe gazing into space when M
J. Baxter called sharply from the porch
II Felix, get to work there!" And I'll
~ chop, chop of the hoe went toiling @
-, its way.
Time came when the corn Wa
. higher than his head and he coul
l. walk down the long, green aisles ar
II be out of sight Of the boss.
IS Time came when the proud Jeff VIZ
q laid low, for he lost his job, and II
Judge sent word to Felix he cou
- have his place.
He went to bed that night with
!! song in his heart. no more would !
hoe the Germ; no more would he f
ie low the plow; tomorrow he Won
j. wear the blue suit with the brass br
% tons; tomorrow he would wear Il
81 shining hat-he would hold the rel
>, and drive the beautiful bays for Mi
Elizabeth and the judge.
When the morning came and Il
lie sun shone down on the field of cor
&c it also shone across the trans6gur
n, face of Felix. He stood at the c
v trance of the cool forest, on his w
~ to the judges house. He held t
:. ragged hat in his hands and wore t
hickory shirt and patched overall
y The chrysalis was full to burstin
er the blue suit and shining hat we
lie in sight; his feet trod the field e
IS sian, for his dream had come true.