LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 DAVIS 
 

EZEKIEL 
 
 " . . . JES GWINE ALONG EZ NI CE ! " 
 
 
"OH, MV POOR LITTLE BOY! YOU MUST GET UP J YOU 
 COLD AND AND SICK!" 
 
E Z E K I E L 
 
 BY 
 
 LUCY PRATT 
 
 ILLUSTRATED BY 
 FREDERIC DORR STEELE 
 
 New York 
 
 Doubleday, Page & Company 
 1909 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 DAVIS 
 
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, INCLUDING THAT OF TRANSLATION 
 INTO FOREIGN LANGUAGES, INCLUDING THE SCANDINAVIAN 
 
 COPYRIGHT, IQOQ, BY DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY 
 PUBLISHED, MAY, 1909 
 
 Several chapters of this book have 1-een copyrighted separately, as follows : 
 ' The Entrance of Ezekiel," " Ezekiel in Transit," "The Colour-Bearer," " Ezekiel in 
 Exile," copyright, 1907, by the S. S. McClure Company ; " The Interrupted Reign of Queenie," 
 copyright, 1907, by The Phillips Publishing Company ; "A Book for Mothers," " Ezekiel 
 Promises," " The Mistletoe Bough," "In Charge of Trusty," "His Need of Mis' Simons," 
 copyright, 1908, by The S. S. McClure Company. 
 
TO ALL GOOD FRIENDS OF 
 
 HAMPTON INSTITUTE 
 
 BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH THIS BOOK 
 IS DEDICATED 
 
HAVE YOU EVER CLIMBED SO HIGH FOR IT BEFORE ? 
 
 The Entrance of Ezekiel 
 
 Ezekiel in Transit . 
 
 Ezekiel' s Mis' Simons 
 
 " A Book for Mothers " . 
 
 The Colour-Bearer 
 
 Mis' Simons' s Protector . 
 
 Ezekiel Promises . 
 
 In Charge of Trusty 
 IX. The Mistletoe Bough . 
 X. The Interrupted Reign 
 Queenie 
 
 His Need of Mis' Simons 
 
 Ezekiel in Exile 
 
 vii 
 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
 VII. 
 VIII. 
 
 XI. 
 XII. 
 
 of 
 
 3 
 
 2 5 
 45 
 61 
 
 81 
 103 
 123 
 147 
 
 193 
 215 
 235 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 " I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO MY FLAG, AND TO THE REPUBLIC 
 FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY 
 AND JUSTICE FOR ALL." 
 
 : Oh, my poor little boy! you must get up; 
 you are cold and and sick!" . Frontispiece 
 
 FACING PAGE 
 
 " Now, of course," explained Miss Jane 
 Lane to Ezekiel . . . "of course, I 
 don't even know that they will admit 
 you here " ..... 4 
 
 " Once 't was a li'P boy," he began . 12 
 
 " V he jes' keep on settin' dere wid 'is 
 pole, 'n' de li'P poke chop on de en' o' 
 deline" . .18 
 
 ix 
 
x EZEKIEL 
 
 FACING PAGE 
 
 "Yes " she answered, " he can stay" . 20 
 " Why, I am ashamed of you, Ezekiel!" . 26 
 
 " Praesen'ly yer see I 'se jes' blige ter 
 
 eat it " 30 
 
 " Run, Ezekiel! Run as fast as you can! " 36 
 
 " P'lice say, *wuz you de cause o' dis disfig- 
 
 germent, boy ? ' : . . . 70 
 
 " l Well, I 'se gwine climb up 'n' git yer, 
 
 den/ ole man say" .... 74 
 
 "'Tain' much furrer, is it, Miss No'th?" 94 
 "I kin git J im yere, ef yer wants" . -158 
 
 Ezekiel deposited a large, lacy bunch of 
 
 mistletoe . . . . .174 
 
 "Look, Miss No'th!" .... 216 
 
 Around the schoolhouse that first morn 
 ing had swarmed children white - 
 white white ..... 246 
 
 Ezekiel was at home again . . .252 
 
THE ENTRANCE OF EZEKIEL 
 
 " *N' OLE YALLER DAWG TES' LOOK AT DE LlV BOY 
 LIKE HE AIN' JES' KNOW W'AT TER SAY " 
 
THE ENTRANCE OF EZEKIEL 
 
 NOW, of course," explained Miss Jane Lane 
 to her protege, Ezekiel Esquire Jordan, as 
 they advanced up the steps of the Whittier School 
 at Hampton Institute, "of course, I don't even 
 know that they will admit you here." 
 
 "Yas'm," agreed Ezekiel, apparently perfectly 
 agreeable to any outcome whatsoever. 
 
 "No, of course, we can't tell at all," went 
 on Miss Jane, determined to be consistently 
 pessimistic, "not until we have seen and talked 
 with the principal on the subject." 
 
 "Yas'm," agreed Ezekiel again. And they 
 advanced into the assembly room where the prin 
 cipal was apparently just waiting to receive them. 
 
 After a few brief preliminaries in regard to 
 general educational qualifications and possibilities, 
 the applicant and his guardian were escorted to a 
 room which was called a "grade." And there the 
 principal made a few timely suggestions to the 
 
4 EZEKIEL 
 
 teacher in charge, and then returned to the 
 assembly room. 
 
 Miss Jane accepted the chair politely offered by 
 Miss North from the North, and Ezekiel accepted 
 the only vacant seat and desk in the room. 
 
 " We are very full," explained Miss North in 
 an agreeable aside to Miss Jane, "very full just 
 now. Ezekiel, we are just having a reading lesson 
 - about a dog. About a little boy and his dog. 
 Just take this book. Yes. Right there." 
 
 " Yas'm," replied Ezekiel, regarding the picture, 
 and quite at ease and at home in his new surround 
 ings, "'t ain' look much like no r'al live dawg, 
 is it?" 
 
 "Why, I don't know. Don't you think so?" 
 rejoined Miss North, in tactful tones; "perhaps it 
 does n't look just like the dogs that you have 
 
 seen." 
 
 "No'm. I ain' nuver seen no dawg look dat 
 a-way," went on Ezekiel sociably, "cuz- 
 
 "H m, yes. Will you begin once more, 
 William ? And remember what a nice, loud voice 
 you have, William." 
 
 William rose importantly, and with his chest 
 protruded like a West Point cadet's, announced in 
 a loud, warning shout; 
 
" NOW, OF COURSE," EXPLAINED MISS JANE LANE TO EZEKIEL 
 
 . . . "or COURSE, i DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY WILL 
 ADMIT YOU HERE" 
 
THE ENTRANCE OF EZEKIEL 5 
 
 <* 
 
 "Hyeah are Naid an' 'is dawg!" 
 
 "Why, yes," agreed Miss North. "That was 
 certainly very clear. Someone else give me the 
 same story. Archelus." 
 
 "Hyeah are Naid an' 'is dawg!" challenged 
 Archelus in a still louder shout of warning. 
 
 "Yes, Ned and his dog," suggested Miss North. 
 "Now, just once more, and let us hear ev-ery 
 letter." 
 
 It came like a last call of danger from which there 
 was positively no escape. 
 
 "Hyeah are Naid and his dawg!" 
 
 Miss Jane looked a trifle uneasy, as if she ex 
 pected Ned and his dog to burst in at any moment. 
 
 "I kin read de nex'," put in Ezekiel, still cheerful 
 and sociable. 
 
 "Can you? Very well, Ezekiel. And perhaps 
 not quite so loud, please. . . ." 
 
 "H m. Yes. Very good," encouraged Miss 
 North. 
 
 Ezekiel looked quite elated. 
 
 " Miss Jane learn me 'ow ter read," he explained. 
 "Miss Jane 'n' Mis' Simons. Mis' Simons a 
 w'ite lady where I wuk las' year." 
 
 "H-m. That was very nice, wasn't it? 
 Thomas, will you go on?" 
 
6 EZEKIEL 
 
 "Miss Jane, she ain' learn me same way's 
 Mis' Simons, nudder, cuz Mis' Simons, she 
 learn me outen a KT ole kine o' dark book where 
 she foun' up in de akkit, she say. 'N' it 's all 
 'bout all diffun kine o' things. 'Bout a li'P boy 
 where 's ser triflin' 'n' lazy, say he ain' gwine 
 school 'n' 'bout- -" 
 
 "Yes, never mind about that now, Ezekiel. 
 Will you go on, Thomas ? " 
 
 "'N' 'bout a ole man, too. So ole 'is back 
 is bent. Say 'is back is bent wid yeahs. But 
 Miss Jane, she ain' learn me outen dat li'P dark 
 book. No'm. She learn me outen a mo' like dis 
 yere kine. Say she gotten it fum a lady where 
 teach school. 'N' it 's all 'bout - -" 
 
 "Yes. But we must go on with the lesson, 
 Ezekiel. You see, we don't talk at all during the 
 lesson." 
 
 "Yas'm. Miss Jane allays tell me dat too. 
 Say I must n' say nary word lessen she ax me." 
 
 Miss Jane, who was looking painfully ill at ease 
 here, tried the effect of a surreptitious but speaking 
 motion toward her protege. 
 
 "Say she ain' gwine bother no mo' wid me no 
 how, lessen I kin pay mo' 'tention we'n she speak, 
 'N' she learn me one story 'bout - 
 
 
THE ENTRANCE OF EZEKIEL 7 
 
 "Ezekiel!" put in Miss North, with forceful 
 assurance, "I want you to listen very hard now to 
 the others. William, go on." 
 
 As they filed out at noon, Miss Jane approached 
 Miss North in anxious perplexity. 
 
 "I don't know that you will be able to keep him, 
 Miss North," she began; "I don't know that you 
 will be able to do anything with him at all. He 
 is a peculiar child," she went on, in resigned but 
 conscientious tones. "I don't like to say he 
 has no regard for truth; I should n't like to say 
 that, Miss North, but at times he seems to be 
 a victim of a most extraordinary imagination." 
 
 Miss North looked at Miss Jane with a quick, 
 half-sympathetic, half-amused smile. 
 
 "How long have you been interested in him, 
 Miss Lane?" 
 
 " Since I came down from the North two years 
 ago," explained Miss Jane. "He worked for me 
 occasionally in little ways at first, and I realized 
 how neglected he had always been." 
 
 "And who is this Mrs. Simons that he speaks 
 of ? " asked Miss North, with a broadening smile of 
 amused reminiscence. 
 
 " Mrs. Simons, I judge, was a Southern woman," 
 explained Miss Jane, with just precision; "a 
 
8 EZEKIEL 
 
 woman living not far from Norfolk, I believe, who 
 was evidently very good to him. Come here, 
 Ezekiel," went on Miss Jane, turning to a small 
 figure which had just appeared in the doorway; 
 "we are wondering if you can come to school here 
 and do just the way the other children do." 
 
 "Yas'm, 7 kin do de way de udder chillen do," 
 murmured Ezekiel, half shyly, half smilingly. 
 
 "I hope so, I hope so," encouraged Miss Jane, 
 with sudden fortitude, "and I shall come back 
 again after school this afternoon to find out 
 whether they can keep you to find out whether 
 they can keep you here, Ezekiel," she repeated 
 impressively. 
 
 "Yas'm." 
 
 With various other expressions of facts, fears, 
 immediate hopes, and ultimate possibilities, Miss 
 Jane made her adieus with a final sounding note 
 of prophetic reminder. 
 
 "And I shall come back after school, Ezekiel, 
 to find out whether they can keep you." 
 
 The children were in their seats again, and 
 Miss North was again before them. 
 
 "Now you are going to listen so very carefully 
 to the story which I am going to read," she was 
 
 
THE ENTRANCE OF EZEKIEL 9 
 
 explaining, "that you will be able to write it for 
 me in your own words when I have finished." 
 
 "How yer mean, write it fer yer in yer own 
 words?" inquired the new pupil politely. 
 
 Miss North explained again. 
 
 "And it is about some children who live in a 
 very cold country," she added; "about some little 
 Esquimaux children." 
 
 The others looked quite intelligent, having 
 varied recollections of having heard something of 
 that sort before. 
 
 "Yas'm, yer read one story 'bout li'P Esqui 
 maux chillen befo', 'n' 'bout it 's ser cole 
 dere dey ain't eat nary thing 'cep'n' ole buckets 
 o' ker' sene, 'n' bottles o' grease, 'n' taller 
 can' les, 'n' " 
 
 "Not exactly right, William; but they must 
 take a great deal of oil, must n't they, because oil 
 makes the body warm?" 
 
 "Yas'm," agreed Ezekiel, "Mis' Jane gib me 
 whul bottle o' oil once, time I fell offen de poach 'n' 
 twis' my knee 'n' my laig. Say ef I rubs it in r'al 
 good she reckon I '11 feel better. But cert'nly 
 seem like de mo' I rubs - 
 
 "Yes, we don't care to hear about that now, 
 Ezekiel. This story is about little Esquimaux 
 
io EZEKIEL 
 
 children. You may pass the book around quickly 
 and look at the picture before I begin to read." 
 
 Ezekiel was still appreciative. 
 
 "Jes' looker de dawg all harness up! Look 
 sump'n like de story 'bout Naid V 'is dawg. I 
 know a story 'bout a dawg too. 'Bout a KT boy 'n' 
 'is dawg. '.N' HT boy- -" 
 
 "Be quiet, Ezekiel." And Miss North's voice 
 arose to the demands of the occasion as she began 
 the story. 
 
 "I kin tell de story to yer," continued Ezekiel, 
 as she finished. "I kin - 
 
 "Ezekiel! Sit down! This is to be written 
 work." 
 
 Ezekiel sat down and regarded his ink-bottle 
 with rueful concern. 
 
 "I ain' nuver write dat-a-way," he mumbled. 
 "Miss Jane, she 'mence learnin' me wid ink, too. 
 But praesen'ly she say she cyan' hab me messin' 
 'n' spillin' dat-a-way, 'n' 't ain' no use ter ax. 
 So she jes' reckon I kin manage ter git along wid a 
 pencil. Dat boy sniffin' 'is ink like he ain' no 
 sense," he added critically. 
 
 "Ain' sniffin' no ink nudder!" 
 
 "Yer is too, 'n' 'tain' gwine do yer no good 
 nudder, cuz - 
 
THE ENTRANCE OF EZEKIEL u 
 
 <* 
 
 "E-ze-kiel!" Miss North's tone was unmis 
 takable. "You are to stop talking! Why, what 
 do you think I can tell Miss Jane this afternoon 
 when she comes to ask whether we can keep you ? " 
 
 Ezekiel subsided, alarmed. 
 
 "Don't you know that school is n't the place for 
 talking?" 
 
 "Yas'm. Miss Jane tole me so too. Say 
 school ain' no place fer talkin'." 
 
 "Very well. And when Miss Jane comes this 
 afternoon, I hope that we can tell her that you 
 can stay." 
 
 "Yas'm, cert'nly hope so too," agreed Ezekiel 
 still perceptibly alarmed, "'n' I--I kin tell yer 
 all 'bout de story, Miss No'th ef I cyan't write 
 it." 
 
 "Never mind about the story. I should like 
 to see if you can sit ab-so-lutely quiet while the 
 other children are writing." 
 
 "Yas'm." 
 
 "Have you finished, William?" she inquired. 
 "Will you read it to the others?" 
 
 William responded fully and satisfactorily, and 
 Ezekiel raised his hand politely. 
 
 "I kin tell a story like dat er one," he announced. 
 "I kin tell anudder story, too.'' 
 
12 EZEKIEL 
 
 "Will you read yours, Frederick?" went on 
 Miss North. 
 
 Frederick finished, and again Ezekiel raised his 
 hand politely. 
 
 "I kin tell a story," he announced again. 
 
 "Will you read yours, Archelus?" continued 
 Miss North. 
 
 And Archelus finished. 
 
 And this time Ezekiel forgot to raise his hand. 
 "I kin- 
 
 But the door opened, and Miss Doane's voice 
 interrupted. 
 
 "Miss North, may I see you, please?" 
 
 It sounded prophetic of the unusual, and Miss 
 North glanced at Miss Doane. Then she glanced 
 at the children. 
 
 "Will you take very good care of yourselves?" 
 And finally her glance fell on the new pupil. 
 
 "Ezekiel," she began, with sudden appreciation 
 of the psychological moment, "you may tell your 
 story now" 
 
 "Yas'm." And Miss Doane and Miss North 
 went on, and Ezekiel arose. 
 
 "Once 'twas a KT boy," he began; then he 
 stopped and glanced around just long enough 
 to -collect his thoughts satisfactorily. "Once 
 
 
TJIE ENTRANCE OF EZEKIEL 13 
 
 't was a KT boy, 'n' fus' thing w'en he' s bawn, dey 
 reckon dey '11 call 'im Me/tes'lah. But den dey 
 'cides, after all, Methus'lah soun' kine o' ole. 
 Cuz co'se li'l' boy he ain't ole 'tall, fus' thing 
 w'en he 's bawn, so dey 'cides ter change, 'n' jes' 
 call 'im 'Manuel. 'N' dey gotten 'im a li'l' shiny 
 bell ter shek w'en he feel r'al bad, 'n' a li'l' plate 
 ter eat offen, 'n' a li'l' coat all trim eroun' wid li'l' 
 fur aidgin ter keep 'im warm, 'n' den den - 
 dey jes' all tuk sick, 'n' nex' he know dey 's 
 all daid. 'Is mamma, 'n' 'is papa, 'n' 'is li'l' 
 brudder, 'n' 'is uncle, 'n' 'is li'l' sister where J s 
 name Pearliney, 'n' 'is gran'pa where 's ser ole he 's 
 deef 'n' dumb, 'n' is li'l' nephew where 's ser li'l' he 
 cyan' see nuthin' w'en he 's spoke to, 'n' - 
 
 At just this point Miss North unexpectedly 
 returned and stood just inside the door, waiting 
 for the speaker to finish. 
 
 "Yas'm, 'n' 'is li'l' nephew where's ser li'l' he 
 cyan' see nuthin' w'en he 's spoke to. So 'Manuel, 
 co'se he ain' no kin lef 'tall. So he 's jes 'blige 
 ter keep on livin' dere all 'lone. 'N' sometime 
 in de night, w'en de win' gits a-w'istlin' 'n' a- 
 r'arin' 'roun' de house, he 'mence ter feel kine 
 o' lonesome, 'n' bu'y 'is haid 'way down in de 
 baid clo'es, say: 
 
i 4 EZEKIEL 
 
 "'Oh, cert'nly is lonesome yere! Oh, cert'nly 
 is lonesome yere!' 
 
 "'N' nex' time ole win' come a-r'arin' eroun' de 
 house, it 's de trufe it 's a-w'istlin' jes like dat, too. 
 
 "'Oh, cert'nly is lonesome yere! Oh, cert'nly 
 is lonesome yere!' 
 
 "But in de mawnin' co'se 'Manuel feel better 
 'bout it. 'N' praesen'ly he got outen de baid, say: 
 
 "'I reckon I 'se 'blige git me a li'P dawg.' 
 
 "So he eaten' 'is breakfus' offen de li'P plate 
 where dey got 'im fus' day he 's bawn, 'n' put on 
 'is li'P coat all trim eroun' wid li'P fur aidgin' 'n' 
 start off down de road. 
 
 "'N' fus' thing he seen 's a ole yaller dawg 
 a-tippin' off down de road on free laigs. 
 
 "'Heyo!' li'P boy say, 'n' come 'long jes' 
 a-pantin'. 
 
 "'Heyo, dawg!' 'Manuel say agin; 'ef 'tain' 
 ter much trouble, I 'd like fer yer ter come live wid 
 me. Cuz my kin 's all daid.' 
 
 "'N' ole yaller dawg jes' look at de li'P boy 
 like he ain' jes' know w'at ter say, 'n' start off 
 down de road ser fas' it 's de trufe yer cyan' 
 see nary thing 'scusin' jes' a li'P dash o' yaller 
 where he been. 
 
 "'N' co'se 'Manuel feel kine o'bad it come out 
 
THE ENTRANCE OF EZEKIEL 15 
 
 <> 
 
 dat-a-way, too. But he ain' sayin' nuthin' 'n' jes' 
 keep on trabblin' down de road. 
 
 " 'N' nex' he know he seen a liT w'ite dawg 
 a-settin' up on de road on one laig 'n' a-fannin' 
 'erself wid 'er tail. So 'Manuel, he jes' step right 
 up, say: 
 
 "'Heyo, liT w'ite dawg! Ef 'tain' ter much 
 trouble I 'd like fer yer ter come live wid me. 
 Cuz my kin 's all daid.' 
 
 " 'N' liT w'ite dawg set up on one laig agin' n j 
 keep on fannin' 'erself wid 'er tail, 'n' speak right 
 out in a r'al kine o' liT high-up voice, say: 
 
 "'Yas suh! Yas suh! Cert'nly is proud ter 
 'blige yer!' 
 
 " So co'se 'Manuel 'n' de liT dawg jes' turn right 
 'roun 'n' go runnin' back 'ome tergedder. 
 
 "'N' nex' time ole win' come a-w'istlin' 'roun 
 de house in de night, liT boy jes' stick 'is haid 
 outen de clo'es, sing out: 
 
 "'Oh, we ain' 'fraid ter-night, cuz yer cyan' 
 git in!' 
 
 "'N' den liT dawg join in, 'n' dey bofe sing out: 
 
 "'We 's livin' yere tergedder, 'n' yer cyan' 
 git in!' 
 
 "So ole win' jes' turn 'roun 'n' run away agin 
 eroun' de corner same way she come. 
 
1 6 EZEKIEL 
 
 "'N' liT dawg's name Fanny. 'N' she allays 
 keep on fannin' wid 'er tail jes' same way 
 's befo'. 
 
 "'N' one mawnin' 'Manuel wek up, say: 
 
 "' Fanny, I ain' feel ser well's mawnin',' say, 
 'cuz I dream ser bad in de night.' Say, 'I dream 
 'bout you, too, Fanny, 'n' w'at yer s'pose ! Yer jes' 
 stan' up dere where yer is now, 'n' turn into a li'P 
 teeny spurtin' fount'n dawg, jes' like dat-er-one 
 over yonder in de bu'yin' groun', where allays keep 
 on spurtin' outen 'is mouf. 'N' fus' I knows 
 yer begins spurtin' a liT spout o' water right plumb 
 at me. 
 
 ""N' I say, "Stop Fanny! Ain't yer no 
 mo' sense ? " 'N' yer jes' keep on a-spurtin' at me 
 in a liT stream ez study 's ef I ain' spoke. 
 
 " ' 'N' I say, "Stop, Fanny! Ain't yer see w'at 
 yer 's doin' ?" But 't ain' no use. Yer jes' keep 
 on a-spurtin' in same liT kine o' study stream, 
 like yer's fixin' ter drown us bofe. 
 
 " ' 'N' praesen'ly I jes' jump up 'n' say, "Well, 
 yer ain' gwine drown me no-how! Cuz I 'se gwine 
 git right outen yere, yer deef 'n' dumb liT ole 
 fount'n dawg, yer!" It's jes' de wuds I say, 
 Fanny, 'n' I meks fer de do'. But doan't yer 
 know, 't ain' no use, cuz de water's gittin' ser deep 
 
THE ENTRANCE OF EZEKIEL 17 
 
 < 
 
 all eroun', I 'se jes' drowndin'! 'N' same li'P 
 stream keep on a-spurtin'. 
 
 '""Oh, my!" I say, "yer 's drowndin' me, 
 Fanny! Yer 's drowndin' me." 'N' same li'P 
 stream keep on a-spurtin'. 
 
 "'"Oh, stop, Fanny!" I say, " I 'se mos' drown 
 now! I is!" I say, "I 'se all drown now, scusin' 
 my - 'N' 'fo' I 'se spoken de sentence, my 
 
 haid's went, too, 'n' it 's de trufe 't ain' nuthin' 
 lef o' me 'tall. Nuthin' 'tall. Cuz I 'se drown- 
 ded daid. 'N' yit same li'P stream jes' keep 
 on a-spurtin'.' 
 
 '"Oh, my! Ain' dat tur'ble!' Fanny say, w'en 
 li'P boy tell 'er 'is dream. 
 
 "'Cert'nly wuz!' he say, 'cert'niy wuz tur'ble. 
 'N' I been feelin' r'al po'ly ebber sence,' he say. 
 ' 'N' seem like I feels wuss eve'y time I looks at yer, 
 Fanny,' he say. 'Cuz I jes' cyan' seem ter help 
 'mag'nin' yer's fixin' ter turn inter a li'P spurtin' 
 fount'n.' 
 
 " Co'se li'P dawg feel r'al bad w'en she hyeah 
 dat, too. Say: 
 
 "'Oh, ..Men' 'n' master!' (li'P dawg allays call 
 'im frien' 'n' master w'en she speak.) Say, 
 'Oh, frien' 'n' master! I 'clare I ain't! I 'clare 
 I ain' fixin' ter turn inter no li'P spurtin' fount'n!' 
 
i8 EZEKIEL 
 
 "I doan' want ter hyeah no imperdence 'bout it, 
 nudder,' 'Manuel say. 'N' I tells yer, yer 
 prob'ly is jes' natchelly fixin' ter turn inter a li'F 
 spurtin' fount'n.' 
 
 "'Oh, but I ain't!' Fanny say, 'I 'clare I ain't, 
 liT frien' 'n' master!' 
 
 "'N' 't ain' no use cryin' 'n' ca'yin' on no sech 
 a way/ 'Manuel say. ' 'N' now I 'spec I 'se 'blige 
 turn yer outen de house fer de res' o' de mawnin'. 
 Cuz meks me feel po ; ly eve'y time I looks at yer.' 
 
 "Den Fanny, co'se she keep on cryin' 'n' 
 ca'yin' on, 'n' say she cyan' go outen de house, 
 'n' 'Manuel say she mus', 'n' Fanny say she cyan', 
 'n' 'Manuel say she mus,' 'n' start off chasin' er' 
 'roun' de room, 'n' outen de do', 'n' cross de ya'd, 
 'n' down de road - twell praesen'ly, seem like 
 'Manuel jes' 'blige' keep on runnin' after Fanny 
 cuz he cyan' stop. Cuz he call out: 
 
 " ' Stop, Fanny ! I ain' gwine chase yer no mo' !' 
 
 "But she jes' keep right on, 'n' 'Manuel after 
 'er, down de road 'n' cross de fiel' - - dey cyan' 
 stop no-ways cross de fiel', fas'er 'n' fas'er, 
 twell dey come right out siden de ribber. 
 'N' w'at yer s'pose? Wat yer s'pose! Fanny, 
 she jes' jump right in! It 's de trufe! She jes' 
 jump right in! 
 

 
 9% 
 
 w H 
 
 Q 
 
 a 8 
 
 H 55 
 
THE ENTRANCE OF EZEKIEL 19 
 
 "'N' 'Manuel, he jes' stan' dere lookin' after 
 'er where she jump, like he cyan' move. 
 
 "'Oh, yer's drowndin' me!' she call out, jes' 
 like KT boy's dream, only it 's Fanny where's 
 drowndin' now; ' yer's drowndin' me! Oh, I 'se 
 mos' drown' now!' 
 
 "'N' praesen'ly she go clare outen sight. 
 
 "'N' yit 'Manuel jes' keep on stan'in' dere like 
 he cyan' move. Twell nex' he knew, he seen 
 li'P dawg's tail comin' right up outen de water, 
 'n' he hyeah 'er call out fer de las' time: 
 
 " ' Oh, KT frien' 'n' master! I 'se all drownded 
 now 'scusin' my ta-il!' 
 
 "'N' 'Manuel jes' start up 'n' call out: 
 
 "'No, yer ain't! No, yer ain't! Is yer?' 
 
 "'N' he wait jes' tremblin' fer de answer. 
 
 "But 'tain' no answer come, cuz Fanny's 
 drownded. 'N' 't ain' nary thing lef 'cep'n' de 
 tip en' of 'er tail a-fannin' 'n' a-fannin' jes' a li'P 
 teeny bit 'bove de water, wid de breeze. 
 
 "Co'se 'Manuel feel awful bad w'en he seen 
 w'at he done, too. 'N' he jes' drag 'isself back 'ome 
 agin 'n' se' down 'n' pitch right in 'n' cry. But 
 seem like dat mek 'im feel wussen he is befo'. So 
 nex' he gotten 'im a li'P fish pole 'n' start out agin. 
 'N' he se' down on de bank by de ribber, 'n' he 
 
20 EZEKIEL 
 
 putten a liT poke chop on de en o' de line, V he 
 fro it out in de water 'n' sing out all kine o' shek- 
 kin' like: 
 
 "'Oh, Fanny! It 's a liT poke chop on de en' 
 o' de line! Ef yer could only jes' tek a liT bite! 
 It 's a liT poke chop on de en' o' de line, Fanny!' 
 
 "But 'tain' no answer, 'n' all he seen 's jes' 
 liT dawg's tail a-fannin' 'n' a-fannin'. 
 
 " 'N' he jes' keep on settin' dere wid 'is pole, 'n' 
 de liT poke chop on de en' o' de line, but he ain' 
 nuver hyeah nuthin', 'n' all he ebber seen's jes' 
 same liT en' of a tail a-fannin 'n' a-fannin' jes' 
 a liT teeny bit 'bove de water, wid de breeze." 
 
 "Is that the end of the story, Ezekiel?" Miss 
 North's face struggled a bit ineffectually to com 
 pose itself, and Ezekiel sat down surrounded on 
 all sides by speaking glances of admiration. 
 
 "Yas'm, dat 's de en' o' de story," replied 
 Ezekiel. And at just this point the door opened, 
 and Miss Jane Lane walked into the room. 
 
 Ezekiel, with startled recollection, looked sud 
 denly, momentarily alarmed, and half rose from 
 his seat. 
 
 " 'T wa'n' all jes' a - - 't wa'n' jes' a true 
 story," he whispered eagerly, explanatively, 
 
"YES " SHE ANSWERED, "HE CAN STAY" 
 
THE ENTRANCE OF EZEKIEL 21 
 
 advancing toward Miss North. "Twa'n' jes' a 
 true story, Miss No'th! Miss Jane! It's a a 
 kine o' mek 'blieve story I jes' done tole 'em! 
 Jes' kine o' mek 'blieve! But Miss No'th, she 
 done tole me I kin, ain't yer, Miss No'th! Yer 
 tole me I kin tell it! Ain't yer?" 
 
 Miss North's voice was inscrutable. 
 
 "Yes, I told you that you could." And the 
 children, in a long, winding file marched out. 
 
 " Well, how has he done, Miss North ? " inquired 
 Miss Jane, looking quite prepared for the worst. 
 " Do you think that it will be possible to keep him ? 
 Can he stay?" 
 
 Again Miss North's face struggled to compose 
 itself as she looked first at Miss Jane and then at 
 Ezekiel, still standing before them in alarmed, 
 apprehensive, quavering surrender. 
 
 "Yes, " she answered, "he can stay." 
 
EZEKIEL IN TRANSIT 
 
 FUS' TIME HE EVER SEEN 'ER, SHE COME A-FLYIN* 
 RIGHT IN FRU DE DO', A-SETTIN' ON A Ll'l/ LEAF " 
 
II 
 
 EZEKIEL IN TRANSIT 
 
 MISS JANE LANE sat in a straight-backed 
 chair on her clean, white veranda, and, 
 quite ignoring the glistening, alluring Hampton 
 Roads which beckoned to her in the morning sun, 
 gave her undivided attention to a small note which 
 she held in her hand. And as she read, Miss 
 Jane's face became both shocked and grieved. 
 Her protege, Ezekiel Esquire Jordan, sat on a step 
 below her and, looking both cheerful and resigned 
 to anything, regarded the glistening, alluring 
 " Roads" which also beckoned to him in the 
 morning sun. 
 
 But Miss Jane had laid down her paper and was 
 looking at him, still both shocked and grieved. 
 
 "To think, Ezekiel," she finally began, tak 
 ing the bull fairly and squarely by the horns, 
 "to think, that after all the trouble and pains 
 that have been taken to get you into the Whit- 
 tier School, and after their consideration in being 
 
 25 
 
26 EZEKIEL 
 
 willing to admit you there, to think, that after 
 all this, you can't manage to get there on time" 
 
 "Yas'm," murmured Ezekiel contritely. 
 
 "Well, now, just tell me why it is that you can't 
 manage to get there on time." 
 
 "/ dunno'm," murmured Ezekiel again. 
 
 "Four mornings!" went on Miss Jane. "For 
 Jour mornings, so I hear from the principal, in a 
 note written yesterday afternoon, you have been 
 late. Why, I am ashamed of you, Ezekiel! " 
 
 Ezekiel failed to respond, even briefly. 
 
 "What excuse did you have to offer, I should 
 like to know? What reason did you give Miss 
 Doane? Any?" 
 
 "Yas'm. I jes' 'mence tellin' 'er all 'bout 'ow 
 I 'se comin' down de road, 'n' all 'bout ole 
 man where 's pushin' 'long KT ole cyart 'n' a- 
 sellin' KT hot cakes - - 'n' she say dat ain' no 
 'scuse, 'n' she ain' gwine lemme come 't all lessen 
 I kin git dere time de res' does." 
 
 "I should say not," agreed Miss Jane, in no 
 doubtful tones. "I only wonder that they have 
 kept you as long as they have. Now, the truth 
 of the matter is, Ezekiel, there is not the slightest 
 excuse for your having been late once. Not once. ' ' 
 
 "Yas'm, Miss Doane she say 'tain' no 'scuse 
 
EZEKIEL IN TRANSIT 27 
 
 nudder. 'N' I jes' 'mence tellin' 'er 'bout ole 
 man where 's sellin' li'l' hot cakes - 
 
 "But that had nothing to do with you. Ab 
 solutely nothing." 
 
 "No'm, 'tain' nuth'n do wid me. But ole 
 man come 'long a-pushin' on 'is cyart, say: 
 
 "'Heyo, boy! Ain't yer want a li'l' hot cake 
 fer yer breakfus' ? ' Speak jes' dat-a-way, Miss 
 Jane. Say : 
 
 "'Heyo, boy! Ain't yer want a li'l' hot cake 
 fer yer breakfus' ?' 
 
 "'N' co'se I ain't. 'N' yit co'se I 'se 'blige 
 answer 'im, too. So: 
 
 "'No,' I say, 'I am' want no li'l' hot cake fer 
 my breakfus'.' 
 
 "'Ain't yer?' ole man say, 'ain't yer? Cuz 
 I kin give yer li'l' hot cake fer a penny.' 
 
 "'Penny nuth'n',' I say. Yas'm, it's jes' de 
 way 1 answer 'im, Miss Jane. 'Penny nuth'n',' 
 I say. Cuz co'se I knows I ain' no time fer no 
 sech foolishness. But same time I jes' 'appen 
 ter kine o' feel in my pocket, yer know, jes' kine 
 o' feel in my pocket." 
 
 "Now, this is all entirely unnecessary, Eze- 
 kiel," put in Miss Jane; "you were late to school, 
 and that is enough," 
 
28 EZEKIEL 
 
 "Yas'm. But w'en I putten my han' in my 
 pocket, yer see, yer see I jes' natchelly - 
 
 "Yes. I don't doubt you found a penny. 
 Now really, are n't you ashamed, Ezekiel, to 
 have made yourself late to school in this inex 
 cusable way?" 
 
 "'N' co'se ole man, jes' soon's he seen dat 
 penny, he jes' whup outen a li'P cake 'n' putten 
 it on de fiah twell it begins a-sizzlin' 'n' a-smok- 
 in' 'n' a-poppin' jes' like praesen'ly somebody '11 
 be 'blige ter eat it. 'N' ole man say: 
 
 '"Hyeah's yer liT hot cake fer yer!' 
 
 "'N' co'se I 'se r'al mad w'en he talk dat-a- 
 way, too. Cuz co'se I ain' no time ter eat nuth'n'. 
 
 "'G'long!' I say. 'I ain' gwine eat no liT 
 hot cake,' I say, 'cuz I ain' time! You hyeah?' 
 
 " 'Ain' time!' he say, < 'N' after I 'se jes' been 
 a-cookin' it fer yer! Ain' time! Well, yer is! 
 Yer 's 'blige ter eat it!' 
 
 "'I ain' nudder!' I say. 'No suh! I ain't!' 
 
 "'N' same time, co'se, liT cake 's jes' a-sizzlin' 
 on de fiah. 
 
 "'Yer ain't!' he holler, 'well, who is? I ain't! 
 Somebody 's 'blige ter, ain't dey ? 'N' I ain't !' 
 
 ""N' I ain't!' I say. 
 
 ""N 1 I ain't!' he holler back. 
 
EZEKIEL IN TRANSIT 29 
 
 ""N' I ain't!' I holler back 'gin. 
 
 "'N' li'P cake 's jes' a-sizzlin' on de fiah." 
 
 "Ezekiel!" put in Miss Jane. "This is 
 altogether too ridiculous. Now I should like you 
 to talk common sense." 
 
 "Wha'm yer say, -Miss Jane? Yas'm. 
 
 ""N' I ain't!' I holler back agin. Yas'm, I 
 jes' holler back, Miss Jane." 
 
 "Very well. I don't care what you hollered 
 back. And I don't care to hear anything more 
 about the old man or the little cake, either." 
 
 Ezekiel looked momentarily crushed. 
 
 "Of course," she added, more leniently, "I 
 suppose you ate it, did n't you?" 
 
 "Well, yer see, Miss Jane he jes' keep on 
 a-holl'in' an a-holl'in', twell praesen'ly yer see 
 - I 'se jes' 'blige ter eat it." 
 
 "Yes. I thought so. Now, Ezekiel. This 
 morning / will see that you get to school in 
 time. No, it is n't time to start yet. I will tell 
 you when it is. I can't get over your seeming 
 lack of appreciation, Ezekiel. I sometimes won 
 der how it was that you were ever admitted 
 to the Whittier School, anyway." 
 
 Ezekiel looked rather mystified about it him 
 self. 
 
30 EZEKIEL 
 
 "And especially after that very queer story 
 that you told that first afternoon about - 
 
 "'Bout 'Manuel 'n' 'is liT dawg," explained 
 Ezekiel. "Yas'm, Miss No'th she tole me I 
 kin tell a story ter de chillen. 'N' 's all 'bout 
 'Manuel 'n' 'is liT dawg. 'N' 'bout after de liT 
 dawg gotten drownded, 'Manuel he 's jes' 'blige 
 ter live dere all 'lone." 
 
 "It was very good of Miss North to let you 
 tell it, I am sure. For of course she must have 
 known that it was an entirely made-up story." 
 
 "But I ain' tole 'em all 'bout it, nudder. 
 Cuz af de li'P dawg's drownded, w'y, af dat, 
 co'se, 'Manuel 's all 'lone 'gin. So praesen'ly he 's 
 jes' 'blige git 'im anudder liT an'mul. 
 
 "'N' after studyin' 'bout it long time, he 'cide 
 ter git 'im a liT chick'n." 
 
 "A chicken?" questioned Miss Jane, "I 
 should n't think that a chicken would have 
 made a very satisfactory pet." 
 
 "Yas'm, he gotten 'im a liT chick'n. 'N' fus' 
 time he ever seen 'er, she come a-flyin' right in 
 fru de do', a-settin' on a liT leaf." 
 
 "A leaf? But no chicken could have been 
 supported by a leaf." 
 
 "Yas'm, a-flyin' right in fru de do' a-settin' 
 
 
EZEKIEL IN TRANSIT 31 
 
 on a li'P leaf. 'N' she keep on flyin' 'long on 
 de leaf, right up, V right up, twell she gotten 
 clare up ter de tip top o' de room. 'N' den she 
 turn 'roun, 'n' jes' set righ' down on a li'P sun 
 beam where 's comin' in fru de winder." 
 
 "But she couldn't have sat down on a sun 
 beam, Ezekiel. Be sensible." 
 
 " Yas'm, she is. Jes' a-settin' up dere on a li'P 
 sunbeam. 'N' praesen'ly li'P boy calls out: 
 
 "'Oh, ain't yer gwine come down? Ain't yer 
 gwine come down ? Come down, 'n' we '11 git 
 us some breakfus'!' 
 
 "But li'P chick'n on de sunbeam, co'se she 
 ain' gwine be fool dat-a-way 'thout axin' a li'P 
 mo' 'bout it. So she answer back: 
 
 "' Wat's yer gwine have fer breakfus'?' 
 
 "'Gwine have some tea 'n' some cake 
 
 "'Well, I ain' comin' down fer no sech a thing/ 
 chick'n say. 
 
 "'But it's co'n cake," 'Manuel call out. <Wid 
 li'P kernels o' co'n a-stickin' right into it!' 
 
 '"Well, w'y ain' yer say so 'fo'?' she say. 
 'N' she jes' hop right offen de li'P sunbeam, 
 'n' flew righ' down on de flo' siden de li'P boy. 
 
 "'N' 'Manuel he jes' 'kine o' has ter laf to 
 
32 EZEKIEL 
 
 'isself ter think she been ser sassy. 'N' yit he 
 speak up r'al deep 'n' kine o' big like, say: 
 
 '"Wa't's yer name, chick'n?' 
 
 "'My name Joshua,' chick'n say r'al peart. 
 
 "'N' she give 'er lef wing a flop, 'n' snap 'er 
 eyes at de liT boy twell he 's mos' 'blige ter laf 
 agin. 
 
 "'Joshua!' he say, 'ain' dat kine o' funny 
 name fer fer a chick'n?' 
 
 '"No, 'tain' nuth'n' funny 'bout it!' Joshua 
 say, r'al mad, 'n' flap bofe 'er wings jes' like 
 she 's gwine fly up on de sunbeam agin. 
 
 '"Dat's de trufe,' 'Manuel say, 'cert'nly is 
 de trufe. 'Tain' nuth'n' funny 'bout it. Cer 
 t'nly hope yer 's well, Joshua.' 
 
 "'N' af dat liT chick'n 'n' 'Manuel live dere 
 'lone tergedder. 
 
 "'N' liT chick'n's name Joshua jes' same's 
 befo'. 
 
 "'N' eve'ything jes' goes 'long so, 'cep'n' w'en 
 Joshua git mad at de liT boy. 'N' den she 
 allays stick outen' 'er fedders, 'n' snap 'er eyes, 
 'n' flap 'er wings like she gwine up on de liT sun 
 beam agin, twell 'Manuel speak up quick 'n' say: 
 
 '"Oh, co'se I ain' 'ten' no harm, Joshua! 
 'Scuse me! Co'se I ain' 'ten' no harm!' 
 
EZEKIEL IN TRANSIT 33 
 
 "But one mawnin' liT boy he seem ter kine o' 
 fergit 'bout Joshua bein' s' easy ter git mad, V 
 jes' after breakfus', w'en dey's fixin' ter clean up 
 de house, he slap 'er kine o' laffin 'n' easy like 
 siden de haid, call out: 
 
 "'Come 'long, ole chick'n! Who you think 
 y' are, a-tippin' 'roun' yere ez ef yer 's to a party? 
 Come 'long, now, 'n' git yer wuk done!' 
 
 "'N' Joshua, ain' she mad! Oh, my! She 
 jes' stick outen 'er fedders, 'n' swell up, 'n' snap 
 'er eyes at de li'P boy, 'n' begins flappin' 'er 
 wings, flap, flap, flap ! 'N' she 's gwine right up 
 on dat li'P sunbeam agin, sho'. 
 
 "'Oh, w'at yer stan'in' up dere a-flappin' 
 away like a ole win'mill fer?' 'Manuel say. 
 'Wat yer stan'in' up dere like dat fer, huh?' 
 
 "Oh, my! Joshua ain't 'er eyes snap! 'N' 
 flap, flap, flap she went agin, flap, flap, flap! 
 Right stret up, up, up, ter dat li'P sunbeam! 
 'N' den she turn 'roun', 'n' se' down 'n' look 
 down at 'Manuel agin, 'n' 'er eyes keep on 
 a-snappin', 'n' 'er fedders a-stickin' out, 'n' 'er 
 wings still a-gwine flap, flap, flap! 
 
 "'Well, w'at yer s' mad 'bout now?' 'Manuel 
 say ; ' yer better come down now ! Yer better come 
 down now, Joshua ! Cuz co'se I ain' ten' no harm ! ' 
 
34 EZEKIEL 
 
 "But KT chick'n ain' say nary word, jes' set 
 dere on de KT sunbeam, 'n' ain' say nary word. 
 
 "'N' all day 'Manuel keep on a-callin', 'n' 
 all day Joshua she jes' keep on a-settin' dere, 
 'n' ain' say nary word. Twell praesen'ly, w'en 
 it 'mence gettin' kine o' late, li'F boy call out: 
 
 "'Well, w'at yer gwine do w'en de sun's went 
 down? W'at yer gwine set on w'en de sun's 
 went down?' 
 
 "'N' Joshua she speak up fer de fus' time. 
 
 ""Gwine set on de moon,' she say. 
 
 "'N' doan't yer know, jes's she spoken de 
 words, KT sunbeam begins ter flicker back 'n' 
 fofe, back 'n' fofe, 'n' praesen'ly it jes' flicker 
 right out fru de winder. 'N' same time it all 
 'mence gittin' ser kine o' dark, seem like 'Man 
 uel he cyan' see nuth'n' 'tall. 'N' all he kin 
 hyeah 's jes' KT chick'n still a-flappin' jes' same 
 way 's 'fo'. So he jes' wait twell it begin git- 
 tin' a li'P lighter, 'n' a li'l' lighter, twell sho' nuff, 
 w'en he looks up agin he seen a r'al shinin' liT 
 moonbeam a-comin' right in fru de winder jes' 
 where sunbeam 's went out. 
 
 "'N' Joshua she jes' 'turn 'roun 'n' set right 
 down on de moonbeam. 
 
 "'N' li'P boy he look up fru de light where's 
 
EZEKIEL IN TRANSIT 35 
 
 comin' down ser bright 'n' shinin' fum de li'l' 
 beam, twell he seen Joshua a-settin' dere, 'n' 
 den he jes' lay down on de flo' where it 's a li'l' 
 nudder dash o' light, 'n' - - drap right off ter 
 sleep. 'N' he sleep dere all night long on same 
 li'l' dash o' light. 
 
 U 'N' Joshua keep on a-settin' dere all night 
 too, on same li'l' moonbeam. 
 
 U 'N' so she keep it up jes' same--'n' ain' 
 nuver come down keep on a-settin' on de 
 sunbeam all day 'n' de moonbeam all night. 
 'N' she git thinner 'n' thinner, 'n' smaller 'n' 
 smaller, 'n' still she ain' come down. 
 
 "'N' one night de li'l' boy look up in de light 
 n' begins ter cry, 'n' say: 
 
 "'Oh, yer 's gittin' smaller 'n' smaller, Josh 
 ua ! Yer 's ser small now I cyant sca'cely see yer ! ' 
 
 "'N' it's mos' mawnin' when he spoke. 
 
 "'N' praesen'ly he kin hyeah sump'n where 
 soun' like de li'l' chick'n's voice kine o' far 'way, 
 say: 
 
 "'Good-by! I 'se ser small I seem ter jes' 
 be gwine right off in de moonbeam!' 
 
 "'N' it flicker 'n' flicker agin, 'n' at las' flicker 
 out fru de winder. 
 
 "'N' 'Manuel he jes' wait a-lookin' up. Jes' 
 
36 EZEKIEL 
 
 wait. 'N' de sunbeam come back. 'N' still 
 he 's lookin' up. But she ain' dere. Not no 
 liT chick'n a-settin' on de beam. Not nary 
 one. Cuz Joshua's went off in de moonbeam, 
 V dat 's de en' o' de story. . . ." 
 
 Miss Jane passed her hand over her forehead 
 and glanced off at the beckoning Hampton 
 Roads. 
 
 There was a faint, far-away sound down the 
 road. 
 
 "What a very queer sort of story, Ezekiel. 
 How did you ever happen to think of such a 
 thing?" 
 
 From away down the road came the faint, far 
 away sound again. 
 
 "Ezekiel! What's that?" 
 
 He looked back at her, half confusedly at first, 
 then with sudden, vivid realization. 
 
 "It's de school-bell a-ringin', Miss Jane! 
 It it 's de school-bell a-ringin' ! " 
 
 "I know it." Miss Jane looked suddenly 
 horrified. "And I told you I would tell you! 
 Run, Ezekiel! Run as fast as you can!" 
 
 Ezekiel jumped from the clean white veranda 
 and swept off into the road. Miss Jane stood 
 looking at him as he gradually faded before her 
 
EZEKIEL IN TRANSIT 37 
 
 eyes. Into the road around the corner into 
 another long, straight road and he was gone. 
 
 Other people, big and little, traveling on in 
 the long, straight road, stepped aside and looked 
 curiously at him. 
 
 Cling! Clang! came the clear, small note of 
 the little Whittier bell still far away, and he 
 was still sweeping on, a strange, ever-increasing 
 thing of speed. A something real seemed actually 
 to have taken hold of him. 
 
 "Not no mo' ! She she say I cyan' come 
 - no mo' -- ef I 'se late!" he gasped between his 
 breaths. "Not no mo'!" 
 
 And the Whittier School stood at the other 
 end of the road, growing gradually in distinct 
 ness. 
 
 "Not no mo'!" 
 
 It grew gradually, surely. He could see it 
 standing up there almost mockingly. He 
 thought he could see it all, too, just as it 
 was inside. The children just getting ready 
 to march to the assembly room, listening to 
 the first music from the piano, coming in to 
 them faintly Miss Doane on the platform 
 and Miss North looking perhaps she was 
 looking for him she always looked so sorry 
 
38 EZEKIEL 
 
 when he was late and yet she always seemed 
 so quick to understand. Oh, he did n't mean 
 to be late this morning! 
 
 "Not no mo' I" 
 
 A boy striding on ahead of him fell kicking in 
 the dust, but Ezekiel did n't know. Ezekiel 
 was tearing, flying, sweeping breathlessly on to the 
 Whittier School. Another boy dodged and shied 
 off into the hedge at one side, but Ezekiel did n't 
 know. Ezekiel was tearing, flying, sweeping on. 
 The last note of the bell died away and reverber 
 ated, and he was in the school-yard. 
 
 And just here something unexpected but fully 
 realized happened. A small kindergarten child 
 stepped suddenly before him, and down went 
 the child. Then, for the first time, Ezekiel 
 stopped. It was something like the quick, jolt 
 ing stop of an electric car, and he looked down 
 breathless, distressed, and haggard. But it was 
 only a momentary setback. In another mo 
 ment the child was picked up, thrown up, and 
 he was on again, up the steps, through the back 
 hall and into the school-room, while the kinder- 
 gartner hung back over his shoulder crying mis 
 erably. 
 
 "Why, Ezekiel!" 
 
EZEKIEL IN TRANSIT 39 
 
 Miss North looked at him, endeavoring to com 
 prehend. And the children looked too. 
 
 Ezekiel dropped into his seat, and the kin- 
 clergartner dropped gently to the floor beside 
 him. 
 
 " I I I ain't late is I ? I ain't late is I, 
 MissNo'th?" 
 
 His head dropped down on his chest, which 
 heaved with convulsed, exhausted little gasps. 
 
 "Why, no, you are n't late," she began gently, 
 looking at him wonderingly, "but what in the 
 world have you been doing, Ezekiel ? What in the 
 world " - she picked up the small kindergartner 
 and sat down wiping away its big, unhappy tears. 
 
 And just then the door opened, and a boy with 
 a muddy, scratched face came shuffling into the 
 room. 
 
 "He he knock me inter de brier bush!" he 
 began, pointing wrathfully at Ezekiel. 
 
 Again the door opened, and another boy came in. 
 He was limping with conscious heroism, and a 
 big black and blue bump on his forehead stood 
 out with unmistakable distinctness. 
 
 "Ole 'Zekle Jerden knock me down, Miss 
 No'th!" he began, with perhaps an even more 
 violent show of wrath, "I 'se jes' walkin' down 
 
40 EZEKIEL 
 
 de road, V ole 'Zekle Jerden come 'long 'n' knock 
 me down!" 
 
 Miss North, with dawning comprehension, and 
 a sudden faint, rebellious contraction at the 
 corners oi the mouth, looked at the new-comers. 
 
 "I I am sorry. Sit down, both of you." 
 
 The small kindergartner still sobbed softly, 
 and Ezekiel looked up wearily. 
 
 "Is I hurt dat HT chile Miss No'th?" he 
 whispered. "I I seem ter be gwine ser fas' 
 I couldn' seem ter stop." 
 
 She put her cool hand on his hot, thumping 
 forehead. 
 
 "No, you have n't hurt him. But how did all 
 this happen, Ezekiel ? " 
 
 "I didn' wanter git sent 'way," he 
 whispered again, faintly. "But I wisht I 'd - 
 started jes' a KT bit earlier. I reckon 
 J t ain' been quite ser much trouble 'bout it 
 - ef I had." 
 
 "I wish you had, Ezekiel." 
 
 And once again the door opened, and this time 
 Miss Jane Lane walked into the room. 
 
 " Miss North," she began, in a low tone of abject 
 apology, "I am very sorry that Ezekiel was late, 
 but I want to explain that it was my fault, entirely 
 
EZEKIEL IN TRANSIT 41 
 
 my fault. I really told him that I would tell him 
 when it was time to start. But he was telling 
 me a story - " Miss Jane looked positively foolish 
 - "and I did n't realize the time." 
 
 Miss North's smile was comforting. 
 
 "He was telling you a story?" Miss North's 
 smile broadened. . . . "But he was not late, 
 Miss Lane. He came in at the last moment, to 
 be sure, behind the others but he was not late." 
 
 " Not late ? He just escaped being late ? Why, 
 how very glad I am! But surely it would have 
 been better if he had started earlier, much better. 
 I will see that he does start earlier in the future, 
 Miss North." 
 
 Miss North glanced around the room, which 
 presented a strangely battered-up appearance, 
 glanced at the boy with the scratched cheeks and 
 the boy with the bumped forehead, and then 
 down at the small kindergartner, still sobbing 
 softly into her skirts. And finally her glance 
 went back to Ezekiel, sitting limp and exhausted 
 in his seat, with his head dropped wearily. 
 
 "Yes," she agreed. "Yes, I do think that 
 it would be better for him to start a little 
 earlier." 
 
EZEKIEL'S MIS' SIMONS 
 
 ' SAME TIME, SEEM LIKE I KIN HYEAH 
 
 A KINE o' LI'L' RIPPLIN' ..." 
 
Ill 
 
 EZEKIEL'S MIS' SIMONS 
 
 THEY sat on Miss Jane's clean, white veranda, 
 and the Hampton Roads beckoned again in 
 the distance. 
 
 "I am so pleased/' Miss Jane was saying to her 
 protege, "so pleased to hear that you are doing so 
 well at the Whittier School, Ezekiel." 
 
 Ezekiel looked pleased, too, as he looked shyly 
 away from Miss Jane to the beckoning waters. 
 
 "Yes, it was only yesterday," Miss Jane went 
 on complacently, "that Miss North was telling me 
 how very well you were doing." 
 
 "Yas'm. Miss No'th tole me so, too," agreed 
 Ezekiel, still pleased, "las' time I read my lesson. 
 Say I cert'nly 's doin' fine. Say I cert'nly kin read 
 r'al good." 
 
 "And yet there was a time," went on Miss 
 Jane in gentle reminiscence, "when we all 
 wondered whether you would ever learn to read 
 at all." 
 
 45 
 
46 EZEKIEL 
 
 "Yas'm. Mis' Simons use say so, too. Say 
 she reckon I am' nuver gwine learn nuthin'." 
 
 "Mrs. Simons?" 
 
 " Yas'm. De w'ite lady where I wuk las' sum 
 mer. Live clair over yonder crossen de water. 
 Keep on ridin' on de water mos' all de mawnin' 
 time I went ter Mis' Simons." 
 
 " H m. She lives in Norfolk ? " 
 
 "No'm, not zackly in Norfolk. 'N' yit kine o' 
 in Norfolk, too. Live off in a r'al, big kine o' 
 settin' back place, wid whole lots o' trees 'n' 
 bushes like, 'n' birds a-singin' in de branches, 'n' 
 a HT brook runnin' along 'nine de house." 
 
 "Yes. It must have been very pretty. And 
 this Mrs. Simons was very kind to you, was n't 
 she, Ezekiel? Helped you in a good many 
 ways?" 
 
 "Yas'm, Mis' Simons cert'nly 's r'al kine. 
 Keep on readin' all kine o' books, too. Yas'm. 
 'N' Mis' Simons she 'mence learnin' me 'ow ter 
 read, too." 
 
 "That was very good of her, was n't it?" 
 
 "Yas'm, she tole de Cap'm she reckon she 's 
 'blige teach me a liT herself. Say: 
 
 " ' Cert'nly is tur'ble, Naid, de way he 's been 
 neglected.' 
 
EZEKIEL'S MIS' SIMONS 47 
 
 " 'N' Cap'm kine o' laf at 'er 'n' say she am' 
 spec' fer a li'l' nigger boy ter know ve'y much, 
 is she? 'N' I ain' liken ter be call no li'P nigger 
 boy, nurrer. No'm, I ain't." 
 
 "The captain wasn't so thoughtful, perhaps," 
 suggested Miss Jane. 
 
 "No'm. Say she ain' spec' fer a li'P nigger 
 boy ter know ve'y much, is she ? But Mis' Simons 
 ain' talk dat-a-way. No'm. She jes' kine o' 
 laf 'n' pat me light like on de cheek, 'n' say she 
 reckon fum all she hyeah I J se gotten a right to 
 a edjercation, now-days, too. But I reckon she 
 wouldn' nuver a 'mence learnin' me nurrer, lessen 
 it been fer de li'P brook 'nine de house." 
 
 "The little brook behind the house?" 
 
 " Yas'm, 'n' 't wuz long time befo' I knowed w'y 
 Mis' Simons ack ser strange 'bout de li'P brook 
 'nine de house." 
 
 Miss Jane concluded that silence on her part 
 was perhaps, after all, the surest incentive to 
 continued narrative. 
 
 " Yer see de trouble all start out dis-a-way, Miss 
 Jane. Ve'y fus' mawnin' I 'se dere, Mis' Simons 
 she say: 
 
 "' 'Zekiel,' she say, 'de yaller lily baid 'hine de 
 house cert'nly needs weedin',' she say. "N' I 'd 
 
48 EZEKIEL 
 
 like fer you ter go right out dere now 'n' git it done 
 jes' 's quick 's yer kin,' she say. 
 
 "I say, 'yas'm,' 'n' start right along fer de 
 yaller lily baid wid a liT bastik on my arm. 'N' 
 fus' I set right down siden de baid 'n' begins 
 a-pickin' up de weeds 'n' a-puttin' 'em in de liT 
 bastik. But co'se it 's a r'al pretty evenin', wid 
 de sun a kine o' slantin' down fum over yonder 
 in de sky, 'n' de flowers kine o' shinin' back, 'n' 
 blowin' jes' a li'l wid de breeze, so co'se I 'mence 
 ter look eroun' li'l' mo', too. 
 
 " 'N' same time, seem like I kin hyeah a kine 
 o' liT ripplin' - - ripplin', jes' like it 's water 
 drappin' somewheres on de stones. 
 
 " So I tukken my liT bastik on my arm, 'n' 
 start out fru de paff where lead 'roun' pas' all 
 de udder kine o' flowers, 'n' de trees, jes' keep on, 
 all time list'nin' ter de liT ripplin' - - ripplin', twell 
 praesen'ly I come right out siden de brook, 
 a-flowin' 'long on de stones, 'n' de san' shinin' up 
 kine o' gol'en underneaf. 
 
 " By dat time it 's gittin' r'al warm, too. 'N' I 
 jes' se' down fer minit, 'n' look liT mo' at de 
 water, twell seem like it 's gittin' warmer 'n' 
 warmer twell praesen'ly I 'se jes' 'blige tek off 
 my shoes 'n' stockin's 'n' step right off in de 
 
' EZEKIEL'S MIS' SIMONS 49 
 
 brook. 'T ain' ve'y deep where I stan', so I 'se 
 jes' a-steppin' 'roun' dere a-splashin' sorf 'n' easy 
 'n' a-lookin' at de liT fishes where 's flirtin' 
 'roun' dere wid dey tails, w'en w'at yer s'pose? 
 De stranges' thing! I hyeah a rustlin' on de 
 bank 'n' turn right 'roun'. 
 
 "'N' dere 's Mis' Simons a stan'in' dere ez w'ite 
 'n' still, 'n' look like she 's tryin' ter speak 'n' 
 cyan't. 
 
 ""Zekiel,' she begin, 'n' 'er voice jes' fade right 
 'way. 
 
 "'N' I -- 1 'se r'al skeered ter see Mis' Simons 
 ack dat-a-way, 'n' I 'se jes' studyin' w'at ter do 
 'bout it, w'en: 
 
 ""Zekiel!' she say 'gin, 'n' den it's de trufe, 
 Miss Jane, she jes' fro up her arms like she ain' 
 know what she 's doin', 'n' scream out high, 'n j 
 start off a-holPin': 
 
 "<Oh, Naid! De brook! De brook! De 
 brook!' 
 
 "W'y, I ain' no idea 'tall w'at do nex'. But I 
 jump outen dat brook fus' thing, 'n' den I 'mem 
 bers 'bout de yaller lily baid. So I tukken my KT 
 bastik on my arm, jes' same 's befo', 'n' start off 
 agin same way I come. 'N' yit all time I 'se 
 studyin' 'bout Mis' Simons. A studyin' 'n' a 
 
SO EZEKIEL 
 
 studyin', twell I hyeah a r'al kine o' deep voice 
 right 'side me. 'N' I jes' jump I 'se ser s'prise. 
 Jes' jump 'n' look 'roun'. 'N' dere 's de Cap'm 
 stan'in' dere lookin' mighty stret 'n' stiff, 'n' 
 seem like 'is eyes is a gwine right fru me. 
 
 '" Jes' see hyeah, boy,' he say, 'jes' looker me!* 
 '"Yas sir!' I say, oh, my! I 'se 'fraid o' de 
 Cap'm dat time! 'Yas sir,' I say. 
 
 "' Jes' looker me!' he say agin wid his eyes still 
 a-gwine fru me, ' is yer lookin' ? ' 
 
 " ' Yas sir ! ' I say agin, ' I 'se a-lookin' ! ' 
 "'Ve'y well,' he say. 'Now doan't yer ever 
 lemme hyeah of yer gwine near dat brook over 
 yonder 'gin, long 's yer 's hyeah,' he say. 'Long 's 
 yer 's hyeah!' he say agin. 
 
 "'Yas sir!' I answer him, 'yas sir!' 
 "'You 's been de cause o' sump'n ve'y se'ious/ 
 he say. 'Ve'y se'ious!' 
 
 " 'N' he jes' turn 'roun' 'n' walk right off agin. 
 "Co'se I s'pose Mis' Simons mus' be daid by 
 dat time, way he spoke, 'n' I 'se feelin' r'al bad 
 'bout it, too. 'N' yit I ain' know zackly w'at ter 
 do 'bout it, nurrer. So I se' down siden de 
 yaller lily baid, 'n' wait twell de sun 'mence ter 
 drap down low 'hine de trees, 'n' it 'mence growin' 
 dark fas' 's it kin, 'n' ser still all I kin hyeah is jes' 
 
EZEKIEL'S MIS' SIMONS 51 
 
 de KT brook still a ripplin' ripplin'. 'N' it 
 cert'nly wuz strange, but seem like af it 's r'al 
 dark 'n' I 'se went in de house, I kin hyeah it jes' 
 same. 
 
 "Af I 'se went ter baid, too. Kine o' fa' off, 'n' 
 yit ripplin' - - 'n' a drappin' same way 's befo' 
 on de stones." 
 
 "But Mrs. Simons?" inquired Miss Jane, more 
 interested in main facts than poetic fancies, "was 
 she was she well again in the morning?" 
 
 "Mis' Simons? W'y, yas'm. Nex' mawnhV 
 I 'se wukkin' along on de yaller lily baid, cert'nly 
 wuz tryin' ter git it done dis time, too, w'en she 
 come 'long jes' same 's ever. 
 
 " ' W'y, 'Zekiel ! ' she say. ' W'y, 'Zekiel ! ' 'N' 
 den co'se she 'mence tellin' me I mus' hu'y 'long 
 fas'er. 'N' I is, too. Jes' keep wukkin' right 
 'long all de mawnin'. 'N' I ain' spen' no time 
 dawdlin' 'roun' no brook, nurrer. No'm, not no 
 mo' af dat not no mo' fer fer long time. 
 'N' I reckon 't ain' nuver 'appen den ef 't ain' been 
 fer w'at Mis' Simons done." 
 
 "What did Mrs Simons do?" 
 
 "W'at Mis' Simons done 'bout de brook." 
 
 "But what was it, Ezekiel?" 
 
 "Well, yer see it 'appen jes dis-a-way. One 
 
52 EZEKIEL 
 
 mawnin' I wek up r'al nice 'n' early, ser early I 
 cyan' see ve'y good cuz de light 's kine o' triflin' 
 wid de dark, 'n' de birds wuz all a-singin' way dey 
 does fus' thing in de mawnin', 'n' I 'se jes' natchelly 
 fixin' ter go 'sleep 'gin, w'en I reckon I hyeah 
 some'n' callin' me. Sho' 'miff: 
 
 ""Zekiel!' some'n' call agin, <yer 's wanted!' 
 
 "Well, fus' I reckon p'raps I '11 jes' tek it fer a 
 dream. But den yer see, I ain' no mo'n 'cide dat 
 w'en I hyeah de Cap'm's voice down below dere, 
 too. So I reckon p'raps I better not tek it fer 
 no dream, nurrer. So I jes' hop outen de baid 'n' 
 put on my clo'es 'n' start off down styairs ser quick 
 I 'se kine o' s'prise I been ser quick myself. 
 
 "Well, jes' soon's I come in de kitchen, I seen 
 Sarah 'n' Marg'ret stan'in' by de do,' 'n' a kine 
 o' talkin' low like tergerrer. 
 
 "'Cap'm foun' 'er out dere dis mawnin',' Sarah 
 say. 'N' fus' thing, I jes' seem ter know she's 
 talkin' 'bout Mis' Simons. ' Jes' a li'P w'ile ago,' 
 she say. 'He foun' 'er dere a-lookin' in de 
 brook.' 
 
 "But same time she spoke, de Cap'm come 
 walkin' right in de room. Say: 
 
 ""Zekiel,' he say, 'I want yer fer minit.' 'N' 
 walk out agin 'n' I af 'im. 
 
EZEKIEL'S MIS' SIMONS 53 
 
 "'Hem, 'Zekiel,' he say, stopping on de poach, 
 'I want yer ter pick all de blackbe'ies yer kin fine 
 on de bushes fer breakfus',' he say. 'Hem, 
 'Zekiel,' he call, jcs' ez I start 'long, 'yer 'members 
 de day yer fus' come,' he say, "n' 'bout yer gwine 
 over yonder 'n' paddlin' in de brook ?' 
 
 "'Yas sir,' I say, 'yas sir, I 'members 'bout it.' 
 
 "'Hem, yes. Well, yer ain' foun' nuthin' in 
 de brook dat-er-time, is yer?' 
 
 "I 'clare I ain' know w'at de Cap'm's talkin' 
 'bout, 'n' yit 't ain' r'ally no call ter ax nurrer, so: 
 
 "'No, sir,' I say, 'I ain' foun' nuthin' in de 
 brook,' I say. 
 
 "Well, Cap'm, seem like he look dis'pointed, 
 'n' yit co'se he perten' he ain't,' n' tole me dat's 
 all, I kin go 'long 'n' pick de blackbe'ies, now. 
 
 " But I 'clare I cyan' seem ter think o' nary thing 
 'cep'n' Mis' Simons 'n' de liT ole brook 'hine de 
 house. 'N' it 's jes' same way all de mawnin'. 
 De mo' I tries ter put my mine on my wuk, de 
 mo' I seem ter keep on a-thinkin'. Ef 't ain' been 
 fer dat, I s'pose 't would n' nuver a come out way 
 it did. But praesen'ly, yer see, I foun' myself 
 walkin' 'long same way I 'se thinkin' 'bout. 
 Yas'm, I did, 'n' nex' I know I 'se stan'in' dere 
 same place I is fus' day I come, right siden de 
 
54 EZEKIEL 
 
 brook. But dis time de sun's clair up high 
 in de sky V shinin' right stret down in de 
 water twell I kin see eb'ry li'P stone bright 'n' 
 clair, shinin' up. 
 
 "'N' co'se all time I 'se thinkin', too, 'bout w'at 
 de Cap'm ax me. But same time it 's a r'al pretty 
 day, 'n' HT brook's a ripplin' on jes' nice 's ever, 
 V sparklin' - - 'n' praesen'ly I natchelly kine o' 
 fergit 'bout de Cap'm, 'n' fer liT change jes' begins 
 a-tekkin' off my shoes 'n' stockin's. Well, I ain' 
 no mo'n gotten 'em all off 'n' step down r'al easy 
 in de brook - - 'fo' I 'members w'at de Cap'm 
 say 'bout it. 'N' same time I hyeah a rustlin' 
 on de bank. 
 
 "Well, it 's de trufe I 'se ser skeered I ain' dare 
 look 'tall. Cuz yer see I 'se mos' sho' it 's de 
 Cap'm. Den de rustlin' come agin, 'n' - 
 
 ""Zekiel!' someone say. But it soun' fa' 'way 
 like 'n' small, 'n' I turn right 'roun'. 'N' dere 's 
 Mis' Simons. She ain' lookin' at me, nurrer, but 
 right straight down in de water bendin' low. 
 
 ""Zekiel!' she say 'gin, 'n' 'er voice soun' quick 
 'n' diffunt. "Zekiel ! Is yer see dat ? ' 
 
 "'Er face 's all w'ite 'n' quare, 'n' I kin see 'er 
 finger shekkin' where she point. 'Sump'n' where 
 look like it p'raps might be de de han' of a 
 
EZEKIEL'S MIS' SIMONS 55 
 
 HT doll of a HT sailor dolir she say, 
 'a-stickin' outen de san' ? Is yer see it, 'Zekiel?' 
 
 "'Yas'm,' I say, kine o' searchin' eroun' fer de 
 KT ban'. 
 
 "' Right nare de big stone dere!' she say. 
 'Dere! 'Zekiel!' she say. 'N' 'er voice soun' 
 ser strange 't ain' nuthin' like Mis' Simons 'tall. 
 'Move it!' she say. 'Move de stone! 'N' be 
 cyarf ul ! ' 
 
 "Co'se by dis time I 'se movin' de stone, 'n' 
 Mis' Simons look like she 's watchin' wid her 
 bref all in. 
 
 " ' Oh, be cyarf ul ! ' she say 'gin, kine o' w'isperin' 
 'n' nex' minit I heP up a KT 'ole soaked up, 
 frazzled out, li'P sailor-doll. HeP it right up 
 befo' 'er. 
 
 '"Oh, we 1 s }oun' iW she holler, 'we 's jouri* it!' 
 'N' jes' drap down on de grass a-fon'lin' it, 'n' 
 a-cryin', 'n' a-talkin' to it like, 'n' a-cryin' agin, 
 like she cyan' nuver stop. 
 
 "'Come yere, 'Zekiel,' she say praesen'ly, 
 wid 'er voice sort o' broke like, 'come yere, 
 'Zekiel, I wants yer.' 
 
 "I slip up side 'er sof 's I kin, on de grass 'n' 
 she hoi' de li'P doll up 'n' look at it agin, r'al long 
 'n' still. 
 
56 EZEKIEL 
 
 "'Is yer know I had a li'P baby once?' she 
 w'isper, 'n' de tears wuz still a-runnin' down 'er 
 cheeks. 
 
 "'No'm,' I whisper back, sof 's I kin, not ter 
 trouble 'er. 
 
 "'A liT boy,' she say, "n' he's ve'y lovely, 
 'Zekiel,' 'n' den she 's 'blige stop jes' stop 'n' 
 sob 'n' cry. 
 
 "Cert'nly made me feel bad ter see Mis' Simons 
 like dat. 'N' she mos' allays been ser bright 'n' 
 smilin' befo' too. But praesen'ly she dry 'er eyes 
 'n' look up fum de liT sailor doll twell look like 
 she 's mos' tryin' ter smile. 
 
 "'I mus'n' cry like dis,' she w'isper, 'n' den she 
 'mence agin talkin' low 'n' calm like. 
 
 Ezekiel looked dreamily away across the Roads. 
 Once more he was sitting by Mrs. Simons on the 
 grass. Once more he listened to her as he had 
 that morning, and his voice came now in low, 
 gentle, self-forgetfulness. 
 
 " 'I mus'n' cry like dis,' she say. ' 'T ain' brave. 
 But he los' de liT sailor doll, 'Zekiel,' she say, Me 
 las' mawnin' we played tergedder over yonder in 
 de gyarden. He los' it in de grass. 'N' w'en I 
 went in de house,' she say, Her git Sarah ter come 
 out 'n' play wid him, he cried,' she say 'cuz 
 
EZEKIEL'S MIS' SIMONS 57 
 
 he 'd los' his sailor doll. ... I doan' know 
 w'y I went fer Sarah, 'Zekiel,' she say, 'but I did, 
 an' seem like twan' no time 'tall 'fo' she come 
 back a-screamin' - - 'bout -- 'bout de brook.' 
 
 "Mis' Simons' bref cotch w'en she say dat, 
 'n' she shiver like she 's cole. 
 
 " ' Ef I 'd a only stop 'n' foun' 'is KT doll fer 'im 
 w'en he cry!' she say. "T wuz allays ser tur'ble 
 to me to think I did n' ! Ser tur'ble to me, 'Zekiel,' 
 she say. 
 
 "'N' dat 's w'y she allays keep on comm' 'n' 
 lookin' 'n' lookin', thinkin' p'raps af all he is 
 foun' it 'n' tekken it wid 'im ter de brook. 'N' 
 she did n' want de Cap'm ter know she come, cuz 
 he 'd think she 's broodin', 'n' be trouble 'bout it. 
 
 "'But I 'se glad oh, I is glad I comer she 
 w'isper praesen'ly, 'oh, 'Zekiel!' she say, 'doan't 
 yer see!' 'N' she ben' 'er haid 'way down, wid 
 'er tears a-drappin' right on de KT sailor doll, 
 'cuz yer see he did fine it 'Zekiel!' she say, 'oh, 
 'Zekiel, he he foun' it,' she say, stumblin' like, 
 ' I - - I cyan' tell yer but it means right much 
 ter me ter know he foun' it ! ' : 
 
 Miss Jane wiped her eyes softly and Ezekiel still 
 looked dreamily away to the Roads. . . . 
 
58 EZEKIEL 
 
 " And how did Mrs. Simons seem after that, 
 Ezekiel?" she inquired gently. "Did she go on 
 again just as bravely as she had before?" 
 
 " Yas'm, Mis' Simons went on jes' same af dat. 
 Jes' same 's ever. 'N' nex' time I seen 'er, she 
 smile ser nice 'n' bright, I would n' nuver a 'blieve 
 could be so - - 'bout de liT boy, lessen I 'se seen 
 'er w'en she cry." 
 
 Miss Jane's voice was still strangely gentle. 
 
 "H m. . . . She was very brave. And 
 perhaps it was a relief, too, to have told someone 
 -about it." 
 
 " Yas'm. 'N' she seem ter watch me r'al often 
 af dat, sometime like she 's thinkin' 'bout sump'n' 
 fa' 'way - - 'n' talk ter me, 'n' 'mence learnin' me 
 'ow ter read, too. Yas'm. Dat 's jes' w'en she 
 'mence learnin' me 'ow ter read." 
 
 "Did she ever speak of the little boy again ?" 
 
 "No'm, she ain' nuver speak 'bout 'im 'gin. 
 'N' I reckon 't ain' nobody nuver know w'at she 
 tole me, nurrer, cuz de las' words she say ez she 
 start 'way fum de brook dat mawnin' wuz: 
 
 " l 'Zekiel, doan' tell de Cap'm I 'se been cryin'. 
 'T would wo'y him ser much,' she say. 
 
 "And you didn't tell him?" 
 
 " No'm, I ain' tole 'im," 
 
"A BOOK FOR MOTHERS 
 
 HE STARTS RIGHT OFF GITTIN' TRIFLIN' J N' BAD 
 
IV 
 
 " A BOOK FOR MOTHERS" 
 
 BOTH Miss North and Ezekiel were at school 
 early. Miss North apparently considered 
 it an opportunity of advantage. 
 
 "Come here, Ezekiel," she began, looking 
 up from her desk. Ezekiel approached. 
 
 "Now, I want you to put your mind on this, 
 Ezekiel," she went on, taking the bull by the 
 horns, "and see if you can tell me why it is that 
 you have been doing so badly in your work for 
 the last few days. Of course, you must know 
 that you have been doing very badly, don't you?" 
 
 Ezekiel looked rather grieved at hearing the 
 matter put so plainly, but did not offer an imme 
 diate explanation. 
 
 "Well, now, I suppose there must be some 
 reason for this," went on Miss North logically, 
 "because don't you know how very well you 
 have been doing until just lately ? Why, of 
 course there must be some reason for it?" 
 
 61 
 
62 EZEKIEL 
 
 "Yas'm, mus' be so," agreed Ezekiel faintly. 
 
 "Yes, of course. Now, what is it?" 
 
 "/ dunno'm," returned Ezekiel, as if he were 
 really the very last one who should be expected 
 to know. 
 
 "Well, you must find out, Ezekiel," an 
 nounced Miss North concisely, "and you must 
 begin to do very much better again." 
 
 "Yas'm," agreed Ezekiel, apparently per 
 fectly willing to investigate, and perfectly willing 
 to improve, too, if it were really necessary. 
 
 "Yas'm. One time I 'se a-wukkin' fer Mis' 
 Simons in de gyarden, V she come along, talk 
 jes' dat-a-way, too. Say: 
 
 "'W'y, 'Zek'el, yer mus' do ve'y much better 'n 
 dis. Is I 'blige set righ' down yere 'n' watch 
 yer?' she say. 'N' I say, 'No'm.' 'N' she say, 
 ' Well, certainly look like she is.' So she se' down, 
 'n' fus' yer know, she 's a-readin' outen a book 
 'n' ain' payin' no mo' 'tention ter me 'n 's ef I 
 ain' dere 't all." 
 
 "Yes; that hasn't really very much to do 
 with this, but still I can imagine, too, that it 
 might have been so." 
 
 "Yas'm; 'n' praesen'ly, after she's been 
 a-readin' quite a HT while, she gotten up ag'in 
 
"A BOOK FOR MOTHERS" 63 
 
 'n' walk off, 'n' say dat cert'nly 's de mos' no- 
 ' count book where 's been written fer some time; 
 she reckon she could 'a' done better 'erself." 
 
 "I don't doubt it," murmured Miss North - 
 "not for a moment. Well, Ezekiel, I shall expect 
 to notice a great improvement in you to-day." 
 
 "Yas'm. Say she reckon she could 'a' done 
 better 'erself. Is yer ever written a book, Miss 
 No'th?" 
 
 "No, I never have," admitted Miss North. 
 
 "Cuz I 'se writin' a book now," he went on 
 meditatively. 
 
 "Are you?" Miss North felt painfully in 
 ferior. "What is your book about, Ezekiel?" 
 
 " 'Bout 'bout chillen 'n' mothers," ex 
 plained Ezekiel modestly. "Is yer say yer 
 ain' nuver written a book yit, Miss No'th?" 
 
 "Never," reiterated Miss North, bound to be 
 truthful to the bitter end. 
 
 " Cuz I doan' guess Miss' Simons nuver written 
 a book, nurrer," he went on ruminatingly but con 
 solingly. "No'm, I doan' guess she nuver did." 
 
 "I don't believe she ever did, either," returned 
 Miss North, taking hope. "But, now, this book 
 of yours, Ezekiel you say it is about children 
 and " 
 
64 EZEKIEL 
 
 "'Bout chillen 'n' -- mothers," explained Eze- 
 kiel again; "but mo' specially 'bout mothers." 
 
 "I see. Don't you find it rather a large sub 
 ject ? That is don't you find it rather - 
 rather hard to write about children and 
 mothers?" 
 
 "Yas'm, kine o' hard; specially 'bout mothers." 
 
 "Yes, I should think so," agreed Miss North. 
 " Perhaps you will let me see your book sometime. 
 Do you think you could?" 
 
 "Yas'm. Yer kin see it now, ef yer wants 
 ter. Yas'm, yer kin see it right now, Miss 
 No'th." 
 
 "No, it is time for the bell now. But some 
 time, sometime I should like very much to see 
 it. Take your seat now, Ezekiel." 
 
 And the children, in a long, winding file, had 
 marched in. 
 
 But it was not until the morning was almost 
 gone, and the immaculate specimen copy for 
 the daily writing lesson was being painstakingly 
 reproduced on long, straight lines, that the first 
 complaint of the day was made. 
 
 "Ole 'Zek'el Jerden, he ain' doin' no writin' 
 lesson," came the voice of righteous indignation; 
 "he's writin' sump'n' else." 
 
"A BOOK FOR MOTHERS " 65 
 
 To be sure. Ezekiel was writing in his book. 
 
 "Ezekiel," began Miss North in suggestive 
 tones, "do you remember what I told you this 
 morning?" 
 
 "Yas'm" - Ezekiel' s book disappeared in 
 side his desk "yas'm, I 'se gwine do my 
 writin', Miss No'th." 
 
 But it was the afternoon that was almost gone 
 when the next complaint came in. Again they 
 were reproducing neat little paragraphs from 
 the blackboard, and again there came an indig 
 nant voice: 
 
 "'Zek'el Jerden ain' copyin' no home-wuk 
 'tall!" 
 
 Certainly not. Ezekiel was writing in his book. 
 
 " Ezekiel" -Miss North's voice sounded un 
 compromising "you may bring that book to 
 my desk." 
 
 Ezekiel rather sheepishly made his way to the 
 desk and deposited a magnificent checkered- 
 backed note-book. 
 
 "Now you may copy your home-work. I 
 begin to see why you have fallen back in your 
 work, Ezekiel." 
 
 But the children, in a long, winding file, had 
 marched out again, and again Ezekiel stood 
 
66 EZEKIEL 
 
 before Miss North's desk. Across the front row 
 sat three small and meek-looking individuals, 
 whose glances back and forth among themselves 
 and up toward Miss North alternated between 
 broad but surreptitious grins and modest, long- 
 suffering looks of resignation. 
 
 "I should like you very straight and quiet in 
 the front row, please," suggested Miss North. 
 
 Their general appearance, at this point, was 
 so altogether nice and irreproachable that it 
 really seemed rather indelicate of Miss North 
 to have referred to it at all. 
 
 "And now, Ezekiel, as I said before, I begin 
 to see why you have fallen back in your work." 
 
 "Yas'm," responded Ezekiel, evidently quite 
 clear on the matter, too. 
 
 "Now, my suggestion is that you finish this 
 book up just as soon as possible, and then per 
 haps you will be able to turn your attention to 
 your school work again." 
 
 " Yas'm," agreed Ezekiel, absolutely agreeable. 
 
 "Well, now, how nearly done is the book? 
 Do you think you could finish it to-night?" 
 
 "'Bout -- 'bout half done, I reckon; yas'm, 
 I could finish it ter-night." 
 
 Miss North picked up the checkered-backed 
 
"A BOOK FOR MOTHERS" 67 
 
 note- book and glanced over three or four pains 
 takingly written pages. 
 
 "It isn't going to be a very long book, is it? 
 Perhaps that is just as well, too. Well, suppose 
 you read it to me as far as you have gone." 
 
 "Yas'm," and Ezekiel obligingly took the 
 book and began to read. 
 
 "'A Book For Mothers/" he announced. 
 
 "That is the title, I suppose," suggested Miss 
 North intelligently. "But I thought it was 
 going to be both for mothers and children?" 
 
 "No'm; 'bout mothers V chillen, but specially 
 for mothers." 
 
 "Oh, yes, of course. Now go on, Ezekiel, 
 and I won't interrupt." 
 
 The three across the front row looked quite 
 impressed at the turn events had taken, and 
 Ezekiel began again. According to oral inter 
 pretation, his written manuscript might have 
 been about like this: 
 
 "<A BOOK FOR MOTHERS 
 
 "'Eve'y mother where has sense should read 
 dis book. Co'se, ef she ain' got no sense, I 
 s'pose it ain' gwine do no good anyway, but ef 
 she has, w'y, read it.'" 
 
68 EZEKIEL 
 
 This stipulation being made in regard to the 
 readers of the book, Ezekiel glanced at Miss 
 North (who, being taken a bit unawares, made 
 haste to compose her countenance) and continued : 
 
 "'Eve'y chile, at de age o' twelve years ole, 
 co'se begins gittin' triflin' 'n' bad, 'n' runs out 
 on de street at night, 'n' down ter Jones's corner, 
 'n' sometime look like his mother cyan' do 
 scacely nothin' wid 'em 'tall at de age o' 
 twelve years ole." 
 
 "Is it always exactly at twelve?" put in Miss 
 North modestly. 
 
 "Yas'm. 'So at de age o' twelve years ole 
 eve'y mother mus' learn 'er chillen 'tain' right 
 ter ac' no sech a way. 'N' ef she cyan' learn 
 'em, she mus' whup 'em, 'n' ef dat ain' no use, 
 she must mek 'em go hongry 'mos' all time, 'n' 
 whup 'em ag'in, 'n' ef dat ain' no use, w'y, she 
 mus' read 'em de Bible 'n' see 'ow dat '11 wuk. 
 
 " ' My country, 'tis of thee, 
 
 Sweet land o' liberty, 
 
 O' thee I sing!'" 
 
 From all appearances Miss North had again 
 been taken unawares. 
 
 "What? What was that? What did you 
 say, Ezekiel?" 
 
"A BOOK FOR MOTHERS" 69 
 
 "I jes' put in a KT pote-ry," explained Ezekiel, 
 "jes' a KT verse o' pote-ry to make it go 'long 
 r'al smooth 'n' soun' kine o' easy." 
 
 "Oh! Go on, Ezekiel!" 
 
 "Yas'm. ' Cuz, co'se, tain' right fer chillen 
 ter go runnin' out at night 'thout their mother. 
 So, ef de Bible ain' no use, w'y, she mus' jes' go 
 runnin' right 'long, too." 
 
 There was an audible snicker from one of the 
 three in the front row whether from 
 mere nervous emotion at this forecast of a few 
 of the scenes which were doubtless in store for 
 him at the age of twelve, or from real joy, was 
 not at the moment apparent. 
 
 "'Once, 'twas a liT boy,'" went on Ezekiel, 
 ""n' he's a r'al good liT boy, too, 'n' allays 
 went ter Sunday-school 'n' mine 'is mama, 'n' 
 ain' nuver run down ter Jones's corner 'cep'n' 
 w'en she sen' 'im wid de 'lasses-bucket, 'n' 
 allays jes' ez good ! Twell nex' he know he 's 
 twelve years ole. 'N' den, co'se, he starts right 
 off gittin' trifling 'n' bad. 
 
 "'Well, ef 'is mama had did like she oughter, 
 'n' whup 'im, 'n' read 'im de Bible, 'n' run out 
 after 'im on de street, o' co'se 'twould' nuver 
 'a' come out way it did. But she ain' do no 
 
70 EZEKIEL 
 
 sech a thing. She jes' say ef he ac' dat-a-way, 
 w'y, she am' gwine bother wid him 'tall. So, w'at 
 yer s'pose 'appen ter de liT boy? Well, one night 
 'bout twelve o'clock he wek up yas, 'twuz jes' 
 ez de clock 's a-strikin', (twelve, apparently, 
 was the fatal number), 'n' fus' he jes' lay dere 
 studyin' 'bout what he '11 do nex'. 'N' den he 
 'cide it 's gittin' kine o' wea'ysome layin' dere ser 
 long 'thout sayin' nary word ter nobody, so he got 
 outen de baid 'n' start right out on de street. 
 
 "N' fus' thing he seen a-comin' down de 
 road wuz a liT gyurl a-trundlin' 'long a baby- 
 ca'iage wid a li'l' baby a-settin' right up on de 
 seat a-chewin' on a clo'es-pin." 
 
 " Twelve o'clock at night, did you say it was, 
 Ezekiel?" 
 
 "Yas'm, jes' 'zackly twelve o'clock. "N' 
 some'ow it seem ter mek de li'l boy kine o' mad 
 w'en he seen de baby a-settin' up on de seat, 
 a-chewin' on de clo'es-pin, so w'at yer s'pose he 
 done? W'y, he jes' hop right up in de ca'iage 'n' 
 set right plumb down top o' de baby, 'n' mash 'im 
 ser flat dat praesen'ly w'en he jump out on de 
 groun' 'n' look in de ca'iage ag'in, w'y, 'tain' 
 nothin' lef o' de baby 'tall, 'cep'n a kine o' HT 
 flat cake like, not no bigger 'n dis!" 
 
11 P'LICE SAY, ' wuz YOU DE CAUSE o' DIS DISFIGGER- 
 
 MENT, BOY? 
 
"A BOOK FOR MOTHERS " 71 
 
 At this point Ezekiel was obliged to stop and 
 point out to Miss North his sketch of the baby's 
 remains. 
 
 "'Well, w'en de li'l' gyurl come roun' 'n' 
 look in de ca'aige like she 's gwine set 'er baby 
 up r'al nice ag'in, 'n' ain' foun' nothin' 'cep'n' 
 de HT flat cake, w'y, den co'se she 's mad. 
 
 "'"Now, ain't yer 'shame ter do 'im like dat!" 
 she say. "Well, I 'se gwine call de p'lice 'n' 
 show 'im jes' w'at yer done!" 
 
 "'So she call de p'lice, 'n' de p'lice come 'n' 
 look in de ca'aige. 
 
 '""Sho! Now, ain' dat too bad!" p'lice say. 
 "Wuz you de cause o' dis disfiggerment, boy? 
 Well, suh! I 'se gwine 'rest yer fer 'sault 'n' 
 battery!" 
 
 "'So de li'l' boy 's 'rested fer 'sault 'n' battery, 
 'n 's 'blige go ter jail 'n' stay dere all de res' 
 of his life. 
 
 "'De rose is red, de vi'let's blue, 
 De honey is sweet, 'n' so are you, 
 
 Li'l' gyurl where sets on de seat in de corner, 
 Three cheers fer de red, white, 'n' blue!'" 
 
 This delightful mingling of sentiment and 
 patriotism was evidently merely thrown in to 
 relieve the stress and tension of the moment. 
 
72 EZEKIEL 
 
 At any rate, the three little boys in the front 
 row drew a short breath of relief at the tempo 
 rary stay in proceedings, and Ezekiel continued: 
 
 "'Well, de nex' time de li'P boy went out on 
 de street at night, w'at yer s'pose he done? 
 W'y, he jes' bus' right into a lady's house 'n' 
 stole all her jew'lry. So de lady went climbin' 
 out de winder af 'im, 'n' cotch 'im by de coat, 
 'n' call de p'lice, 'n' he 's 'rested ag'in, 'n' dat 
 time dey had 'im shot fer a burglar. 
 
 "'But he keep on jes' ez triflin' 'n' bad's 
 ever, 'n' nex' time he met a ole gen'leman, 'n' 
 'mence ter wrastle wid 'im right on de street. 
 
 "'" Well, w'at yer doin' ? " ole man say. " Well, 
 I reckon I 'se 'blige call my li'P dawg!" So ole 
 man call 'is li'P dawg, 'n' de li'P boy run right 
 up a tree, 'n' de li'P dawg after 'im. But soon 's 
 dey 's up de tree, w'y de li'P boy se' down on one 
 branch, 'n' de li'P dawg se' down on anurrer 
 branch, 'n' so dey jes' set dere a-blinkin' at de 
 dark. 
 
 "'"Well, w'at you-all a-settin' up dere like 
 dat fer?" ole man say. "Come down!" 
 
 "'But dey set dere jes' same, a-blinkin' at 
 de dark. 
 
 '"'N' ole man holler ag'in, 'n' de moon come 
 
"A BOOK FOR MOTHERS" 73 
 
 a-risin' up in de sky, 'n' den dey jes' set dere a- 
 blinkin' at de moon. 
 
 "'"Well, I 'se gwine climb up 'n' git yer, 
 den," ole man say, 'n' he 'mence ter climb de 
 tree. But de win' 'mence ter blow, 'n' de tree 
 'mence ter rock, 'n' higher up ole man got de 
 mo' de win' keep on bio win', 'n' de tree a-rockin' 
 back 'n' fofe, back 'n' fofe, 'n' de li'P boy 'n' de 
 li'P dawg still a-settin' on de branch a-blinkin' 
 at de moon. 
 
 "'"Come down!" ole man say. 'N' same 
 time he spoken de words de 'win' jes' blew 'im 
 right outen de tree 'n' he tum'le down on de 
 groun' daid! 
 
 "'"See w'at yer done!" li'P dawg say. 'N' 
 same time he spoken .de words, ole win' jes' 
 blew 'im right outen de tree an' he tum'le down 
 daid on de groun', too. 
 
 "'But de li'P boy jes' keep on a-settin' on de 
 branch a-blinkin' at de moon. 
 
 '"'N' w'en de p'lice come 'long 'n' foun' 'em 
 all daid 'cep'n' de li'P boy where 's settin' on de 
 branch, w'y, dey 'rest 'im 'n' ca'ied 'im off ter 
 jail, 'n' dat time dey had 'is haid chop off fer a 
 murd'rer. 
 
 '"'N' nex' time, he met a ole lady; 'n' ole 
 
74 EZEKIEL 
 
 lady 'mence ter scole 'im right smart fer bein' 
 out ser late in de night, so w'at yer s'pose he 
 done? 
 
 'W'y is a elephunt like a brick?' 
 
 ("I'se 'fraid it's gittin' kine o' wea'ysome 
 'long yere, so I jes' put in a liT riddle.) 
 
 "'W'y is a elephunt like a brick? 
 
 "'Cuz cyan't neider one of 'em climb a tree. 
 
 ""N' she 'mence ter scole 'im right smart 
 fer bein' out ser late in de night, so w'at yer 
 s'pose he done?' 
 
 "I thought o' sump'n' else, too! 
 
 "W'y is a elephunt like a pertater? 
 
 "Cuz cyan' neider one of 'em climb a tree!" 
 
 "H'm yes! I see! I see! I see! But what 
 did he do, Ezekiel?" interrupted Miss North, in 
 some alarm at this new field which was opening 
 up with such a wealth of possibility. 
 
 "W'y is a elephunt like a bag o' salt? 
 
 "W'y, cuz cyan' neider one of 'em climb a 
 tree! 
 
 "I'se mekkin' 'em up myself, Miss No'th, 
 ? n' it 's jes' ez easy! 
 
 "W'y is a elephunt- -" 
 
 "/ see! But wait Ezekiel! Now tell me 
 what he did!" 
 
WELL, I'SE GWINE CLIMB UP V GIT YER, DEN,' 
 OLE MAN SAY" 
 
"A BOOK FOR MOTHERS " 75 
 
 "Well well, yer see, I ain' 'zackly 'tide 
 w'at he is done, cuz dat 's jes' ez fur 's I'se 
 went we'n I 'mence 'bout de elephunts. 
 
 "W'y is a elephunt - 
 
 "Yes! Yes, indeed! Certainly! And yet, 
 that does n't seem to be a very good place to 
 leave it, either!" 
 
 "No'm; 'tain' no place ter leave it." 
 
 "So what did he do to the old lady? Would n't 
 it be nice to have him do something very kind, 
 just for a little change?" 
 
 "Yas'm," agreed Ezekiel, picking up connec 
 tions again. 
 
 "'N' de ole lady 'mence ter scole 'im right 
 smart fer bein' out ser late in de night, so w'at 
 yer s'pose he done? W'y, he give 'er a nice 
 li'l' bag o' cough-drops." 
 
 "That was kind, I am sure." Miss North 
 thought she saw the end in view. "Now, how 
 are you going to finish it?" 
 
 "'N' den he went home V drown 'isself in 
 de well." 
 
 Ezekiel paused, evidently considering his 
 labours practically over. 
 
 "That was a little sudden, wasn't it?" sug 
 gested Miss North, "just a little sudden?" 
 
76 EZEKIEL 
 
 "Yas 'm, but dat ain' quite de en', nudder. 
 De en' is 'bout mothers. Like dis: 
 
 "'N' so eve'y mother mus' watch out right 
 smart. Cuz, co'se, de same thing might 'appen 
 ter any HT boy. 'N' dat 's w'y dey mus' learn 
 'em ter do right, 'n' read 'em de Bible, 'n' run 
 down ter Jones's corner after 'em. Cuz dey '11 
 git inter right smart o' trouble ef dey doan't. 
 'N' 'specially 'bout de age o' twelve years ole." 
 
 " And so that is the end? Well, supposing 
 you sit down, Ezekiel, and finish it." 
 
 The three little boys had gone, feeling 
 that they had had a rather strenuous and im 
 pressive half-hour, and Ezekiel turned in the 
 doorway and looked back again at Miss North. 
 
 "Show your book to Miss Jane, Ezekiel, if 
 you see her. I think perhaps she would like 
 it. Good night." 
 
 " 'Night, Mis' No'th." 
 
 The next morning Miss North was at school 
 early again. So also was Ezekiel. 
 
 For some minutes she worked quietly at her 
 desk, and he sat in his seat, while his eyes wan 
 dered dreamily around the room. Then she 
 
"A BOOK FOR MOTHERS " 77 
 
 pushed a pile of papers into her desk drawer 
 and looked up. 
 
 "Did you read your book to Miss Jane last 
 night, Ezekiel?" 
 
 "Yas'm." 
 
 "And how did she like it? What did she say 
 about it?" 
 
 "Say it doan' soun' like r'al sense, 'n' say 
 she reckon I 'se wastin' my time. Say she reckon 
 I better frow it 'way 'n' jes' put my mine on my 
 books." 
 
 "Throw it away?" 
 
 "Yas'm. But I ain' frow it 'way," he went 
 on cheerfully "no'm; I jes' burn it up." 
 
 "What? What did you say, Ezekiel?" 
 
 "I ain' frow it 'way no'm; I jes' burn it 
 up." 
 
 "Burned it up!" Miss North found herself 
 feebly recalling the fate of the "French Revo 
 lution." "Burned it up! Why why did you 
 burn it up?" 
 
 "Well, yer see, 'long's I 'se finish it, I jes' 
 'cide I ain' gwine bother no mo' wid it; so I jes' 
 burn it right up. But" -he looked a bit re 
 gretful "but I I reckon I could write yer 
 anurrer book ef yer feels dat-a-way 'bout it, 
 
78 EZEKIEL 
 
 Miss No'th! W'y, I reckon I could write 
 anurrer one jes' ez good -- Miss No'th!" 
 
 "I don't doubt that you could, my child; I 
 don't doubt it." 
 
 She smiled in a way that he hardly under 
 stood, and glanced up at the clock. Then 
 they both remembered a conversation which 
 they had had the morning before. 
 
 "No, you needn't write me another one, 
 Ezekiel. You know you are going to begin and 
 work hard now." 
 
 The soft, dreamy, willing little dark face 
 looked back into hers, and suddenly, in a vivid, 
 flashing moment, she felt the full meaning of a 
 bitter truth of a childlike, willing, erring race 
 transplanted from the gentle drift of an Oriental 
 country to the stern, exacting West surrounded 
 there by another people, uncomprehending and 
 impatient. In the full light of the moment she 
 felt ashamed that she should have ever been 
 less realizing should have ever been found 
 wanting in her part, so simple compared with 
 theirs. 
 
 "Yes, Ezekiel," she repeated mechanically, 
 "you are going -r- to work hard." 
 
 "Yas 'm," he murmured. "I 'se gwine try." 
 
 
THE COLOUR-BEARER 
 
 1 
 
 WHO'S DE FLAG-BEA'R DIS MAWNIN'?'" 
 
THE COLOUR-BEARER 
 
 EZEKIEL looked down the long, straight 
 road which led to the Whittier School, 
 and travelled on slowly. It was still early, 
 hardly eight o'clock, but, for the hundredth 
 time, he recalled those last words which he 
 had heard from Miss Doane the afternoon 
 before : 
 
 "If you are here on time to-morrow morning, 
 Ezekiel, I am going to let you hold the flag 
 during morning exercises; be the flag- bearer. 
 You would like that, I suppose?" 
 
 The flag- bearer! It was something which he 
 could still think of only with 'bated breath. 
 The flag- bearer! That he should have lived to 
 deserve this honour! If he were there on time? 
 Would there be any doubt about his being there 
 on time? He listened to a far-away clock as it 
 measured out eight faint, even strokes. He 
 listened again, too, when the clock stopped, 
 
 81 
 
82 EZEKIEL 
 
 for he thought he heard something else. It was 
 like music, he thought, and he stopped a 
 moment and looked back down the long, straight 
 road which threw out even distant objects with 
 distinctness. He saw the distant object plainly, 
 too a high wagon with two long side seats, 
 the horses pulling on in front as the music came 
 nearer, nearer a band ! 
 
 Ezekiel felt a hot thrill of pleasure as he stepped 
 aside and looked up in the full blare of sound 
 at the men sitting there on the long seats with 
 puffing cheeks and bulging eyes. He wished 
 they wouldn't go on! It made him dance all 
 over, music like that! And he looked excitedly 
 at the low steps which led up into the high wagon. 
 They would soon be gone. He ran on, his blood 
 still throbbing, dancing, in his veins, and caught 
 at the low steps, while the men on the long seats 
 still played on. 
 
 Oh, away down South in Dixie! 
 Away! Away! 
 
 He threw his head back, glowing ecstatically 
 with the joyous thrill of sound, and away rattled 
 the wagon with its two long seats of puffing 
 men and its one small boy tucked in down below, 
 invisible to them all. Past the Whittier School, 
 
THE COLOUR-BEARER 83 
 
 around the corner, and then down another long, 
 straight road - 
 
 Away! Away! 
 
 Then, suddenly, the music stopped, and im 
 mediately there were only the harsh, metallic 
 sounds of the rattling wagon, varied by a few 
 unmusical voices coming down from above. 
 
 "Oh, shuh!" breathed Ezekiel, in disgust. 
 
 But the unmusical voices were evidently dis 
 cussing musical possibilities, and presently, with 
 a few preliminary puffs, something else came down 
 from above something different, unexpected, 
 too. A rare, sweet, gentle flow it was, perhaps 
 from only a few instruments. But as it flowed 
 on delicately, alluringly, Ezekiel's face softened 
 dreamily, and he gazed back over the road, 
 which was growing longer behind them, uncon 
 scious of it, unconscious of everything except 
 gently rolling on upon a sweet, rare drift of 
 sound. How long it continued he did n't 
 know, but occasionally he felt dimly conscious 
 of a swaying curve, of a new direction, of still 
 rolling on, but always on the sweet, rare drift 
 of sound. 
 
 Then it stopped again, and he waked from 
 his dream to another joyous rhythm of reality, 
 
84 EZEKIEL 
 
 and again he danced to the " Tum-te-tum- 
 te-tum! Tum-te-tum! Tum-te-tum ! " of the 
 band. 
 
 A red-clover field at one side seemed to nod 
 delicately, rhythmically, with the music, too; 
 but even that was left behind, nodding finally 
 only faintly in the distance. 
 
 Oh, say, can you see, 
 By the dawn's early light ! 
 
 It came like a loud, sudden call of danger, 
 and Ezekiel started up on his seat and looked 
 around him. 
 
 What so proudly we hail 
 
 He jumped from the step and stood in the 
 middle of the road, looking confusedly around 
 him with a frightened face. Where was he? 
 What were they playing? What were they 
 singing? No, what were they playing? They 
 sang it at the Whittier! They sang it just after 
 saluting the flag! The flag ? He was to hold 
 the flag he was to be the flag-bearer ! This 
 morning! If he were there on time! 
 Oh, where was he? They were probably singing 
 it now! Some one else was holding the flag! He 
 stood there, still looking around miserably, help- 
 
THE COLOUR-BEARER 85 
 
 lessly. From farther on down the road a faint 
 and mocking strain came back to him: 
 
 The star-spangled banner, 
 
 Oh, long may it wave 
 
 O 'er the land of the free 
 
 He turned sharply and began to run back 
 over the strange, hopeless-looking road, past 
 the red-clover field, still nodding delicately at 
 one side, past other fields not noticed before. 
 He must be right. There was only one road! 
 
 The star ! spang ! gl-led ! ban-ner ! 
 Oh, lo-ong ma-ay i-it wa-ave ! 
 
 Oh, how could he have forgotten? 
 
 The Whittier School stood lip straight and 
 still by the road, and a small, tired-looking boy 
 with dusty shoes came shuffling into the yard. 
 The sound of the children's voices singing came 
 out to him through the open windows, and he 
 shuffled on and threw himself down on the grass 
 close to the building. There were two chords 
 from the piano, a slight shifting of feet, and then 
 the children's voices came out to him again: 
 
 "/ pledge allegiance to my flag, and to the 
 republic for which it stands one nation in 
 divisible, with liberty and justice for all'' 
 
86 EZEKIEL 
 
 He looked wearily around the yard. He 
 thought he would n't go into school at all that 
 morning; he would just wait outside for a little 
 while until he found out there was one thing 
 which he wanted to find out. It was comfort 
 able lying there in the sun, too, beside the 
 violet-bed, and it may have been an hour 
 later when he looked up again to see a small 
 boy travelling across the yard to the pump. 
 Slowly Ezekiel pulled himself up from the sunny 
 grass and travelled across the yard to the 
 pump, too. 
 
 "Oh, w'at you out yere fer, boy?" he began 
 in agreeably skeptical tones. "Miss Doane '11 
 git after yer!" 
 
 The boy looked agreeable, too, to even that 
 contingency, and Ezekiel regarded him again. 
 
 "Who's de flag- bear' dis mawnin'?" he 
 questioned casually. 
 
 "Er a doan't yer know? Dat li'l Num 
 ber One chile," ruminated the boy. "L'renzo! 
 L'renzo Cam'ell." 
 
 Ezekiel looked incredulous. 
 
 "He ain' big enough fer no flag-bear'!" he 
 commented. "'N' I 'se gwine be ter-morrer 
 mawnin', anyhow. Miss Doane tole me I kin." 
 
THE COLOUR-BEARER 87 
 
 But when it came, that to-morrow morning, 
 Ezekiel stood modestly down in one of the long 
 rows where he had always stood before, and 
 Lorenzo once more marched proudly to the 
 platform. His chest rose high as he grasped 
 the long pole which rested on the floor, his small 
 heels came together, and he felt very straight 
 and large. Ezekiel looked at him sadly from 
 his modest position, and regarded him as a 
 small but presumptuous rival. 
 
 One! Two! 
 
 Lorenzo's little brown face flushed delicately 
 with pride and pleasure. 
 
 "/ pledge allegiance to my flag, and to the 
 republic for which it stands one nation indi 
 visible, with liberty and justice for all" 
 
 He seemed to grow that week, the small flag- 
 bearer; his back was always very straight, and 
 each morning as he marched to the platform his 
 chest rose high again, his heels came together, 
 and with the chords from the piano his little 
 brown face always flushed again with the same 
 thrill of pride and pleasure. And so the morn 
 ings went on, and on Friday there was a row 
 of visitors across the platform, who looked at 
 him with amused smiles and, for the moment, 
 
88 EZEKIEL 
 
 felt nothing but gentleness toward the dark- 
 skinned people for which he stood. 
 
 Ezekiel noticed, as he looked up at him that 
 morning, that he wore a spandy clean turn 
 over collar which glistened very white as the 
 sun fell on him through the window. Miss 
 North noticed it, too, as she stood behind 
 her row of children, and half consciously won 
 dered if his mother had ironed it for him that 
 morning. She had reason, afterward, to notice 
 it again. 
 
 Just why her children were late in passing 
 out that noon she could n't have told, definitely. 
 Perhaps it was because there had been a seem 
 ingly constant stream of visitors through her 
 room all the morning. But she noticed, as she 
 stepped back from the hall, that the Number 
 One children were passing out behind her own 
 -late, too. 
 
 She sat down for a moment, tired of numbers 
 and confusion, and wondered what it would be 
 like to get away from it all and be quiet. 
 
 Her children passed out into the big yard 
 which led out across the car-tracks, untroubled 
 by numbers or confusion, and danced off into 
 the road. The faint clang of a car-bell sounded 
 
THE COLOUR-BEARER 89 
 
 in the distance, and on down the road the chil 
 dren went. Ezekiel turned a moment, at one 
 side, and looked back at a few stragglers still 
 on the track. 
 
 " Look out ! " he called. " De cyar 's a-comin' ! " 
 
 They scattered in confusion, and the car came 
 swiftly on. Miss North was hurrying on through 
 the yard, but he did not see her. 
 
 "L'renzo!" he shouted. It was only Lorenzo 
 who was left there, trotting unconsciously on 
 between the tracks. He didn't know! 
 
 "L'renzo! L'renzo! De cyar! Jump! Quick!" 
 Ezekiel jumped, himself, a'nd caught wildly at 
 his arm, and the great, rolling thing came on. 
 
 "L'renzo!" he called again, in a thick voice 
 of terror, and something struck him. 
 
 "L'renzo!" And he lay at one side of the road, 
 while suddenly there seemed to be a wild, clamour 
 ing confusion everywhere. All the children 
 seemed to be back there again; Miss Doane was 
 there, and Miss North was trying, with a white 
 face, to lift him from the ground. The car had 
 gone on, and the clamour of children's voices 
 told shrilly of Lorenzo told confused, hys 
 terical things. They had taken him on in the 
 car! Before Miss North could stop them! 
 
90 EZEKIEL 
 
 Miss Doane looked at Miss North. 
 
 "I will take care of Ezekiel," she began; "he 
 is n't seriously hurt. But you will you go 
 on and find out about Lorenzo?" 
 
 "Yes," Miss North's voice came mechanically. 
 "Where is his mother?" 
 
 She never forgot that walk to find her. She 
 never forgot the sickening pallor that shot into 
 the brown skin, so much like Lorenzo's, when 
 she told her there had been an accident. She 
 never forgot half blindly following the woman 
 as she bolted wildly from the house, and of 
 being swept on in a strange contagion of excite 
 ment she knew not where. 
 
 Finally, the crowd found itself focussed, with the 
 same contagion of excitement, around a small drug 
 store, and Miss North, still half blindly watching 
 the woman with the sickening pallor in her brown 
 cheeks, reached out and caught her arm. 
 
 "Don't don't go in there," she whispered. 
 "Not yet! Let me go first." 
 
 The woman pushed on, struggling with the 
 crowd, heedless to sound, and two policemen 
 stepped in front of her. 
 
 "Hold on! What 's the hurry?" one of them 
 began facetiously. "You can't go in there!" 
 
THE COLOUR-BEARER 91 
 
 He took her firmly by the arm, but with helpless, 
 desperate movements she still tried to push on. 
 
 "I want my chile!" she began in a hoarse, 
 shaking voice. "Turn me loose! I mus' get to 
 my chile! Quick! Oh, turn me loose!" 
 
 She struggled hysterically with the grinning, 
 joking policemen. 
 
 "Hold on, now, sister! Hold on, now! Don't 
 get excited!" 
 
 There were appreciative guffaws from the 
 crowd. 
 
 "Oh, turn me loose!" she shrieked. "My 
 baby chile!" 
 
 To a philosopher, watching unemotionally, 
 it might have been a scene to awaken a long 
 train of thought this sudden vivid picture of 
 the startled, agonized mother-instinct, rushing 
 blindly ahead to save its young in a dog it would 
 have been looked on with a thrill of admiration; 
 but in this quivering woman with her sensitive 
 brown face pallid and agonized, with the drops 
 of perspiration standing out on her forehead, 
 it was a joke. 
 
 As Miss North thought of it afterward, the most 
 hideous thing about it was that at the time it 
 had all seemed so natural. 
 
9 2 EZEKIEL 
 
 But she stood by the policemen herself. 
 
 "Won't you let her go in, please?" 
 
 They stopped joking and looked at her 
 politely, respectfully, and the woman passed on, 
 she behind her. She, with not a thousandth 
 part of the other's immediate portion out of 
 the grand lot of human misery she was treated 
 with kindness, consideration. 
 
 And yet, at the time, that had seemed natural, 
 too. 
 
 They went on into the little store, and through 
 to the back. It was a sickening fulfilment of 
 all the unhappy suspense. There on the floor 
 lay the little figure that had stood so proudly 
 by the flag that morning the small limbs 
 lifeless, the piteously babyish face turned upward, 
 the cruel gash on the temple which had already 
 been bathed, perhaps by kind hands, the red 
 spots on the white collar which had shone so 
 clean in the sun earlier in the morning. There 
 was a faint cry from a hopeless woman, and 
 Miss North reached out and felt for her, putting 
 her, with hushed, gentle movements, into a 
 chair. But the door opened, and a man with 
 a shocked, questioning face came in. They said 
 he was one of the "road officials." But, with 
 
THE COLOUR-BEARER 93 
 
 that afterward of remembering, Miss North 
 felt very thankful that he did come that she 
 had seen his face. He knelt down gently beside 
 the child. He had a coarse physique, but he 
 also had the fineness of feeling. 
 
 "Ain't it a shame?" he said simply, and his 
 eyes were moist. 
 
 He passed over to the limp, moaning woman, 
 and put his hand kindly on her arm. 
 
 "Now, you just try to be quiet and wait here 
 a few minutes," he began, "and I 'm going to 
 get you taken right home." His voice was full 
 of simple human kindness. 
 
 And this was natural, too. 
 
 Miss North found herself clinging to it as her 
 mind flashed back to the policemen, to to 
 the man at the wheel of the car. She saw him 
 again, coming swiftly on, indifferent to the small 
 things scattering confusedly before him, or to 
 the one small thing still trotting unconsciously 
 along ; she saw would she always see it ? 
 that one small thing struggling helplessly on the 
 fender while the man at the wheel still drove on! 
 
 She looked into the kind face, still warm with 
 feeling. That sort of thing could not continue. 
 She said so, repeating it many times to herself, 
 
94 EZEKIEL 
 
 as she travelled back over the same road again 
 that noon. There would be enough simple 
 human kindness, natural human justice, found 
 for that. 
 
 The day wore away and gradually went out, 
 and a new one somewhere in the background 
 waited to take its place. And with the new 
 one came back, persistently, relentlessly, those 
 deep-dyed, vivid scenes of the old one. Again 
 Miss North travelled down the same road and 
 back again, watching them flash and repeat 
 themselves and still again, when the new day 
 had worn old, the road stretched out before her, 
 and a small boy with a bandaged head walked 
 slowly by her side. 
 
 "Does it tire you very much to walk so far, 
 Ezekiel?" she inquired, looking down at him 
 as his feet moved on wearily. 
 
 "No'm. 'Tain' much furrer, is it, Miss 
 No'th?" 
 
 "No, not much further, and then you can 
 go home and rest can't you?" 
 
 "Yas'm. Wat 's dey gwine ax us 'bout, 
 w'en we does git dere?" 
 
 "About why, I don't know exactly, of 
 course, but they want to find out if if it was 
 
"'TADJ' MUCH FURRER, is IT, MISS NO'TH?" 
 
THE COLOUR-BEARER 95 
 
 any one's fault that you were hurt yesterday, 
 that Lorenzo that there should have been 
 such an accident. Of course, if the man could 
 have stopped his car and did n't, why, of 
 course, they would n't want such a man running 
 a car, would they?" 
 
 "No'm, wouldn't want no sech a man's 
 dat," agreed Ezekiel; "w'y didn't he stop de 
 cyar, Miss No'th?" 
 
 "I don't know; but, you see, they want 
 us to tell them what we saw. It is what 
 they call a ' hearing'. They want to hear all 
 about it." 
 
 "Yas'm," and they stopped before a low 
 building standing close to the road. 
 
 "Now, Ezekiel," said Miss North, turning 
 squarely, " whatever else you do, tell the plain 
 truth and nothing more." 
 
 "Yas'm," and Ezekiel looked both weary and 
 frightened. 
 
 "Come," she added gently, looking at him, 
 "there's nothing to be afraid of"; and they 
 went up the low steps together. 
 
 When they came out again the sun had moved 
 on in the sky, and Ezekiel looked more weary 
 
96 EZEKIEL 
 
 and frightened than ever. Miss North looked 
 down at him, and her breath came quickly. 
 
 "I am sorry that we should have had to wait 
 -until the last," she began; " there, there, 
 Ezekiel! Sh sh! There's nothing to cry 
 about!" 
 
 He caught sobbingly at her arm. 
 
 "He he keep on axin' me way I could n' 
 jes' understan'!" he choked. 
 
 "I know it," she went on soothingly; "he used 
 long words didn't he ? that you couldn't 
 understand." 
 
 "Yas'm; he --he keep on say in' is de cyar 
 gwine is de cyar gwine sump'n' 'bout - 
 
 "Was the car going at a 'low rate of speed' ?" 
 She smiled, though she looked weary, too, and 
 spiritless, as her mind turned back. 
 
 "Yas'm; 'n' 'n' I tole 'im, <Y-yas, sir,' 
 'n' he he jes' laf an' say he f-fought so!" 
 
 "Never mind! Never mind!" There were 
 deep red spots on her cheeks, but she patted his 
 hand soothingly. "He knew it wasn't. I 
 told him exactly how it was." 
 
 Her last words came absently, and the red 
 spots burned in still deeper. 
 
 "Never mind, Ezekiel, if we were the only 
 
THE COLOUR-BEARER 97 
 
 ones who told the truth. Oh, child!" she 
 broke out, "always tell the truth!" 
 
 Hot tears glistened in her eyes and dropped 
 down before them. 
 
 "Y-yas'm," he answered in a faint, frightened 
 voice, looking up at her in consternation, 
 "y-yas'm; but I did n' mean ter tell 'im - 
 'twa'n' gwine fas' Miss No'th! I d-did n' 
 mean ter tell 'im dat! Only he he keep 
 on axin' me way I could n' - - jes' understan'! 
 But I tole 'im 'bout it too! I tole 'im 
 'fouuz gwine tur'ble fas' - - doan't yer know, 
 Miss No'th? I tole 'im 'twuz! An' an' - 
 I tole 'im I tries ter ketch 'im but I 
 could n' - - cuz - - it come ser fas' I I 
 could n'!" 
 
 His words caught in helpless, quivering sobs, 
 and he looked up at her again from under the 
 dry, hot bandage. Her heart smote her with a 
 dull, hopeless pain. 
 
 " There, there, my child! I know you did, 
 and you told him just as it was! I know you 
 did ! There, there, my child ! You must n't cry 
 - you must n't!" 
 
 She stopped, and, kneeling down on the cool 
 grass by the road, loosened the bandage around 
 
98 EZEKIEL 
 
 the hot, throbbing forehead, her lips moving 
 with hushed, broken words. 
 
 "You are very tired, aren't you little boy? 
 Would you like to stop and rest a little, in the 
 shade?" 
 
 "No'm, I ain' ve'y tired, Miss No'th," he 
 whispered appreciatively. 
 
 "Shall we go on, then slowly?" She 
 smiled at him and brushed the dampness from 
 her eyes, and they travelled on down the sunny 
 road. 
 
 It was not until they passed the gate at the 
 Whittier School that his weary little voice came 
 up to her again in a final haunting murmur: 
 
 " 'Twuz gwine tur'ble fas' - - an' - - he he 
 ain' nuver tried to stop. Wat 's dey gwine do 
 'bout it Miss No'th? 'Cuz he could stop 
 ef he tried but he he he ain' - - nuver - 
 tried." 
 
 It seemed a long time after when she stood 
 before the gate again, Monday morning, and 
 heard that "they would do" nothing about it. 
 
 Her mind flashed back to the hearing, and 
 she understood. She watched the children flock 
 through the gate in hundreds, and then, with 
 
THE COLOUR-BEARER 99 
 
 the same dull, hopeless pain in her heart, she 
 went on behind them. Where was the simple 
 human kindness that she had depended upon to 
 wipe the coarse, miserable cruelty away from 
 this thing? Where was it? As if she were 
 to be forever haunted, again she saw a struggling 
 child on the fender of a car while the man at the 
 wheel still drove on. She saw the tortured 
 mother's face, the laughing, joking policemen, 
 the limp little figure lying still with its babyish 
 face turned upward, the red spots on the clean 
 white collar, and the kind man who knelt gently 
 by his side. She was glad that she could see 
 him still. 
 
 She went into the school building, but still, 
 like a panorama, the same scenes shifted one 
 after another before her eyes. The bells sounded, 
 the children marched into the assembly room 
 in long lines, like a dream; and like a dream she 
 saw another little Number One boy mount to 
 the platform and support the flag. 
 
 A car sounded faintly in the distance and 
 then came whirling on, and to the man at the 
 wheel the sound of children's voices, singing, 
 floated out through the open windows. But he 
 whirled on, and two familiar chords came from 
 
ioo EZEKIEL 
 
 the piano. Then the long rows of children 
 shifted again and turned their gentle, dark 
 little faces up to the flag-bearer. For a moment 
 their eyes rested on him for a long, wondering, 
 troubled moment, their small, upturned faces 
 gazing at him in a kind of troubled, patient 
 acceptance. Like a last deep-dyed scene of the 
 same haunting dream they stood out the 
 small, troubled, wondering faces one of them 
 still partly hidden by a bandage, damp with tears. 
 
 But there came the chords again; unques- 
 tioningly the hands were lifted as they had 
 always been before, the eyes rose to the flag, and 
 once more came all the faithful voices in an 
 unbroken whole : 
 
 "I pledge allegiance to my flag, and to the re 
 public for which it stands one nation indi 
 visible with liberty and justice jor all" 
 
MIS' SIMONS'S PROTECTOR 
 
 "'N' DE BIG W'lTE GHOST LIF J UP 'IS ARMS SLOW 
 DISAWAY IN DE LIGHT, SAY: 'FOLLER ME ! ' " 
 
VI 
 
 MIS' SIMONS'S PROTECTOR 
 
 AS MISS JANE LANE glanced through her 
 -Z\ window, her eyes fell on a small figure 
 sitting on the walk at the foot of the steps, its 
 chin propped on its hands. 
 Miss Jane betook herself to the veranda. 
 
 "Why, Ezekiel!" she began, with a mingling 
 of both surprise and consternation in her tones, 
 "you haven't finished weeding the walk. Why 
 are you stopping?" 
 
 Ezekiel looked up cheerfully. 
 
 "Yas'm, Miss Jane," he began, with a ming 
 ling of both resignation and optimism in his 
 tones, "yas'm. I 'se gwine ten' ter my wuk 
 praesen'ly, Miss Jane, but I 'se jes' thinkin' 
 'bout time Mis' Simons pass sech a wo'ysome 
 night. Yas'm, Mis' Simons 's de w'ite lady 
 where I wuk las' summer. But yer see time 
 she pass sech a mis'ble night ain't I nuver 
 tole yer 'bout it, Miss Jane?" 
 
 103 
 
104 EZEKIEL 
 
 "No," said Miss Jane, glancing down at the 
 walk, "I believe you never did." 
 
 "Cuz seem like I mus ? a tole yer 'bout it, too. 
 Yer see it start out disaway. Cap'm Simons 
 come in de house one day, say- 
 
 "Yes. But you see, you haven't finished the 
 walk, yet, Ezekiel. How long will it take to 
 tell me about it?" 
 
 "Jes' a li'l' bit o' short w'ile, Miss Jane, cuz 
 yer see, Cap'm Simons come in de house, say - 
 
 "Because you know you must get the walk 
 done very soon," went on Miss Jane, taking 
 one of the veranda chairs and looking down a 
 bit doubtfully at Ezekiel who had again propped 
 his chin on his hands. 
 
 "Yas'm, but yer see, Cap'm Simons come in 
 de house, say: 
 
 "<W'y, I'se sorry, but I 'se 'fraid I has ter 
 go ter Rich'mon' 's evenin' - - 'n' I 'se 'fraid I 
 cyan' manage ter git back 'twell tomorrer.' 
 
 "'N' Mis' Simons say, <W'y, Naid, I'se kine 
 o' sorry it 'appen jes' dataway, too. Cuz 
 doan't yer know, dere 's Jonah 'n' Sarah 'n' 
 Marg'ret 's all went off ter de weddin' where 
 dey 's talkin' ser much 'bout, 'n' I tole 'em 'tain' 
 nary one of 'em 'blige ter git back 'twell mawninV 
 
MIS' SIMONS'S PROTECTOR 105 
 
 u 'W'y, sho' 'miff, dat 's too bad,' de Cap'm 
 say. 'Cert'nly is too bad. Does yer mine 
 ve'y much?' 
 
 "'N' Mis' Simons perten' co'se she ain't 'n' 
 say: 
 
 "'W'y, no. O' co'se not, Naid. Co'se I 'se 
 mo' sense 'n' dat! I reckon 'Zekiel 'n' I kin 
 manage de house fer one night, cyan't we, 
 'Zekiel?' 
 
 U 'N' I say, 'Yas'm.' 'N' de Cap'm kine o' 
 smile 'n' say he reckon so, too, 'n' he reckon he 
 kin trus' me, 'n' nex' yer know, he 's a-lickin' 
 off down de road fer de train. Mis' Simons 
 she 's natchelly a kine o' lookin' after 'im, too. 
 But praesen'ly she turn aroun' 'n' say, r'al 
 smilin' : 
 
 ""N' now you 's de man o' de house, ain't 
 you, 'Zekiel?' 
 
 "'N' co'se I 'low I is. But 'tain' no cause 
 fer no wo'yin' 'bout it yit, nurrer. 'Cuz eve'y- 
 thing goes along jes' ez ni ce! 'Twell 'way 
 'long af supper time, 'n' den Mis' Simons 's 
 a-settin' outen de summer-house wid a book. 
 Cert'nly seem like Mis' Simons mos' allays 
 'blige ter be readin' some kine o' book. But 
 dis yere time she am' zackly seem ter be readin' 
 
io6 EZEKIEL 
 
 nurrer. Fus' she open 'er book one place, 'n' 
 den she shet it up agin, 'n' den she open it agin, 
 'n' den she shet it up agin 'n' praesen'ly she say: 
 
 "<Oh, 'Zekiel, I reckon I'll jes' run over 'n' 
 see Mis' Myers fer HT while. 'Tain' dark yit,' 
 she say, 'but ef I ain' come back 'fo' eight, w'y, 
 I 'd like fer you ter come 'long, too, fer a com 
 panion back.' 
 
 "Well, praesen'ly, co'se it 'mence comin' 
 along kine o' dark, 'n' nex' yer know de clock 's 
 a-strikin' eight. 'N' she ain' home yit. 'N' 
 yit some'ow it look ser kine o' dark 'n' gloosome 
 down de road! But yer see I 'member 'bout de 
 Cap'm, 'n' 'bout he reckon I kin be 'sponsible 
 fer Mis' Simons, so I jes' start 'long, 'thouten 
 no mo' studyin' 'bout it. Yas'm, I is. 'N' I 
 tells yer ef 'tain' been fer dat fer dat bu'yin' 
 groun' siden de road, Miss Jane, w'y, ef 'tain' 
 been fer dat, reckon 'tain' been no trouble 't all. 
 But yer see I 'se gwine along dere, jes' gwine 
 along ez ni ce! W'en I begins ter 'member 
 dat where I done hyeah Jonah tellin' 'bout dem 
 hants 'n' ghostses! But I jes' keep right 'long, 
 too, right along 'twell I come right out siden de 
 bu'yin' groun'. 'N' oh, my soul! My soul, 
 Miss Jane! Dey 's ghostses all eroun'! Whole 
 
MIS' SIMONS'S PROTECTOR 107 
 
 passel of 'em! Jes' a-cavortin' 'roun' dere ez 
 ef dey 's to a party. Some of 'em 's a-settin' 
 down, 'n' some of 'em 's a-stan'in' up, 'n' some 
 of 'em 's jes' a-steppin' 'n' a-/f^pin' roun' ! Oh, 
 my soul, Miss Jane! I 'se mos' skeered ter def." 
 
 "Now, Ezekiel, you certainly must have imag 
 ined this," put in Miss Jane. 
 
 "'Magine! Lor, Miss Jane! I tells yer I 
 seen 'em! Dey 's jes' a hoppin' r'oun' ! 'N' I 
 could n' tek nary step furrer ter bless me. No'm, 
 I could n'. Cuz I could 'n move no mo' 'n 
 s' ef I 'se froze to a chunk o' ice. 'N' I wish I 
 is, too. 'N' I reckon you '11 wish so, too, w'en 
 I tells yer 'bout it. Cuz doan't yer know, nex' 
 I knows, it 's one o' dem ghostses a-joggin' 
 right 'long outen de bu'yin' groun', 'n' right 
 along siden me on de road! Well, ain't yer 
 reckon I start 'long 'thout no mo' argaments! 
 Yas'm! Up de road 'n' up de road - - 'n' inter 
 Mis' Myers's gate 'n' up de steps 'twell I 
 bus' right in where Mis' Simons 'n' Mis' Myers 
 wuz a settin'. 'N' den I jes' drap down a-yellin' 
 ter Mis' Simons 'bout de ghostses. 
 
 "Mis' Simons, co'se she ain' r'ally 'spectin' 
 me ter bus' in no sech a way 's dat, 'n' she start 
 up kine o' s'prise 'n' look at me 'n' say: 
 
io8 EZEKIEL 
 
 '"W'y, 'Zekiel! Stop it! Stop dis minit! 
 Wat does yer mean by ca'yin' on 'n' ack'in' 
 like dis!' 
 
 "But I keep on yellin' 'bout de ghostses, 'n' 
 a floppin' on de flo' 'twell Mis' Simons stan' 
 up 'n' I kin see 'tain' no foolishness 'bout it, 
 nurrer. 
 
 "'Git up off en dat flo' dis minit!' she say. 
 'Git up! Now doan't yer lemme hyeah anurrer 
 word 'twell yer kin talk mo' sens'ble. W'y, 
 I 'se 'shamed of yer, 'Zekiel!' she say. 
 
 "'N' yer see, it soun' ser much like r'al sense 
 w'en she spoke, dat 'co'se I kine o' ease off 'n' 
 den I 'mence tellin' 'er 'bout it 'gin. 
 
 '"Now, 'Zekiel,' she say, "co'se I 'se sorry 
 ef yer 's been frighten, but dis certainly 's all yer 
 'magernation, chile, all yer 'magernation.' 
 
 "'No'm, 'tain' no 'magernation,' I say. 
 
 "'Yes, 'Zekiel, 't is. 'Tirely yer 'magernation,' 
 she say. 'But yer jes' se' down 'n' res' yerself,' 
 she say. 'I reckon Mis' Myers '11 let yer, 'n' 
 praesen'ly, w'en yer gits fru dis yere foolishness, 
 we '11 start fer home.' 
 
 "So co'se I se' down, 'n' Mis' Simons 'n' 
 Mis' Myers begins a-laffin' 'n' talkin' 'twell 
 praesen'ly Mis' Simons say: 
 
MIS' SIMONS'S PROTECTOR 109 
 
 "'Well, I 'spec' I mus' be gwine, Mis' Myers,' 
 she say, 'good-night! Certainly 's done me 
 good ter see you.' 
 
 "'N' we start 'long. 
 
 "'Now, 'Zekiel,' Mis' Simons say, soon 's 
 de do 's shet, 'ef yer 's 'tall frighten, yer kin put 
 yer han' right de under siden my arm, data way,' 
 she say, ' 'n' keep it dere, but I doan' wanter 
 hyeah no mo' foolishness 'bout ghostses ter- 
 night.' 
 
 "'Yas'm,' I answer, 'but yer see I--I 'clare 
 I seen 'em, Mis' Simons.' 'N' we 's gittin' 
 right 'long dere now, too siden de bu'yin' 
 groun'. 
 
 '"No, 'Zekiel, yer prob'bly thought yer seen 
 sump'n', she say, 'but yer ain't r'ally. Jes' 
 look up yonder at de stars,' she say. 'Ain' 
 dey bright 'n' beautiful 's evenin', 'Zekiel?' 
 
 "'Yas'm,' I answer 'er 'gin, 'but ef I ain' 
 seen w'at I seen, w'at is I seen, Mis' Simons ? ' 
 
 "'W'y, shadders, I s'pose,' 'n' she jes' turn 
 J er haid 'n' look right in dere ' shadders, you 
 foolish chile,' she say, 'but I 'se 'fraid you 
 wuz n't ve'y brave, wuz you, 'Zekiel?' 'N' she 
 jes' keep on a-talkin' data way, ' shadders - 
 w'y, o' co'se, you foolish chile jes' shadders. 
 
no EZEKIEL 
 
 But looker dat won' erf ul star right siden de 
 moon, 'Zekiel ! ' she say. ' M m m I 
 won'er w'at de Cap'm 's doin' wid 'isself dis 
 evenin' - - doan't you ? ' ' 
 
 "Yes, of course, I see how it happened," said 
 Miss Jane, "but, of course, you don't believe 
 for a minute that there really are such things as 
 ghosts, do you, Ezekiel?" 
 
 "Wha'm you say? Yas'm, I seen plenty o' 
 ghostses dat-er time. Ain't yer nuver seed a 
 ghos' yit, Miss Jane?" 
 
 "No, I certainly have not." 
 
 "Cuz Mis' Simons say 'tain' no sech a thing 
 ez ghostses, too. But I reckon she ain' fergit 
 w'at 'appen in de night, nurrer." 
 
 "Why, Ezekiel, there did n't anything happen 
 in the night, did there?" 
 
 "Ya-as, ma-am! 'N' dey did! 'N' dey jes' 
 did!" 
 
 "Why, how very unfortunate!" ejaculated 
 Miss Jane. 
 
 "Yas'm, certainly wuz. 'N' she 's mos' a 
 hour lockin' up, too. ' 'N' 'Zekiel,' she say, 
 'you kin sleep in Sarah's room ter-night sence 
 we 's all 'lone. Yer 'd like ter sleep in Sarah's 
 room, I s'pose?' she say. 
 
MIS' SIMONS'S PROTECTOR in 
 
 "I am' cyare ser much 'bout sleep in' in no 
 Sarah's room, but I am' sayin' nuthin' 'n' 
 praesen'ly Mis' Simons she start fer 'er room 
 'n' shet de do'. But jes' 'fo' she 's raidy ter git 
 in de baid, she open it agin r'al sof - - jes' a 
 h'T. De moon 's a-shinin' right in crossen de 
 room, ser bright I kin see 'er stan'in' dere jes' 
 plain 's day wid dese yere long w'ite things kine 
 o' drappin' roun' 'er sof 'n' flowin' like. 'N' I 
 'clare she look mos' like a angel, too. Praesen'ly 
 she go 'cross de room ter de winder. Look like 
 she mus' be lookin' at de moon. 'N' I 'se 
 jes' layin' dere a-lookin' too - - 'twell look 
 like she seem ter be kine o' fadin' 'way. 'N' 
 praesen'ly it 's jes' one big, w'ite ghost a-standin' 
 dere all 'lone where Mis' Simons is befo'. 
 
 "'N' de big w'ite ghost lif up 'is arms slow 
 disaway in de light, say: 
 
 "Toiler me!' 
 
 "'N' same time big, w'ite ghost spoken de 
 words, it 's de trufe, whole lot o' HT ghostses 
 come a flyin' right in fru de winder mo' 'n' 
 mo', 'twell de room 's all fill up wid 'em. 'N' 
 den de big ghost lif up 'is arms slow agin, same 
 way's befo', 'n' speak 'gin, say: 
 
 "Toller me!' 
 
ii2 EZEKIEL 
 
 "'N' same time, he step off kine o 'light 'n' 
 slow 'n' easy, dancin' like 'roun' de room, 'n' all 
 de KT ghostses after 'im. Fus' jes' light 'n' 
 slow 'n' easy, 'twell de big ghost lif up 'is arms 
 'gin, 'n' den dey all 'mence gwine fas'er, 'twell 
 de big ghost speak 'gin kine o' singin' like, say : 
 
 "'Fus' we goes 'roun' in a circle 'n' den we 
 goes 'roun' in a squar'!" 
 
 "'N' same time he spoke, de clock struck one. 
 
 "'N' den all de KT ghostses join in, sing: 
 
 "'Fus' we goes 'roun' in a circle 'n' den we 
 goes 'roun' in a squar'!' 
 
 "'N' de stranges' thing! Same time dey sing 
 de words de clock struck one agin. 'N' dey 
 'mence gwine fas'er 'n' fas'er roun' in de circle, 
 'twell seem like dey 's gwine ser fas' I cyan' 
 see nuthin' 'cep'n' a kine o' dash o' w'ite gwine 
 'roun'. 'Twell dey stop all 't once, 'n' den 
 marchin', marchin', keepin' time, dey 'mence de 
 squar' ! 
 
 "'Fus' we goes 'roun' in a circle 'n' den we 
 goes 'roun' in a squar'!' big ghost sing agin. 
 'N' de clock struck one 
 
 "'Fus' we goes 'roun' in a circle 'n' den we 
 goes 'roun' in a squar' ! ' all de KT ghostses join 
 in 'n' same's befo', de clock struck one! 
 
MIS' SIMONS'S PROTECTOR 113 
 
 "Well, I 'se gittin' ser skeered by dis time I 
 could n' scacely move. 'N' still dey keep on - 
 a-singin' 'n' a-dancin' 'n' a-marchin' 'n' a-holl'in' 
 'bout de circle 'n' de squar', 'n' all time de clock 
 strikin' one! 
 
 "Oh, my! I wisht Mis' Simons 'd come 'n' 
 chase 'em out, but dey keep on athout no stop 
 - same thing over 'n over agin, 'n' de clock 
 strikin' one one one ! 
 
 " 'Mis' Simons /' I holler, 'Mis' Simons/ Ain't yer 
 comin'! Dey 's ghostses in de room! Mis' Simons!' 
 
 "'N' same time he hyeah me holler big ghost 
 lif up 'is arms agin - slow, 'n' den he jes' 
 dance off light 'n' easy todes de do', 'n' all de 
 li'P ghostses after 'im. 
 
 "'Mis' Simons!' I holler agin. 'Mis' Simons!' 
 'N' de ghostses dance right down styairs. 
 
 "'N' same time, I open my eyes, 'n' de do' 
 creak back, 'n' it 's Mis' Simons a-stan'in' dere 
 wid a cannle in 'er han'. 
 
 "'Is yer call, 'Zekiel?' she say, 'I'se mos' 
 sho' I hyeah someone callin'.' 
 
 "But w'en I tries tell 'er I is, my bref cotch 
 me so in my froat, 'tain' no use, 'n' I could n' 
 seem do nuthin' 'cep'n' cry 'n' bu'y my haid 
 'way down in de clo'es 'n' keep right on cryin' 
 
ii4 EZEKIEL 
 
 'n' my bref still a-cotchin' me in my froat. 'N' 
 I reckon Mis' Simons mils' 'a' been kine o' 
 s'prise, too. 'Cuz she come right 'crossen de 
 room w'en she hyeah me, 'n' praesen'ly I kin feel 
 'er han' a pushin' de clo'es back offen my haid. 
 
 "'Wat 's de matter wid you, 'Zekiel,' she say, 
 'w'y, what's de matter wid you? Wat?' she 
 say, ben'in' down like she cyan' hyeah, 'W'y, 
 I cyan' understan' nuthin' yer say, 'Zekiel. 
 Now wait a minit,' she say. 'Jes' wait a minit 
 
 - 'twell yer git a KT mo' quiet.' 'N' her voice 
 soun' ser kine o' sof 'n' reasonin' seem like it 
 mek me 'mence ter feel jes' a liT better. 'N' 
 praesen'ly I open my eyes 'n' look up. 
 
 "I reckon yer cyan' see me fru all dem tears, 
 kin yer?' she say, laffin' sof too, 'w'y, w'at in 
 de worP has you been ser frighten 'bout, chile?' 
 'N' same time, look like she 's a kine o' shimmerin' 
 back 'n' fofe in de light. 
 
 "'It 's-- 'bout de ghostses,' I w'isper to 'er. 
 'De ghostses come, Mis' Simons --'n' dey jes' 
 keep on a-dancin' 'roun' in de circle 'n' a-marchin' 
 in de squar'!' 
 
 "' A-dancin' 'roun' in de circle 'n' a-marchin' in 
 de squar'!' 'N' she 'mence a-laffin' right out loud. 
 
 "'Yas'm, dey is,' I say. 
 
MIS' SIMONS'S PROTECTOR 115 
 
 "'But where is dey now?' she ask, a lookin' 
 'roun', 'is you sho' 'twan't a dream, 'Zekiel?' 
 
 "'No'm. 'Tain' no dream,' I say. 'Cuz I 
 seen 'em w'en dey went downstyairs.' 
 
 " ' Downstyairs ? So dey went downstyairs, did 
 dey?' she say. 'Now, 'Zekiel! Yer know 'twuz 
 jes' a dream! 'Tain' nobody downstyairs. 
 Would yer like me ter go down 'n' tell yer so fer 
 sho' ?' 
 
 "'Oh, no'm!' I holler, 'doan't yer go down 
 styairs, Mis' Simons! Doan't yer go!' 
 
 "'But ef dey 's anybody down dere, 'Zekiel,' 
 'n' she 'mence kine o' laffin' agin, w'y, doan't 
 yer think - ' but she stop. 
 
 '"Doan't yer think- 'n' she stop agin, 'n' 
 walk off todes de do' - - listenin' like. 
 
 "'W'y, dat's kine o' strange, too,' she say, 
 talkin' low to 'erself like, w'y, w'at wuz dat I 
 won'er,' she say. 
 
 ""Twuz a do 9 a-shettin' , Mis' Simons!' 'N' 
 she ain' say nary word, 'cuz she could hyeah 
 it jes' plain 's day. 
 
 "'It mus' be de win',' she say to 'erself agin. 
 'W'y now w'at's dat?' 
 
 "'It's de ghostses! A- step pin' all tergerrer!' I 
 holler. l It 's de ghostses a-marchin' in de squarT 
 
u6 EZEKIEL 
 
 "'Now wait, 'Zekiel,' she say, V 'er voice 
 soun' kine o' diffren', 'be quiet, 'Zekiel. I- 
 mus' go down--'n' see.' 
 
 "'Doan't yer go, Mis' Simons!' I holler. <Oh, 
 please! Please doan't yer! Mis' Simons!' 'N' 
 she turn right 'roun'. 
 
 " "Zekiel,' she say, 'I want yer ter stop dis 
 ve'y minit. Does yer want ter help me or not?' 
 she say. 'Cuz ef yer do, yer 's ter jes' lie puf- 
 feck'ly still where y' are.' 'N' she tukkeri de 
 cannle 'n' walk right outen de room. 
 
 "Well, I could n' 'a' felt any diffren' ef I 'se 
 jes' froze in de baid. 'N' look like I is, too! 
 Cuz I jes' keep on a-layin' dere - - 'twell ef 'tain' 
 been fer thinkin', look like I might jes' keep on 
 a-layin' dere. But yer see, praesen'ly, I 'mence 
 ter 'member w'at de Cap'm say 'bout my bein' 
 'sponsible fer Mis' Simons. 'N' it's de trufe, 
 Miss Jane, I 'se jes' a fixin' ter git outen de baid 
 w'en plain ez day, keepin' time, de ghostses 
 'mence a-marchin' in de squar', Miss Jane! 
 'N' 'n' w'at yer s'pose? De clock struck one! 
 
 "W'y, I could n' 'a' gotten outen dat baid ef 
 'twuz a fun'ral percession gwine right by de 
 winder." 
 
 "Ezekiel! Think of poor Mrs. Simons!" 
 
MIS' SIMONS'S PROTECTOR 117 
 
 "Yas'm. I'se thinkin' 'bout 'er, too. 'N' 
 doan't yer know, she 's a-holl'in', too. 
 
 ""Zekiel!' she say 'way down below, "Zekiel! 
 Come hyeah dis minit! Dis ve'y minit!' 
 
 "Oh, my laws! I jes' kiver up my haid 'n' 
 sweat." 
 
 "Ezekiel!" moaned Miss Jane. 
 
 "Yas'm, I jes' kiver up my haid 'n' sweat." 
 
 Miss Jane's gasp of despair was almost inau 
 dible. 
 
 "But I'se thinkiri' 'bout Mis' Simons, too. 
 Yas'm, I is. 'N' praesen'ly I putten my haid 
 out, same 's ef I 'spec' fer it ter be chop right 
 off - - 'n' listen. But she ain' speak agin, 'n' 
 'tain' nary a soun' nowheres 'cep'n' de big, ole 
 clock a-tickin' - - tickin' in de hall, ' 'n' de breeze 
 a playin' jes' a li'F in de winder. 
 
 "'Dey's kill 'er!' I say ter myself. 'Mis' 
 Simons 's daid! Mis' Simons 's daid!' 'N' I 
 hop outen dat baid 'n' jump inter my clo'es - 
 oh, my! I 'se hu'yin' so den seem like I cyan' 
 breve --'n' I start outen de do', 'n' inter de top 
 hall oh, my! seem like I ain' nuver gwine 
 git dere - - 'n' same time I gits in de top hall 
 I hyeah a kine o' deep voice a-comin' up fum 
 below. But 'tain' nary a soun' fum Mis' Simons. 
 
n8 EZEKIEL 
 
 '"It 's de big ghost!' I say. 'Oh, wait! Mis' 
 Simons! Wait! I 'se comin' ter help yer! 
 Mis' Simons! I 'se comin'' I Wait! 7 'N' I jump 
 down de styairs all ter once, 'n' tyeah fru de hall, 
 'n' bus' open de libr'y do' a-tellin' 'er all de time 
 I 'se comin'. But time I bus' open de lib'ry do', 
 I jes' tum'le right down 'n' cyan' go no furrer 
 ter bless me. 'N' same time I know de room 's 
 all full o' light, 'n' I know Mis' Simons is a- 
 stan'in' by de fiah 'n' a man 's a-talkin' to 'er 
 kine o' deep 'n' low. 
 
 "'Oh, Mis' Simons!' I scream, 'doan' yer let 
 'em, Mis' Simons! Cuz I 'se come ter help yer! 
 I 'se come ter help yer!' 'N' look like I 
 could n' breve no mo' 'tall. 
 
 " ' W'y w'at in de worP ! ' I hyeah some 
 one say, ' w'at in de worl' ! ' 'N' I could 
 hyeah steps on de carpet, 'n' Mis' Simons's voice 
 comin' nare. 
 
 '"He's mos' frighten ter def, Naid,' she say, 
 "Zekiel! Wat's de matter? Wat's de matter 
 wid you ? He 's been dreamin' 'bout ghostses, 
 Naid, 'n' got ve'y much frighten,' she say. 'W'y, 
 'Zekiel! Wat's de matter wid you, chile? 
 Did yer 'magine sump'n else? W'y 'twas jes' 
 de Cap'm comin' back!' 
 
MIS' SIMONS'S PROTECTOR 119 
 
 "'Yas'm,' I answer 'er, 'n' I tries ter tell 'er 
 'bout my bein' 'sponsible fer 'er. 
 
 ""Sponsible?' de Cap'm say, kine o' brekkin' 
 in, ' 'sponsible fer 'er? W'y, sho' nuff!' 'N' 
 he 'mence ter laf 'n' laf 'n' Mis' Simons kine 
 o' 'mence, too. But den she put out 'er han' 
 'n' tech 'is arm, 'n' look like she 's a-tryin' not 
 ter smile 'tall. 
 
 '"Doan't yer laf at 'im, Naid,' she say low, 
 'n' turn 'roun' agin. 'So yer come down ter 
 pertec' me, did yer?' she ask me, 'dat wuz 
 ve'y nice uv yer, 'Zekiel. . . . 'N' now lessee 
 ef yer cyan't git up 'lone? Cyan't yer? Help 
 'im, Naid,' she say. 'W'y, he ain' no strength 
 'tall!' 
 
 '" Hullo, boy!' de Cap'm say, 'n' ben' over 
 'n' lif me right up, 'w'y, come on, boy! Wat 's 
 de matter wid yer ? You 's been havin' kine uv 
 a bad time lookin' af Mis' Simons, ain't yer?' 
 'N' he ca'ied me right up de styairs. 'Kine uv 
 a bad time! Well, I reckon I better stay right 
 yere ter home af dis, doan' you, 'Zekiel?' 
 
 "'Yas, sir,' I answer him, 'I reckon you is.' 
 
 '"'N' yit look like yer been a right good per- 
 tecter fer de fus' time, too,' 'n' he kine o' laf agin. 
 'A right good pertecter, ain't yer? Well, now, 
 
120 EZEKIEL 
 
 I reckon you 'se gwine be all right, ain't yer? 
 Yas, sir, I reckon you is! 'N' I 'spose you 
 better git ter dreamin' soon 's possible,' he say, 
 'n' walk along outen de room. 
 
 ". . . But jes' fo' I shet my eyes, de do' 
 creak open, 'n' Mis' Simons stan' dere agin wid 
 de cannle flickerin'. 
 
 "'You feels better, doan't yer, 'Zekiel?' she 
 say, ( yas. I fought yer did. Well, go ter 
 sleep now. 'Tain' nuthin' mo' ter wo'y 'bout 
 now, is dey? No, nuthin' mo'. Go right ter 
 sleep.'" 
 
 "H m " meditated Miss Jane, "it was 
 time to go to sleep, wasn't it?" 
 
 She looked down at the walk and then away 
 at the sun which had dropped low in the sky. 
 
 "Yes. . . . But Ezekiel, look!" And she 
 pointed away to the low sun. "Are you going 
 to finish the weeding, now?" 
 
 "Yas'm. 'N' I could see 'er cannle flickerin' 
 down de hall." 
 
EZEKIEL PROMISES 
 
 YAS'M, I'LL COME 'ROUN' RIGHT AFTER SCHOOL' 
 
VII 
 
 EZEKIEL PROMISES 
 
 WITH her conscience working in insistent 
 thumps, Miss Jane Lane stepped down 
 from her clean white veranda and looked through 
 the trees to the house of her neighbour. Across 
 the well-kept lawn in front of the house she 
 watched a small figure move slowly. That it 
 was Ezekiel there seemed to be not a reasonable 
 doubt; and with another insistent, conscientious 
 reminder, she again realized that she was losing 
 track of her former protege. Why, it was more 
 than two weeks since she had seen Ezekiel! As 
 she moved on across the- green lawn to the neigh 
 bouring house, she still looked through the trees 
 at the small, slowly moving figure. Then she 
 wound into the yard by way of a curved path 
 and stood before him. 
 
 "Why, Ezekiel!" she began, "what are you 
 doing?" For at the. very moment of her arrival 
 he had taken an unexpected leap into the air, 
 
 123 
 
i2 4 EZEKIEL 
 
 with some ultimate purpose, apparently, of 
 soaring away to the clouds quite beyond her 
 reach. 
 
 Just at this moment there was a step behind 
 her, and Miss Jane turned and recognized her 
 neighbour, Mr. Jonas Rankin. Now, Mr. Jonas 
 Rankin, like Miss Jane, was a New Englander. 
 In fact, Miss Jane had known him in New Eng 
 land before she had known him in Virginia. 
 To be even more explicit, although Miss Jane 
 and Mr. Ran-kin, as she called him, had known 
 each other many years, neither one had the 
 slightest affection for the other. And though 
 Miss Jane would not admit that she entertained 
 the least rancour toward her neighbour, she did 
 acknowledge that at times his views and expres 
 sions of opinion were certainly very peculiar 
 and exasperating. She was even forced to recall 
 that more than once, in talking with him, she 
 had become so wroth that the only safe thing 
 had been to discontinue the conversation. It 
 was with a perceptible slight straightening in 
 general carriage, then, that Miss Jane turned 
 and recognized her neighbour. 
 
 "Oh, good-morning, Mr. Ran-kin," she began, 
 in a well-directed attempt at affability com- 
 
EZEKIEL PROMISES 125 
 
 bined with dignity, " good - morning ! Yes, I 
 was just having a little conversation with Ezekiel. 
 You know, I am always interested in Ezekiel, 
 and he seemed to be acting so very strangely 
 as I came in. I was just questioning him as 
 to what he was doing." 
 
 " Doing!" interrupted Mr. Jonas Rankin, 
 without introductory parley of any sort. " Doing! 
 Good Lord! If you can find out one thing 
 that he has done in the last hour and a half, 
 Miss Miss Lane, I'll be much obliged!" 
 
 Miss Jane glanced around the yard with 
 evident hopes of obliging Mr. Rankin, and, not 
 being immediately successful, glanced at Ezekiel, 
 who, having alighted from his brief flight, was 
 standing smilingly before them. 
 
 " Doing!" put in Mr. Rankin again, while 
 his naturally red face seemed to deepen in hue 
 with repetition. "I put him out here, Miss Lane, 
 to pick up a few leaves and sticks. By the 
 looks, now, I should say he might get through 
 by the end of next week!" 
 
 "Why, Ezekiel!" began Miss Jane, feeling 
 really mortified as well as apologetic, "do you 
 call this work?" 
 
 "Yas'm," agreed Ezekiel, still smiling amia- 
 
126 EZEKIEL 
 
 bly. "I'se jes' a-chasin' a leaf, Miss Jane. 
 Yer see, Mister Rankin he tole me ter git all de 
 leaves 'n' sticks 'n' any udder liT ole fings I seen 
 layin' 'roun'." Just here he took another leap 
 after another elusive leaf, and Miss Jane in 
 voluntarily reached up a detaining arm. 
 
 "Why, Ezekiel!" she began, when he had 
 once more descended, "how you do act this morn 
 ing! Now, please don't go careering up like 
 that again ! You have work to do here which 
 you must finish. And not only that, but when 
 you get through here, I have something which I 
 should like to have you do for me. Now, think. 
 Can you come and do a little work for me this 
 afternoon, after school?" 
 
 "Af school dis evenin'?" ruminated Eze 
 kiel. "Yas'm, I kin do a liT wuk fer yer af 
 school, Miss Jane." 
 
 "Now, see here," put in Mr. Rankin, "excuse 
 me, Miss Lane, but no, you can't, either, you 
 young rascal. You promised to come back 
 here again after school and finish your work 
 here. You know you did, now, so what are 
 you talking about?" 
 
 "Yas, sir, I 'se comin' back agin af school - 
 ter finish my wuk yere, Mister Rankin." 
 
EZEKIEL PROMISES 127 
 
 "But then why did you say that you would 
 come to me, Ezekiel?" objected Miss Jane. 
 " Because, of course, you can't be in two 
 places at once. I am sorry that you can't, 
 because I need you very much right after 
 school." 
 
 Miss Jane looked perplexed, and Ezekiel 
 looked up at her comfortingly. 
 
 "Yas'm, I '11 come 'roun' right after school, 
 Miss Jane, jes' soon 's I kin git dere; yas'm - 
 I'll- -" 
 
 "Why, you young weathercock!" expostulated 
 Mr. Rankin, flourishing his cane around excitedly, 
 "didn't you just tell me that you were coming 
 here right after school?" 
 
 "Yas, sir yas, sir," corrected Ezekiel con 
 fusedly, "I--I tole yer I 'se comin' yere right 
 af school, 'cuz co'se yas, sir, I 'se a-comin' 
 yere right af school, Mister Rankin - 
 
 "But, Ezekiel," concluded Miss Jane gently, 
 "then, of course, you can't come to me." 
 
 "Yas'm, I --I'll come ter- -" he began 
 unsteadily, while his words caught confusedly in 
 his throat, "I'll- -" 
 
 "No," went on Miss Jane, gentleness still 
 dropping through her reserve, "no, Ezekiel, you 
 
128 EZEKIEL 
 
 can't. You see, he naturally is of a very 
 a very obliging disposition, Mr. Ran-kin." 
 
 " Obliging!" snorted Mr. Rankin. "I should 
 say he naturally was a dirty little liar!" 
 
 Miss Jane was shocked into ramrod stiffness. 
 
 "Of course, of course," Mr. Rankin briskly 
 apologized, "I don't wish to be offensive, but - 
 oh, it's the same old thing, Miss Lane! Their 
 word 's nothing; you can't trust 'em, you can't 
 believe 'em, and then you make all this hulla 
 baloo about educating them! Boo!" 
 
 "It would never occur to me that the reasons 
 you give are particularly good ones for not edu 
 cating them," responded Miss Jane icily. 
 
 "Educate that young prevaricator!" went on 
 Mr. Rankin, half humorously, half stormily. 
 "Why, you can't believe a word he says!" 
 
 "And that, even if it were so, would argue 
 that he does not need educating? It would 
 never occur to me to reason in that way." Miss 
 Jane's words might have been dropping in 
 little icy balls at Mr. Rankin's feet. 
 
 "Bosh! Reason! Education! He is n't 
 capable of receiving it. That boy, now! He 
 is n't capable of receiving information of any 
 variety," 
 
EZEKIEL PROMISES 129 
 
 "On the contrary, Miss North says she finds 
 him exceptionally capable." 
 
 "And who is Miss North, pray tell?" 
 
 "Miss North is his teacher. She has really 
 had more experience with him than you have, 
 Mr. Rankin." 
 
 "She's welcome to it," he grunted. 
 
 "By the way, Ezekiel," Miss Jane went on, 
 quite ignoring petty retorts, "isn't it almost 
 time for school?" 
 
 "I suppose so, I suppose so," agreed her 
 friend. "Just observe how much he's accom 
 plished this morning, Miss Lane! But run 
 along to school, boy! Miss Miss North 's 
 waiting for you and I 'm glad to get rid of you! 
 But remember that you come back here again 
 after school or you '11 hear from me!" 
 
 "Yas, sir," assured Ezekiel modestly; "I'se 
 gwine come right back yere af school." 
 
 "And, Ezekiel," concluded Miss Jane, bound 
 to have the last word, "when you are through 
 with Mr. Ran-kin, perhaps there will still be 
 time to come to me." 
 
 "Yas'm," came the willing answer, "I I'll 
 come ter you, too, Miss Jane!" 
 
 As he travelled on to school, his small dusty 
 
1 30 EZEKIEL 
 
 brown face looked listlessly irresponsive and 
 passive until his eyes, wandering away down 
 the long road, rested on one moving object 
 among many others. Then his steps quick 
 ened, and, passing other children on the road, 
 he came up with hurried, short breaths beside 
 Miss North. 
 
 "I '11 ca'y yer books fer you, Miss No'th!" he 
 panted, and dropped into a slower walk beside her. 
 
 "Oh yes, thank you," she said abstractedly. 
 "Just see those lovely violets down there, Ezekiel. 
 I was just thinking how neglected my own 
 garden-bed at the Institute is. Don't you think 
 you could come around after school this after 
 noon and weed it for me, Ezekiel? It troubles 
 me to have it so neglected." 
 
 Ezekiel looked up, momentarily perplexed, at 
 Miss North; his brown face softened a shade, 
 and then his eyes dropped. 
 
 "Yas'm, Miss No'th," he answered softly, 
 "yas'm; I kin come 'roun' af school --'n' 
 'n' weed it fer you!" 
 
 It had been a long, bright, uneventful day at 
 school, and Miss North looked at her children 
 with the satisfied feeling of another day done, 
 
EZEKIEL PROMISES 131 
 
 and raised her hand to the bell. But the door 
 opened, and her hand stopped, arrested for a 
 moment, while Miss Jane walked into the room. 
 
 1 'Oh, how do you do?" smiled Miss North, 
 dropping her voice to that lower note conven 
 tional between a teacher and visitor, as she 
 tapped the bell. 
 
 "I just want to see Ezekiel one moment, " 
 explained Miss Jane, coming nearer, and drop 
 ping into the lower note, too. 
 
 "Will you remain a moment, Ezekiel?" asked 
 Miss North, and the other children passed out. 
 
 He stood before them waiting, and Miss Jane 
 explained : 
 
 "I find I can't get home again until after six, 
 Ezekiel; but I want to tell you just what you 
 are to do in the garden when you get there. " 
 
 Ezekiel glanced a bit evasively at Miss North; 
 but she was listening to something which 
 sounded like a brisk peremptory tapping on 
 her school-room door, and did not notice. 
 
 "Come!" said Miss North, believing herself 
 mistaken, and Mr. Jonas Rankin walked into 
 the room. Both Miss Jane and Ezekiel looked 
 momentarily startled at this new arrival, and 
 Miss North, not being actually acquainted with 
 
132 EZEKIEL 
 
 the gentleman, looked at him with an expression 
 of polite interrogation. 
 
 "Miss North? Yes, yes," he puffed. (Eze- 
 kiel concluded that Mr. Rankin u mus' 'a' been 
 a-runnin'.") "I 'm Mr. Rankin. How do you 
 do, Miss Lane? I just dropped in to leave a 
 message with this this feller here. I was going 
 by, and thought probably I 'd just catch him." 
 
 Ezekiel looked pleasantly expectant. 
 
 "H'm, yes; I 've got to go out of town for a 
 few hours, and I sha'n't be on hand to tag you 
 round when you come over to finish up. He 's 
 promised to do some little odds and ends for 
 me this afternoon," he explained briefly to Miss 
 North. "Now, just listen, won't you, and see 
 if you can't do it just as I tell you." 
 
 Miss North looked suddenly down at Ezekiel 
 and opened her lips to say something and 
 changed her mind. Mr. Rankin went on with 
 quick, concise explanations: 
 
 "Now, see that you do it, boy! Will you?" 
 he concluded, not unkindly. 
 
 "Yas, sir," and Ezekiel' s look hovered in 
 some distress between Miss Jane and Miss 
 North. Miss Jane glanced at her old neighbour 
 and felt a sudden warm glow of aggressiveness. 
 
EZEKIEL PROMISES 133 
 
 "And you know you are promised to me, 
 Ezekiel, when you are through with Mr. Rankin. 
 My work must be done before night, too." 
 
 Again Miss North's eyes dropped quickly on 
 Ezekiel, and again her lips opened in surprise; 
 and then again Miss North, still looking in 
 scrutably down at Ezekiel, changed her mind. 
 
 "He won't be through at my place before 
 dark, I 'm afraid, Miss Lane," went on Mr. 
 Rankin briskly; "but, if he is, all right. Now 
 you understand, don't you, boy?" 
 
 Ezekiel looked unhappily up at Miss North, 
 whose eyes were still resting on him in silent 
 inscrutability, and miserably realized that an 
 explanation was absolutely called for. 
 
 "Yas, sir yas'm yas, sir- he stam 
 mered; "I reckon I I'll be right busy dis 
 evenin'." He smiled a little wildly, and picked 
 confusedly at one short trouser-leg. "Cuz" 
 he looked appealingly at Miss North "Cuz I 
 tole Miss Miss No'th I I 'se gwine do a 
 li'l' wuk af school fer fer 'er, too!" 
 
 His three employers gazed down at him for 
 a moment, and the young employee, wretched 
 with self-abasement, made no show of gazing 
 back. 
 
134 EZEKIEL 
 
 "Well!" Mr. Rankin was the first to speak. 
 "I wish you success! You 've engaged yourself 
 to three distinct persons at the same time. Oh, 
 Lord! is n't that the race all over? The amount 
 of it '11 be, he won't get one thing done for any 
 one of us not one thing! If that's not the 
 truth, I 've never spoken it. I give up!" 
 
 Mr. Rankin wheeled suddenly around and 
 departed, and Ezekiel stood glancing at brief 
 intervals at his two remaining employers. 
 
 "I 'm afraid there is something in it, Ezekiel," 
 began Miss Jane dolorously, after the silence; 
 "you don't think what you are saying, and you 
 make promises that that you really can't 
 fulfil." 
 
 Ezekiel' s eyes, burning with consciousness, 
 gazed immovably down at the floor. 
 
 "I don't know what to expect of you in this 
 case, I 'm sure. Of course, you can't do all 
 that you have promised. Well, all I can say 
 is I hope you will do as well as you can." 
 
 And, too much burdened even to say good 
 night to Miss North, Miss Jane turned and 
 walked away, and closed the door behind her. 
 
 The final employer and employee stood alone. 
 
 Ezekiel was still looking so hard at one par- 
 
EZEKIEL PROMISES 135 
 
 ticular board in the floor that he could n't possibly 
 look at Miss North, too; but suddenly he thought 
 he heard her move. Slowly he raised his eyes. 
 It was n't so bad, after all, to be just just 
 alone with Miss North. He had been left alone 
 with Miss North before. 
 
 "Well, Ezekiel," she began calmly, as she sat 
 down at her desk, "it looks as if you were going 
 to have rather a full evening, doesn't it?" 
 
 "Yas'm," began Ezekiel; but his voice was 
 such a husky apology, it seemed better not to 
 continue. 
 
 Miss North leaned lightly on her arms, which 
 rested on her desk, her fingers clasped. 
 
 "Oh, Ezekiel!" she began suddenly, and 
 Ezekiel looked up again with a startled feeling 
 of not knowing just what she was going to do. 
 Laugh? No. "Oh, Ezekiel, Ezekiel, why do 
 you?" 
 
 "/ dunno'm, " he murmured vaguely, con 
 tritely. 
 
 "I don't know, either, I'm sure." And her 
 eyes stopped again on the small brown face as 
 if she were trying to read through to that strange 
 little bundle of shifting thoughts and feelings 
 inside. 
 
136 EZEKIEL 
 
 "Well, Ezekiel," she finally went on, moving 
 quickly in her chair, as if she were waking up 
 and realized that there were things to be accom 
 plished, "it's just this! Come right here, so 
 that you can understand every word I say." 
 
 Ezekiel moved slowly nearer, looking very 
 much as if he were seeking protection from her 
 because she frightened him! 
 
 "Now, look at me and listen," she began, as 
 one small hand sought waver in gly a fold in her 
 dress. "You have promised Mr. Rankin that 
 you will do what he has told you to do in his 
 yard this afternoon; you have promised Miss 
 Jane that you will do what she has told you to 
 do in her garden; and I don't know that you 
 have promised but you certainly have given 
 me to understand that you will also do what I 
 asked you to do in my garden. Now, Ezekiel, 
 if I were you, I should do all those things, if it 
 took me all night" 
 
 Ezekiel had apparently decided to be only 
 frightened. 
 
 "Of course, it won't take you all night," she 
 added more gently, looking at him; "of course, 
 if you hurry, and work just as hard as you can, 
 you will probably get through with it all - 
 
EZEKIEL PROMISES 137 
 
 before supper-time, won't you? You see, the 
 point is, Ezekiel, you must not get into 
 the habit of promising things you can't do." 
 
 "I I'se gwine do it all, Miss No'th," he 
 began, in a small, far-away voice; "I knowed 
 all de time I 'se 'blige do all all I say I 
 would!" 
 
 "Why, yes, of course, you 're going to do it 
 all, because you said you would! Mr. Rankin 
 said you would n't, did n't he ? But you will, 
 won't you? Yes, yes; go on, Ezekiel, go on, 
 and see how quickly you can get it done!" 
 
 Ezekiel went on, his eyes fixed steadily on a 
 distant green lawn. 
 
 "Co'se, w'en I say I 'se gwine do it w'y, 
 co'se I is," he ruminated as he ran. 
 
 On the green lawn by Mr. Rankin' s house, and 
 on the more ragged brown lawn behind the 
 house, and in the garden-beds at the side of the 
 house, things seemed to grow and multiply and 
 grow again as he worked on. . . ... 
 
 Dusty and tired, he shuffled out of the yard 
 and moved on, looking at the western sky, where 
 only a few faint suggestions of the departing sun 
 remained. 
 
138 EZEKIEL 
 
 "I wisht I ain' say I 'd do quite ser much!" 
 he soliloquized just audibly, and he looked down 
 at the thick, small weeds in Miss Jane's chry 
 santhemum-bed, "cuz I--I ain' had no supper 
 - yit, 'n' I 'se kine o' tired, too! Seem like 
 I ain' nuver been ser tired befo'!" Then 
 he looked back at the still more dimly streaked 
 sky, and a real fear took possession of him. It 
 was growing dark. 
 
 "I did n' reckon -- 'twas gwine tek me ser 
 long at Mr. Rankin's," he argued wearily, "but 
 seem like it allays teks me r'al long ter do jes' 
 aliT!" 
 
 He let himself drop gently down on to the 
 soft earth and looked up at the darkening sky. 
 Already he thought he saw a star twinkling 
 away up there above him, and he looked at it 
 steadily, until, far away on the horizon, some 
 thing else caught his eye. It was an early-even 
 ing moon climbing slowly up and looking strangely 
 round and dim in the half dark. 
 
 "Cert'nly is pretty," he soliloquized, "'n' I 
 jes' wish I could go right ter sleep, too. But I 
 reckon I cyan't, cuz, I mus' git right up 'n' go 
 'long wid my wuk 'gin." He raised himself to 
 his knees, and then he bent down over the chry- 
 
EZEKIEL PROMISES 139 
 
 santhemum bed. Suddenly he straightened him 
 self up and looked around in a queer, dazed way 
 at numberless other beds around him. 
 
 "Miss Jane did n' didn' finish tellm' me!" 
 he gasped. "I wonder did she did she want 
 me ter weed de whul gyarden!" 
 
 Miss North found it hard to go to sleep that 
 night. Bygone scenes of the day persistently 
 came back to her. First it was the long road 
 and Ezekiel, with her books under his arm, 
 trudging at her side. "Yas'm I kin come 
 'roun'--af school," his small voice began 
 again; and then the scene shifted, and, standing 
 between Miss Jane Lane and Mr. Rankin, she 
 was again looking down on Ezekiel. Pleadingly 
 his eyes were seeking hers while she stood silent 
 between his two other accusers. Again she 
 heard Mr. Rankin' s voice vibrating coarsely, 
 uncompromisingly: "Oh, Lord! isn't that the 
 race all over? . . . Not one thing! . . . 
 I give up!" But he had understood so well - 
 Ezekiel after she had talked with him ! He 
 would get everything done, everything that he 
 had promised! And Mr. Rankin should know 
 about that, too! She hoped it had n't taken too 
 
140 EZEKIEL 
 
 long, though. It did take Ezekiel so long 
 sometimes. Her eyes closed sleepily. He did n't 
 really seem to understand very well about 
 work. She turned over with* her face to the 
 light, and her eyes opened and closed again. 
 
 How long afterward it was that the moon- 
 flooded room faded into nothingness far below 
 her she could n't have told. She was poised 
 above the world. She was getting a bird's-eye 
 view of the world. The fact that it was round 
 was of little importance. She could see it all, 
 and there was only one thing which she saw that 
 she did not understand. It was a wheel an 
 enormous great wheel that seemed to encompass 
 all the zones. But she did not understand, and 
 her eyes wandered away, curiously seeking 
 distant countries, until, by some strange fasci 
 nation, they stopped, gazing wonderingly at one. 
 Dark-skinned children were moving on it, shifting 
 gently in endless numbers before her eyes. The 
 sun warmed them and they lay down in it and 
 slept, the tropical growth everywhere fed them, 
 and they waked up and ate and then wandered on 
 again, not thinking of the next day, knowing that 
 the sun was always there and the tropical growth. 
 
 But suddenly the great encompassing wheel 
 
EZEKIEL PROMISES 141 
 
 began to move. It caught them up one by one 
 from their tropical country and carried them 
 whirling on and on and on around the world. 
 Then it stopped, and one by one, as it had snatched 
 them up, it shook them off. And with a for 
 bidding wind blowing in their faces, they looked, 
 dazed, around an unknown country on an un 
 known people who had keen fighting with the 
 
 elements since time began 
 
 "It wasn't fair to make them start so far 
 behind!" she said aloud in her sleep, and then 
 she sat up in bed and looked around the bright 
 room. The light was so vivid that she got up 
 to draw her curtain and stopped at the window 
 a moment, looking down. Suddenly a sharp 
 sound caught in her throat, and she leaned over 
 the window-sill peering through the brightness. 
 Below her, huddled over a violet bed; a little 
 figure crouched close to the ground, while with 
 slow, weary, machine-like movements, a hand 
 still fumbled among the violets and pulled up 
 weeds in the moonlight. There was a cold, 
 sharp wind blowing from the water, and she 
 saw him stop and put both his hands together 
 and blow on them. She tried to shake off the 
 spell of her dream which still held her with its 
 
142 EZEKIEL 
 
 gentle sun-warmed breezes and its luxurious 
 growth and its dark-skinned the small figure 
 below blotted it out. He was wrapping both 
 his arms around him for warmth and blowing 
 again on his little cold hands. As he did so she 
 saw him lean wearily forward. Then, slowly, 
 he pulled himself back and fumblingly began 
 pulling again at the weeds. 
 
 "Ezekiel!" she called, in a quick, sharp 
 whisper, but he did not hear. 
 
 With rapid movements she began to dress. 
 Through the long, dim corridors she made her 
 way downstairs, out, down the path, until she 
 stood beside the violet bed. 
 
 "Ezekiel! Ezekiel!" she began, putting out 
 her hand unsteadily. 
 
 He turned quickly, and looked up at her with 
 tired, frightened eyes. 
 
 "I 'se a-doin' it, Miss No'th!" he began, almost 
 in a sob, "I 'se a-doin' it jes' de way I say I 
 would ! Only Miss Jane's gyarden wuz ser 
 b-big! 'N' I 'se been a-wukkin' -- right smart 
 'long!' 7 With an effort he shifted his sore aching 
 knees and slid wearily down to the cold earth. 
 
 Miss North, with a bitter, accusing conscience, 
 bent over him. 
 
EZEKIEL PROMISES 143 
 
 "Oh, my child, my poor little boy! Ezekiel! 
 What have you been trying to do? What have 
 you Ezekiel? Don't you hear me? You 
 must get up; you are cold and and sick! Oh, 
 what have I done?" she mumbled. 
 
 He dragged himself to his feet and held on 
 loosely by one of her shoulders. 
 
 "No'm, I ain' sick Miss No'th," he assured 
 her faintly, "V I reckon I kin git it all done 
 -only yer mus' gib me jes' a liT mo' time!" 
 He turned mechanically again to the weeds. 
 
 "No, Ezekiel, no! I didn't mean that! 
 You must get to somewhere to bed. I did n't 
 mean that you were to stay out like this Eze 
 kiel, I didn't mean like this! Come with me! 
 Miss Jane wants to see you Miss Jane wants 
 to see you now!" 
 
 "Mr. Rankin '11 say I did n't git it done. 
 'N' I ain't, is I ? I ain' did w'at I say I would, 
 Miss No'th is I ? But I reckon I kin too 
 - ef yer kin only jes' gib me a liT mo' - 
 time!" 
 
 "No, you did n't you did n't," she mut 
 tered. "Mr. Rankin never mind oh, I 'm 
 glad you did n't, Ezekiel / 'm glad you - 
 didn't get it done!" 
 
144 EZEKIEL 
 
 He put his hand passively in hers and unre 
 sistingly followed her as she led him to Miss 
 Jane's door. 
 
 Again Miss North tried vainly to go to sleep. 
 But the light streaked in around the window 
 curtain, and dreams and realities stood out haunt- 
 ingly before her. Now it was the revolving, 
 encompassing wheel snatching up the children 
 of the tropics and dropping them again in another 
 land. Then it was Mr. Jonas Rankin standing 
 by in hard, stern criticism. Then it was the 
 pleading, trembling little voice of one of the 
 least of the dark-skinned children, weakly, 
 haltingly pushing on while a proud procession 
 of centuries looked back at him, looked back 
 with distant, mocking pride and then marched 
 on again in stately procession. 
 
 " Yer mus' gib me jes' a li'P mo' - - time!" 
 came the faint, small voice again, "cuz I I 
 reckon I kin do it ef yer '11 gib me jes' a 
 HT mo' --time!" 
 
 "Oh, Lord above us, what brutes we are!" 
 she muttered. "Forgive it, forgive it, Ezekiel! 
 We don't know what we do." 
 
IN CHARGE OF TRUSTY 
 
 EZEKIEL AND TRUSTY 
 
VIII 
 
 IN CHARGE OF TRUSTY 
 
 THERE was a dramatic arrival at the 
 Whittier School one Monday morning. 
 The children were gathered in their class 
 rooms, looking particularly good and hopeful just 
 after their morning exercises, and Miss Doane 
 was on the platform in the Assembly Room, 
 when she became aware of a slight confusion 
 in the outside hall. But, since visitors of distinc 
 tion always came in from that particular hall, 
 Miss Doane merely waited for whatever special 
 form of distinction this might be. There was 
 a thump on the door, and then, after some slight 
 parleying, and continued confusion on the other 
 side, it opened and two visitors made their 
 entrance. One was a very large and rather 
 ancient-looking coloured man, the other was a 
 very small coloured boy. They both looked some 
 what spent and breathless, and when the man 
 had deposited the boy before him, with a threat 
 ening wave of the stick, he took out a large 
 
 147 
 
148 EZEKIEL 
 
 bandana and wiped the sweat of honest toil from 
 his brow. Miss Doane, somewhat uneasy, 
 approached her visitor. 
 
 "Yer see, Miss," he explained, with a ges 
 ture of triumph toward the small heap on the 
 floor, "he's ser bad, I 'se jes' 'blige whup 'im 
 all de way ter school ter git 'im yere fer sho!" 
 
 Miss Doane made some response to the effect 
 that it certainly was an unusual way of making 
 sure that a child came to school, to which he 
 joined in: 
 
 "Ya'as, Miss, ya-as, Miss! Cert'nly is so! 
 Jes' 'blige drap all my wuk 'n' run 'im clean 
 yere. Now, ain't yer 'shame, boy, fer de lady 
 ter see yer ser bad 'n' hard-haided ?" 
 
 He was not too ashamed to grumble out an 
 unintelligible answer; but he looked quite dis 
 gusted with life in general, and twisted his head 
 around in all sorts of directions, and sniffed, 
 and rubbed his coat-sleeve across his face, and 
 appeared generally ill at ease. 
 
 "What is his name?" questioned Miss Doane. 
 
 " Trusty -- Trusty 'is name," explained the 
 parent. "Trusty Miles. W'y doan't yer speak 
 up, boy, 'n' tell de lady yer name?" 
 
 Trusty grunted. 
 
IN CHARGE OF TRUSTY 149 
 
 "He doesn't seem very glad to be here/* 
 suggested Miss Doane mildly. 
 
 "No, Miss, dat 's de trufe," agreed the parent 
 cordially, "dat 's de trufe! Yer see, he ain't 
 r'ally used ter w'ite folks' school, 'counten allays 
 gwine ter Miss Pauline Smiff's. Yas'm. He 
 ain't r'ally used ter w'ite folks, 'n' he jes' seem ter 
 natchelly balk at de idea fum de fus'." 
 
 "I see," returned Miss Doane modestly, pro 
 ducing a reader by way of tactful diversion. 
 
 Miss Pauline Smith's ex-pupil looked at it 
 a bit askance, and Miss Doane proceeded in a 
 somewhat harrowing attempt to discover and 
 lay bare anything in the least suggestive of 
 knowledge as such. . 
 
 "I see," she concluded finally, when there 
 was positively nothing more left to discover; 
 "I see. Will you follow me, please?" 
 
 With unexpected docility, Trusty turned and, 
 with his eyes fixed on a closed door toward 
 which Miss Doane led the way, followed, he 
 knew not where. 
 
 "Miss North," began Miss Doane, when the 
 door had opened and closed again, "Miss North, 
 I have a new pupil for you." 
 
 Miss North tried to look as if this were the 
 
150 EZEKIEL 
 
 most unexpected bit of good fortune which 
 could possibly come to her, and glanced around 
 for an appropriate seat. The children looked 
 pleased at the slight diversion, and Ezekiel, 
 sitting in a corner seat of the front row, looked 
 both pleased and intelligent. 
 
 "Dat 's Trusty," he began smilingly, in a low 
 voice to Miss North, "dat 's Trusty Miles, Miss 
 No'th;" and, feeling the cheerful superiority 
 of former acquaintance, he beamed delightedly 
 on Trusty. 
 
 "Yes; and I think you may sit right here," 
 explained Miss North, after brief consideration. 
 
 In lack of anything else to do, Trusty accepted 
 the offered seat. 
 
 "And now," continued Miss North, when 
 the children had once more settled them 
 selves and Miss Doane had gone back to her 
 waiting visitor, "we will go on with the lesson. 
 Yes, we had just decided that we all had 
 bodies ." 
 
 Ezekiel glanced at the new pupil, who seemed 
 to be somewhat taken by surprise at this unex 
 pected development, and was looking curiously 
 around the room with evident hope of disputing 
 the statement. 
 
IN CHARGE OF TRUSTY 151 
 
 "Yes, that is true, is it not, that we all have 
 bodies?" 
 
 They all looked around rather doubtfully, as 
 if they did not feel quite so sure on this point; 
 but, as no disembodied spirit spoke up in denial 
 of the assertion, it was gradually accepted. 
 
 "Yes; and these bodies have a great many 
 different parts, haven't they?" 
 
 "Yas'm," came rather faintly. 
 
 "Why, yes, indeed," went on Miss North, 
 quite gaily, "a great many different parts. Now, 
 what are some of these parts, children? Who 
 can think?" 
 
 There was a moment of tremendous concen 
 tration, and then a dozen hands went up. 
 
 "W T ell, Alphonso Jones and make a nice 
 sentence, Alphonso." 
 
 "Yer haid is part uv yer body," stated 
 Alphonso, as though he were not in the habit 
 of being contradicted. 
 
 "Yes, very true. Your head is part of your 
 body. And now, as different parts of the head, 
 we have - putting her fingers suggestively 
 
 to her ears - 
 
 "Ears!" shouted a tremendous chorus. 
 
 "Yes; and- closing her eyes and just 
 
152 EZEKIEL 
 
 touching the lids lightly, as the most delicate 
 hint possible - 
 
 "Eyes!" shouted a yet more tremendous 
 chorus. 
 
 "Yes; and now, since the eyes are such a very 
 important part of the head, let us think how we 
 can take very good care of the eyes." 
 
 This sounded rather complicated, and there 
 was another moment of awful concentration. 
 Even Trusty appeared to be thinking warmly 
 on the subject. 
 
 "Well, Ezekiel, what do you say?" 
 
 "Not pick no holes in 'em wid no pin," sugges 
 ted Ezekiel pleasantly. 
 
 "Why, Ezekiel, certainly not! Of course we 
 should n't want to pick holes in them with a pin; 
 but well, what do you say, Tommy?" 
 
 "Not pick no holes in 'em wid no needle!" 
 explained Tommy, his face all aglow with 
 enthusiasm. 
 
 "Why, no, indeed! Of course not why, 
 of course not. But that is n't just what I mean, 
 because of course you would never think of 
 doing that anyway, would you, Tommy?" 
 
 Hands were waving madly in all directions 
 now; but when young Charles Sumner Scott 
 
IN CHARGE OF TRUSTY 153 
 
 raised his with its usual effect of poise and pre 
 cision, Miss North considered the situation 
 saved. Charles usually saved the situation. 
 
 "How must we treat the eyes if we want to 
 keep them nice and strong, Charles?" 
 
 "Not pick no holes in 'em wid no Aa/-pin!" 
 announced Charles. 
 
 "Hands down!" ordered Miss North. 
 
 Hands down, indeed! 
 
 "Hezzy Cones, did you hear what I said?" 
 
 "Yath'm! Not pick no holthe in 'em wid no 
 hair-pinl" shouted Hezzy, not to be walked 
 over so easily, and jubilant at this slight 
 variation. 
 
 The new pupil had waked up, too. 
 
 "Not pick no holes in 'em wid no knittin 1 - 
 needle!" he sang loudly, in a perfect burst of 
 inspiration. 
 
 This was a stroke of genius, and they all looked 
 around on the new-comer admiringly, and looked 
 a little doubtful, for a moment, as to whether 
 anything more could be said on the subject. 
 
 Ezekiel fairly radiated at his friend's success. 
 
 "Now, wait, children!" said Miss North, with 
 emphasis amounting almost to severity. "Our 
 answers are getting wild. Very wild. And I 
 
154 EZEKIEL 
 
 do not wish to hear anything more about pins 
 or needles or hat- pins or knitting-needles. I 
 should like to see you all very straight in your 
 seats." 
 
 There was a tremendous effort at straight 
 ening up, whereupon Miss North proceeded 
 to make a few valuable suggestions in regard 
 to the treatment of the eyes. 
 
 "Now," said Miss North, as if she were pro 
 pounding a theory of rare and striking originality, 
 "who can tell me another part of the body?" 
 
 The pause was long; they were evidently 
 feeling somewhat sore over their last setback. 
 
 "Well?" encouraged Miss North. 
 
 "Yer laigs," mumbled a stuffy voice from 
 the back of the room. 
 
 "Yes, your legs, Samuel; that is quite right. 
 And perhaps you can tell me what your legs 
 are for, Samuel. But wait; we will think before 
 answering." 
 
 "Ter se' down with," answered Samuel 
 comfortably. 
 
 "No, Samuel; you evidently did not think; 
 they are for nothing of the kind," returned 
 Miss North shortly. 
 
 Trusty's hand was waving with unmistakable 
 
IN CHARGE OF TRUSTY 155 
 
 interest. Miss North was painfully aware that 
 he must be encouraged. 
 
 "Well, Trusty," she ventured, "what are your 
 legs for?" 
 
 "Ter hole yer feet on!" shouted Trusty, in 
 a perfect spasm of joyous interest. 
 
 Miss North essayed to collect her thoughts. 
 
 "Well, hardly, hardly for that alone, are 
 they, Trusty ? Tell me what else they are for." 
 
 But Trusty failed to find any other use to 
 which he could put the legs, and Miss North 
 again took the floor; whereupon Trusty's inter 
 est immediately subsided. 
 
 Later on she attempted, somewhat cau 
 tiously, to draw him out once more; but the 
 day went on, and not once again did Trusty 
 deign to come to the front. 
 
 The next morning Miss Doane was at school 
 early. She had been working for some moments 
 at her desk in the Assembly Room, when she 
 became aware that again an unusual sort of 
 demonstration was taking place in the out 
 side hall. To the hall Miss Doane went; and 
 there, once more, she was met by the large col 
 oured man and the small coloured boy. 
 
156 EZEKIEL 
 
 "Jes''blige ter 'ply de same kine o' coaxing 
 Miss! Whup 'im all de way yere! Ain't I, 
 Trusty?" 
 
 Poor Trusty appeared almost too spent even 
 to reply; and Miss Doane looked at him and 
 suggested that he go to his seat and rest. 
 
 "M-m-m ain' gwine no seat 'n' res'!" he 
 growled. 
 
 His father intervened: "Yer see, Miss? Yer 
 see? He 's de hard-haidedes' chile I 'se got, 'n' 
 dat 's de trufe. Come 'long, now, boy; jes' 
 come 'long now!" And, without ceremony, 
 Trusty was lifted with a firm hand and trans 
 ported through the Assembly Room to his seat, 
 where he was deposited with a thump. 
 
 Miss North looked up in mild surprise. 
 
 "Why, Trusty! Good -morning!" 
 
 Trusty's response was a thing of conjecture. 
 
 "And so you are back at school again; and 
 are n't you glad, after all, to come back to this 
 nice school?" 
 
 "M-m-m school nuthin'!" was the some 
 what ungracious response. 
 
 "Yer '11 fine 'im mighty wearysome, I 'spec', 
 Miss," put in the parent. "But whup 'im! 
 Dat 's all I kin say. Whup 'im all de time; 
 
IN CHARGE OF TRUSTY 157 
 
 an' me 'n' 'Mandy '11 wuk on 'im nights V 
 
 mawnin's." 
 
 Miss North looked at the diminutive object 
 but half filling his seat, and caught her breath. 
 
 Another day of alternate gloom and occa 
 sional spasmodic interest on Trusty's part, 
 another day of doubts and fears in his behalf on 
 the part of Miss North. 
 
 That night, just as he was about to scuffle 
 disconsolately behind the others from the room, 
 picturing, no doubt, some of the joys which 
 were awaiting him at home, she called him back. 
 Ezekiel stood by her desk, wondering why she 
 had called him, too. 
 
 "Trusty," she began, " would n't you like 
 to come to school to-morrow morning with 
 Ezekiel?" 
 
 Trusty looked up doubtfully, and Ezekiel 
 looked up, not just comprehending. 
 
 "You live near each other, don't you?" 
 
 "No'm." Ezekiel's tone wavered anxiously. 
 "No'm, we don't live nare each udder, Miss 
 No'th; Trusty he live clare way down de road." 
 
 He stopped, meditating; then his face seemed 
 to clear somewhat of its burden of thought. 
 "But I reckon I kin git 'im yere, ef yer wants, 
 
158 EZEKIEL 
 
 Miss No'th; yas'm, I I kin git 'im yere, ef 
 yer wants, cuz I kin go af 'im 'n' git 'im! Yas'm, 
 I kin ca'y 'im ter school, Miss No'th!" 
 
 Trusty looked a bit doubtful as to whether 
 he should entirely fall in with the plan, and 
 Miss North made haste to readjust herself. 
 
 "No'm, 'tain' no trouble, Miss No'th; no'm. 
 I kin ca'y 'im ter school ter-morrer, cyan't I 
 Trusty?" 
 
 Trusty still appeared to be doubting heavily; 
 but Ezekiel's assurances continued to ring 
 warmly, as they moved on toward the door and 
 disappeared into the hall. 
 
 It was still early the next morning when Miss 
 North worked alone in the school-room. Slowly 
 the door opened. Slowly two small figures 
 pushed their way awkwardly into the room. 
 Miss North looked up. 
 
 "Why, Ezekiel! And Trusty!" 
 
 They came in softly, hand in hand, and sjtood 
 before her desk, Trusty passive, Ezekiel glowing 
 shyly with pride and pleasure. 
 
 "Hyeah's Trusty, Miss No'th," he explained 
 briefly. 
 
 "I see. Why, how how very nice! And 
 
I KIN GIT 'ill YERE, EF YER WANTS " 
 
IN CHARGE OF TRUSTY 159 
 
 so nice and early. Why, Trusty, are n't you 
 glad you could get here so early?" 
 
 Trusty seemed hardly ready to commit him 
 self just yet, but began to look shyly pleased, too. 
 Ezekiel, still holding him by the hand, looked 
 down protectingly. 
 
 "Yas'm, he he likes ter git yere early; 
 doan't yer, Trusty?" 
 
 "Yes, I 'm sure he does," assured Miss North. 
 "And now, perhaps, he would like to help 
 by getting some of the dust out of these 
 erasers; they aren't very clean this morning.", 
 
 His eyes brightened. "Yas'm!" 
 
 The two came back looking as if they had 
 been temporarily detained in a flour-barrel. 
 
 "Why, yes, those are very clean; but you 
 seem to be just a little dusty yourselves, are n't 
 you?" 
 
 "Yas'm," agreed Trusty, while Ezekiel 
 brushed him with doubtful success. "Kin ole 
 Sam' el Smiff dus' em?" 
 
 " Samuel Smith? I don't think Samuel ever 
 did dust them - " 
 
 "Cuz me 'n' 'Zekiel kin dus' 'em good 's dat 
 'mos' any time; cyan't we, 'Zekiel?" 
 
 By the time that school was ready to begin 
 
160 EZEKIEL 
 
 that morning, there stood a stately line of " vis 
 itors from the North" across Miss North's room, 
 ready for enlightenment on the Negro Prob 
 lem. And as Miss North began: "We are 
 having a new month to-day, children; who can 
 tell me what the name of the month is?" the 
 line drew itself up, preparatory to getting right 
 down to the heart of the matter. 
 
 "What month, class?" 
 
 " February!" 
 
 "Yes; very good. Is February a short month 
 or a long month?" 
 
 There was an unfortunate difference of opinion. 
 
 "Short!" "Long!" "Short!" "Long!" 
 11 Short! " "Long! " 
 
 "Very well," joined in Miss North, ready to 
 agree to anything. "What do you say about 
 it, Archelus?" 
 
 "Li'F teeny bit uv a short month," explained 
 Archelus. "Ain' no longer 'n - 
 
 As Archelus was about to illustrate the length 
 of February with his two small hands, Miss 
 North waived any further information on the 
 subject, and went on: 
 
 "Yes, a short month. And who can tell me 
 what holiday we have in this month?" 
 
IN CHARGE OF TRUSTY 161 
 
 There were two or three who promptly arrived 
 at conclusions. The visitors were smiling wide 
 smiles of appreciation. 
 
 " Lemuel?" 
 
 "Chris'mas!" 
 
 "Oh, no; we have just had Christmas. 
 Samuel." 
 
 "ThanksgivinM" 
 
 "Why, no, indeed, Samuel; you are not think 
 ing. William?" 
 
 "Washington's Birthday!" 
 
 One of the visitors, a rosy-cheeked gentleman 
 with white hair, gave such a loud grunt of appre 
 ciation at this that Miss North glanced his way. 
 
 "Can he tell us anything about George Wash 
 ington?" he questioned smilingly, in response 
 to Miss North's glance. 
 
 "Oh, I think so. Who can tell me some 
 one thing about George Washington children? 
 Hands, please." 
 
 "That little boy," smiled the rosy-cheeked 
 gentleman; "he seems to be getting so very 
 much interested!" 
 
 Heavens! it was Trusty who was getting inter 
 ested. Miss North glanced at his face, which 
 radiated with delighted intelligence as he fixed 
 
162 EZEKIEL 
 
 his eyes on the closed coat-closet, and felt a 
 chilling and definite foreboding. 
 
 "H-m yes," she went on evasively, "yes. 
 Ezekiel, can you tell us something about - 
 what was the matter? Had Ezekiel forgotten 
 how to talk? To be sure! His eyes, kindling 
 with interest and pride, were fixed on his friend. 
 
 "No, no! This one," explained the rosy- 
 cheeked gentleman, his eyes still resting smil 
 ingly on Trusty. "Well, what do you know 
 about George Washington, little fellow?" 
 
 "Miss No'th got 'im shet up in de coat-dosel!" 
 
 The rosy-cheeked gentleman stepped back a 
 bit, and there was suddenly a rather startled 
 expression on the part of the visitors from the 
 North. Somewhat furtively they glanced at the 
 coat-closet, apparently expecting to see the immor 
 tal George emerge in person at any moment. 
 Miss North coughed slightly, and looked as if 
 she had known happier times. 
 
 "You may be seated, Trusty." 
 
 "She shet 'im in dere fer imperdence!" 
 explained Trusty. 
 
 But just then the door creaked softly, and 
 from the unknown depths of the coat-closet 
 a little figure peered anxiously. 
 
IN CHARGE OF TRUSTY 163 
 
 "Mith No'th! Kin I come out now?" 
 
 Miss North looked at the small figure, and 
 then at the visitors from the North, whereupon 
 they all looked at her; and then suddenly the 
 rosy-cheeked gentleman burst out into such 
 unchecked, joyous laughter that the others all 
 joined in, and the visitors from the North 
 moved on. 
 
 At the same time, there was a thump on the 
 door which opened from the back hall, and a 
 large and ancient coloured man advanced into 
 the room. 
 
 "Mawnin', Miss, mawninM" he began in 
 loud, cheerful tones. "'Scusin' de privilege o' 
 de interruption, I 'se 'blige ax yer kin I borry 
 Trusty fer a HT w'ile, 'spesh'ly fer de 'casion?" 
 
 Just what the occasion was he did not explain; 
 but Trusty, possibly receiving suggestive glim 
 mers of inward light on the subject, and being 
 at this particular moment otherwise interested, 
 began to show evidence of unexpected 
 combativeness. 
 
 "M-m-m I ain' gwine be 'scuse fer no 
 'casion," he mumbled cantankerously. 
 
 "Come, now, boy, ya-as yer is, too!" dis 
 agreed the parent, advancing toward the sub- 
 
1 64 EZEKIEL 
 
 ject of complication. "Yer see, Miss! Ain't 
 I tole yer he's de hard-haidedes' chile? Fus' 
 I 'se 'blige whup 'im school, 'n' nex' I cyan' 
 git 'im 'way ter bless me! Ain't I jes' tole yer!" 
 And again, with a firm hand, Trusty was lifted 
 and transported across the room to the open 
 door. Miss North hastily suggested the final 
 formalities requisite for an excuse, but her voice 
 was quite lost among the reverberations of a 
 more powerful organ: 
 
 "Ain't I jes' tole yer so! Ya-as, yer is, too! 
 Ain't I jes' tole yer! Come 'long, now; jes' come 
 'long, now!" 
 
 They disappeared through the doorway, and 
 then only the final reverberations came back to 
 them as Trusty was triumphantly exhorted on 
 his way. 
 
 But the worst of vicissitudes, and the best of 
 them, only wait to give place to new ones, and 
 the old days change to new ones and the weeks 
 and the months go on; and, as the oft-repeated 
 act becomes a habit, so it had finally become an 
 unvarying habit for Ezekiel to arrive at school 
 with Trusty's hand held loosely in his own, while 
 Trusty himself plodded unresistingly at his side. 
 
IN CHARGE OF TRUSTY 165 
 
 But occasionally there comes a time, too, 
 when the habitual thing fails to happen. 
 
 It was one morning toward the end of May. 
 Miss North had glanced at the clock, which 
 hovered close to nine, and then she had glanced 
 around the room at several waiting children, 
 and into the yard, which was filling rapidly, 
 and wondered, half passively, why Ezekiel and 
 Trusty had not come. In a quickly changing, 
 drifting undercurrent of thought, she remem 
 bered their first arrival together just how 
 they had looked as they stood, hand in hand, 
 before her desk. Again, she remembered Trusty 
 as he had looked that first day, just after his 
 arrival, first sullenly rebelling, and then vibra 
 ting, as it were, between a state of absolute 
 indifference and one of suddenly aroused interest. 
 Strange, how it had grown to be a regular thing 
 for Trusty to be " interested" ! She glanced 
 around the room and out to the yard again, and 
 wondered why they did n't come; and when one 
 of the children came in from outside with an 
 excited story of "ole Trusty racin' down de road, 
 'n' 'is father after 'im," she listened. 
 
 "Ole man Miles say Trusty he cyan' come 
 school dis yere day, 'n' Trusty say he is, 'n' 
 
i66 EZEKIEL 
 
 'Zekiel say he is, too, V ole man say he ain't, 
 'n' Trusty 'n' 'Zekiel say he is, 'n' start off down 
 de road jes' a-runnin'! 'N' ole man af 'em 
 clean all de way yere!" 
 
 A moment after this enthusiastic announce 
 ment, the school-room door burst open, and 
 Ezekiel came lurching into the room, half carry 
 ing, half dragging Trusty, who was spattered 
 with mud and dirt from head to foot. 
 
 "Miss No'thl He say he cyan' come!" cried 
 Ezekiel. " He he say he cyan 1 come no 
 mo'!" He stumbled against her desk, and Trusty 
 dropped limply down before him, feebly snatch 
 ing at Miss North's skirts. 
 
 " He he say I cyan' come no mo' !" 
 he whispered in a faint, panting echo. 
 
 Ezekiel dropped heavily against the desk, 
 his breath catching convulsively in his throat. 
 "He he lock 'im up so he cyan' come ter - 
 ter school!" he choked. " But T-Trusty he 
 say he he is, 'n' he keep on tellin' 'im he - 
 is 'n' he is! 'N' - - he jes' say he cyan' 
 come no mo' !" His head bumped down 
 between his arms, and he waited, his breath 
 still catching in his throat. "'N' I I tells 
 'im he he's 'blige ter come! But 'tain'- 
 
IN CHARGE OF TRUSTY 167 
 
 no - - use ; he he jes' lock de do' ! 'N' 
 we jumps outen de winder, 'n' he cotch T-Trusty 
 'n' lock 'im up 'gin - - 'n' - - he jumps outen 
 'gin cuz he keeps on tellin' 'im he he 's - 
 'b-blige ter come ter ter school! He he 
 tells 'im he's jes'- -'b-blige ter come!" 
 
 With hushed faces, the children gazed first 
 at Ezekiel and then at Miss North. With an 
 involuntary motion of the arms, she made a 
 movement toward him. But a small heap of a 
 boy stirred at her feet, and she looked down. 
 A possibility, suddenly realized, seemed to seize 
 him, and he looked up, clinging to her in help 
 less terror. 
 
 "Doan't yer let 'im tek me back!" he whis 
 pered hoarsely, "so I cyan' git 'way! Doan't 
 yer, Miss No'th! Please doan't yer! 'Cuz - 
 ain't I 'blige ain't I 'blige s-seem like 
 some'ow" - Miss North bent down to hear it 
 - " s-seem like some'ow t-ter-day I 'se 
 jes - - 'blige ter be yere!" 
 
 She heard the faint, choked whisper, and 
 she saw the trembling little figure. She saw 
 the other little figure, and then again the faint, 
 choked whisper came sounding up to her ears. 
 But dimly, dimly just for the moment 
 
1 68 EZEKIEL 
 
 she seemed to hear something else to see 
 another little boy, whipped to school by a coarse, 
 brutish man, yet all the while helplessly struggling 
 against it. That other little boy again the 
 small hands caught at her skirts. 
 
 "Doan't yer let 'im! Will yer, Miss No'th?" 
 
 She lifted him from the floor. 
 
 "No I won't let him," and she put him 
 gently into his seat. 
 
 Still, with hushed faces, the children gazed 
 wonderingly. . . . She held out her arms. 
 
 "Come, Ezekiel!" Was Miss North going 
 to cry ? 
 
 "Sit down right here, Ezekiel; you are 
 very tired!" 
 
 He still hung over the desk, and she went up 
 to him between the seats. 
 
 "Eze-kiel! Come! Come my dear little 
 boy!" 
 
 But there was the sound of an opening door, 
 and she turned. 
 
 In the doorway stood a large and ancient- 
 looking coloured man, and for a moment he only 
 stood there, breathing laboriously and mur 
 muring in strange, half -audible tones. Then, 
 with sudden, unexpected perception, he took 
 
IN CHARGE OF TRUSTY 169 
 
 in the scene before him. Half mortified, half 
 conciliatory, he turned to Miss North. 
 
 " Jes' all completely wrop up in dey edj crea 
 tion!" he explained ingratiatingly, with resigned 
 indulgence. His eyes rested on Trusty. 
 
 "Cert'nly did use ter be de boss o' dat boy! 
 Cert'nly did!" He looked at Ezekiel and 
 chuckled indulgently. "But look like times is 
 change! Cert'nly is change! Ya-as, suh, I jes' 
 natchelly pass de case over ter you!" 
 
 He turned around and went out again and 
 Ezekiel looked up at Miss North through his 
 tears. 
 
THE MISTLETOE BOUGH 
 
 'N IT TUKKEN RIGHT SMART OF A W'lLE FOR MY 
 ARM TER GIT ALL WELL AG'lN, TOO ' " 
 
IX 
 
 THE MISTLETOE BOUGH 
 
 IS yer ever been out ser fur 's dis, Miss 
 No'th?" inquired Ezekiel, his eyes trav 
 elling from the long rows of tree-trunks beside 
 the road up to the network of branches above 
 them. 
 
 "No, I never have, Ezekiel;" and Miss North 
 glanced around and up at the network of branches, 
 too. " We have travelled a long distance, have n't 
 we? Let 's stop and rest a little." 
 
 They sat down on some dry, brown moss, 
 and Ezekiel deposited a large, lacy branch of 
 mistletoe which he had carefully carried in his 
 arms. 
 
 "I think it's the most beautiful piece I ever 
 saw," meditated Miss North. "I 'm glad you 
 did n't break your neck getting it, though. 
 Have you ever climbed so high for it before?" 
 
 "Yas'm, time I gotten it fer Mis' Simons. 
 'N' I 'mos' broke my neck dat time, too! Ain't 
 
174 EZEKIEL 
 
 I nuver tole yer 'bout time I gotten it fer Mis' 
 Simons, Miss No'th?" 
 
 "Mrs. Simons? No, I don't think so." 
 
 "Yer know 'bout Mis' Simons, doan't yer, 
 Miss No'th ? Mis' Simons she 's de w'ite lady 
 where I wuk las' year." 
 
 "Oh, yes, I know about Mrs. Simons!" 
 Miss North smiled. "She was very kind to you." 
 
 "Yas'm, Mis' Simons cert'nly r'al kine, 'n' 
 it 'appen jes' dis-a-way 'bout de mistletoe. 
 She come out in de gyarden one day, jes' ez 
 I 'se cuttin' de flowers fer de house say: 
 
 ""Zekiel,' she say, <I'se jes' thinkin' 'bout 
 walkin' out ter de W'isperin' Woods,' she say. 
 ' Would yer like ter come 'long, too? I'se ve'y 
 anxious ter git some mistletoe 'fo' Chris'mas.' 
 'Ve'y well,' she say, w'en I tole 'er 'Yas'm/ 
 'I'se 'blige stop a minit at Mis' Myers', but you 
 come right along soon's you 's fru wid de flow 
 ers,' she say; 'I '11 wait fer you at de turnin' 
 o' de road.' 
 
 "I 'se done hyeah Mis' Simons speak 'bout 
 de W'isperin' Woods befo', but I ain't r'ally 
 nuver been dere, nurrer. So, co'se, I hu'ied 
 'long wid de flowers fas' 's I kin, 'n' started 
 'long right soon, 'counten Mis' Simons waitin' 
 
EZEK1EL DEPOSITED A LARGE, LACY BUNCH OF MISTLETOE 
 
THE MISTLETOE BOUGH 175 
 
 fer me at de turnin' o' de road. Well, ef 'tain' 
 been fer dat KT ole boy a-ridin' 'long drivin' 
 a nanny-goat, reckon 'tain' been no trouble 
 'tall. But, yer see, jes' soon 's he seen me, he 
 'mence hu'yin' up de nanny-goat 'n' swishin' 
 de reins 'n' flirtin' de whip 'n' holPin' ser loud, 
 dat praesen'ly de li'P goat jes' hump 'erself 
 right up in de air 'n' frowed de KT boy clare 
 'way up ser high, reckon he mus' 'a' been r'al 
 s'prise 'bout it 'isself. Cuz, fus', look like he 
 ain' comin' down '/a//, ole goat frowed 'im up 
 ser high. But praesen'ly he 'cide he is, too, 
 so he jes' come righ' down a-settin' side de road, 
 like he ain' jes' 'zackly know w'at ter do nex'. 
 So ole goat reckon she won't bother no mo' 
 wid 'im nohow, 'n' jes' start runnin' off down 
 de road ser fas' yer cyan' see nuthin' 'cep'n' 'er 
 tail a-whirlin' 'roun' af 'er in de breeze. Well, 
 co'se dat's kine o' mean on de li'P boy, cuz he jes' 
 cyan' seem ter move 'tall fum where he 's settin', 
 'n' he look r'al bad w'en he seen 'ow 't was, too. 
 "'Heyo, boy,' I say, 'I'll ketch yer goat fer 
 yer.' 'N' I start right off a-chasin' after J er 
 down de road. 'N' fus' she race 'long faster 'n 
 befo', 'n' den she jes' stop 'n' flirt 'er tail 'roun' 
 a li'P 'n' 'mence nibblin on de grass. So I 
 
176 EZEKIEL 
 
 come 'long r'al quiet, 'n' step right up in de 
 KT cyart, 'n' nex' she knowed, I'se swishin' 
 de reins 'n' flirtin' de whip 'n' holl'in to 'er ter 
 g'long, jes like de udder liT boy. 'N' nex' 
 udder li'P boy knowed, we jes' driv right up 'side 
 'irh, me 'n' de li'P goat. 
 
 "'Well, now, I s'pose I'se 'blige ca'y yer home, 
 ain't I ?' I say, cuz he 's a-settin' dere jes' same, 
 siden de road. 
 
 "So de li'P boy he clim in de cyart well 's he 
 could, 'thout r'ally answerin', 'n' ole goat she 
 start off ag'in wid 'er tail a-whirlin'. 'N' we 's 
 gwine 'long dat-a-way w'en I jes' 'membered 
 'bout Mis' Simons. Yas'm, I did. 'N' I ain' 
 'zackly knowed jes' w'at ter do 'bout it, nudder. 
 So I kine o' slowed up de li'P goat 'n' 'mence 
 axin' de li'P boy 'ow's he feelin'. Well, he 
 ain' seem ter be r'ally feelin' no wuss, so nex' 
 I tells 'im I reckon I'se 'blige be a-gwine ef 
 he kin 'range ter git 'long jes' ez well. 'N' 
 co'se I didn' wanter git 'im quar'lin' or havin' 
 no words 'bout it, so I clim right outen de cyart, 
 'n' he jes' tukken de reins 'n' driv right 'long 
 'thout sayin' nuthin' 'tall, 'n' de li'P nanny- 
 goat's tail's a-whirlin' 'roun' same's befo'. 
 
 "Well, co'se 'tain 'no use wo'yiri* 'bout it, 
 
THE MISTLETOE BOUGH 177 
 
 but I cert'nly wisht Mis' Simons ain' been 
 waitin' ve'y long at de turnin' o' de road. 'N' 
 I seem ter keep on wishin' - - same way twell 
 I come 'long where I kin r'ally see 'er, a-settin' 
 off on kine of a KT risin' nex' de bushes. She 
 seen me, too, I reckon, but she ain' say nary 
 word; jes' tuk out 'er watch 'n' look at me, twell 
 I gotten along nare 'nough to ax 'er has she 
 been waitin' ve'y long ? 
 
 '"Come right yere/ she say, 'thout r'ally 
 answerin'; 'come right yere ter me.' 
 
 "' Yas'm,' I answer 'er. I ain't r'ally skyeered, 
 'n' yit I is, too, cuz she cert'nly look like 'tain' 
 no foolishness 'bout it. 
 
 "' Yas'm,' 'n' I'se stan'in' right in frent of 'er. 
 
 "'Now, jes w'at has yer been doin'?' she say. 
 
 "Mis' Simons 'mos' allays look kine o' bright 
 'n' smilin' w'en she talk, but 'tain' no smilin' 
 'bout it now. 
 
 "'Wat?' she say. 'I doan' seem ter hyeah. 
 Jes' w j at has yer been doin' ?' 
 
 "Well, co'se, w'en she ax me dat-a-way, I 
 start in 'n' 'mence tellin' 'er 'bout it. 
 
 "'N' she she listen at me r'al close fer KT 
 w'ile; but den she seem ter kine o' smile 'n' 
 turn 'er haid 'way, lookin' 'roun'. 
 
178 EZEKIEL 
 
 "'Ya'as,' she say, same time lookin' off down 
 de road, 'dat 's enough. Ya'as, dat 's enough! 
 Now, de 'mount of it is, 'Zekiel,' she say, 'you 's 
 kep' me waitin' jes' 'bout a hour. Co'se, yer 
 may 'a' been int'rupted fer a few minutes on de 
 way, but you 's kep' me waitin' fer jes' 'bout a 
 hour,' she say, "n' I doan't reckon 't wuz nec'sary 
 'tall. Now, please, we '11 start 'long.' 
 
 "'N' so we went along down de road, 'n' 
 pas' all de fiel's, where 's jes turnin' kine o' 
 brown wid de cole, 'n' pas' all de li'P bushes 
 J n' haidges, where 's gittin' kine o' thin 'n' small 
 wid de cole, too, twell praesen'ly we gits in de 
 woods 'n' 'mence lookin' aroun' fer de mistletoe. 
 
 "'Oh, 'ow lovely 'tis!' she say, lookin' up at 
 de li'P shinin' be'ies on de trees. 'Look, 'Zekiel, 
 ain't it butyful?' 
 
 "'N' we keep on walkin' 'long. 
 
 "'It's a pretty day, too, ain't it?' she say. 
 "N' de woods smell ser swe-et!' 'N' she keep 
 on sniffin' de air like she cyan't git enough. 
 
 "'Oh, look!' she 'mence ag'in, 'er cheeks 
 gittin' r'al pink 'n' 'er eyes a-shinin'; 'jes' look, 
 'Zekiel, right over yonder - - 'way up ! Does 
 you see de branch o' be'ies? Jes' see it glisten 
 in de sun!' 
 
THE MISTLETOE BOUGH 179 
 
 "'Yas'm,' I holler, runnin' 'long, 'yas'm;' 
 'n', fo' she r'ally knowed w'at I 'se doin', I 'se 
 jes' climbin' right up de tree. 
 
 "<Oh, 'Zekiel! No! Doan't!' she holler. 
 'No! 'S too high!' 
 
 "But I holler back I 'se gwine be right cyar- 
 ful, 'n' keep on squirmin' up de tree; 'n' Mis' 
 Simons she jes' seem ter foller me, skyeered like, 
 wid 'er eyes, twell I gotten clare up ter de tip 
 top, 'n' she am' speak nary word jes' stan' 
 dere lookin' up steady at me, like she cyan' move. 
 
 "Well, ef 'tain been fer tekkin' my knife 
 outen my pocket 'n' same time kine o' twis'in' 
 myself a li'P on de branch, I reckon 'tain been 
 no trouble 'tall; but, yer see, same time I 'mence 
 twis'in myself, same time I 'mence slippin' 
 back on de branch. 
 
 ""Zekiel!' I hyeah some one call; only, I 'se 
 ser skyeered I did n' r'ally know wherrer it 's 
 Mis' Simons or not. 
 
 ""Ze-kiel! 5 
 
 "But I 'se los' my hole. I could n' 'a' tole 
 who 's a-callin', or 'ow it 'appen, but I 'se slip- 
 pin' slippin' oh, my! it cert'nly wuz tur'ble 
 ter keep a-slippin' slippin' 'thout knowin' 
 'ow ter stop ! 
 
iSo EZEKIEL 
 
 "'Oh, I'se fallin', Mis' Simons!' I scream. 
 'N' den seem like de groun' flash up 'n' hit me 
 tur'ble 'n' I ain' know no mo' 'tall. 
 
 "I won'er w'en 'twas I mence ter open my 
 eyes like I 'se been 'sleep 'n' dreamin.' 'N' fus' 
 I could n' see nuthin' 'cep'n' de trees a-wavin' 
 back 'n' fofe 'n' - - seem like I mus' be dreamin' 
 still a gret big piece o' mistletoe high up, 
 wavin' too, wid de be'ies still a-glistenin' in 
 de sun. But I feels sump'n' cool tech my haid 
 'n' Mis' Simons seem ter be dere, a-wavin' 
 back 'n' fofe in frent o' de trees 'n' de mistletoe. 
 
 "'Is you better?' she say; 'n' den she seem 
 ter fade 'way, 'n' only de trees 'n' de mistle 
 toe 's lef ag'in. 'N' I kin feel my eyes open - 
 'n' shet - - 'n' open, 'n' sump'n' cool tech my 
 haid agin. 'N' dere 's Mis' Simons wavin' 
 back 'n' fofe same 's befo'. 
 
 "'You's been hurt, 'Zekiel,' she say, sof; 
 'you fell fum de tree. Does you 'member?' 
 
 "'Yas'm,' I answer 'er. 
 
 '"Try look at me, 'Zekiel!' she say, ' 'Zekiel! 
 look at me!' 'N' I kin see 'er han's flash w'ite 
 'n' den sump'n' un'er my haid lif'in' it up slow. 
 
 "'Come,' she say, talkin' fas' 'n' sof, 'come! 
 Look right up yere -- 'Zekiel ! You 's been 
 
THE MISTLETOE BOUGH 181 
 
 hurt a li'P, but you 's better. Look! Look at 
 me ! Ya'as ? Ya'as ? Jes' a li'P ? Raise yer haid ? 
 Jes' a li'P dat-a- way?' 'N' 'er ban's seem 
 ter flash ag'in 'n' fade. 
 
 "'No! Try not ter shet you eyes. Look at me 
 ag'in, 'Zekiel! Sh~sh! No 'tain nuthin' 
 gwine hurt you.' 
 
 "'N' she keep on talkin' faster 'n' softer all 
 time, like she 's tryin' ter git me 'wake fer sho'. 
 'N' she is, too. Cuz praesen'ly I twis' 'roun' 
 a li'P 'n' tries ter raise myself 'n' - - tell 'er w'at 
 I 'se thinkin' bout. 
 
 "'It's my arm where hurts me mos'!' 
 I say; 'n' same time, w'en I tries ter lif it up, 
 it 'mos' made me cry out loud, it hurt ser bad. 
 
 "She 'mence ter look up 'n' down de road 
 un'er de trees, like she 's studyin' 'bout it 'n' 
 ain' jes' 'zackly know w'at ter do. Den she 
 turn 'n' look at me steady. 
 
 ""Zekiel,' she say, 'we mus' git home. We 's 
 fur 'way fum eve'ybody, 'n' we mus' git 
 home. It's gwine be hard,' she say, 'hard fer 
 you my po' chile, but kin you be brave? 
 Kin you try ter walk ?' 
 
 "She took hole o' me ter help me well 's she 
 could, 'n' we start off slow down de road. 
 
1 82 EZEKIEL 
 
 "'We 's 'blige leave de mistletoe on de branch, 
 ain't we?' I say, lookin' up at it, still a-glistenin'. 
 
 "'Ya'as, we 's 'blige leave it, but mercy, 
 chile!' she say, smilin' at me r'al bright, like 
 t' encour'ge me, ' we won't wo'y 'bout de mistletoe.' 
 
 "'No'm,' I say, 'but seem like it's w'isperin' 
 to us 'bout it now. De trees is all a- w'isperin', 
 too, am' dey, Mis' Simons?' 
 
 "'Ya'as, dey allays w'isper,' she answer, 'n' 
 we keep on down de road. 
 
 " 'T wuz tur'ble long seem like I ain' nuver 
 knowed nothin' ser long; 'n' my arm ached 
 me ser tur'ble! But Mis' Simons keep on talkin' 
 like she 's doin' it a-purpose, 'n' yit seem like 
 it 's achin' me wuss all time. 
 
 "'Wat is it, 'Zekiel?' she ask praesen'ly, 
 r'al quick. 'Sit down right yere! We'll res' 
 a li'P. Ya'as,' she say to 'erself like, 'we'll 
 res'.' 
 
 "'I reckon we better keep on a-gwine long's 
 - we kin,' I answer, but I could n' seem ter 
 hyeah my voice 'tall w'en I spoke. 
 
 "'I reckon so, too.' 'N' 'er voice soun' like 
 it's w'isperin' far 'way wid de trees. 'I reckon 
 so, too.' 
 
 "'N' af dat I ain' r'ally know nuthin', cep'n' 
 
THE MISTLETOE BOUGH 183 
 
 I 'se movin' along slow wid my arm achin' 
 me tur'ble, 'n' de trees a-wis'perin, 'n' holdin' 
 me up 'n' helpin' me 'long, 'n' still a-w'isperin', 
 sof 'n' gentle: 
 
 "'Only jes' a liT furrer, now; jes' a liT - 
 ya'as, you 's a ve'y brave liT boy. Only 
 jes' a liT furrer try try? Ya'as, my chile 
 - we 's mos' dereP 
 
 "I ain' 'zackly know w'en de change come 
 or w'en de w'isperin's stop; but nex' it seem ter 
 be Sarah, a-puttin' me in de baid, 'n' same 
 time talkin' 'bout de doctor. He mus' 'a' come, 
 too; cuz praesn'ly it's a r'al deep voice close 
 'side me, 'n' some one hurtin' my arm 'n' 
 den fadin' 'way. Only look like I 'se in de 
 woods ag'in, cuz I seen Mis' Simons' han's 
 flash w'ite - - 'n' it 's Mis' Simons where J s 
 fadin 1 'way! 'N' dey come de w'isperin' ag'in 
 like de trees: 
 
 "'Only jes' a liT mo' now, jes' a liT ya'as, 
 you 's a ve'y brave - - liT boy a ve'y brave 
 ya'as, my chile you kin res' --now!' 
 
 "'N' seem like I jes' drap off 'sleep ag'in - 
 w'ile I 'se lis'nin'. . . ." 
 
 "Yes; you had a pretty serious time, didn't 
 you?" began Miss North, after a pause. 
 
1 84 EZEKIEL 
 
 "Yas'm. 'N' it tukken right smart of a w'ile 
 fer my arm ter git all well ag'in, too. But de 
 stranges' thing 'bout it ain' come den, nurrer. 
 No'm. De stranges' thing 'bout it all ain' come 
 twell twell jes' 'fo' Chris'mas. 
 
 "'Twuz dat tur'ble stormy night. Oh, 't wuz 
 a tur'ble stormy night, Miss No'th. It start 
 r'al early in de evenin', kine o' easy at fus', too, 
 wid de win' jes' stealin' 'roun' de house w'istlin' 
 low, 'n' den w'iskin' away sudden, like it 's 
 laffin' to itself. But time I gotten in de baid it 
 ain' w'istlin' low no mo'. No'm; it 's jes' screamin' 
 'n' holl'in' 'n' knockin' itself 'ginst de house 'n' 
 bangin' de blinds, 'n' rockin' de baid back 'n' 
 fofe jes' like a cradle. Fus' I 'se kine o' skyeered 
 jes' layin' dere lis'nin', but de baid keep on a- 
 swingin' back 'n' fofe, 'n' praesn'ly I 'mence ter 
 feel kine o' sleepy, too. But I ain' no sooner 
 r'ally 'sleep 'n de stranges' thing 'appen! I 
 dream I 'se in de W'isperin' Woods, a-layin' 
 un'er de trees, lookin' up. 'N' de sun 's a-shinin', 
 'n' de same big piece o' mistletoe 's still a-glistenin' 
 up dere on de branch, 'n' de trees wuz all 
 a-w'isperin' same 's befo'. 'N' same time I 
 lay dere, seem like de mistletoe 'mence ter w'isper 
 all 'lone. 
 
THE MISTLETOE BOUGH 185 
 
 "'Turn me loose!' it say. 'I want ter drap 
 down wid de snow.' 
 
 "'N' w'en I look 'roun', sho' 'nough, it's 
 snowin' ; 'n' yit de sun 's a-shinin' bright 's ever, 
 too. 
 
 "'Turn me loose!' de mistletoe say. 'I want 
 ter drap down wid de snow.' 'N' all de trees 
 seem ter w'isper back, but I could n' under- 
 stan' a word dey say. 
 
 "'Turn me loose!' she call r'al loud; 'n' de 
 trees call back, 'n' de sun went down, 'n' still 
 she keep on a-callin' louder 'n' louder, 'n' twis'in' 
 'erself on de branch, 'n' de trees callin' back all 
 tergerrer like a storm. 
 
 "I 'mence ter git skyeered, too, 'n' tries ter 
 run. But 'tain' no use. I 'se in de W'isperin' 
 Woods, 'n' I could n' git out. It 's dark now, 
 too; gittin' blacker all time. 'N' de mistletoe's 
 still a-screamin' /n' a-twis'in' on de branch, 
 'n' de trees a-screamin' back, 'n' a-bendin' 
 'n' whirlin' 'n' groanin' 'n' smashin' dey 
 branches. 
 
 '"O/, turn me looser she scream 'bove all 
 de res'; 'n', it's de trufe, she jes' leap up 'n' 
 twis' 'n' tear twell she tear 'erself right offen 
 de branch 'n' drap down in de snow. 
 
i.86 EZEKIEL 
 
 "'N', same time, it all seem ter git kine o' 
 quiet ag'in, 'n' de sun come out, 'n' de trees 
 wuz all a-w'isperin', 'n' de big w'ite branch o' 
 mistletoe 's lyin' still 'n' glistenin' in de snow. 
 
 " 'N' it 's ser quiet I reckon I mus' 'a' jes' keep 
 on sleepin' 'thout dreamin' 't all. Cuz after 
 long w'ile, w'en I wek up, it 's mawnin', 'n' de 
 sun 's a-shinin' 'n' de groun's all kivered w'ite 
 wid snow. It made me feel kine o' strange 
 w'en I look at it, too, 'n' I 'se still a-studyin 
 'bout it w'en I went down-styairs. 
 
 "'Twuz a tur'ble storm, wa'n't it?' I hyeah 
 Sarah say ter Marg'ret. 
 
 "'Ya'as,' Marg'ret answer 'er, "t wuz tur'ble.' 
 
 "I ain' tell 'em 'bout de dream, but after 
 breakfus' I put on my things 'n' start 'long 
 outen de house, thinkin' all time 'bout de 
 W'isperin' Woods. De snow ain' ve'y deep, 
 but it 's blowed all 'roun', too, so some places it 's 
 liT drifts of it right 'fo' me in de road. But I 
 run 'long jes' same right 'long twell praesn'ly 
 I 'se in de woods. 'N' de w'isperin's wuz 
 a-floatin' 'roun' eve'ywhere, sof 'n' gentle, 'n' 
 yit, same time seem sump'n like a dream, too. 
 Cuz I keep on seein' lot o' branches on de 
 groun', like dey 's blowed off in de night. But 
 
THE MISTLETOE BOUGH 187 
 
 de snow seem ter flash up fum below, 'n' I 
 'mence ter look up fer de tree where de mistle 
 toe growed. 
 
 "'Hyeah 'tis/ I say; <dis is de one!' 'N' I 
 look up ag'in, 'n' den I look down, 'n' seem like 
 it's jes' like de dream come back! Cuz dere's 
 a big w'ite branch 0' mistletoe a-layiri* dere 
 still 'n' glisieniri 1 in de snow! But I picks it up 
 'n' feels it, 'n' holes it up ter de light - - 'n' I 
 knows it ain' no dream! I knows it! 'N' I 
 jes' jump up 'n' down, I 'se ser glad, V laf right 
 out loud - - 'n' den turns 'roun' 'n' run 'long 
 back ag'in down de road ! 
 
 "'N' seem like de trees wuz all a-singin' ez 
 I went. . . ." 
 
 Miss North leaned forward and looked at him, 
 waiting. 
 
 "And Mrs. Simons?" she questioned. 
 
 "Yas'm I 'se gwine tell yer! Yas'm! Yer 
 see, I I foun' 'er jes' soon 's I could! She 's 
 a-stan'in' in de lib'ry, by de fiah. 'N' I went 
 in wid it heP right out in my arms. 
 
 "She look at it r'al quick fus', 'n' den at me. 
 
 "<W'y w'y, 'Zekiel! Where did yer git 
 it ? ' she say. 
 
 "'In de W'isperin' Woods, Mis' Simons/ I 
 
1 88 EZEKIEL 
 
 answer. ' It drap down in de night - - 'n' I 
 foun' it dere jes now.' 
 
 "'In de night?' she ask, quick, 'but howcome 
 yer ter know 'bout it?' 
 
 "'I I dream 'bout it,' I tell 'er; 'I dream 
 all 'bout it in de night.' 
 
 "She look at me like she ain' jes understan', 
 'n' look at me quick ag'in. Den 'er eyes 'mence 
 ter shine, 'n' she frow back 'er haid 'n' laf wid 
 'er teef glistenin' w'ite 's de mistletoe be'ies. 
 
 "'You dream it?' she say. 'W'y, 'Zekiel, 
 ain't we glad! W'y 'Zekiel! Come yere!' she 
 say. 'Come yere, you young s-seer!' she say, 
 'you young dreamer o' dreams!' Yas'm, dat 's 
 jes' de way she talk. 'You young dreamer o' 
 dreams,' she say, 'come yere ter me 'n' lemme 
 see it !' 'N' she tukken it in 'er han's, still a-lookin' 
 at me wid 'er eyes a-dancin'. 
 
 '"It 's jes' butyful, 'Zekiel,' she say, 'jes' buty- 
 ful! I 'se sho' dey nuver wuz sech a butyful 
 piece, 'n' you cert'nly wuz a nice li'P boy ter git 
 it fer me. W'y, 'ow s'prise I wuz w'en I seen 
 yer comin' in wid it! 'Ow s'prise' I wuz! 'Deed, 
 I 'se glad we's got it, isn't you, 'Zekiel! Thank 
 you thank you, my chile! It 's jes' butyful!' ' : 
 
 Miss North looked down at a large, lacy 
 
THE MISTLETOE BOUGH 189 
 
 spray which lay on the grass, and then up through 
 the network of branches. Ezekiel's eyes followed 
 hers, and they both became gently preoccupied - 
 Ezekiel with the picture of Mrs. Simons stand 
 ing bright and glowing before him, with the 
 mistletoe in her arms; Miss North with one of a 
 small, soft-voiced coloured boy climbing, reach 
 ing, eagerly climbing for something beautiful 
 away above him falling, and yet dreaming still 
 of the beautiful something away above him. 
 
 She felt as if she were gazing up with him, 
 quivering with the sorrow and the truth of it - 
 gazing at these wonderful, mocking spaces which 
 stretched away to the beautiful something - 
 wondering if it was only beautiful because it 
 was above him - 
 
 "No," she murmured absently, "it came 
 down and it was just as beautiful and 
 you were so appreciative and it was just 
 as beautiful ; it came down and it was just 
 as beautiful. Oh! why could n't it come down 
 -oftener? It would help so much!" 
 
 "Wha'm yer say, Mis' No'th?" His voice 
 was an absent murmur too, and it came like a 
 small, far-away answering note - 
 
 " Yas'm 't would help ser much!" 
 
THE INTERRUPTED REIGN OF 
 QUEENIE 
 
 "HE LED THEM ON" 
 
X 
 
 THE INTERRUPTED REIGN OF QUEENIE 
 
 ALONG line of children filed out from the 
 Whittier School at Hampton Institute, 
 and following it came the Lady from the North 
 who, with her note-book in hand, was making 
 a study of the "Negro Problem" -and her 
 friend who, with a small camera, was helping 
 along with an occasional picture. 
 
 As the line of children broke and scattered 
 and then ran away in many directions, the two 
 looked on sympathetically until they were appar 
 ently all gone, and then turned to find that they 
 were not all gone, after all, that another one 
 was sauntering leisurely down the steps alone. 
 He glanced at them with a half-smile, and then 
 went on across the yard. 
 
 " That's the one!" whispered the Lady from 
 the North eagerly, "that's the one!" 
 
 What one, she did not explain, but her friend 
 seemed to understand, and smiled with appre 
 ciation. 
 
 193 
 
194 EZEKIEL 
 
 "Yes let's follow him just a little." 
 
 They walked on in an accidental sort of way, 
 down one of the roads which led away away 
 to parts unknown, the small, sauntering figure 
 just ahead unconsciously the leader. 
 
 "But why should we be following a child 
 like this?" suddenly murmured the Lady vaguely. 
 
 "I don't know," vaguely murmured the friend, 
 "do you?" He led them on. 
 
 "No." And he led them on. 
 
 They glanced at unfamiliar fields blowing 
 with clover in the distance, at the unfamiliar 
 road at their feet, at the small figure still leading 
 them gently on, and smiled. 
 
 "There seems to be something queer about 
 it," suggested the friend; "perhaps we couldn't 
 turn back!" 
 
 "I doubt if we could," agreed the Lady. 
 "Do you see? He's going toward the woods. 
 He 's going to lose us in the woods." 
 
 "Are you agreeable?" smiled the friend. 
 "We're getting there." 
 
 "Perfectly." and he opened the way through 
 the first trees. 
 
 Suddenly he half stopped, with a movement 
 of indecision, and then dropped gently down 
 
THE INTERRUPTED REIGN 195 
 
 on some brown moss and gazed away dreamily 
 through low branches at the sky. 
 
 " Don't you wish you could get out?" whis 
 pered the friend, "but you can't!" And they 
 still moved unresistingly over the brown moss. 
 
 But their leader, their Pied Piper, turned his 
 head at the sound of steps and looked up won- 
 deringly into their faces. 
 
 "Oh, what a nice place to rest!" apolo 
 gized the Lady. "Do you mind if we sit down 
 a moment, too?" 
 
 "No'm," he answered, in some confusion, 
 and pulled himself lightly to his feet. 
 
 "Oh, don't go! We wouldn't have you go 
 for anything! You 're a little Whittier School 
 boy, aren't you? Why, yes, isn't your name, 
 EzekMt" 
 
 "Yas'm," he answered, shyly pleased, and 
 dropped down, with some hesitation, beside 
 them on the moss. 
 
 "Surely!" she encouraged, "and aren't you 
 the little boy who is so fond of telling them all 
 such nice stories?" 
 
 "Yas'm, I tells 'em all kine o' stories," he 
 smiled, even more pleased, "'bout 'bout all 
 kine o' things." 
 
196 EZEKIEL 
 
 "Oh, lovely!" murmured the friend. "Tell 
 us a story while we're waiting, can't you?" 
 
 "Yas'm," agreed Ezekiel with unexpected 
 willingness, still gazing somewhat absently at 
 the sky. "I kin tell a story 'bout 'bout 'Manuel 
 'n' all 'is li'l' brurrers; I 'se fixin' ter tell 'em 
 'bout it at school, too, only Miss No'th, she 
 ain' nuver 'low me. Yas'm - - 'bout 'Manuel 
 'n' all 'is li'l' brurrers." The Lady arranged 
 herself out of his direct line of vision, conscious 
 that their ultimate purpose was actually accom 
 plished, and whipped out the note-book. She 
 was prepared now, if never before, to settle the 
 "Problem" once for all. "Yer see, it's 'bout 
 a li'l' boy named 'Manuel where lived all 'lone 
 'thout no kin 'tall, 'cuz dey 's all daid." 
 
 Both ladies were leaning forward listening 
 intelligently. 
 
 "'N' eve'y time he gotten 'im some mo' kin, 
 w'y, sump'm allays seem ter 'appen to 'em, 
 'twell tain' none uv 'em lef. So one day he 
 foun' 'isself all 'lone agin." 
 
 The Lady's pencil hovered doubtfully over 
 her book as if she felt some slight question as 
 to just how to begin. 
 
 "So w'en he foun' he's all 'lone agin he jes' 
 
THE INTERRUPTED REIGN 197 
 
 'mence ter won'er w'at he 's gwine do 'bout it. 
 So after studyin' liT w'ile, he 'cide he '11 git 'im 
 some liT brurrers 'n' sisters. But den he 'cide 
 p'r'aps, after all, it '11 seem mo' home-like ef he 
 jes' has 'em all brurrers. So he jes' gotten 'im 
 twelve liT brurrers. 'N' he set 'em all down on 
 twelve liT cheers in a row, 'n' look at 'em, 'n' 
 den he 's kine o' s'prise 'cuz dey ain' look ser 
 home-like aft' all! So he look at 'em agin, 
 'n' den he say, 'Sho! Doan' look like sense ter 
 hab 'em all jes' same kine! Reckon I 'se 'blige 
 git one liT sister, aft' all!'" 
 
 The Lady's pencil was still poised in wavering 
 anxiety. 
 
 "So he gotten one liT sister 'n' putten 'er 
 right on de en' o' de row on de flo' ('cuz 'tain' 
 no mo' cheers, counten de liT boys settin' on 
 all dey is) 'n' she set dere jes' ez nice, in a liT 
 coat all trim eroun' wid fedders 'n' a liT par'sol 
 over 'er haid." 
 
 "A parasol?" objected the Lady, while the 
 pencil twitched spasmodically, "why should she 
 have a - 
 
 "Yas'm, all trim eroun' wid fedders, 'n' a 
 liT par'sol over 'er haid. 'N' co'se dat made 
 thirteen. 'N' de liT sister's name Queenie. 
 
198 EZEKIEL 
 
 'N' she 's de li'les' of all. But de HT boys ain' 
 nary one of 'em got no name 'tall. So co'se, 
 'Manuel has ter start studyin' right off w'at 
 he '11 name 'em. 
 
 "'Well, dat 's kine o' funny, too,' he say, 
 lookin' at de bigges' liT boy, 'cuz I cyan' seem 
 ter think o' nuthin'. Cert'nly is funny. Well, 
 I ain' gwine bother no mo' wid it!' he say, 
 'I 'se jes' gwine name eve'yone o' yer 'Manuel 
 af me! Only co'se I'll call yer Li 9 1 9 'Manuel 
 w'en I speak, so yer '11 know 'tain' inten' fer 
 me. 'N' co'se Queenie's name Queenie. 'N' 
 tain' no way fer 'er ter be a-settin' on de flo', 
 nudder,' he say, 'n' he look at de li'P boy 
 where 's settin' nex' 'er. ' W'y doan' yer git 
 up 'n' ax 'er does she want yer cheer, LiT 
 'Manuel?' 
 
 "Well, co'se w'en dey hyeah 'im say Li* I' 
 'Manuel, w'y co'se all de liT boys hop right up 
 'n' 'mence offerin' Queenie dey cheer. 'N' 
 Queenie, w'en she seen all twelve on 'em a-shovin' 
 up dey cheers, 'n' a axin' 'er does she wanter 
 se' down, w'y, she 's ser skyeered she jes' drap 
 'er par'sol on de flo', 'n' bu'y 'er haid, 'n' bus' 
 right out cry in' 'twell look like she ain' nuver 
 gwine stop. 'N' all de liT 'Manuels look kine 
 
THE INTERRUPTED REIGN 199 
 
 o' skyeered, too, w'en dey seen way it come 
 out, but still dey keep on a offerin' 'er dey 
 cheers." 
 
 The Lady laid down her pencil, and both she 
 and her friend relaxed submissively. 
 
 u 'Se' down!' 'Manuel holler. <Se' down!' 
 'N' dey all hop back ser quick, look like he ain' 
 no mo'n spoke 'fo' dey 's all a-settin' in de row 
 agin lookin' up. But Queenie 's still a cryin', 
 V 'er par'sol 's on de flo'. 
 
 "'Well, now yer did n' use no sense 'tall/ 
 'Manuel say, 'cuz co'se yer knowed I did n' 
 mean all of yer ter git up 'n' offer Queenie yer 
 cheer. Nev' min' Queenie, doan' yer cry, I 'se 
 gw T ine turn de water-spout on 'em 'twell dey 
 'haves better.' So he turns de water-spout on 
 'em, 'n' 'twould 'a' all went jes' de way he 's 
 'tendin' ef he ain' got kine o' mix up 'bout w'at 
 he 's doin' 'n' turn de water-spout on Queenie, 
 too. Well, ef she ain' holler 'n' squeal w'en he 
 done dat! 'N' 'Manuel 'mence ter holler he ain' 
 mean ter, 'twuz jes' a li'P mistek, 'n' de liT 
 'Manuels all 'mence ter holler, cuz dey 's feelin' 
 kine o' bad anyway, 'n' 'Manuel he has ter speak 
 up awful quick. 
 
 "'Now we 's gwine out fer a li'P run!' he say, 
 
200 EZEKIEL 
 
 'so tain' nuthin' ter cry 'bout, we 's all gwine 
 out fer a li'P run!* 
 
 "Well, fus' dey say dey ain' wanter go out 
 fer no run, but 'Manuel, he talks r'al nice to 'em, 
 'n' nex' yer knows he 's a-runnin' 'em out de do', 
 'n' down de steps, 'n' inter de road, all in a row, 
 jes' same, 'n' Queenie on de en', las' of all, wid 
 'er li'P par'sol over 'er haid, same 's at fus'. 
 Well, co'se de sun 's a-shinin', 'n' praesen'ly 
 dey all 'mence ter feel r'al good 'n' drap into a 
 walk. But dey ain' no sooner drap into a walk 
 'n' dey seen a man comin' drivin' 'long down 
 de road in a cyart 'n' a lady settin' 'side 'im on 
 de seat a playin' on a fiddle. 
 
 "'Heyo!' de man say, w'en he seen 'em, 'n' 
 slow up 'is ho'se 'n' stop right 'side 'em. 'Heyo! 
 Is dese yere all 'long ter you?' 
 
 "'Yas, dey is,' 'Manuel answer 'im, 'dey 's 
 my li'l' brurrers 'n' my li'P sister, 'n' we 's gwine 
 a walkin'.' 
 
 '"Make right smart of a row, doan' dey?' 
 man say; 'well, ef yer jes' hops right in yere on 
 de seat I '11 give yer all a li'P ride.' 
 
 "Well, co'se de li'P boys, soon 's dey hyeah 
 J im say dat, w'y, co'se dey all 'mence a-climbin' 
 up on de wheels 'n' a-scramblin' over de aidge 
 
THE INTERRUPTED REIGN 201 
 
 'n' a pushin' 'long on de seat 'n' a-mekkin' room 
 fer Queenie on de en'. 'N' nex' yer know, ole 
 ho'se she jes' start right 'long wid 'er tail a-flyin' 
 'n' de man 'n' de lady 'n' all de liT 'Manuels 
 a-settin' dere in de row, 'n' Queenie las' of all 
 on de ve'y aidge wid 'er par'sol over 'er haid. 
 
 '"Well, yer jes' stop!' 'Manuel call after 'em 
 fum where he 's stan'in' in de road. 'I ain' tole 
 yer yer kin do no sech a thing! Yer jes' stop, 
 I tell yer!' 
 
 "Co'se ole man 's kine o' mad w'en he 
 hyeah 'im callin' dat-a-way, so he driv' right 
 on a liT furrer wid de lady still a-playin' on de 
 fiddle, 'n' de liT 'Manuels all a-turnin' dey haids 
 'n' lookin' back, 'n' Queenie not turnin' nuthin', 
 counten bein' ser nare de aidge she knows she 
 cyan't--'n' den he say 'W--o a!' 'n' stop. 
 
 "'Well, now ain't yer shame!' 'Manuel say, 
 a-comin' 'long right up 'side 'em all agin. 
 'Well, now yer kin jes' git right 'long out agin.' 
 
 "So dey 's all jes' 'blige climb right 'long out 
 agin, 'n' ole man start whuppin' up 'is ho'se 
 'n' ridin' off agin faster 'n ever, wid de lady still 
 a-playin' on de fiddle, 'n' 'Manuel 'n' all de 
 liT 'Manuels 'n' Queenie went walkin' 'long 
 in de row same 's befo', But dey ain' been 
 
202 EZEKIEL 
 
 ve'y far 'fo' de sun 'mence ter come out brighter 
 'n' brighter 'n' brighter, 'twell praesen'ly look 
 like it 's movin' righ' down todes 'em fum de sky. 
 
 "'Oh, my!' 'Manuel say, 'de sun's drappin' 
 down! Now w'at yer reckon yer's gwine do? 
 Cyan't.yer see? De sun's drappin' down!' 
 
 "'Yas, sir!' dey all answer 'im tergedder, only 
 dey's ser skyeered dey all 'mence cryin' same 
 time dey spoke. 
 
 "'Well, dat ain' nuthin',' 'Manuel say r'al 
 easy, 'thout balkin' 'tall fer words, 'but I reckon 
 we '11 jes' se' down 'n' res' a liT 'side de road.' 
 
 "So dey se' down 'n' look up, 'n' de sun kep' 
 on a drappin' down narer, twell nex' dey knows 
 it stop right on de tip-top branch of a big ole 
 tree right 'side 'em. 
 
 '"Well, dat's kine o' funny, too,' 'Manuel 
 say, ' 'n' I reckon yer '11 be 'blige loan yer par'sol 
 fer jes' a li'l' w'ile, Queenie, cuz cert'nly is 
 gittin' hot.' 
 
 "So Queenie she pass up 'er li'l' par'sol ter 
 'Manuel, 'n' he pertec' 'is haid fer li'l' w'ile, 'n' 
 den he pass it ter de nex' li'l' boy, 'n' he pertec' 
 'is haid fer li'l' w'ile, 'n' den he pass it ter de nex' 
 li'l' boy, 'n' he pertec' 'is haid fer li'l' w'ile, 'n' 
 den he pass it ter de nex' li'l' boy, 'n' he pertec' 'is 
 
THE INTERRUPTED REIGN 203 
 
 haid fer KT w'ile, 'n' den he pass it ter de nex' HT 
 boy, 'n' - 
 
 The Lady looked at her friend, who offered 
 a suggestion. 
 
 " Until they had all used it?" 
 
 "Yas'm, 'n' he pertec' 'is haid fer liT w'ile, 
 'n' den he pass it ter de nex' KT boy, 'n' he pertec' 
 'is haid fer KT w'ile, 'n' den he pass it ter de nex' 
 liT boy, 'n' - 
 
 "Yes, yes!" The friend was getting nervous. 
 "Everyone of them protected his head for a little 
 while!" 
 
 " Yas'm, eve'yone pertec' 'is haid fer liT w'ile 
 'n' den pass it ter de nex' li'P boy, 'n' - -" 
 
 " Till it finally got back to Queenie, I suppose!" 
 
 " Yas'm, twell finely got back ter Queenie. 
 'N' by dat time she 's w'y, she 's mos' all melt 
 away! Yas'm! It's de trufe, it's been gone 
 ser long, dat time it got back ter Queenie, w'y 
 it 's de trufe, she 's mos' all melt away! 
 
 "<Sho! Ain' dat too bad !' 'Manuel say, lookin' 
 at 'er; 'well, ef we fans 'er right smart, p'r'aps 
 she won't melt no mo'! Ef we fans 'er right 
 smart!' So dey each tukken out a liT fedder 
 fum de aidge o' Queenie's coat, 'n' 'mence a- 
 fannin' 'n' -a-fannin', twell praesen'ly she stop 
 
204 EZEKIEL 
 
 meltin' 'n' look up jes' bout same way's befo'. 
 Co'se 'er yeahs is mos' gone, 'n' one arm 's drip 
 off, 'n' counten a HT disfiggerment o' de feet she 
 cyan't r'ally walk on 'em, but 'side fum all dat, 
 'tain' seem ter done no harm 't all. 
 
 "'Well, I reckon we better be gwine home,' 
 'Manuel say, 'n' same time he spoke co'se dey all 
 'mence ter start. But de stranges' thing! Same 
 time dey start, de sun 'mence a movin' off fum de 
 tree 'n' a gwine up up up agin, twell look 
 like it 's gwine clare way back in de sky where it 
 come fum. 'N' it 'mence gittin' a liT darker 
 'n' a li'P darker, twell praesen'ly, w'y, it jes' 
 'mence ter rain. Well, by dis time co'se Queenie 's 
 hol'in 'er par'sol agin jes' ez nice 's ever, 'n' w'en 
 'Manuel look at 'er, seem like it made 'im kine 
 o' mad ter see 'er a lookin' ser nice 'n' dry onder de 
 par'sol, so, ' I reckon yer '11 be 'blige loan yer par' 
 sol fer li'P w'ile, Queenie,' he say, 'cuz cert'nly 's 
 gittin' r'al wet.' 
 
 " So Queenie, she pass up 'er par'sol ter 'Manuel, 
 'n' he pertec' 'is haid fer li'P w'ile, 'n' den he pass 
 it ter de nex' li'P boy, 'n' he pertec' 'is haid fer 
 li'P w'ile, 'n' den he pass it ter de nex' li'P boy 
 'n' he pertec' 'is haid fer li'P w'ile, 'n' " 
 
 "So they all used it again!" gasped the friend, 
 
THE INTERRUPTED REIGN 205 
 
 threatened with a nervous relapse, "everyone, 
 till it got back to Queenie again!" 
 
 "Yas'm, eve'yone, twell it gotten back ter 
 Queenie agin, 'n' den it been gone ser long, 
 V Queenie been a drippin' ser long, 'n' de 
 water 's gotten ser deep right eroun' 'er dat - 
 w'y, she 's drowndin' ! 
 
 "'Oh, shuh!' 'Manuel say, 'Queenie's drown- 
 din'. Well, I 'spec' we 's 'blige fish 'er out.' 
 So dey each tukken a KT fedder agin fum de en' 
 o' Queenie's coat where's stickin' outen de water, 
 'n' start a fishin' fer 'er twell praesen'ly, 
 Queenie she jes' ketch hole o' one o' de li'P fedders 
 'n' dey pull 'er right out. 'N' den she 'mence 
 lookin' eroun' fer 'er par'sol. 
 
 "'Well, now we 's gwine home 'thout no mo' 
 foolishness,' 'Manuel say. So dey start off down 
 de road agin in de row wid Queenie las' uv all. 
 'N' nex' dey know, de win' 'mence ter blow! 
 Oh, my! De win' it jes' 'mence ter blow 
 tur'ble! 
 
 "'Jes' keep right 'long after me!' 'Manuel say, 
 r'al nice 'n' smilin', 'n' he turn 'is haid w'en he 
 spoke. Well, jes' ez he turn 'is haid w'at yer 
 s'pose? W'y, it come up a tur'ble gus' o' win,' 
 'n' Queenie, she jes' blowed right away! Ef 'tain' 
 
206 EZEKIEL 
 
 been fer 'er par'sol p'r'aps she wouldn' 'a' went 
 up ser easy. But 'fo' 'Manuel kin do a thing ter 
 stop 'er, w'y she 's clare way up, 'n' still a blowin' 
 'long up, up, todes de sky, wid 'er par'sol over 
 'er haid. 
 
 "'Well, ain't she r'al mean 'n' triflin'!' 'Manuel 
 say, 'n' co'se all de li'P 'Manuels look eroun' ter 
 see w'at he mean. 
 
 "'W'y, Queenie's blowed away!' he 'splain 
 to 'em/ 'n' I jes' ain' gwine bother no mo' wid 'er 
 'tall!' So co'se dey kep' on down de road ez ef 
 'tain nuthin' 'appen ter nobody. But w'at yer 
 s'pose? Time dey gotten in de yard agin, 'n' 
 start ter go up de steps, w'y, dere 's Queenie a 
 settin' on de steps jes' where de win' blowed 'er 
 down. 'N' she 's cryin' tur'ble wid 'er haid 
 bu'y in 'er lap cuz she 's los' 'er par'sol ! It 's 
 de trufe! It jes' kep' on a blowin' right up w'en 
 de win' blowed 'er down. 
 
 "'Nev' mine,' 'Manuel say, 'I reckon 't would 
 'a' been better ef yer ain' nuver had it. 'N' 
 I ain' gwine 'low nary one o' yer outen de house 
 no mo', nurrer, cuz 'tain' been nuthin' but trouble 
 sence we start.' So 'Manuel 'n' all de li"l 'Manuels 
 'n' Queenie went in de house agin, 'n' he set 'em 
 all down on de li'l' row o' cheers, 'n' Queenie 
 
THE INTERRUPTED REIGN 207 
 
 on de flo', still a cryin' 'bout 'er par'sol, wid 'er 
 haid bu'y in 'er lap. 'N' af dat he jes' keep 'em 
 settin' dere in de row, 'n' ain' nuver 'low 'em git 
 up. 'N' 'tain' no use fer 'em ter ax. So dey jes' 
 keep on a-settin' dere all winter 'n' all summer 
 twell 'mence ter git mighty wea'ysome. 'N' one 
 day dey 'cide dey's set dere long 'nough. So 
 w'en night come 'n' 'Manuel 's went ter sleep, 
 dey jes' gotten up 'n' stretch out dey arms 'n' dey 
 laigs, 'n' den dey 'cide dey '11 all run away. So 
 w'en dey foun' de do 's lock, w'y, dey look up ter 
 de winder - - 'n' den dey putten Queenie right 
 onder de winder fer a kine of a KT ladder. She 
 ain't r'ally nuver been de same sence she los' 'er 
 par'sol, so she stan' dere 'thout no trouble 't all. 
 'N' den yer see de fus li'P boy he start climbin' 
 right up atop o' Queenie 'n' out fru de winder. 
 'N' den de nex' liT boy he start climbin' right 
 up atop o' Queenie 'n' out fru de winder, 'n' 
 den de nex' li'P boy he start climbin' right up - 
 
 "Yes!" agreed the friend enthusiastically, 
 "until " 
 
 "Start climbin' right up atop o' Queenie 'n' 
 out fru de winder, 'n' den de nex' liT boy he 
 start climbin' right up atop o' Queenie 'n' out 
 fru de winder, 'n' den de nex' liT boy - 
 
208 EZEKIEL 
 
 "Yes! We understand! Until they had all 
 gone out through the window!" 
 
 Ezekiel's voice went dropping on undisturbed. 
 
 "'N' den de nex' HT boy he start climbin' 
 right up atop o' Queenie 'n' out fru de win 
 der, 'n' den de nex' li'l' boy - 
 
 Both the Lady and her friend had a vision 
 of one million little boys standing in line waiting 
 to climb right up atop o' Queenie and out 
 through the window. The friend had become 
 speechless at the prospect, but the Lady nobly 
 came to the rescue. 
 
 "H'm! Ezekiel! Yes, we understand about 
 that ! We understand about the little boys - 
 and Queenie! But it's getting dark, you see, 
 and it 's it 's time for us - 
 
 Gently it flowed on. 
 
 "'N' den de nex' li'l' boy he start climbin' 
 right up atop o' Queenie 'n' out fru de win 
 der, 'n' den de nex' li'l' boy - 
 
 "But we understand perfectly! Ezekiel! We 
 must go now! We must!" 
 
 "'N' den de nex' li'l' boy he start climbin' right 
 up atop o' Queenie 'n' out fru de winder - 
 
 Helplessly she looked at her friend, who was 
 reviving with an inspiration. 
 
THE INTERRUPTED REIGN 209 
 
 " Until Queenie dropped down stone 
 dead!" she announced distinctly, unblushingly, 
 finally, without a quaver of emotion. 
 
 Ezekiel' s voice suddenly stopped and there 
 was a pause. The Lady looked a bit startled 
 and glanced at her friend. Ezekiel was 
 looking at the friend, too. He continued 
 to look with a long, silent, reproving gaze. 
 Then he spoke : 
 
 "No'm, she ain' - - drap down daid," he remon 
 strated slowly in hurt, even tones. 
 
 "Why, of course not," put in the Lady 
 tactfully, "come, walk a little way with us, 
 Ezekiel, and tell us what did happen to her 
 after they had all climbed out." 
 
 He glanced up at her appealingly, as if he 
 were seeking protection from something that 
 had rudely startled frightened him, and his 
 lip trembled. She thought he was going to 
 say something to her and she waited. But 
 his eyes moved away again slowly back to 
 the friend. 
 
 "Why, of course, she didn't mean anything 
 at all I" went on the Lady, and they moved 
 from under the trees back into the road. "So 
 tell us" - and she looked down gently at the 
 
210 EZEKIEL 
 
 hurt little face, so new, so unknown to her 
 "what did become of her?" 
 
 His eyes were still on the guilty friend. 
 
 "She ain'--drap down daid," came his 
 voice again, evenly, reproachfully. 
 
 "I know it! Of course," put in the friend 
 humbly, "I was just joking. What did become 
 of her?" 
 
 The road divided. Ezekiel stepped naturally 
 into the one which led another way. 
 
 "You see you 're going to leave us," she 
 went on urgently, "so tell us, Ezekiel, what 
 really did become of her?" 
 
 Wonderingly the sad reproving eyes looked 
 back at her from the other road. 
 
 " She am' - - drap down daid," he mur 
 mured, and his small feet moved on. 
 
 They glanced at each other uneasily. 
 
 "We should have been more patient with 
 him," finally suggested the Lady contritely. 
 
 "But he was n't making any progress at all, 
 you know," returned the friend, with a mournful 
 twinkle in her eye. 
 
 "Any progress at all?" echoed the Lady 
 thoughtfully, and turned suddenly, severely, on 
 her friend. 
 
THE INTERRUPTED REIGN 211 
 
 " Have n't we heard something like that before ?" 
 she challenged, "in regard to a a larger 
 Problem! Her eyes burned with a sudden 
 hotly kindled fervour. 
 
 "What right have we to say he wasn't mak 
 ing progress when we were too impatient to 
 even wait and see ! What right have they to 
 to oh, my dear, my dear" - her voice dropped 
 unsteadily, "we must all have things so so 
 apparent at the moment! And we can't wait 
 because because God's mills grind much too 
 slowly! We they we can't wait for Him! 
 Does n't it" her voice came in a startled 
 whisper, "doesn't it make you shudder? 
 Doesn't it f-frighten you?" 
 
 Slowly her eyes went down to a note-book 
 still held in her hand, and she dropped it as 
 if it were something that scorched her. 
 
 "Solution!" she murmured in a dry, stricken 
 voice, ' ' solution!"* ' 
 
 Her friend looked up and patted her gently 
 on the back. 
 
 "You're taking it too too hard, aren't 
 you? Don't! It doesn't do any good and 
 everything comes out right in time, does n't 
 it?" She smiled philosophically. 
 
212 EZEKIEL 
 
 ''In time? Yes I suppose," murmured the 
 other, "but but the unnecessary broil we're 
 making in setting ourselves up against Nature 
 and and God!" 
 
 They looked at each other silently for a long 
 moment, and then slowly their eyes moved 
 again to the other road. 
 
 "Look at him!" It came almost like a sob. 
 "Wandering away there all alone with no one 
 to understand or or sympathize just wan 
 dering away, so little and so helpless and so 
 - so unequal to it all!" 
 
 Her friend patted her again gently and brushed 
 quietly at her own eyes. 
 
 Then they both glanced unseeingly down 
 at a note-book crushed in the dust and went 
 on down their own road. 
 
HIS NEED OF MIS' SIMONS 
 
 V i KEEP ON A-WUKKIN' ON DK PAFF 
 
XI 
 
 HIS NEED OF MIS' SIMONS 
 
 JES' look, Miss No'th! Looker w'at 's comin' 
 down de road!" 
 
 Miss North turned her head inquiringly, and 
 Ezekiel continued to comment enthusiastically. 
 
 "It's ole Arch'baP Smiff," he declared with 
 lively appreciation, though in the near distance 
 Archibald failed to look as aged as Ezekiel 
 might have led one to expect. "Yas'm, 'tis; 
 dat 's ole Arch'baP Smiff. Now, w'at dey-all 
 doin' 'im dat-a-way fer? Look, Miss No'th! 
 Dey 's jes' &-chasm' 'im down de road!" 
 
 Miss North stopped a moment and glanced 
 back at the rapidly approaching Archibald. 
 
 "They are probably just chasing him for fun, 
 aren't they?" she began, reassuringly. 
 
 "'Tain' no fun ter git w'ite men chasm' after 
 yer dat-a-way," objected Ezekiel. 
 
 There were excited shouts from the passing, 
 jostling runners, and Archibald turned and cast 
 
216 EZEKIEL 
 
 a momentary exalted, half -dramatic smile on 
 Miss North. 
 
 "They are just in fun, you see. Come, Eze- 
 kiel, I want you to go on with me, and bring 
 back some books that I order; will you ?" 
 
 "Yas'm yas'm, I'll go on wid yer, Miss 
 No'th; but look like ole w'ite men 's gwine ketch 
 'im, too, doan't it?" 
 
 "Catch him? No. Why should they want 
 to catch him?" 
 
 "Cert'nly make me think 'bout de time 
 dey all come a-chasin' af Jonah w'en I 'se 
 ter Mis' Simons'. 'N' I reckon, ef 'tain' 
 been fer Mis' Simons, dey 'd 'a' ketch 'im, 
 too. But Mis' Simons she jes' 'ntirely dis' range 
 dey plans." 
 
 "How did she do that?" questioned Miss 
 North, suddenly interested. 
 
 "W'y, she jes' done it," explained Ezekiel, 
 explicitly. 
 
 "I see; but how? Did Jonah get into 
 some some trouble?" 
 
 "Ya-as, ma'am! 'N' he jes' did!" assured 
 Ezekiel dramatically; "but Mis' Simons she jes' 
 completely dis'range de whul plan. W'y, yer 
 see, it wuz de ve'y day de Cap'm went off ter 
 
HIS NEED OF MIS' SIMONS 217 
 
 de ho'se fair, 'n' lef 'er all 'lone wid jes me 'n' 
 Sarah 'n' Marg'ret 'n' 'well, he would 'a' 
 lef 'er wid Jonah, too, but, yer see, Mis' Simons 
 she foun' she 's 'blige sen' Jonah on a r'al 'mpor- 
 tant erran'. 'T wuz 'long 'bout free o'clock in 
 de evenin', 'n' I 'se in de gyarden a-waterin j 
 de yaller lily-baid, 'n' Jonah he 's a-hoein' 
 on de li'P pafT where cut 'roun' siden de baid, 
 w'en Mis' Simons step up 'n' say, ' Jonah,' she 
 say, 'I want yer ter stop a-hoein' 'n' do a erran' 
 fer me,' she say. 
 
 "'Yas'm,' Jonah answer 'er. Yer see, Jonah 
 think a awful heap o' Mis' Simons, 'n' allays 
 seem ter wanter do jes' like she ax 'im ter'. Co'se, 
 ef he ain't wanter, w'y, I s'pose he 'd 'a' did 
 it jes' same anyway, but he jes'natchelly is wanter. 
 So, 'Yas'm,' he say, 'n' Mis' Simons 'mence 
 tellin' 'im all 'bout it. She look up in de sky 
 ez she 's talkin', too, at de sun, where 's shinin' 
 righ' down stret inter de yaller lilies, 'n' she say: 
 ' Co'se yer '11 be back 'fo' dark, Jonah; doan' be 
 no longer 'n yer 's 'blige ter, cuz we wants yer 
 back 'fo' dark.' 
 
 "'N' Jonah smile at 'er 'n' say he '11 go 'long 
 right smart, 'n' Mis' Simons smile back at 'im 
 'n' say, well, not ter kill 'isself 'bout it; 'n' den 
 
2i8 EZEKIEL 
 
 Jonah he lef us dere siden de lily-bdd, 'n' de 
 sun a-shinin' down jes' same. 
 
 ""Zekiel,' Mis' Simons 'mence after w'ile, 'n' 
 'er voice soun' kine o' slow 'n' dreamin' like, 
 ' 'Zekiel, does yer s'pose yer '11 ever git ter be 's 
 good a man 's Jonah ?' 
 
 "'Wha'm?' I say, kine o' s'prise w'en she ax 
 me right out like dat. 'Yas'm, I s'pose I is, 
 Mis' Simons,' I say. 
 
 "She look at me r'al quick 'n' laf, same way I 
 seen 'er do ser many times befo'. 
 
 "'I doubt it,' she say, still a-smilin'; 'I doubt 
 it, 'Zekiel.' 
 
 "Well, co'se I ain' know jes ? 'zackly w'at she 
 mean talkin' dat-a-way, but look 'mos' like 
 she think I ain't ser good 's Jonah is, 'n', anyway, 
 I ain't r'ally like way she spoke, so, 'Yas'm,' I 
 say, 'I reckon I kin be jes' ez good 's Jonah!' I 
 say, 'n' 'n' I did n' 'mence ter cry, nudder, 
 but -- but I 'mence hoein' on de HT paff, 
 'n' waterin' de yaller lilies, twell Mis' Simons 
 pat me light 'n' sof on de haid kine o' 
 laffin',too. 
 
 "'W'y, yes, co'se 'Zekiel,' she say, 'co'se 
 yer's gwine be ez good's Jonah! 'N' I jes' 
 reckon yer '11 be 'blige tek 'is place now twell 
 
HIS NEED OF MIS' SIMONS 219 
 
 he gits back, too ! W'y w'y, I could n' git 
 'long 'thout yer noways, could I 'Zekiel?' She 
 ben' down while she 's talkin' 'n' pick a yaller 
 lily fum de baid. ' Jes' see it ketch de sun!' she 
 say. 'Doan't it look like gole a-shinin'! Doan't 
 yer reckon I better tek a whul bunch ter Mis' 
 Myers, 'Zekiel?' she say. ' She's sick, yer 
 know po' Mis' Myers !' 
 
 "'Yas'm,' I answer 'er, 'n' 'mence pickin' de 
 bunch fer 'er. 
 
 UO N' you'll tek cyare o' de place w'ile I J se 
 gone, won't yer, 'Zekiel ? I kin trus' yer jes' 
 same 's I kin Jonah, cyan't I ? Ya'as, co'se. 
 I ain' gwine be gone ve'y long, nudder,' she 
 say; 'jes' long 'nough ter give Mis' Myers de 
 flowers, 'n' talk a li'P, or p'r'aps read a KT - 
 'n' same time she 's tellin' me 'bout it she 'mence 
 walkin' off down de paff. 
 
 ."Praesn'ly she turn 'roun' ag'in, 'n' I kin see 
 'er tekkin' one o' de lilies fum de bunch 'n' 
 puttin' it in 'er dress. Den she put 'er han' up 
 to 'er haid quick, like she 's thought o' sump'n 
 she oughter 'membered 'fo'. 
 
 " "Zekiel!' she say. 'N' I run up to 'er fas' 's 
 I kin. 
 
 '" 'Zekiel, tell Jonah I I forgot!' she w'isper 
 
220 EZEKIEL 
 
 to me, 'n' she look r'al w'ite 'n' strange. 'Tell 
 'im no - 'n' she seem ter change 'er mine, 
 'no, I ain' gwine, after all. I '11 wait yere twell 
 he comes.' 
 
 "Co'se I ain' know w'at 'tis Mis' Simons 
 'membered 'bout ser quick, 'n' I ain' r'ally 
 wanter ax 'er, nudder; so I jes' stood dere a-lookin' 
 after 'er w'ile she walk off ter de liT arbour in de 
 gyarden 'n' se' down on de seat. She look 
 kine o' lonesome, too, a-settin' dere all 'lone, 
 'n' I start gwine after 'er ter ax 'er w'at 's de 
 matter. But time I gotten dere I did n' r'ally 
 like ter trouble 'er, so I jes' stood dere quiet by 
 de do', a-lookin' in. 
 
 "'Well, 'Zekiel,' she 'mence praesen'ly, 'did 
 yer want sump'n' ?' 
 
 "'No'm,' I say, kine o' wishin' I ain' come, 
 'no'm, but, I 'se studyin' a li'P 'bout yer, Mis' 
 Simons - - 'n' won'erin' did sump'n' - - frighten 
 yer?' 
 
 "She smile den, 'n' hel' out 'er han'. 
 
 "'No, no, my chile,' she say, lookin' mo' 
 like she useter 'gin, "tain' nuthin' frighten me; 
 I 'se jes' thinkin' 'bout sump'n' - - 1 oughter 
 'membered 'fo'. 'T wuz ve'y thoughtless o' me 
 ter fergit!' she say low like to 'erself, Den, 
 
HIS NEED OF MIS' SIMONS 221 
 
 "Zekiel,' she 'mence ag'in, ' 'ow long does yer 
 reckon it 's gwine tek Jonah ter git back?' 
 
 "'I dunno'm, Mis' Simons,' I say, 'but I 
 reckon he '11 be back right soon now, too.' 
 
 "'Couldrt tek 'im mo'n a hour, could it? 
 she ask, jes' ez ef I knowed all 'bout it. 
 
 "'No'm,' I say, ' could n' tek 'im mo'n a 
 hour.' 
 
 "She look up r'al bright at me den, 'n' prae- 
 sen'ly look down at de flowers in 'er han'. 
 
 "'I reckon you'll be 'blige tek 'em ter Mis' 
 Myers, won't yer, 'Zekiel?' she 'mence. But 
 she stop quick 'gin, lookin' same way she did 
 'fo', w'en she put 'er han' up to 'er haid. 
 
 "'No!' she say, 'doan't yer go outen de yard 
 ter-day, 'Zekiel! Yer won't go 'way ter-day, 
 will yer, 'Zekiel?' 
 
 '"W'y, no'm,' I say, won'erin' w'at she 
 mean; 'no'm, I ain' gwine 'way 'n' leave yer, 
 Mis' Simons.' 
 
 She smile ag'in, 'n' lay down de flowers, 'n' 
 den she tuk up a book where 's layin' on de seat. 
 
 '"Dat 's a good liT boy,' she say; 'now go 'n' 
 hoe de weeds outen de gyarden paff, same way 
 Jonah 's doin' 'fo' he went.' 
 
 "So I went back ter de paff by de lilies, 'n' 
 
222 EZEKIEL 
 
 start in ter wuk right smart. But, co'se, eve'y 
 liT w'ile I 'range ter git jes' enough time ter 
 look at Mis' Simons, too a-settin' in de arbour 
 wid 'er book; 'n' praesn'ly 'mence ter look like 
 she 's mos' forgotten where she 's at, she 's 
 a-readin' ser hard. Mus' 'a' been mo'n a hour 
 sence Jonah went 'way, too, but she keep on 
 a-readin', 'n' I keep on a-wukkin'on de paff, jes' 
 wukkin' 'long same 's befo', twell bime-by I 'se 
 jes' 'blige se' down 'n' res' a liT myself. But 
 Mis' Simons she ain' look up 'tall. 'N' after I 
 'mence ter feel kine o' rested 'n' mo' like wuk, 
 w'y, co'se I got up 'n' start in hoein' ag'in, 'n' 
 dere 's Mis' Simons still a-settin' dere readin' 
 jes' same 's befo' ! De sun 's gittin' kine o' 
 low, too, 'n' look like she gwine git cotch in 
 de dark ef she ain' cyarful, so I drap my hoe 
 in de grass 'n' step 'long up ter de li'l' arbour 
 'n' se' down on de step. Mis' Simons kine o' 
 start-like w'en she seen me, 'n' put down 'er 
 book 'n' raise 'er han's up slow 'n' sleepy-like 
 to 'er eyes. 
 
 "<W'at time is it, 'Zekiel?' she say. 
 
 "De clock wuz strikin' six, time I drap my 
 hoe down in de grass, so I tole 'er 'bout it. 
 
 "'Six!' she say, a-jumpin' off 'er seat, 'Six 
 
HIS NEED OF MIS' SIMONS 223 
 
 er-clock! 'N' am' Jonah come? Ain' he come 
 yit, 'Zekiel?' 
 
 "'No'm, he ain't, ' I say, cuz he ain\, so w'at 
 else is it I kin say? 'No'm, he ain\' I say. 
 
 ""N' he 's been gone long 'nough to 've gone 
 free times at leas'!' she w'isper un'er 'er bref. 
 'Oh, w'at is I done! Jonah, Jonah, w'y doarft 
 yer come back!' 
 
 "'I reckon he'll be back right soon, now,' I 
 say, cuz cert'nly make me feel bad ter see Mis' 
 Simons look dat-a-way. 'Doan't yer reckon 
 he will?' I say. 
 
 "But she jes' shuk 'er haid awful sad 'n' slow- 
 like. 
 
 "'I'se 'fraid I 'se 'fraid sump'n's 'appen 
 to 'im, 'Zekiel/ she answer. 'I--I sent 'im 
 de ve'y place where it 's awful trouble - 
 gwine on ter-day! I sent 'im, 'Zekiel, 'thout 
 
 - 'thout 'memberin' w'at I knowed!' 
 
 "Well, I ain't r'ally know 'ow ter answer 'er 
 dat time, so I jes' did n' make no 'sponse 'tall. 
 
 "'Come,' she say, 'we mus' go in de house, 
 'Zekiel; it's gittin' dark.' 
 
 "It seem awful long after we 's in de house, 
 'n' praesn'ly, it 's sech a warm evenin', Mis' 
 Simons went out on de poach. But she mus' 
 
224 EZEKIEL 
 
 V feel kine o' strange 'n' lonesome, too, 'cuz 
 praesn'ly she ax Sarah 'n' Marg'ret won't dey 
 come out 'n' set dere fer a HT w'ile. 
 
 "'It's time fer you ter go ter baid, ain't it, 
 'Zekiel?' she say;'n' I jes' start ter tell 'er, 'No'm, 
 I doan' reckon 't is,' w'en it come de stranges' 
 noise out dere in de yard. Look like some 
 body 's runnin' ser fas' he cyan't sca'cely breve, 
 'n' all time comin' right 'long fru de grass todes 
 de steps. 
 
 "'Mis' Simons! Mis' Simons!' somebody 
 w'isper, awful hoarse 'n' strange-like. 'N' w'at 
 yer s'pose ? W'y, it 's jes' /0-nah, a-tearin' 
 right 'long up de steps! 
 
 "'Lemme go in, Mis' Simons! Please lemme 
 go in!' he keep on w'isperin', like he cyan't 
 sca'cely breve. 'Dey's after me, Mis' Simons! 
 Dey 's gwine git me! 'N' yer knows I ain' 
 done a thing to 'em, Mis' Simons! Oh, w'at 's 
 dey a-chasin' me fer? I--I ain' done a thing I 9 
 
 "Yas'm, dat 's jes' de way he talk, 'n' 'mos' 
 look like he 's gwine fall righ' down, too, twell 
 Mis' Simons tuk hole uv 'is arm, kine o' shekkin' 
 'im, like, 'n' turn 'roun' ter de do'. 
 
 "'Go in, Jonah! Quick!' she say. Cuz 
 dey 's voices 'n' folks a-runnin' 'n' holl'in' right 
 
HIS NEED OF MIS' SIMONS 225 
 
 dere in de yard. She seem ter jes' push 'im in 
 'n' shet de do'; 'n' den she stan' up, lookin' 
 ser stret 'n' w'ite-like, did n' look r'ally like 
 Mis' Simons. 
 
 " ' 'Tain' gwine nobody else git fru dat - 
 do',' she say, ser low could n' nobody sca'cely 
 hyeah it; 'n' den, oh, 't wuz jes' awful! Dey 
 all come a-knockin' up 'ginst de steps, 'n' a-holl'in 
 'n' a-pushin', 'n' some uv 'em laffin', 'n' some uv 
 'em cursin', 'n' all uv 'em holl'in' 'bout de nigger, 
 'n' tellin' Mis' Simons ter bring out de nigger! 
 
 "'N' w'at yer s'pose? Mis' Simons she jes' 
 stan' dere same 's ever, a-lookin' down on 'em 
 wid 'er back ter de do'. 
 
 "' Bring 'im out!' dey keep on a-holl'in'. 
 1 Bring 'im out!' 
 
 "'N' 'er face look all w'ite 'n' dazzlin' in 
 de light, 'n' 'er voice come low 'n' kine o' shek- 
 kin' like. 'No,' she say, 'I cert'nly is not gwine 
 - bring 'im out,' she say. Yas'm, dat 's jes' 
 de s'ponse she make. 'N' den dey all 'mence 
 holl'in' ag'in 'bout crim'nal 'n' - - 'n' murd'rer, 
 'n' sayin' does she want 'em ter go in a/-ter 'im, 
 'n' buntin' up 'ginst de steps ag'in, 'n' jostlin' 
 'n' pushin', twell Mis' Simons kine o' step forrad 
 a li'P, still a-lookin' down at 'em. 
 
226 EZEKIEL 
 
 "' Ain't yer 'shame!' she say. l Oh ain't - 
 yer --' 'shame /' 'N' I 'clare, ez she stood dere, 
 seem like I ain' nuver seed 'er eyes look ser clare 
 V burnin'-like, ner 1 er face ser dazzlin' w'ite. 
 
 "'He's jes' ez innercent uv any crime ez 
 I is,' she say. 'I knows it, cuz I knows 'im,' 
 she say; "n' - - you knows it! Ef yer doan't - 
 it 's cuz yer doan't cyare 'nough 'bout it - 
 ter fine out ! ' 
 
 "It 's one r'al big man where seem ter be kine 
 o' mekkin' all de res' uv 'em do jes' like he done, 
 'n' fum de ve'y time Mis' Simons 'mence ter 
 speak he jes' stood dere a-lookin' at 'er like he 
 cyan't move ner holler. 
 
 " ' Yer doan't cyare 'nough 'bout it ter - 
 fine out!' she say; ' 'n' den dis yere 's de kine o' 
 thing yer do ! Oh, it 's de kine o' thing we 's 
 'blige answer fer eve'y day!' she w'isper. 'N' 
 she stop, kine o' gasp in' like, ter ketch 'er bref. 
 
 "Well, de ve'y same time she stop, de big 
 man turn 'roun' awful quick 'n' look off r'al 
 sudden at de road, 'n' den he look at de res' 
 where 's cursin' 'n' lafrin - 
 
 "Ezekiel!" interrupted Miss North in a 
 sharp whisper, catching at his arm. Then her 
 hand dropped, and she looked around her. 
 
HIS NEED OF MIS' SIMONS 227 
 
 " Don't you see, Ezekiel?" she went on nat 
 urally. "We are almost there. And wait, 
 Ezekiel; stay right here; don't hurry so. Wait, 
 stay close to me! There seems to be-- some 
 trouble." 
 
 "It's Arch'bal', Miss No'th!" he began, his 
 voice rising excitedly. "Dey's cotch 'im! I 
 tole yer dey 's gwine cotch 'im, Miss No'th! 
 Look, Miss No'th!" 
 
 Just then a big Negro broke in on the scene, 
 and suddenly Archibald was at large again, 
 dashing through the crazy crowd in one direc 
 tion, while the big Negro ran in another. In 
 the confusion that followed, Miss North put 
 her hand out for Ezekiel, to find that he was 
 not there, while Ezekiel, looking distractedly 
 for Miss North, found himself pushed on in the 
 crowd of jostling, swearing men. 
 
 "Oh, look out!" he gasped; "yer 's pushin' me! 
 Yer yer 's steppin' on me! Oh, turn me loose!" 
 
 "Get out o' yere!" a coarse voice called in his 
 ear, "You '11 get killed, 'n' good riddance if 
 you do!" 
 
 He felt them closing in over him, while he slipped 
 to the ground tramping on over him, pushing, 
 tramping 01? while, a limp, wounded little heap, he 
 
228 EZEKIEL 
 
 tried to raise his head, and felt it knock back 
 again in the dust. 
 
 " Mis' - - Mis' Simons would n' nuver 'a' 
 let yer done me dat-a-way!" he whispered 
 vaguely. He raised his head again, feeling 
 confusedly for it as he sat *up, gazing stupidly 
 around. Then he pulled himself to his feet and 
 limped aimlessly around in a circle. 
 
 " Where's I gwine?" he mumbled. "Mis 9 
 Simons! . . . Mis' Simons would n' nuver 
 'a' let yer done me dat-a-way!" He stumb- 
 bled off across the sidewalk into the grass, 
 unheeded by a still confused, noisy crowd. In 
 the grass he still stumbled on. 
 
 "Mis' Simons would n' nuver 'a' let yer - 
 'a' let yer done me - As he slipped 
 
 down again into the grass, his eyes closed. 
 
 A crowd of angry, excited men seemed to be 
 still before him but Mrs. Simons stood with 
 her back to the door, looking down at them 
 with a white face. From a step beside her he 
 seemed to be still looking up at her, while her 
 low, vibrating voice seemed to be still echoing 
 - echoing : 
 
 "Oh, aren't you ashamed of yourselves! 
 Are n't you ashamed!" 
 
HIS NEED OF MIS' SIMONS 229 
 
 With their reckless, brutish faces flickering 
 before him again, he thought he was watching 
 only her watching while her low voice went 
 vibrating on till they turned from her, swear 
 ing and laughing! And then she was stretch 
 ing out her white hand, catching at one of the 
 pillars, while she slipped down down beside 
 him on the step and her arms fell around 
 him helplessly. 
 
 "You '11 take care of me!" she whispered 
 faintly, "won't you Ezekiel!" 
 
 "Yas'm," came up a broken whisper from the 
 grass, "I '11 tek cyare o' yer, Mis' Simons!" 
 
 But there was another low voice which he 
 did not understand, and his eyes opened wide, 
 looking up vacantly at Miss North. 
 
 1 1 Ezekiel ! Have you have you been hurt ? 
 Ezekiel " 
 
 "Yas'm, I reckon I is, Mis' Simons, jes' a 
 KT," he mumbled, struggling painfully to his 
 feet; "but I '11 tek cyare o' yer I '11 tek 
 cyare o' yer, Mis' Simons!" 
 
 The next morning he sat in his seat at school, 
 watching Miss North with large, absent eyes. 
 "You ought not to have come this morning, 
 
230 EZEKIEL 
 
 Ezekiel," she began gently, as her eyes rested 
 on his thin, wistful little face; "I don't think 
 you ought to stay." 
 
 "Yas'm, I oughter stay, Miss No'th," he 
 assured her, with a faint smile. His eyes wan 
 dered to the window. 
 
 "Did dey ketch 'im?" he questioned sud 
 denly. "Did dey ketch Arch'bal', Miss No'th?" 
 "No," she answered, a sudden hot colour 
 rising up in her cheeks. "Archibald 's gone away; 
 they can't find him. But he he need n't 
 have. They found out it was a mistake; he 
 was n't the one they wanted." 
 
 "Mis' Simons oughter 'a' been yere ain' 
 she?" he went on dreamily. "She would n' 
 nuver 'a' let 'em done 'im dat-a-way! 
 Would she, Miss No'th?" 
 
 "No!" she answered, her voice startling him 
 out of his dream, while the colour deepened 
 painfully in her cheeks. "Remember always, 
 Ezekiel, she wouldn't have let them! And 
 remember" -her voice softened "she's your 
 friend, because she wouldn't have let them!" 
 Miss North's eyes wandered dreamily now, and she 
 seemed to have forgotten her audience. " Remem 
 ber, there are always the others, too the 
 
HIS NEED OF MIS' SIMONS 231 
 
 coarse and the brutal, who are only glad of an 
 excuse and they can stamp their whole peo 
 ple very coarsely. But remember, Ezekiel," 
 her eyes gazed fixedly ahead, "it isn't the fault 
 of the best ones; it's the fault of the worst - 
 who always snatch at an excuse, and who 
 will just as long as they 're allowed." 
 
 Her eyes fell on Ezekiel again, who was look 
 ing at her in wide perplexity. 
 
 "What is it, Ezekiel?" she smiled. "Oh, 
 yes, I was just saying about Mrs. Simons - 
 she was always vefy good to you, was n't she, 
 Ezekiel?" 
 
 " Yas'm, Mis' Simons cert'nly was good ter 
 me." Again it was Ezekiel's eyes that dreamed 
 with languid, velvety moistness. 
 
 "Remember that she's one of the best, 
 Ezekiel!" 
 
 "Yas'm," came the gentle response; " could n' 
 be nobuddy no better 'n Mis' Simons!" 
 
EZEKIEL IN EXILE 
 
 HE AIN' SEEN NARY THING 'SCUSIN' A OLE FAT B'AR 
 A-TIPPIN' ROUN' DE CO'NER " 
 
XII 
 
 EZEKIEL IN EXILE 
 
 MISS NORTH looked round on her 
 children suggestively. Then they all 
 remembered. It was Friday afternoon surely! 
 when, as a last fling in the line of mental versa 
 tility and agility, they told stories and did other 
 queer things surely ! This was Miss North's 
 Friday afternoon expression surely ! 
 
 "Children," she began, "who remembers the 
 story that / told you last Friday?" 
 
 There were various demonstrations and symp 
 toms of remembrance. 
 
 "You remember it, Thomas? Could you tell 
 it to the others? Very well. Come down in 
 front, so that they can all hear you." 
 
 Thomas looked rather sheepish after having 
 actually "come down in front," and, with his head 
 dropped and quite completely buried in the 
 top opening of his coat, and his feet describing 
 semicircles with his heels as pivots, began to 
 
 235 
 
236 EZEKIEL 
 
 mumble and grumble in a style both inexcusable 
 and awful. 
 
 "Why, Thomas!" objected Miss North, scan 
 dalized. "No one can hear one word you are 
 saying. Hold your head up, Thomas. Now 
 talk distinctly!" 
 
 Thomas wheeled and pivoted and piroutted, 
 and again began to mumble and grumble both 
 inexcusably and awfully. 
 
 "Thomas! You will really have to take 
 your seat. No one has the slightest idea what 
 you are talking about. Now, who can tell it 
 so dis-tinct-ly that we can hear ev-er-y word? 
 Would you like to try, Archelus?" 
 
 "Yas'm," agreed Archelus in sprightly, hope 
 ful tones, and with delightful self-assurance 
 advanced to the front. 
 
 "It's 'bout a gr-et, big ole ox 'n' a liT ole 
 bullfrog. 'N' one day liT ole bullfrog come 
 'long home say : 
 
 "'W'at yer s'pose I seen? W'y, doan't yer 
 know, I seen sech a gr-et, b-i-g sech a gr-et 
 big an'mul!' 
 
 "'N' udder ole bullfrog say: 
 
 ""Ow big? Ez big's dis?' 'N' he huff 'n' 
 puff up r'al big. 
 
EZEKIEL IN EXILE 237 
 
 "'N' liT bullfrog say: 
 
 "<Oh, g'long! Dat ain' nuth'n. Co'se big's 
 dat! Ain't I jes' tole yer?' 
 
 "'N' udder ole bullfrog begins a-huffin' 'n' 
 a-puffin' 'gin, twell look like she gwine bus' - 
 say: 
 
 "'Ezbig'sdis?' 
 
 "'N'liT ole frog say: 
 
 "'Ya'as, ma'am! Ez big's dat! 'N' yer 
 could n' git ser big ef yer puff up twell yer bus' ! ' 
 
 "'N' udder ole frog begins a-puffin up 'n' 
 jes' a-puffin' up, 'n' keep on jes' a-puffin' up - 
 twell he puff up ser big he cyan' git no bigger, 
 so he jes' bus' righ' clean in two!" 
 
 "So he just burst right so he just burst in 
 two," suggested Miss North. 
 
 "Yas'm. So he jes' burs' righ' clean in two." 
 And Archelus returned to his seat, followed by 
 admiring eyes. 
 
 "Yes; that is what is called a fable, children," 
 explained Miss North, with an uneasy feeling 
 of being haunted by the shades of ^Esop. "Does 
 any one know who wrote that fable?" 
 
 "Mr. Eee-sop," volunteered Thomas. 
 
 "Yes, /Esop," and Miss North wrote it in 
 large letters on the board. 
 
238 EZEKIEL 
 
 " There was another fable of ^sop's which I 
 think I told you last Friday, too. Can any one 
 remember that one?" 
 
 There was a perfect rush of applicants. 
 
 "Well, Hezzy, suppose you tell this one." 
 
 Hezzy was the smallest one to be found any 
 where, and therefore needed encouragement. 
 Hezzy also had a little voice which was very 
 much inclined to lisp, and which resembled the 
 thin little squeak of a cricket as much as any 
 thing else, and there were many delighted grins 
 and even an occasional arrested chuckle at the 
 prospect of an offering from Hezzy. Grinning 
 somewhat shyly himself, but appreciatively, 
 nevertheless, Hezzy tripped to the front and 
 began to squeak fluently: 
 
 "Onth ith a ole crow a-thettin' up in a tree 
 a-eatin' cheethe. Twell a fox come 'long - 
 thay: 
 
 "'W'at a nithe voithe yer muth hev, Mitheth 
 Crow! Thert'nly witht I could hyeah yer 
 thing!' 
 
 " 'N' ole crow jeth keep on a-thettin' in de 
 tree a-eatin' cheethe. 
 
 111 Thert'nly witht I could hyeah yer thing!' 
 ole fox thay. But ole crow jeth keep on a-thettin' 
 
EZEKIEL IN EXILE 239 
 
 in de tree a-eatin' cheethe. Twell ole fox jeth 
 bulk right out: 
 
 "'Oh, Mitheth Crow, I thert'nly jeth witht I 
 could hyeah yer thing!' 
 
 "'N'ole Mitheth Crow, co'th she feel ther 
 nithe w'en she hyeah dat, she jeth drap 'er 
 cheethe outen 'er mouf on de groun', 'n' ole fox 
 jeth pick it up 'n' run off laffinV 
 
 "Yes- " conceded Miss North in half- 
 doubtful tones. "Has any one another story to 
 tell ? Perhaps one that I have never heard ?" 
 
 Two or three hands arose falteringly, Ezekiel' s 
 with confidence- 
 
 "Is it a true story, Ezekiel?" 
 
 "Yas'm no'm yas'm." And Ezekiel arose 
 importantly and came down to the front of 
 the room. But at just this point the door 
 opened, and a solitary strolling visitor stepped 
 into the room. He had an appreciative, expec 
 tant look on his face, as if he had been expe 
 riencing rare delights and was now ready for 
 more. He stopped by Miss North, who briefly 
 prepared the way for him. 
 
 "We are having a few stories before going 
 home," she explained. . . . "Yes, go on, 
 Ezekiel." 
 
240 EZEKIEL 
 
 And thus Ezekiel's story began: 
 
 "Once 't wuz a KT boy, 'n' he ain' no fadder 
 ner no mudder ner no kin nohow - - 'scusin' jes' 
 a h'T ole nanny-goat." The family circle being 
 thus described in full, Ezekiel continued: "No'm, 
 he ain' no kin nohow, 'scusin' jes' dat li'P goat. 
 But li'P boy he ain' kickin' up no dus' counten 
 w'at ain't, cuz co'se he know 'tain' no use. Yas'm ; 
 co'se he know dat-a-much. 'N' li'P boy's name 
 'Afawuel." 
 
 "Did you say this was a true story, Ezekiel?" 
 
 "Yas'm. Wha'm yer say, Miss No'th? 'N' 
 li'P boy's name 'Manuel. 'N' li'P goat's name 
 - Cal/my. 'N' one r'al pretty mawnin' 'Manuel 
 he wek up 'n' look all eroun' de room, 'n' outen 
 de winder where had li'P streaks o' sun a-shinin' 
 right fru, 'n' all eroun' de room 'gin say: 
 
 "'I won'er where Calliny 's at?' 
 
 " 'N' den, co'se, he git outen de baid 'n' look 
 outen de winder 'gin, 'n' sho nuff dere 's Calliny 
 a-browsin' all eroun' 'n' a-nibblin' on de grass, 
 'n' look like she ain' nary trouble nohow. No'm, 
 look like she ain't. 'N' 'Manuel feel r'al good, 
 too call out : 
 
 "'Heyo, Calliny! 'Ow 's yer feelin' 's maw- 
 nin' ?' 
 
EZEKIEL IN EXILE 241 
 
 "'N' Calliny look up r'al pleasant, 'n' 'low 
 she ain' fixin' fer no trouble yit, 'n' den KT 
 boy shet de winder 'gin 'n' begins a-putt'n' on 
 'is clo'es. Fus' - - 'is shirt 'n' 'is cuffs - - 'n' 
 co'se 'is pants 'n' 'is necktie - - 'n' 'is boots - 
 'n' 'is spotted laither belt - - 'n' co'se 'is stockin's 
 
 - 'n' 'is watch 'n' chain - - 'n' 'is wha'm yer 
 say, Miss No'th? Yas'm; he allays dress dat 
 a-way fus' thing in de mawnin' - - 'n' 'is watch 
 V chain - - 'n' 'is gloves - - 'n' 'is li'l' derby 
 hat, 'n' 'is - 'n' 'is li'l' derby hat 'n' den he 
 begins a-studyin' 'bout w'at he '11 git 'im fer 
 breakfus'. 'N' fus' he think he '11 git 'im some 
 tea 'n' p'r'aps a li'l' piece o' pie. Cuz he been 
 feelin' kine o' po'ly wid de digestion lately, 'n' 
 he ain' cyarin' ser much 'bout no breakfus' 
 nohow. But den he reckon look like dat 's po' 
 folks so he begins studyin' 'gin. 'N' den he 
 draw outen de table 'n' - - 'n' begins putt'n' on 
 de breakfus'. 'N' fus' he put on some braid 'n' 
 some chick'n - - 'n' den, co'se, some sweet per- 
 taters 'n' some watermillions - - 'n' - - 'n' some 
 poke chops - - 'n' some tukkey all plumb full o' 
 stuffin' 'n' gra-vy - - 'n' some pudd'n' where 
 had li'l' plums a-settin' all roun' on de top 'n' 
 'n' some li'l' nudder kine o' cakes where had 
 
242 EZEKIEL 
 
 pink 'n' yaller frost'n' a-stickin' right onto 'em 
 
 - 'n' some wha'm yer say, Miss No'th ? W'y, 
 he gotten 'em outen de pantry yas'm; pink 
 'n' yaller frost'n' a-stickin' right onto 'em 'n' 
 den, co'se he 's fixin' fer ter se' down 'n' ax de 
 blessin', w'en dey come a-bunt'n' 'n' a-bunt'n' 
 on de do'. 'N', co'se, it 's Calliny. 'N' 'Manuel 
 he jes' perten' he ain' hyeah nuthin' 't all, so he 
 jes' continue wid de blessin'. 
 
 "But Calliny she jes' keep on a-bunt'n' 'n' 
 a-bunt'n', 'n' 'Manuel he call out: 
 
 "'Wat yer reckon yer doin' out dere, a-bunt'n' 
 de do' in, yer no-'count goat, yer?' 
 
 "Yer see, 'Manuel think a powerful heap o' 
 Calliny, but dis yere mawnin' look like she 
 reckon she r'ally one o' de qual'ty, cuz she 
 jes' keep on a-bunt'n' 'n' a-bunt'n' on de do'. 
 'N' nex' yer know, she jes' speak right out 
 - say: 
 
 "'Oh, please, Mister Master 'Manuel, I wants 
 ter come in!' 
 
 "W'en Calliny speak ter de li'l' boy, dat de 
 name she allays say: 'Mister Master 'Manuel' 
 -jes' dat-a-way. 
 
 "'Oh, please, Mister Master, 'Manuel, I wants 
 ter come in !' 
 
EZEKIEL IN EXILE 243 
 
 "'N' Manuel jes' 'gins a-laffin' to 'isself- 
 call out: 
 
 li ' Se' down 'n' res' yerself, Calliny, 'n' praesen'ly 
 w'en I gits fru wid my breakfus', I 'se gwine let 
 yer come in.' 
 
 " But Calliny she jes' bus' out a-cryin' 'gin say: 
 
 "'But, KT Mister Master 'Manuel, lemme 
 tell yer! It 's a gr-et big b'ar out hyeah, 'n' he 's 
 a-fixin' fer ter eat me!' 
 
 "Den 'Manuel, co'se, he kine o' listen fer de 
 b'ar, but he am' hyeah nuthin', cep'n' ole Calliny 
 a-fussin' 'n' a-quar'lin', so he ain' sayin' nuthin', 
 twell praesen'ly she jes' squeal out : 
 
 "'Oh, I tell yer, it 's a gr-et big b'ar out yere! 
 'N' he's jes' a-mence a-chewin' o' my tail offen me!' 
 
 "But 'Manuel, co'se, he reckon Calliny's jes' 
 a-playin' wid 'im 'gin say: 
 
 "'Well, I 'se finish my breakfus' now, so nex' 
 I 'spec' I has ter bresh up de flo'.' 
 
 "'But'sa b'ar, I tell yer! 'N' he's a-eatin' 
 me clean up! Oh, w'at '11 I do?' 
 
 "'Perten' yer doan' notice 'im 'n' ac' kine 
 o' easy 'n' sosherble 'bout it! Ain't yer no 
 man'g'ment 'bout yer?' 
 
 "But Calliny she ain' seem ter tek no sat's- 
 faction bein' sosherble 'bout bein' ate up, 'n' 
 
244 EZEKIEL 
 
 she try ter holler 'gin; but cert'nly seem like 
 'er voice gittin' mighty quar 'n' weak-like. 
 
 "<Oh, but, liT Mister Master 'Manuel! I 'se 
 mos' all ate up! All 'scusin' my haid 'n' jes' 
 few mo' li'l' things. All 'scusin' my haid 'n' 
 jes' few mo' li'l' things!' 
 
 " 'N' den 'Manuel he 'cide ter quit ser much 
 foolishness, so he jes' jump up 'n' open de do'. 
 'N' w'at yer s'pose he seen ? It 's de trufe. He 
 ain' seen nary thing 'scusin' a ole fat Var 
 a-tippin' roun' de co'ner! Jes' a ole fat b'ar! 
 'N' 'tain' nary sign o' Calliny now'ere. Not 
 now'ere! 'N' yit seem like he kin kine o' hyeah 
 de quares' li'l' voice jes' a-cryin' 'n' a-cryin' 
 in de win': 
 
 "<Oh, li'l' Mister Master 'Manuel, yer 's 
 come ter late! I 'se all ate up! Yer 's come ter 
 late! I 'se all ate up!' 
 
 "'N' den 'Manuel, co'se he knows Calliny 's 
 right 'bout it. 'N' he jes' set righ' down on de 
 groun', 'n' keep on settin' dere twell praesen'ly 
 he jes' bus' right out cryin'. Cuz co'se he 
 know dat 's de en' o' po' Calliny. 
 
 "'N' af dat li'l' boy's jes' 'blige ter live dere 
 all 'lone thouten no kin 't all. 'N' wussen all 
 dat, seem like he cyan' nuver go outen de do' no 
 
EZEKIEL IN EXILE 245 
 
 mo' thouten he jes' seem ter hyeah dat KT 
 voice a-cryin' in de win' : 
 
 "'Oh, KT Mister Master 'Manuel, yer 's come 
 ter late! I 'se all ate up! Yer 's come ter late! 
 I'se all ate up!' 
 
 "'N' dat'sdeen' o' de story." 
 
 Ezekiel returned to his seat with becom 
 ing modesty of mien, and there was a pro 
 longed low laugh from the visiting gentleman. 
 
 "Delightful! Delightful imagination! Most 
 original! I should like to make that boy's 
 acquaintance." 
 
 But Ezekiel' s story had consumed so much 
 time that it was already half -past three o'clock, 
 the dismissal bell was ringing, the children 
 were marching, the yard was filling and still 
 the visiting gentleman was chatting amiably 
 with Miss North. 
 
 "Ezekiel, did you say? Ezekiel Jordan? 
 Ezekiel Esquire Jordan?" The gentleman 
 indulged in one of his prolonged low laughs again. 
 
 "I'm interested in that boy, Miss North. 
 He 's a type. Most original and picturesque! 
 I I 'd really like to get hold of him; do some 
 thing for him, you know." 
 
 Miss North looked mildly appreciative at all 
 
246 EZEKIEL 
 
 this evidence of goodwill and intention, and 
 the interested gentleman chatted on: 
 
 "H-m yes, I really mean it. In fact, I've 
 always wanted a little coloured boy of the right 
 sort. Good-sized place in the country, you 
 know ; plenty of outdoors where they 'd keep 
 him busy, off and on, with little odd jobs and 
 a good old coloured woman in the kitchen who 'd 
 look out for him. I 'd really like to put him to 
 school up there and help him along, you know." 
 
 It was being led up to tactfully in Ezekiel's 
 presence. He looked a bit confused, but alert, 
 too, with importance. 
 
 "And how do you think you'd like it, h-m? 
 Going to school up there in the North?" inquired 
 the interested gentleman. 
 
 "Yes, suh!" returned Ezekiel, still a bit con 
 fused, but appreciative. 
 
 "All right, sir. Where do you live?" 
 
 And it had all worked itself out quite smoothly 
 and naturally, and the interested gentleman 
 was still interested up there in the North. 
 
 "H-m interesting experiment." 
 
 The "good old coloured woman" was inter 
 ested, too; and Ezekiel was beginning to know a 
 
EZEKIEL IN EXILE 247 
 
 few of the " little odd jobs," and was also begin 
 ning to know the road which led straight into 
 the big yard where the brick school-house stood. 
 
 Around the school-house that first morning 
 had swarmed children white white white. 
 Ezekiel had looked hungrily, confusedly around 
 for a dark face just one. But they were all 
 going in, and he had not found it; . . . and 
 they were all trooping out, and the big yard 
 was swarming again, and Ezekiel was still look 
 ing hungrily for the dark face. 
 
 "You will find him an interesting type," the 
 interested gentleman had explained to the 
 teacher in charge, "an interesting type, Miss 
 Bard imaginative and most original." 
 
 And Miss Bard had glanced at him with a 
 kindly interest and concluded that he looked 
 a "little heavy." 
 
 "Just get him to telling stories some day," he 
 suggested. And he chuckled in amused rem 
 iniscence. Miss Bard looked receptive but 
 unemotional, and wondered just what occasion 
 there could be which would call for a story-teller. 
 
 But "Will you go on with the next par 
 agraph, Ezekiel?" she had encouraged that 
 afternoon. 
 
248 EZEKIEL 
 
 It was to be his initiation into the white com 
 pany. He looked around suspiciously, and rose 
 from his seat, looking dully self-conscious; and 
 the paragraph fell on the audience in a hope 
 less, stumbling mumble. 
 
 But they enjoyed it, some of them, and Eze- 
 kiel flushed hotly under his dark skin. 
 
 "Yes," said Miss Bard, still encouragingly, 
 "and you will probably do better next time." 
 
 She wondered afterward, why old Mr. 
 Churchill had ever brought the child away 
 from home. This did n't seem just the natural 
 place for him, really. She did n't believe in 
 these violent uprootings and transplantings. She 
 watched him now as he wandered around the 
 yard, gazing here, there, everywhere, with that 
 peculiar hungry, searching gaze, and wondered 
 if he were really unhappy. She wandered out 
 into the yard herself. He stood apart from 
 the others, watching them now with passive 
 dreaminess. 
 
 "What do you like to play best, Ezekiel? 
 Don't you like this game?" 
 
 He looked at up her with a shy, conscious smile. 
 
 "Yas'm," he murmured, with confused 
 appreciation. 
 
EZEKIEL IN EXILE 249 
 
 "And here is a place for you right here. Of 
 course they want you to play, too." 
 
 She had turned away again, but he was fol 
 lowing her, and she stopped. He seemed to 
 want to say something, and she waited. Then 
 she went on again. But he was still following 
 her. She felt his hand reach up and just touch 
 her arm. 
 
 "What is it, Ezekiel? Did you want some 
 thing?" 
 
 He looked up, and his face felt very hot, but 
 he went on, faltering it out: 
 
 "'Tain'- -'tain' nary a cull'd chile in dis 
 yere whul school is dey ?" 
 
 "A coloured child?" He waited. It was the 
 final chance, and all his ultimate happiness and 
 hope seemed to be hanging trembling in the 
 balance. 
 
 "No; I am afraid you are the only coloured 
 child in the building. I 'm sorry." 
 
 u Yas'm," he murmured politely and turned 
 away, knowing that it would be useless to 
 look any more for the dark face. 
 
 'But in the night, in a dream, another time 
 came back, and it was the Whittier yard that 
 was swarming, just as it used to. And yet he 
 
250 EZEKIEL 
 
 still seemed to be searching for something. 
 What was it? A little coloured boy? Just one 
 little coloured boy? No, no! They were all 
 coloured! And he threw up his arms and ran in 
 and out among them, touching them, jostling 
 them, laughing and crying, until they all began 
 to do just as he did, and throw up their arms, 
 and run in and out, touching each other, jos 
 tling each other, swaying backward and for 
 ward, running in and out faster and faster, 
 laughing and crying with him oh ! it was mad 
 intoxication after weeks of very wretched thirst. 
 
 And then he waked up, just as it was fading 
 away. He tried to get it back again, but it was 
 a confused, unsatisfactory thing, and, besides, 
 it was day, and the turn of the other waking 
 things. 
 
 He remembered, later, that it was Friday. 
 Miss Bard remembered it, too, and thought 
 again, as she looked at him curiously, of some 
 thing which old Mr. Churchill had said that first 
 morning when he had arrived with Ezekiel. 
 Miss Bard was conscientiously interested in the 
 most latent, unknown qualities of them all. 
 And in this particular case Miss Bard was some 
 what troubled. She felt, as she looked back over 
 
EZEKIEL IN EXILE 251 
 
 days of unsatisfying attempts, that her hitherto 
 self-recognized talent for skilfully revealing all 
 these latent possibilities was undergoing a grad 
 ual extermination. But if she had depended 
 too confidently on her own methods, if she had 
 not been sufficiently open to what had seemed 
 to her aimless but well-meant suggestions, she 
 was still interested and conscientious. 
 
 And again she looked at Ezekiel and at the 
 others. 
 
 "I think we shall have time for a little reading 
 before we go home," she began. "Did I finish 
 our story last week ? . H-m yes. Will 
 
 one of you give the story as quickly as possible 
 in your own words? . . . Yes, that was 
 very well done, Sarah. Now, I wonder if per 
 haps some of you know stories that I have never 
 heard." 
 
 This was something new for Miss Bard, and 
 they all looked very much interested. 
 
 " Could n't you tell us a story, Robbie, one 
 that you have heard at home?" 
 
 Robbie became properly concentrated. 
 
 "I can tell a little bit of a story, one that comes 
 first in a great big fairy-book of mine. It 's 
 about a fox and a crow." 
 
EZEKIEL 
 
 Ezekiel looked up intelligently. He thought 
 he had heard something like that before. 
 
 "The crow was sitting up in a tree, and a- 
 fox was under the tree." 
 
 EzekiePs attention began to wander. 
 
 He was looking at Hezzy Cones instead of 
 at Robbie Eliot. There were dark faces around 
 him instead of white ones and they were all 
 listening, too. 
 
 And then then they were turning to look 
 at him. For he knew a story that he could tell 
 himself. They would like it, they would all 
 like it! And Miss North would like it, too! 
 
 He had half risen in his seat, and his face was 
 lighted as it had never been since since - 
 
 "Yes, Robbie, that was very nice. And now 
 Ezekiel has a story to tell us, I am sure." 
 
 She looked smilingly at his eager, glowing 
 face, and remembered again what old Mr. 
 Churchill had said. 
 
 "Yes, Ezekiel has a story." 
 
 He dropped back into his seat, and looked 
 confusedly, stupidly around, as if some one 
 had frightened him out of a no, he was n't 
 asleep, but he still looked around helplessly. 
 And it was the white, white company again. 
 

 EZEKIEL WAS AT HOME AGAIN 
 
EZEKIEL IN EXILE 253 
 
 And yet again he was gazing hungrily around. 
 He had forgotten that it was useless gazing 
 hungrily, everywhere, for the dark face. 
 
 " Have n't you, Ezekiel?" 
 
 He looked at her stupidly. 
 
 "No'm. I ain' no story t' tell," he mumbled 
 thickly. 
 
 The interested gentleman prided himself that 
 he was always open to conviction. 
 
 " And if this does n't seem to be just the place 
 for the boy, after all," he reasoned, "why, then 
 he 'd better go back again. He was all right 
 where he was, but I was fool enough to get the 
 notion that I 'd like to root him up for my own 
 diversion. But it was a mean little game to 
 play on you, wasn't it, little chap? And I 
 won't keep it up forever. You can go back, 
 back to your Virginia country and your little black 
 friends, back to your Whittier School and your 
 Miss Miss what 's her name ? Miss - 
 
 . And Miss North was looking around 
 on her children at the Whittier School. And 
 then they all remembered. Friday afternoon - 
 surely; when they told stories and did other 
 queer things surely. And how interminably 
 
 
254 EZEKIEL 
 
 long it had seemed since they had done any 
 thing queer at all! 
 
 "And how nice it is to have Ezekiel back 
 again," Miss North began. "Would you like 
 to tell us the first story this afternoon, Ezekiel?" 
 
 "Yas'm." And Ezekiel bounded from his 
 seat and swung joyously down the aisle. 
 
 They followed him with appreciative, delighted 
 smiles. And he smiled back at them in per 
 fect understanding. 
 
 "Once 'twas a li'P boy," he began. 
 
 They were still smiling at him delightedly. 
 It was a long time since they had had Ezekiel 
 with them. He stopped just long enough to 
 smile back once more. 
 
 "Once 'twas a HT boy " 
 
 Ezekiel was at home again. 
 
 THE END 
 
 185890 
 
THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE 
 STAMPED BELOW 
 
 RENEWED BOOKS ARE SUBJECT TO IMMEDIATE 
 RECALL 
 
 LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS 
 
 Book Slip-25m-6,'66(G3855s4)458 
 
N9 536171 
 
 Pratt, L. 
 EzekLel. 
 
 E9 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 DAVIS