Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-09-07
RAsTuS REFORMED.

II was in the days "befo' de wah'
when lowered hoopskirts filled the
land-which they did. indeed-and
poke bonnets had their day; when
tiny parasols held sway over feminine
heads and colored mitts incased the
shapely hands of the Southern lady. 1t
was in the land of the locust, the mag.
R0lia, the honeysuckle and Jasmine.
II was the haunt of mocking birds and
humming birds and the harbor of four
million slaves, for the most part hap
pier than ever before in history.
But. to be exact. it was on Briarly
plantation in de big house" that his
satanic majesty ephistopheles APP
peared in all his crimson glory to re-
monstrate with Rastus Ebenezer
Xenophon Christopher. The former
needs no introduction; the latter was
the amiable body servant OF Colonel
Howard. Ebony" was as fitting syn
0nyn for Rastus as could well be ap-
piled, for he possessed as shiny and
black surface as ebony ever boosted,
and he was as passive as that, or
any other inanimate object. The
Otaer darkies' fearful tales of "hants"
never impressed Rastus, and even the
dire predictions of his nanny, Ole
Aunt Misery, that de debbil would
'cotch i'm yet" could not efface the
Chesire cat grin that extended from
one flat back ear to the other. II ap-
Deared. however. that his favorite
maxim was "Neyer trouble trouble till
trouble troubles you," for he never
sought the apparitions of which he
heard. nor gave them much opportu-
nifty to find him around groves and
creeks after dark.
In his bedroom Colonel Howard and
his wife were passing judgment on
two costumes that they expected to
wear to a masquerade at an adjoining
plantation that evening. The colonel
picked up a red suit adorned with
horns. md in luired. with evident ap.
proval, Don. you think shall make
rather good repre- senta .ion?"
Yes. indeed" acquiesced Mrs. How.
ard. you will be in your element in
that impersonation. But, really, Colo
mel you will look like the old mis-
chief"
A short time afterward Rastus en-
tered the bedroom to find and to shine
his masters riding boots. With mirac-
ulous rapidly he discovered the red
silk socks (nstinct always seemed to
notify Rastus' artistic sense whenev-
er red was to be seen) and with mi
raculous rapidity he forgot the boots
and scurried out Of the big house to
the negro quarters to display his new
treasures to Ole Aunt Misery.
What reception did NANNY give
to his overlooking soul. "Rastus, you
goodfOr-nothin scoundrel. You no
count Ggger, you! III teach you to
steal from ole Marse! Now, gimme
dem fas as yo' know how heah me?"
Rastus surrendered his booty TO the
irate virage into which nanny had
been transformed, apd under voley
Of accusations and mutterings, de
debbil will come after him yit,' he re.
treated to finish polishing the neglect
ed boots.
The day had faded into twilight OF
the Southland night was deepening.
Now and then the quaint, weird voices
OF the slaves, joined in hymns and
melodies, were waited up from their
quarters. Old Aunt Misery was admir-
Ing her new silk gloves as she waited
in the hall for her mistress, whom she
always accompanied. Rastus, who was
TO drive, having grown impatient, had
wandered upstairs. when he was met
by babel of sounds from the Colo
nel's room. He was bewildered by the
unusual commotion, and sat down on
the top stair to await developments.
Then II was that Rastua saw him.
He came like a gust of wlnd-a daz.
cling red fury--and headed straight
for the spellbound darby, who SEEM
ed fascinated az though held by a
snakes eye. It was not until the ap.
partition had nearly reached him aad
had shouted, "Rastus! You rogue,
where are my socks?" that the darby
came to realize that de debbil was
comm to claim his own" as nanny
had declared he would, few hours
before. And then Rastus Ebenezer
Zenophon Christopher, the brave, the
interpretations, plunged down the
stairs in headlong haste, capsizing Ole
Aunt Misery as he landed.
There he lay, covering in fear, as
Nanny, rising to her knees and peer
Ing up the stairs, paid the penalty for
her woman's curiosity, when she saw
her sons pursuer. She fell moaning
and waving her hands above her head
In frenzy while "de debbil'' confronted
her, exclalming, THAT scamp! That
thief" Then she stretched supplicat.
ing hands over Rastus' inanimate
body, "Oh, Marster Debbil, don take
him! Don't take him!"
Suddenly the majestic Pluto began
10 laugh, and the laugh swelled into a
roar, until the terrified Rastus gained
courage to open his eyes and look up.
eyes. already wide open, be.