Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1914-12-03
DREAM THAT CAME TRUE
BY A. q. COOPER.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Felix's back ached, for he was bent
and old. Perspiration poured over his
black face in little rivulets. His
faded, patched hickory shirt was wet
and streaming, and clung 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
endlessly.
He glanced furtively up at the white
farm house. Yes, the boss was sit
ting on the shady porch; he dared not
stop hoeing nor sit down.
A flock of crows few over the field, !,
cawing. The heat danced in simmer /:
ing waves across the corn; the chop, !.
chop of his hoe beat in rhythm with !
bthe throbbing muscles of his aching !
back.
"Ole Boss wouldn't b'leeve me T
said Is SICK" he muttcred; besides,
he was hungry-his empty stomach |
clamored for the corn bread with mo
Iasses, the chunks Of fat pork and
black coffee he would get for dinner.
He couldn't afford to plead sickness.
He was a man with hoe, was Felix,
but he had his dreams-and an abb |
| sorbing ambition. He Strengthened up
and wiped his streaming face on his
clammy shirt sleeve; as he did so
carriage swept into view on the high.
way. 1t was drawn by spanking
team of bays, and driven by Jeff-an
unbearable and stuck-up niger, that's
what he was! Didn't earn his salt!
Held his chin up and paid no attention
| to Felix's good mawnin'."
/ His brass buttons Slittered in the
[ sun and Felix would rather have worn
his shining silk hat than a kings
crown.
The Judge and Miss Elizabeth were
! in the carriage. Miss Elizabeth waved
Eat him, and somehow his back ached
less and the tiny blades of corn
l.trembled in n vagrant breeze. Many
ktimcs had Felix gone to the judge
land asked to be his coachman.
What" exclaimed the practical
Nudge. Aren't you old Baxter's lazy
lsFelix?"
"Yas, Judge; yas, sab, wuk fuh
IlMistah Baxtah-yas, sab! But l amt
lflazy-no, sah!"
"Glohg off, Felix, g'long, g'long!"
said the Judge testify, waving him
aside as he would fly that annoyed
him. Miss Elizabeth had stolen out
las he skunk away with his ragged hat
I lin his hand and his eyes bent moodily
Jon the ground.
/ Never mind, Felix, you jist keep
eomin' and dadll take you yet" So
fhe had kept heart and held on to his
dream. He stood looking after the
I,carriage as it rolled along the hot
road, saw 1t wind up the hill and dis
appear in the cool forest Of oak.
He was still leaning on the handle
of the hoe gazing into space when Mr..
Baxter called sharply from the porch:
Felix, get to work there!" And the
Ichop, chop of the hoeTwert toiling on
fits way.
TX Time came when the corn was
fhigher than his head and he could
down the long, green aisles and
of sight of the boss.
ie when the pcald Jeff was
M, Tor he lost his JOB, and ttfRse
sent word to Felix he could
e his place.
He went to bed that night with
llsong in his heart. No more would lie
hoe the corn; no more would he fol.
low the plow; tomorrow he would
wear the blue suit with the brass but
tons; tomorrow lie would wear the
shining hat-he would hold the reir3
and drive the beautiful bays for Miss
Elizabeth and the Judge.
When the morning came and the
sun shone down on the field of corn,
| 1T also shone across the transiigured
| face Of Felix. He stood at the Ell.
trance of the cool forest, on his way
to the judges house. He held the
ragged hat in his hands and wore the
hickory shirt and patched overaljs.
! The chrysalis was full to bursting;
the blue suit and shining hat were
In sight; his feet trod the field ely.
sian, for his dream had come trrc-
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