The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-11-28
tconti&uedo

Pompey Augustus Peters now con-
Guided it was about time to avail
himself ,of ''rent free" for season.
Accordingly he sought and obtained
permission to move in with his
family and households effects, the
former consisting of a wife and four
children. The main occupation of
Pompey was the tending of these
children while the wife went out to
gain sustenance by doing general
homework among the white families
of the neighborhood. The main
building of the cabin sufficed for
Pompey and Chloe, and the tenn
porary shed was occupied by them
only. as a playhouse for the little
picaninnies. Pompey was we'll
bred character in the neighborhood.
He would cheerfully lend a hand at
lice house filings and hog killings,
occasions where excitement ran
high and hard cider flowed freely.
but for every-day-monntonous toll
Pompey had a decided and uncon-
querable aversion. While utterly
ignorant of the doctrines of modern
Socialism and entirely free from a
complaining spirit of discomfort,
hand not at all given to railing at his
fate, he had a never-dyipg faith in
luck which nothing could shake.
He jealousy guarded his rabbit foot
and was always careful to keep
among his most cherished posses
sions a jet black cat. His general
health never got beyond the point Of
jis sort OBJ tolable." In times of
dire distress, when nature showed
extraordinary severity p m e y,
.arrying his "conjuring" rabbit foot
concealed about his person, never
Jailed successfully to appeal to the
'haritably disposed among the white
neighbors for assistance.
In the midst of binding and
ever-deepening snow storm he
.ramped many weary miles to a
Instant farmhouse, and greatly
unused the proprietor thereof when
lie found Pompey esconced behind
he kitchen stove 'strying to thaw
himself OUT as he expressed it.
When the farmer inquired into his
physical condition Pompey insisted
that he was away below par, not
even up to tolable," s.rumatix in
de- hips. sprained acrost de kid
neys, short oh wind" made it almost
impossible for him to hobble so
lar. Having received and accepted
an invitation to partake Of boun-
teous dinner, the rapidly with
which he caused the various viands
70 disappear showed conclusively
hat his appetite had not suffered in
The general assault upon his system,
oy the furies of diseases; when hav-
ng awaited himself of all this
glorious opportunity afforded he
arose from the table.
Taking from the chair his hat and
an empty bag, ON which he had been
sitting during the meal, he bent
low before the farmer with his
usual expression: Tank you and
tank God" The farmer noticing
the bag, jokingly asked: "Pompey,
do you expect to ketch a possum to
carry home in your bag?" Pompey
replied that Seem as possums was
mighty source, I'd like to hah '1es a
few small taters to tote home to ole
woman an de chillun, eff you hab
'em to spare, boss" The farmer
thinking to swamp the invalid Pom
peX proceeded to fill the capacious
sack with potatoes, when to his as
|tonishment and discontinue Pom
pey shouldered the load and started
homeward at lively gait, telling the
farmer that he would return in the
Spring and repay his generosity by
embarrassing, and secretly exulting
in the thought that he would not
have to partalse of meal anywhere
in the near future without being able
y secure at least one vegetable.
when Spring to woods and
wastes around broNght bloom and
joy again." PoMney's soul did not
respond with its accustomed glow.
The potatoes were about exhausted
and the family larder was suffering
from a general leanness in conse-
quences of Chloe's failing health
and inability 60 obtain "house-work"
to do. Pompey's faith IN luck be-
| gan to waver somewhat, especially
ION discovering that his cherished
conjuring bone, the rabbit foot, had
been misiaid, and the black cat had
I,nysreriously disappeared. He was
in quandary. An appeal to any of
his farmer frteAds at this season of
the wear meant an immediate intro
ductioA to whitewash brush, and
unlimited quantities Of newly-slack-
ed lime. The very thought struck
terror 10 Pempey's soul. His credit
in the netghboring stores was entire
| ly exhausted, but in~a nearby viii