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ILLINOIS

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPA1GN

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UNCLE ISRAEL.' 1 ' • " ;















THE UNIVERSITY
OF ILLINOIS
LIBRARY

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The Crisis at Shilo

and Other Stories

By

BELL BAYLESS

f I

CHICAGO
SCROLL PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1901Copyrighted, 1900,
By Bell Batlkss.

Rscalved from

opyright Office.
JB« 1 18! '•-Tbdl
UNCLE ISRAEL.* a	CONTENTS.

%

The Crisis at Shilo, . . . .	9

uWhat Combs uv Proudhess," ....	25

Israel Stirs the Rick, .....39

"How Doth the Little 3usy Bee?" . . .	47

Matchmaking,.......59

uA Ole Time Cawjt ShuckhiV4 ....	75

4,Dem Hant Hosses," .....	88

Diplomacy Versus Right* . . . .	93I*

To the little niece
Dorothy Irby»The Crisis at ShiloTHE CRISIS AT SHILO

July was nearing its end and the crops were laid
by for the summer.

During the day the heat shook and trembled
over the valley like pop-corn in a skillet, while at
night, after work was done, the bell in the belfry
of Shilo Baptist Church pealed forth, calling the
darkies to come to protracted meeting.

For years an unceasing feud had existed be-
tween Shilo and the A. M. E. Church South of the
village. No term of opprobrium was too offensive
to apply to "dem Baptis", or "dose no 'count
Mefodis niggers"; but just now a truce had been
called in this warfare, while vigorous methods were
adopted to put down the uprising within the very
walls of the stronghold of the Lord.

At the close of this series of meetings the
preacher was to be called for the coming year, and
Brother Williams was a candidate for re-election;
so his sermons were delivered in a loud voice, in
the monotonous sing-song peculiar to his race, ac-
companied by thumps of the Bible and shouts to
terrify the small fry into a realization of their sins;
and his prayers were long, earnest, and perspiring.

About a month before a business meeting had
been called and 44Brer Elic" couldn't account for
all the funds; this caused hard feelings, and Elic
reported a few of the brethren to the Town Coun-10

The Crisis at Shilo.

cil for slandering his good name. Other compli-
cations arose regarding the teacher to be employed
for the colored school. Heretofore, to preserve
peace, the county commissioners had permitted the
fund to be divided equally between a Baptist and
a Methodist teacher; but it was decided that public
money could not be used to keep up sectarian
schools, so, after many final elections, the Baptist
professor won over the Methodist school ma'am. It
happened that the chosen one was not an Odd Fel-
low, and members of that order accused him of say-
ing hard things against their lodge, so they and the
Methodists clubbed together and hired the school
ma'am to teach their offspring. These fortunate
children put on airs because they went to a private
school, while the common folks went to the old free
school.

Professor Snow made some comment on "Brer
Elic's" methods as treasurer, and he retorted with
the remark he overheard about the "Ord Fellers",
and there followed a council scrap, after which old
Elic was bound over to keep the peace. Things
were in this position when the last night of the pro-
tracted meeting arrived, and Williams, after a care-
ful canvass, knew he lacked votes enough for re-
election , so he preached a soul-stirring sermon on
the wickedness of bringing church matters before
the town council and causing the white folks to
comment and laugh at them; urging with all his
might that, If any brother knew of another com-
mitting this awful sin, it was a sacred duty to re-
port him, that he might be properly dealt with byThe Crisis at Shilo.

11

the church and brought to a repentant frame Of
mind.

Here was Snow's chance. With affected reluc*
tance he rose in his place and reported 46Brer Elic.'*
A dead silence fell upon Shilo. Poor old Elic had
4 6 his ted de tchune" for years, but his shrill falsetto
voice was now dumb.

Then up spoke Pink Johnson, 44Brer Williams,
I p'test 'gainst dis yhere p'ceedin'. Brer Elic
ain't c'mitted no sin 'gainst de 'ciplin of de church."
But here one of Snow's henchmen spoke up and
dwelt at length on the ridicule of 44de white folks".

About that time Elic found his wind and
launched forth. 44Hit ain't nuffin but dat triflin'
Snow jist atryin' tuh ruin me, 'count of me axin'
him fur pay fur de three, months he staid at my
house, an' I ain't seed de linin' of his pockets yit.
He ain't no Rushville nigger . He jist come yhere

fum Etlanty tuh meek money outen wealls-"

The rest of his defense was lost amid a shower of
abuse from the Snowflakes, who inquired why he
was meddling with school matters when his chil-
dren were all grown up and 4 4 done moved to Chat-
tanoogy?"

The Odd Fellows met this with a flank move-
ment on Williams stirring up discord in the church,
but mention of the funds that were not in evidence
completely routed them.

Finally Williams secured order to announce
that 44Brer Elic" stood accused of bringing dis-
credit on Shilo Baptist Church by allowing its af-
fairs to become public property in a council scrap.The Crisis at Shib.

"pe queshun now befo' dis chuch am, 4What am
to be done?' "

Up jumped old Tobe, the shoemaker. "I move
tye tu'ns him out!" he shouted. Groans and hisses
from the opposition.

Pink rose to remind the members of "Brer
ElicV' long and faithful attendance; of the tunes
he had raised, and the musical education he had in-
stilled into the congregation from its earliest youth;
but instead of pouring oil on troubled waters, he
added fuel to the flames, and Uncle Tobe's motion
received numerous seconds.

Rap! rap! rap! Williams lifted the big Bible
and brought it down on the pulpit till he com-
manded order; then he put the motion, the worst
feature of which, to judge by his stating it, was
"actin' unbecomin' a gentleman an' a church mem-
ber by engagin' de laffin' of de white folks." That
seemed to take the brethren, for a negro objects to
being ridiculed by his white neighbor. He likes to
keep among his own race, to live with them in the
same part of town, to attend and conduct his own
meetings without white supervision; in fact, only
in a financial way do whites and blacks come to-
gether; as master and servant, merchant and cus-
tomer, except at election times,—but this is warm
weather and such things are unsafe to bring up in
the region of the thermometer. There is a limit
even to mercury.

"All in favor of tu'nin' dis brotha out of de
church an' pin tin' to him de error, of his way, sig-
nify by sayin' 'Aye' "Aye", came in a chorusThe Crisis at Skilo.

13

from the Snowflakes and a few stragglers who didn't
care. "Contrary 4No' ". 44No," replied the
Odd Fellows and Elic's kin by blood and marriage.
A rising vote was demanded by the latter, and lit-
tle Frank Will, aged nine, in range of big Snow's
eye and mindful of future applications of the hick-
V prv when the melancholy days, the school days,
«houl<J be upon him, rose trembling to his little,
bare feet. Old Emily, his mother, seated across
the isle, reached out a huge hand, clutched the
urchin , laid him across her knee while she applied
the carpet slipper, hastily slipped off her foot, to
the place that needed patching worst, till it came
time to rise and add her voice and weight to the
opposition. The deacons counted and found the
44Ayes" had it by four majority.

The temper of the assembly was at white heat.
Sister Liddie Rice, sister Harriet Thompson, and
sister Rachael Dixon, called the 4'three Hebrew
children", who were appointed to sit in the Amen
corner on the women's side and say a loud44 Amen",
and stamp their feet and nod approval of the preach-
er's sentiments, till they resembled toy donkeys
nodding and bowing, and must have possessed won-
derful strength of vertebrae to prevent dislocation
of the neck—these three good sisters had words
with Maria, the high tempered wife of Elic.

Though small, Maria sampled each of her ad-
versaries. She snatched Aunt Liddie's head rag
off and 44tromped" it under foot; she flew at Aunt
Harriet and jerked a lock of wool out above the left
ear; and when sister Rachel settled herself once14

The Crisis at Shilo,

more into position, she wiped the blood from a
long scratch on her fat, brown cheek. Maria next
turned her attention to Snow. "Yo low down
houndshe screamed, "ef I can't hab de money
fur all dem chickens yo done et, an' all dat washin'
an' ironin' I done fur yo, I'll hab meat," and she
clawed the map of Africa on his shining counte- j
nance.

All this time Williams was urging Elic to reduce
her to order. "Brer Elic, meek de 'ooman 'have
herse'f. Hit ain't fitten fur no wimmins tuh teck
paht in church 'fairs no whar. De Possel Paul sez
dey mu8' be quiet an' set in de corners. Brer Elic,
use yo 'thority ez husban' an' meek dat 'ooman set
down an' hush her fuss, an' be 'spectful in de house
of Gawd. Brer Elic-"

"Doan yo 'Brer' me," squeaked Elic. "I'ze
done been tu'ned outen de church, so I ain't none
of yo 6Brer'. De Possel Paul hedn't no wife like
Maria, ur he'd a knowed better 'an tuh talk dat
away. Ef yo want dat 'ooman tuh hush, jist meek
her. Yo's hed mo' speriunce 'ith wimmin folks
'an what I is. I ain't hed foah wives an' oney one
of 'em daid."

"Sho, sho, Brer Elic—," began Williams in a
soothing tone.

"Doan yo 'Brer' me, I tells yo. Ain't I been
tu'ned outen Shilo? I ain't no church membah, an'
I kin cuss ez much ez I please an' hit's nobody's
bizness but mine. Doan yo 'Brer' me, Williams.
De White Caps ain't visited me an' lef* a waunin'The Crisis at Shilo.

16

fur me tuh quit my meanness, so I ain't yo brer.
Doan yo 'Brer' me."

Of course nothing was to be done but turn Ma-
ria out to keep Elic company and the pair received
their sentence with anything but repentant hearts.

The next business before the house was the elec-
tion of a shepherd to rule this turbulent flock for
the ensuing year. Among the candidates Williams
seemed to have the best chance, but when it came
to a vote he succeeded only by a majority of three,
Frank Will not having recovered his cheerfulness,
and one wavering one going over to the enemy be-
cause of a severe reproof for "settin* on de back
benches a-eyein' de young leddies, an' sniggerin',
an' laffinV'

4'Wall," said triumphant Williams, "we has
all de nice leddies an' gentlemen wid us, an' de
rags, an' trash, an' liars, an' thieves, an' scanel-
mongers kin jist go whar dey wants to.''

A motion to turn out all those members who
upheld Elic in his wickedness, as well as a few boys
for "dancin' on de sto' po'ch, pickin* de banjo an'
play in' de fiddle," followed. This, too, was car-
ried, many of the accused being too proud to say a
word in their defense; but Emly up and sassed
the preacher in good fashion. So, at a breath, Shi-
lo lost twenty-six members.

Then Williams told them that all sinners who
confessed their faults in open meeting, and could
fellowship with each and everyone of the brethren,
would be forgiven and received again within the
arms of the church. He eloquently dwelt on the16

The Crisis at Sh%lo.

danger of remaining outside—they were the indus-
trious negroes, as negroes go: the men worked on
the railroad, or farmed on shares, while the women
washed to help support the families and to meet the
assessment for the preacher's salary—and drew a
harrowing picture of anyone dying in an unrepen-
tant state of mind. He took for granted that they
would all rejoin, as on previous occasions; but this
time he reckoned without his host, for his invita-
tion met with no acceptance, and the ousted mem-
bers left the church in a body, Emly leading
Frank Will by the ear.

The next week 'Lias Tumlin, who was candi-
date for treasury man, "an' him a sinner", got
mad because Snow raised the question of one who
was not a church member having charge of its
funds, and he and Cindy, his wife, pulled out and
left things evenly divided; for 'Lias said, "Ef
there was ary otha Baptis' chu'ch in Rushville,"
he'd join.

That started the ball rolling, and about the
same time the white Baptists decided to build a new
church, so these erring brethren concluded to buy
theirs—to commence one would take too long a
time. They skimped themselves, denied their child-
ren almost necessities, and redoubled their ener-
gies to raise funds for the first payment, continued
their efforts for the next and to hire a preacher.
Spite is a fine spur. The sermon-tasters had a se-
ries of treats listening to various candidates, but at
last they called a man from Atlanta—a big, black
negro who wore a preacher-tailed coat and beaverThe Crisis at Shilo.

17

hat. His voice was musical and of great volume,
and his whole person seemed full of the magnetism
that fills an audience with a sort of frenzy, causing
people to shout, jump, whirl in their tracks, clap
their hands, and frequently fall unconscious to the
floor.

By the last of August this preacher had a pro-
tracted meeting in full blast. Shilo refused to grant
letters to the delinquents because they were not in
fellowship, so that difficulty was overcome by pro-
fessing religion all over again and making an en-
tirely new start with Mount Pisgah, as the new
church was called by its sponsors, or "second class
Baptists", as Shilo dubbed it.

The day for Williams' monthly service arrived,
and he, too, from a neighboring town. Anna, a
diminutive darkie, the wife of Pink, was particu-
larly indignant at being classed with the rags and
trash, so she and Lizzie and Cissily Moberly formed
a conspiracy and sent defiance to Williams. "We
just dared him to come down in our neck of town.
Me an' Lizzie an' Miz Moberly laid our battling
boards beside our tubs an' was fixin' to beat him
'ith 'em; jist weah him out. He always comes to
teck dinnah 'ith ole Clarissa Goldstone, but I no-
tice dis time he come a path thoo de fieP, an' went
back de same way, nevah come anigh us. Ole
Clarissa, she dat uppity she whups her chillun ef
dey speaks to ouah chillun, an' tells 'em to rock
eve'y one of my chickens dey sees. Dat's jist de
way 'ith all dem Shilo people. Won't even tell
us ' Howdy', even dem Jacksons dat uster meek18

The Crisis at Shilo,

all dey cloze on my machine. I reckon dey *11 be
wantin' to meek up, time one of de gals gits new
dress."

The new preacher proved the proper medicine.
He sang his sermons far into the night, and when
his hearers got tired of the text, they broke into a
hymn; whether it was long or short metre, it was
lined out according to their ideas of propriety, and
their voices filled the church, aye, and surround-
ing atmosphere, with the wierd, minor melody
characteristic of all negro music. One old sister's
quavering pipe rose a full octave above the so-
prano, while Pink filled all rests and long drawn
out notes with quirks and turns peculiarly his own.
Davenport inflamed his hearers till they rose en
masse and shouted till they nearly tore the church
down, and all the way home after service. Wil-
liams did his best, but he couldn't rouse Shilo to a
like pitch of religious enthusiasm, even by inspir-
ing song, "Big Camp Meeting at de Jedgmint
Day," with its accompaniment of regular tramping
feet and chorus, "Amen, bless de Lord!" so he
started a second series of meetings. It was his cus-
tom to read the commandments during every ser-
vice, though his hearers were not much in favor
of this feature; still, it made the meeting last longer
and the latter overcame the undesirable quality.
Each church had a watcher hidden near its rival to
report progress.

One night Williams did succeed, and half a
dozen sisters shrieked and moaned and rent the air
with cries of "Griory, glory, my soul! Tu'n meThe Crisis at Shilo.

19

a-loose, ole Satin, tu'n me a-loose 1" ending in a
wail, "Oh, my soul!"

"Huh," commented 'Lias, stationed in a fence
corner. "Call dat shoutin'? Dat ain't nuffin' but
hollerin' wid dey mouf. Rail shoutin's when dey
stomp wid dey feet."

The day of the baptizing drew near—the crown-
ing point of these "distracted meetin's", and all
the coons in town had gathered on the creek bank
to witness the immersion. From each church came
a procession, singing as they marched to the wa-
ter's edge. A lively dispute was the beginning,
for Shilo, as the oldest institution, claimed the right
to the spot farthest up the creek, but Mt. Pisgah
refused to recognize this claim and spurned the
idea of immersing their converts in water that had
been muddied by "sich trash" as Shilo. They com-
promised by going farther on, where two creeks
came together; the spectators stood on a point of
land, and each kept jealous watch and count as the
converts stepped forth. First, all united in sing-
ing a hymn. Then each preacher delivered a short
talk, telling why he was a Baptist, and called on
his followers to pray. Instantly all sank on their
knees. Little Buddy Johnson happened to be stand-
ing ankle deep in water at that moment and didn't
dare move, so squatted where he stood, looking
like the tremendous frogs that cry "knee deep!" in
the still nights. Each section of the lengthy peti-
tion was helped to Heaven by fervent grunts," Yes,
Lawd! Dat's so! Amen!"

Down into the water stepped Williams, wearing20

The Crisis at Shilo.

his oldest clothes, with a deacon on each side of
him. Davenport, wearing a long black gown that
came to his heels, with a towel flung over his shoul-
der, and carrying a staff in his hand, waded into
his creek, poked and prodded about the bottom be-
fore planting his staff, curtly rebuked a bystander
who warned him of an unexpected hole, "Don't
bother me now."

Shilo's group of candidates formed a line and
waded out to their preacher, who folded each one's
hands on his breast, and immersed him, saying, in
stentorian tones, "I baptize thee in de name of de
Father, de Son, an' de Holy Ghost.''

"Dat's one!" sang out Pink, the watcher for Mt.
Pisgah.

Davenport commanded, "Yo seben boys, come
in y here I" Beginning with the eldest, a grown
man, and dwindling in size to little Simp, aged
eleven, they obeyed. He ranged them waist deep,
facing the multitude; then with arm uplifted, he
cried, "On profession of your faith, and in obedi-
ence to the great head of the church, I baptize you
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost." He then launched his man on
the Gospel Sea.

"Dat's one!" shouted Mose, Shilo's watcher.

Davenport next led out the girls and immersed
them, even separating the sexes, so close commu-
nion was he.

Just as Williams ducked his twelfth, Mose
called out, "Dat mecks thirteen!"

Poor little Stella Louise was helpless in Daven-The Crisis at Shilo.

21

port's hands. "Oh, save me, Mammy, Mammy,
don't let me be thirteen! Oh, my Jesus, save me,
don't let me be thirteen!" But her lamentations
were cut short, and she came up with a mouth full
of water. Consternation reigned on the bank.
William's last candidate turned and pulled for the
shore as fast as possible, while Stella Louise and
her mammy wailed and wept.

All of a sudden "Miz Cissily" caught up a tod-
dling pickaninny clinging to her skirts. '4 Yhere,"
she shouted, "teck dis chile an' souse him good,
wash some uv de debblemint outen him, fur he sho
is got mo' meanness dan all de yutha ten tugerr."

The bystanders loudly approved this move,
though infant baptism is directly contrary to the
teachings of the sect, and deacons handed the kick-
ing, howling child to the waiting apostle, who, as
before, immersed it in the name of the Holy Trin-
ity; then dripping, gasping, the frightened baby
was given back to its fond mother's arms.

"Come yhere to yo mammy, yo po' lil lamb.
Did de bad man 'buse my baby? Well, he shan't
do hit no mo'. Yo's yo mammy's own precious
chile," and crooning and comforting, she soon
hushed it on her capacious bosom , while the other
ransomed saints waded out, singing a baptismal
hymn in which the crowd joined.

Really, it was impressive, and no snickering
went on among the spectators facing Davenport's
bank. Once, when a boy who was not6; right bright"
came up clapping his hands as Williams turned him
loose, a feeble titter spread among that audience,
but was frowned down by the elders. Joannah22

The Crisis at Shilo.

rared her head back and fanned herself with vigor-
ous satisfaction when little Simp went under, and
pushed her way to the line to give him the hand of
fellowship in return for the motherly dose of hick-
ory she had applied that morning. There they
stood, each cluster of rescued brands, as all Shilo
or Mt. Pisgah filed past to give them the hand,
while the water ran from their garments and made
little pools about their feet. Chap Clay, who went
barefooted all his life, had on a new pair of black
socks in honor of the occasion, but sad to relate,
had cut one out on a rock as he came on the bank.
Watching the wrapt, earnest faces of the brethren,
one could but regret that the principles of religion
stayed by them about as long as the water did, and
a well stocked hen coop outweighed the heaviest
sermon.

Monday night there was a called meeting at
Shilo Baptist Church. Matters had reached a cri-
sis, and something must be done and done quickly.
A committee was appointed to wait on Brother Wil-
liams and intimate that, owing to the decrease in
membership, Shilo could pay only half the salary
she had heretofore given him. Taking his resig-
nation for granted, as future events justified, they
decided to call a new preacher.

As Shilo was out of debt, largely owing to the
endeavors of the expelled members, a celebration
of the lifting of the obligation having been held in
June, she could certainly afford to pay more than
the 44second class Baptists," so they decided to call
Davenport, and he accepted and brought his flock
with him. So the crisis was past." What Comes uv Proudness""WHAT COMES UV PROUDNESS"

The negro Methodists and Baptists of our vil-
lage might well be called fighting Christians, for
their warfare continued unto the third and fourth
generation, and whenever the children met on
common ground a general melee ensued.

Woe to the Baptist boy who ventured into the
Methodist neck of town, or the urchin whose par-
ents believed in "sprinklin' " who strayed into East
End. It would require the shades of evening to
permit his return to his own stamping ground.

To preserve peace a school had been maintained
in each of the churches; but the commissioners de-
cided that public funds could no longer be used for
sectarian schools, so the edict went forth that next
session both would be consolidated into one, and
another building chosen.

The Methodist school was to have a closing ex-
hibition the latter part of May, and great prepara-
tions were being made. As early as April our
darkies began asking for bits of finery to wear, and
muttering strange words while performing their
daily tasks.

Fanny came to my room early one chilly morn-
ing bringing a pitcher of hot water, and fat pine to
build a fire and dry out the dampness. She bustled
about the room, hanging up garments in the ward-
robe, work that was never done until after break-26

The Crisis at Shilo.

fast, until I opened my eyes and inquired in sleepy
indignation, "What are you doing, Fanny?"

" 'Clare tuh goodness 1 Dis yhere ole rag won't
stay hung on dat hook. What anybody rich as
Miss Kate am wants tuh let hit clutter up her press
fur,I doan know," and she held up with withering
contempt a red tea gown that had seen its best
days.

"Put it on that chair if it won't stay up," I
commanded; 4' then take the blower off the fire and
go down stairs."

Poor creature! her hopes were dashed. The
reproach was even greater when I appeared at
breakfast wearing the despised gown, but Fanny
stepped on the train with a muddy foot and splashed
cream on the sleeve as she passed my coffee, so in
due time she felt she could offer to buy that "old
ragged wrapper 'ith a tail tuh hit." Of course I
made her a present of the coveted garment, only
to be mildly asked to, "Please, ma'm, cut hit out
in de neck like y'alls pawty dresses am."

A similar course secured a white muslin from
my sister, so Fanny held her head up and stepped
high.

Uncle Israel, likewise, struck us for a cravat
and scarf pin, and he, too, put on airs. We asked
if he intended to sing a solo, but he vowed he
"cudden cahy a tchune in a basket."

Then Andrew asked me to hear his piece and
see if he knew it to say at the exposition. Andrew
was my own particular little nig, his mother hav-
ing given him to me when he was a tiny chap in16 What Comes uv Proudness."	27

dresses, and now that he was nine years old he
stayed up on the hill to run errands. Aunt Molly
said, "Miss Kate, I wants yo tuh meek sum pin
outen him, a cook ur a house boy; doan wan' no
moah fiel' han's in de fambly; an' ef he doan min,
an' do jes ez yo tells him, weah him out, gib him
hick'ry tea, kaze I'ze a washm' an' a wuckin' all
day an' ain't got time tuh learn de chillun man-
ners." So Andrew was provided for, though I
never really understood his piece, only the words,
44Chicken ain't got no teeth, but I is."

One day my afternoon siesta was interrupted
by people talking out on the gallery leading to the
kitchen. It was a low down trick, but who could
resist listening and learning what it was like to be
loved? There was Augustus, one of the hoe hands,
professing all kinds of devotion to Fanny. By all
the stars, the moon shining above him (it was four
o'clock) he vowed to love her true while life lasted.
Fanny pleated her apron and cast coquettish glances
at her kneeling swain; but before she could frame
a fitting reply, a burly form hurled itself into the
scene.

"Git away fum yhere, nigger. Yo fool wid
my gal I'll bust yo haid wide open wid a rock."
Lige had left his plow in the furrow and the pa-
tient mule nodding in the sun, to fly to the rescue
of his lady love. Augustus would not be bluffed,
s6 they clinched, Fanny stepping about uneasily
and crying, "Law, Mista Brown I Fur de Ian' sakes,
Mista Gus!"

Visions of knives and razors flashed before me28

The Crisis at Shilo.

as I poked my head out of the window and read
the riot act, dispersing the crowd in short order.
Fanny giggled as she returned to the dining room
and the two men slouched back to their work.

At last the day of the event came. Aunt Cindy
had a terrible fit of rheumatism and sulks com-
bined. The coffee was muddy, biscuits burned,
and breakfast a failure. She limped and groaned
about the kitchen, until just as I started for the
store room to give out dinner, I heard Israel say
in bland tones, "Sistah Whitehead, de c'mittee
'pinted me tuh ax yo tuh teck pawt in de ent'tain-
ment tuhnight by reeitin' a vus fum Scriptuah; an'
dey futhamo' reques* ef yo cud kin tribute li'l
sumpin to'ds de suppah tuh follow de speakm'."

"Yas, suh, Brer Jackson, I'll see 'bout hit,"
was her response, and she brightened up, and di-
rectly intimated to me that she "blebed she'd do-
nate a cake tuh de suppah, an' would I ax my maw
ef she cud borry li'l sugah an' aigs."

"Why, Aunt Cindy, you are a Baptist, and
this is to be a Methodist school exhibition! I thought
only children were to take part!" I exclaimed in
astonishment.

44Oh, I reckon dey 'lows dey can't git 'long
'thout I he'ps 'em out," she modestly replied.

That evening after Fanny had begged some
roses to make a wreath because she was to be May
Queen, she invited the family to be present; and
as her invitation was seconded by the other ser-
vants, we went.

When we drove up to the church, such an array'4 What Comes uv Proudness.''	29

of animals as stood hitched to fence posts and swing-
ing limbs! Horses! They looked more like quilting
frames. Truly, the lame, the halt, and the blind.
We paid ten cents entrance fee and took our places
on the benches reserved for white folks, where we
found a number of our friends. Bud, Israel's
nephew, and one of our friend's servants took
chairs in the aisle to keep the darkies from presum-
ing to sit beside us.

Before us was the stage, curtained with sheets
borrowed from washings the negro women took in.
In front sat the pompous Professor, who could pass
a physical if not mental examination when it came
to applying the rod, and by his side was a small ta-
ble holding a pitcher of water, glass, and dinner
bell. He rose and welcomed us with a profound
bow, thrust one hand in the breast of his coat, and
said, "Ladies an' gemmen, I am happy tuh see geth-
ered befo' me de beauty an' de chivalry of dis
yhere kentry, an' I 'stends a hearty welcome tuh
de rep'sentives of de culled schools fur miles an'
miles, which have come tuh witness dis exposition.
Ladies an' gemmen, I assuah yo dat hit will be a
success befo' han', an' dat yo'll git yo money's wuf
outen dis show, an' ef yo ain't satisfied yo kin stay
tuh de suppah. An'now, ladies an' gemmen, we
will proceed. Brer Izul Jackson, will yo lead us
in prar?"

Israel stepped upon the stage and complied with
the request. It was the same prayer we heard
whenever we visited the colored church, only the30

The Crisis at JShilo.

loud "Amen!" "Sabeus!" "Bress de Lawd!" from
the congregation were lacking.

After the invocation came much shuffling and
passing of shadows back of the curtain, which in
response to a tap of the bell slipped aside, disclos-
ing a row of darkie children ranging from sixteen
to six.

"We will now hab a medley composed of choice
selections," announced the Professor.

Immediately the first of the row, a tall yellow
girl, stepped forward, bowed awkwardly, being
hampered by a curious conglomeration of finery,
and recited:—

"It was the scoonah Hespus dat sailed de wintry sea,
An' de skippah hed taken his li'l daughtah tuk keep
him companee,"

in an expressionless voice like unwinding line from
a reel.

Number two, a shambling black boy noted for
his deadly fear of "hants", now spouted a portion
of the "Charge of the Light Brigade", at least I
supposed it to be such,—"Not de six hunerd'%
proved the only intelligible words, the rest being
supplied by gestures suggestive rather of killing
bats than Russians.

The third in the row was our friend's house-
maid, who took up the poem:—

"Blue were her eyes as de fairy flax,
Her cheeks like de dawn of day,"

and Beckie fluttered numerous ribbons back to her
station.44 What Comes uv Proudness31

Another boy was sandwiched between her and
Fanny, who now posed before the footlights. No
doubt the dressing room was crowded, or time prec-
ious, for Fanny had put the white muslin frock on
over the red tea gown, and as the former original-
ly fitted a person four inches shorter than its pres-
ent owner, and the trailing red skirt was the cor-
rect length, the effect was unique; but she smiled
beneath the wreath of roses set jauntily on her
bushy head, and 44If you're waking, call me early,
call me early, for I'm to be Queen of May,
mother," she said.

A burst of applause greeted this selection and
Fanny switched back to her place, haying drawn
the first blood of the evening.

In spite of a stern eye fixed upon him, Andrew
would pinch his neighbors and misbehave general-
lyjShowingoff until his time came by trying to
blow out the candle patiently held by Timothy,
his greatest rival, a bay nigger with yellow wool.
At last he stepped forward, clad in the bravery of
a red and white jacket and 44sto' boten britches,''
to settle the dentistry dispute. He made his bow
all right and then—Andrew forgot his speech.
Poor little fellow! He gazed at the house full of
dusky faces, and not even the loud promptings of
teacher and all the other performers could remind
him that 44Chicken ain't got no teeth, but I is.*'
After what seemed an age, he uttered a sonorous,
44 Yes, ma'm," bowed, and retreated, quite ^buried
beneath an avalanche of giggles and snickers. His
discomfiture was complete when Timothy recited,32

The Crisis at Shilo.

"Jack, be nimble, Jack be quick," and followed
the immortal Jack's example by coming down with
a slap of his bare feet on the stage, as he leaped
the flame, just as the bell sounded for the curtain.

Music followed, a weird song which they term
a ballad; taking some scene from the Bible and set-
ting to music, regardless of rhyme, one man sing-
ing the words and others coming in heavy, in
parts, on the chorus. This one was about David:

"Po* lil David went out to fight,

He had 110 weepon, but his haht was light.

(Chorus)

Li'l David, play on yo' hawp.

Halleluyah; little David, David, play on yo' hawp,

Hallelu!"—

and described vividly the slaying of Goliah.

How familiar the next scene was! Augustus
vowed by all the planets that his love for Fanny
would never diminish, and while she coyly hesi-
tated over her reply, Lige rushed upon the scene,
and like all third parties, spoiled it all.

Aunt Cindy then came to the front; her white
apron was rustling with starch and she had liter-
ally pulled the wool over her own eyes, for the two
little closely wrapped tails that were usually hid-
den beneath a snowy head rag, now appeared as a
bang,—ye gods! a bang, with a red rose above it,
and lisped her Scriptural verse with self conscious
diffidence.

The next performer was a half crazy girl who
occasionally worked for us. Texas Mary opened
her mouth and sang, "I can't be yo' sweethawt,"4' What Comes uv Proudness.''	33

over and over, never changing a note or word,till
some one jerked her dress from the rear, when she
sidled off the stage in a way to have delighted the
heart of brother Darwin and made him indorse my
statement, which she firmly believed, that her
grandfather used to swing by his tail from a cocoa
nut tree and throw nuts down on the missionaries;
and that all the money she paid to the foreign mis-
sions went to buy more cocoa nuts for him. What
could have been more appropriate than the fur she
had surreptitiously cut from my monkey skin muff
the previous winter, and that now appeared sewed
in the front of Texas Mary's hat, straggling in her
eyes, and protected by a purple veil.

And now, to the picking of a banjo, several
couples did a cake walk deserving of the name for
Aunt Cindy's contribution, a golden ginger cake.
Fanny and Lige led the crowd. She had shed the
white muslin, and cut such wonderful steps, and
swung that train in a way I could never hope to do.
Up and down went the walkers, till Andrew could
endure it no longer; so he grabbed the table cloth
for a train, got him a partner, and took off the
big folks, and came mighty near winning the
cake; but for the referee's fear of Lige, he would
thus have wiped out his former defeat, for this was
not on the programme.

What followed I cannot tell; we had our mon-
ey's worth, so went home. We drew long breaths
of the sweet, cool summer air as we drove through
the woods, disturbing the slumbers of the birds who
remonstrated in drowsy notes, while far away the34

The Crisis at Shilo.

bull frog advised us to "go 'round'' the swamp.

Aunt Cindy was the first to step into the kitchen
out of the rain next morning. The bangs were
transformed into two sharp horns that stuck out in
front, refusing to hide beneath her turban, and—
gracious! how cross she was! I did not dare men-
tion the entertainment, for she was almost the only-
actor who received no encouragement. No call
for a repetition of her verse delighted her ear. The
wind, coming from the east, blew great gusts of
smoke down the chimney, and the old negress
moaned about her aching feet.

Israel was late coming for the stable keys and
I ventured to inquire of him how the affair
wound up.

"Oh, hit uz a success, considerin'," he began,
when Fanny stepped quickly onto the porch.

"Brer Jackson done tole yo' bout de fight yit,
Miss Kate?"

"What fight?" I demanded, curiosity sweeping
the last cobweb from my brain.

"Why, nuffin but some low down, 'cross de
ribber trash/'explained Israel. "One feller 'lowed
he gwine hab his money back, kaze de show's no
count an' de biled custad uz souah, an' drawed his
pistol an' fiahed hit off; but befo' he cud kill any
body I stepped up tuh him an' 'monstrates 'gainst
sich cahyin's on, tel he got quiet so's his folks tuck
him home. He done fotch some cawn licker 'long
'ith him."

During this grandiloquently delivered speech
Fanny had been drawing a long breath. At last"What Comes uv Proudness."	35

she broke out, "You steps up, Uncle Izl Huh! De
las' I sees of you las' night, yo'z a burnin' de wind
past de grave yahd, to'ds yo house. Ole age wahn't
no ball an' chain tuh yo leg."

Israel made a great fuss rattling the keys, shuf-
fling about to drown her voice, and reproved her
with, "Hush yo' mouf, gal. Yo' knows yo's lyin'."

"No, I ain't. When de shootin' stahted I clum
out de winder an' crop undah de chu'ch wha' hit
uz safe, an' bimeby me an' Bud come home."

"Well, how much money did you make?" I
hastened to throw in, to quell Israel's rising wrath.
He hung his head.

"Tell de trufe, Brer Jackson. Tell de trufe
an' shame de debble," admonished Aunt Cindy,
poking her horns out of the door and blinking the
smoke out of her eyes. "Tell 'bout dat thievin'
scoundil runnin' off wid de money."

Thus urged, Israel owned up.

"Dar uz a misundertakin' somewhar, Miss Kate.
Wealls 'lowed 'at we furnish de chu'ch an' de sup-
pah , so we'd git half what uz took in; but Profes-
sah Ovahalls 'sputed 'at he got hit up an' 'structed
de perfawmahs, so hit uz his exposition, an' he
gwine hab all de money. We all uz a quahlin'
some when dat feller c'mensed shootin', so sortuh
step aside, an' de Professah say he'd teck de money
tuh a safe place tuh count hit. But, lawsl He
come tuh town, an' got on de late train, an' went
tuh his home in Tennessee. We done planned tuh
build a steeple an' put a lightnin' rod on de chu'ch
'ith dat money." Israel looked crestfallen.36

The Crisis at Shilo.

uYas, an* dat's what comes uv proudness. Hit's
elare 'gainst Scriptuah, a pin tin' dem fingahs in de
face uv de Almighty.'' Aunt Cindy flung this re-
mark after his retreating figure as it vanished be-
hind the rain curtain that hid the stable, and I fol-
lowed her into the house to give out breakfast.Israel Stirs the RiceISRAEL STIRS THE RICE.

One rainy day last week I hurried along to the
kitchen, attracted by cries. As I opened the door
Aunt Cindy paused with hickory suspended above
her unfortunate little niece.

u Yo wuffless huzzy, what yo mean meckin' dem
tatahs drunk dat away? I'll weah yo tuh a frazzle."

"Clare tuh goodness, aunty, I nuvah goed tuh
do hit. I diden know dey uz in de stove." A.
wail ended this statement, for the stick descended—
whack!—on her back.

"What has the child done, Aunt Cindy?" I de-
manded of the cross old cook, of whom we all stood
in awe.

" Done I yhere I got dem tatahs all wash* an' in
de stove ready tuh bake fur dinnah, when 'long
came dat no 'count gal an' meek up fiah lil while,
kaze she cold, and thes stahts 'em cookin'. Every-
body knows 'at ef ye doan keep tatahs cookin' fum
de beginnin', dey gits drunk an' nuvah will
tu'n sofV'

A vision of tipsy potatoes rolling about the
oven came to me and Cindy glared at the hearty
laugh that greeted her explanation.

Our northern friends say "potatoes and sweet
potatoes," but, with us south of the line, it is "po-
tatoes and Irish potatoes.''

The queen of the realm continued to grumble40

The Crisis at JShilo.

about her "rumatiz" and at last went off home,
maybe to pay me for my amusement, as in her ab-
sence cooking fell to my lot; but more likely be-
cause the colored Baptists were to give a church
supper that night and she wished to be fresh for
the occasion.

After a while, as I busily stirred the various
things on the stove, Uncle Israel came in, set a
bucket of water on the table and turned to watch
my movements.

"Here, stir the rice, uncle, while I fry the
chicken,'' I directed, bustling about in much the
distracted way that fowl did an hour before, for
cooking was not my forte.

"Tell yo, hit's a sight uv trubble tuh raise
rice," he observed wielding the spoon.

"My ole boss ustuh plant lil patch down in de
hammocks evey yeah, but dar uz heap uv folks
what raise nuffin but dat.

"I ricleck one time Marse Harry an' me wen'
tuh visit some uv his kinfolks what lib on a islan'
neah Savannah. Dat man hed twenty-fibe hunerd
acres uv thes only rice, no gyahdin, no flow ah
yahd, nuUm'; but he suah know how tuh meek hit.
De islan* uz fibe miles long an' uz 'vided in tuh
fields by ditches stid uv fences. Yo know dey ha*
tuh meek sevul plantin's so's not tuh gether hit all
't once, an' plow hit two, three times, but a'ter dey
git de seed in de groun ', ef dey doan git de watah
on hit right off, de rats an' otha varmints gwine
eat hit all up, thes begin at one end uv a row an'
eat clean frew, nuvah leave ary seed."Israel Stirs the Rice.

41

"How do they get the water to flow over the
fields just when they want it?" and I slid a question
and pan of biscuits into the oven together.

''Why, chile, dey open de big gate an' let de
rivah in tel de big ditch fill up, den sliet hit an'
open de lil gates an' let dem ditches fill fum de big
ditch. Den open de big gate 'gain an' 'gain tel dey
got all de watah dey want. Dey cud flood ary
field 'ithout techin' even de one next hit.

"I done yheahed 'at Tommy Attic done cunjur
dem gates tel dey wuck deyse'ves dese days," and
he lowered his voice to an awe-struck murmur.

"Tommy Attic?" I repeated wonderingly.
Then—"You mean automatic gates, don't you?"
chewing my lips unmercifully to keep a smile out
of sight.

"Yassum, dat's hit. Cuyus name fur a man
tuh hab, ain't hit?

"Most folks dams up a creek tel dey gits a big
pond," he continued. "When dey git de seed in,
thes hist de top gate an' let de watah in fum de
pond tel hit stan' six inches ur a foot all ovah de
groun fur a day, an' den hist de lowah gate fur hit
tuh run off. Folks can't go in tuh wuck dem fields
fur a day or two. Yo see rice ha' tuh be plowed
an' hoed same ez cawn an' cotton.

"Me an' Marse Harry uz on de islan' time uv
de spring freshet. Wud come from Agusty 'at de
rivah uz risin', so de boss he rung de big bell tuh
call up de han's a houah ater quahterin' time, an'
tell de ovahseeah tuh meek eveythin' tight an'
strong. All de chickens uz ketched, de cows,42

The Crisis at Shilo.

hosses, an' evey livin' thing put up, evey scrap uv
plank tied tub a tree, de boats hauled ovah de dam
an' chained tuh de steps, 'foah dey wen' tuh baid
dat night, an' when we woke up nex' mawnin' de
watah uz lip lippin 'gainst de flo's an' uz six foot
deep all oyah dat plantation, while de rivah uz
twel' mile wide. De big house uz sot up on brick
pillahs eight foot high, an' all de out buildin's uz
up on postes.

" Evey body uz free den an* all han's tuck holi-
day. De ladies an' gemmen ud teck dey boat an'
de niggas ud teck dey batteau, an' go a visitin' on
de main lan% in Savannah an' dar bouts. De mas-
tah gin all de niggers powdah an' shot an' pay 'em
fur de tails."

4 4 Tails!"

"Yassum, varmints' tails. All sich pests tuck
tuh trees,—snakes, rats an' dem things. Dey 'stroy
so much he ha' tuh pay furde tails tuh hab 'em kilt.

"White folks can't lib 'roun' de rice fields in
summah, dey gits de fevah, but black uns hit don't
huht; so dat gemman move he family twel' mile
inlan' in spring an' rid dar an' back, 'sides ha' way
cross de rivah evey day.

"In de fall dey gethered de crap an' tuck hit
tuh de rice mill, sumpin lack a flowah mill, whar
dey rub hit 'tween two grat big grindstones, sot
sideways, tuh git de shuck off, den fan hit away,
an' bime by hit come out thes lack yo buy hit at
de sto'."

"What was that gentleman's name, Israel?" I
questioned while I prodded the turnips with a fork.Israel Stirs the Bice.

43

His description seemed somewhat familiar to me.

4 4 Hey ward, he name, an' he an' his paw an' he
wife's paw uz powful rich. One uv 'em, I disre-
membah which-a-one, hed nigh ontuh three thou-
san' black -uns, moah an' ary otha pussun in de
Nunited States, folks sez. He de kind what 'on't
sell nary one, nutha; de quality uz all dat way,
nuvah traded in niggers 'tall. My ole boss uz thes
'e same, dough he bought two ur three evey yeah,
de last mastah I hed. Dey uz kin', yo know."

"Heyward! why you must be talking about the
father and grandparents of that young lady who
visited us last month. They owned those island
plantations across from Savannah, two of them."

4 4 How cum dey ain't libin' dar dese days?"

44Oh, both those plantations are ruined now."

44Ruint!" he exclaimed in astonishment. 44Gra-
shus, dey uz de richest rice fields anywhar 'bout
dar. Ruint! How?"

"The government wanted to deepen the channel
of the river so large ships could come right up to
the city, so built a dam across from one island to
the other. That turned the river just enough so
the fields could not be flooded, but not sufficient
for the boats. This was done ten years ago, so Mr.
Hey ward brought his family up to North Georgia,
where it is so healthy, to live."

4 4 So dat's Marse Hey ward's gal. I t'ought I ric-
nize de name an' see de favah uv her paw, an' lowed
tuh ax yo 'bout hit, but I clean furgot hit tel now."

44Israel, do you remember old Maumer, who
cooked for them?" I asked, the memory of excel-44

The Crisis at Shilo.

lent dinners before me. "She sure knows how to
cook rice; puts it on in a milk crock early in the
morning, covers it up tight and lets it cook until
dinner time, when each grain stands by itself.
Nothing would induce her to boil it in a tin pan
like Cindy does, all soft and sticky. I declare,
Maumer is the best cook I ever saw. Miss Nellie
makes five generations of that family she has
served. No wonder they think her equal does not
exist."

44Maumer," pondered the old fellow. "Why,
dat must be Lucindy Sweetvine. I membahs her
mighty well. She's a ole ooman, a ole ooman,"
with added emphasis, 4 4 Nigh 'bout eighty yeaha
ole." The speaker held up his head and squared
his bent shoulders, as if casting off the burden of
his own seventy-three or more years.

Just here I had to dish up dinner, so could
listen no more.

"There," I cried with satisfaction, sliding two
golden brown pones onto a plate. 44Aunt Cindy
always bakes corn bread on a batter cake griddle,
a hoe she calls it, in the oven, says it browns bet-
ter, and I do believe she's right. Look at that."

44I uz suah Sista Cindy gwine be sick, min't I
see her an' Riah walkin' de chu'ch las' Sunday.
Pears like a ooman her age ortuh know bettah 'an
tuh walk plum roun' de chu'ch. Might know hit
ud meek well person sick, let 'lone one what's com-
planin5 all time. Sista Riah's been down de las' two
days," I heard him gay as I bore the last dish into
the dining room to receive the praise the family
felt obliged to bestow on my 'prentice hand.\

"How Doth the Little
Busy Bee?""HOW DOTH THE LITTLE
BUSY BEE?"

No one would rob the bees last spring, and I
was so hungry for honey that one afternoon, when
there was no one at home to tell me not to, I de-
termined to attempt it.

Of course the best thing to wear on such a ven-
ture is sheet armour; next to that, a diving suit.
Not having either, I substituted a sunbonnet, veil,
jacket and heavy garden gloves, till I looked a
candidate for orchard scare crow.

Andrew would not lose a bit of the fun, and
along came George, his little brother, begging to
be allowed to help. Perhaps it was taking base ad-
vantage of their ignorance, but I did;—rigged
them up with old clothes, and we bravely faced
the foe.

Some were patent hives with little wooden
frames, and we attacked these first, in spite of an-
gry protests from the owners, getting out a dozen
pounds, and stacking them up on one waiter.

But that was too tame sport for us.

"Miss Kate, dese yhere black bees am mighty
nigh crowded out. Dey'll be a swamin' in a day
or so. Jes' come an' look at dem scoundils!" cried
Andrew.

I looked. It was an old fashioned gum; just
a tall box, with no bottom, and slats across inside48

The Crisis at Shilo.

to hold the comb. Instantly I was seized with a
desire for that honey, so I cautiously lifted off the
lid.

"Bettah mind," warned Andrew, scared at the
danger he had drawn upon us; but I was "bigity",
and cut out a slice of honey,

"Here, hold the waiter, George," and George
obediently held it, though the bees buzzed and flew
fiercely at our heads.

They say a bee dies if it loses its sting, and I
marvel at the loss of life caused by our marauding
expedition, for my gloves and sleeves were fairly
peppered with stings having poison bags attached.

Slice after slice I cut, amid squalls and cautions
from the boys, until George, who had miscalcu-
lated the strength of his ragged little breeches,
cried, "Miss Kate, I want to go home!"

He went, like an arrow from the bow, tearing
off superfluous garments as he flew down the hill
towards his cabin home.

"Andrew, you're not a baby, you hold the
tray," I commanded, and Andrew unwillingly
obeyed, George's mishap having dampened his ar-
dor, in spite of the sweet tooth that urged him to
stay.

That last lump was more than the bees could
bear to lose, so they came out in a perfect cloud
and even I was overwhelmed. Leaving my knife,
I picked up the frames and started on a run for
the house with Andrew, bearing the tray of honey,
close at my heels. We burned the wind till half
way across the lawn, when a bee found Andrew"How Doth the Little Busy BeeV' 49

somewhere. He yelled and fell flat on his stomach
on the waiter, covering himself with honey and
bees. How he shrieked and kicked! till Uncle Israel
rushed up with a pine top and beat the bees off so
the child could escape. I did what I could with
an apron, but a pine top proved the best weapon.
Finally we were safely intrenched behind the wire
netting of the kitchen door, panting for breath.

"Fur de lan' sakes, chile, what fur yo git dat
reckless?" demanded Israel. " Ain't jro got mo'
jedgment 'an tuh projec' 'ith dem black bees?
Dey's de worsest sort tuh git a'ter folks."

I could well believe it, for the door was black
with them, while a whole delegation hovered about
the honey tray in the grass.

"Lemme see, is dey done bit yo?"

I had been trying to hide my wounds, but my
face must have betrayed me.

Andrew threw off his disguise, bit by bit,
whimpering all the while, "Miss Kate, whar's yo
bee med'cin'? Oh, whar's yo bee med'cin'?"

We compared scars, he had eleven and I only
eight, ere with swollen thumb in my mouth I
searched for the ammonia bottle, and brought the
camphor and laudanum along for company. We
tried kerosene, and Israel obligingly chewed a quid
of tobacco, but only Andrew availed himself of it.
Really, it became interesting to apply different
remedies to each ailing spot and watch the result.

"Yhere, Miss Kate, try dis terbacker. I blebe
hit's a hopin' me more 'an enthin'," offered An-50

The Crisis at Shilo.

drew; but I stuck to my drugs and he kept his
poultice.

"Stand still, boy, while I put some ammonia on
your face," said I sternly, and Andrew squirmed
and howled as soon as he caught his breath.

Meanwhile the bees were busy transporting
their property back to the hive.

"Dat honey '11 be plum gone befo' night," de-
clared Israel. "Dey'll tote de las' drap back, an'
ef 'twant fur dese yhere wiah do's, dey'd be a
wuckin' on dis yhere. Laws a mussy! Why diden'
I tell y'll tuh put fresh wawm honey on dem bites?"

We found new fields for that cure.

"Dis 'minds me uv one uv Marse Harry's
pranks endurin' de wah," began the old darkie.
4 4He uz al'ays up tuh sumpin, an' de sweetes'
moufed pusson I evah did see. 'Peared lack he
thes cuden stan' hit not tuh hab sugah fur his cof-
fee, nur 'zerves an' 'lasses tuh eat 'ith his braid.

4'One day, 'long 'bout quarterin' time in de
evening we spied a man 'way down de big road,
thes a walkin' an' actin' ez cuyus. Putty soon he
took tuh de grabeyahd on de side, an' come 'cross
hit, nuvah noticin' nuffin; thes kep his haid
thowed back an' lookin' up all de time, a bumpin',
'gainst dem toomstones fit tuh ruin hisse'f, tel he
come spang up 'gainst de fence. Dar he sot a strad-
dle uv hit an' a scratchin' his haid. 4Wal',sez he,
4I'ze afoot an' dem durn t'ings iz a fly in'. I'ze
gwine home.' We looked up an' seed a swaum uv
bees a meckin' fur de woods, 'bout fifty feet up in
de air."How Doth the Little Busy Bee?" 51

uMarse Harry 'low he gwine see whar de man
come fum, so we follered him home an' seed a row
uy ten ur twel' gums a settin' in de yahd. Dat
night Marse Harry an' nur man tuck dey blankets
an' slip up tuh dat place. Dey each one tied a
gum up in a blanket an' fotch hit tuh camp, an'
encose hit wahn't no time tel de honey uz all et up
an' de gums burnt a cookin' breakfas'. Dreckly,
up come de man what own de gums an' complain
tuh de of'sub.

" 'Who done dis?' sez de of'suh. 'Kin yo 'den-
tify de 'fendah?'

"De man peer 'roun tel he spy Marse Harry.
'Dar he is. Dat's de vehy one,' he 'clare.

" 'No, suh, dat's a dam lie, suh. 'Twahn't
me, suh,' sez Marse Harry thes ez perlite, all de
time a slappin' dis away an' dat tuh shoo off de
bees what caught up 'ith him' kaze li'l honey got
on hiz cloze.

" 'When did hit happen?' ax de of'suh.

" 'Las night, 'bout midnight,' say de man.

" 'Did yo see hit?' ax de of'suh.

"'No, suh, not zackly, suh, but—'

" 'Dat'11 do. I 'lows nobody kuzin' my brave
men uv stealin', when yo done own hit uz dawk
an' yo cud en see who done hit. G-'d mawin', suh.'

"De of'suh thes finish a bait uy honey an' cawn
braid.

"In de evenin' me an Marse Harry rid ovah
tuh a plantation neah de camp tuh call. Dar uz a
young leddy dar what he uz powful taken 'ith.
Wal', he wen' tuh see cud he cahy her out tuh de52 . h	The Crisis at Shilo.

pawty dat night. Huh! When he bin meyanderin'
ovah dar on dat same business evehy day fur a
week, an' uz totin' de ansah I brung him de day
befo' in his pocket dat minit. Marse Harry suah
uz a sight!

"I helt de hoss by de gate an' dey sot undah a
big shady tree a talkin' all kinds uv foolishnesss
when she 'low; 'I wondah huccum so many bum-
bly bees 'roun'? 'Pears lack I nuvah see so many
in all my life.'

" 'Dat's thes kaze yo so sweet an' putty, yo
tole 'em fum de flowahs,' sez he. Dem bees done
foun' him out 'gain.

44She flap her hankerchee an' shoo 'em; an' last
she say dey bettah go tuh de house; she sortuh
skeert uv bees. But Marse Harry beg her tuh stay
out dar, kaze he sumpin mighty p'tic'lar tuh say
tuh her; an' she ax him what hit is. He say he
reckon she done guessed hit; but she 'clare tuh
goodness she ain't, so he 'gun tellin' her how he
luv her;—how he been a luvin' her sence de min't
he sot eyes on her ez de reg'ment mawch pas' her
gate; an' won't she try tuh luv him thes a li'l bit
in retu'n? He cast his eye 'roun' tuh see what
ansah she gwine gib him an' see a ole bee a walkin'
on her awm an' encose he hit it a lick 'ith his cap,
nuvah thinkin' dat ef yo kill one, de whole passel
gwine git in dey wuck on yo.

"Whoo—ee! How dat gal did meek fur de
house! talk 'bout petticoats—Yah, yah! an'stock-
in's—Um, huh! Marse Harry run too, but one
stung him undah de eye an' he clean furgot hisse'fuHow Doth the Little Busy BeeV 53

an' cussed out loud. She heard him, she did, fum
de steps, an'—Law, law, how she did raise him
'bout hit! Dar he uz at de foot uv dem steps, a
'pologizin' an' a 'pologizin', an' his face a swellin',
an' his yeah too, whar nur bee done popped hit tuh
him. But she 'on't lissen at him. 'Didn' meek
no diffunce ef he didn' t'ink she'd heah. No gen-
tleman ud cuss, nohow, no mat tali what happen.'
Yah, yah!

"Dar she wen* on a readin' him a reg'lar ser-
mon, a tellin' him she lost confidence in him an'
nuvah wan' set eyes on him no mo. All to once
she thows her hands tuh her haid an' 'gun tuh teah
her hair out by de han'ful, a dancin' an' a caperin'
in a way dat wahn't fitten for sich a chu'ch mem-
bah, what thes done a preachin', tuh prefawm.

" 4Oh, dar's one in my hair! Teck de nasty
t'ing out quick, quick! Oh! Hit'11 sting me.'

"Marse Harry spring up dem steps an' squez
dat bee tel dar wahn't no mo sting tuh hit,—but
he done kilt anur, an' dar uz de debble tuh pay.
Dat gal, she foteh a yell an' covah her face 'ith
her han's an' fair flew in tuh de house, nuvah sayin%
4 G'd evenin',' so dar wahn't nuffin fur Marse Har-
ry an' me tuh do 'ceptin' go back tuh camp.

"Bimeby he sont me'ith a lettah axin' won't
she change her min an' low him tuh 'scote her tuh
de getherin'? I uz sortuh cuyus, so I tells de house
gal I'ze tuh delivah hit in pusson an' wait fur de
answah. De min't I seed her I knowed dar wahn't
no pawty fur dat young leddy dat night. A ole bee
had sot down hard spang on her nose, an' hit54

The Orisis at JShilo.

swelled mose ez big ez her face. Her eyes, too,
uz red lack she been a cryin', an' she had a bottle
uv camphor a soppin' hit on, same ez yo's a doin'
now. Hit sho' hurt me a keepin' my face straight
an' a swollerin' de laf.

"She read de lettah an' stomp her foot. 'De
hateful man! He know raight well I can't go, look-
in' lack I does. I blebe he brung dem bees yhere
apupus. Tell him I nevah wants tuh glimpse him
'gain long ez I live. Git outen my sight, yo grin-
nin' ape!' an' she chawge at me. 'Oh, Oh!' an' she
sop her nose an' wipe her eyes. 'An' I been a look-
in' for'd tuh dis pawty fur a mont'. Git outen dis
house I' she squall, an' I git.

"Marse Harry ac' lack he's plum distracted
'bout dat gal gwine back on him dat away. He
talk pow'ful wile; but I wahn't oneasy 'bout him.
I knowed him. Encose I tole him de scanalous
way dat young leddy ac5 an' fergit her mannahs,
Ole Miss done 'structed me tuh teck keer uv her
boy, an' dese people wahn't nigh ez fine fambly ez
we alls. Me an' him chawed a heap uv terbacker
fur dem bites, tel you cuden tell 'em, an' I 'suaded
him tuh go tuh de pawty by hisse'f. When I seed
him a settin' in de winder a talkin' tuh a li'l yaller
haired gal in a blue dress, I knowed he's gwine live
long ez de Lawd seed fit, gal ur no gal, onless some
uv dem pesky Yankee bullits git him.

4 4 'Twahn't long befo he's gwine tuh see dat
odder gal thes ez reg'lar. De fust one, putty soon
she sont him a poun' cake;—de leddies in dat place
uz powful good tuh de soljahs;—an' encose I cahy"How Doth the Little Busy Bee?'9 55

her a lettah sayin' all sorts uv 'Thanky ma'ms',
an' what a fine cake hit uz, an' ef 'twahn't his day
on duty he'd say hit in pusson. Wal, de nex' hit
uz a nigger fotchin' a baskit uv strawbays, an'
'gain I hattuh tote de lettah sayin' how he an' his
frerts enjoyed 'em; but Marse Harry ain't sot foot
on dat plantation nary notha time. Dat's thes de
way 'ith him. He's nigh 'bout crazy obah a gal
one day, an' dey'd hab a split up, an' when he's
quit he's quit fur good an' all. Hit did look like
Providence sont dem bees, kaze Ole Miss suah ud
rare ef he'd brung dat ooman home fur a wife.

"Dat honey suah do smell good, Miss Kate.
Doan yo reckon some hot biskits ud go powful
well 'ith hit dis minit? I'ze dat hongry I can't
hawdly stan' up; 'pears lack I diden relish no din-
nah dis noon."

Isn't it strange how a suggestion will rouse the
appetite?

"There's no milk or butter in the house. How
can we do it?" I asked, looking at the door that
was still a mass of insects.

"I'll fotch 'em ef yo'll do de cookin'," he
agreed.

Andrew brightened up from his dejected state
and made a fire in the stove while I sifted the flour
and soda together.

Israel circumvented our besiegers by climbing
out of the dining room window, old and stiff as he
was, and reaching the dairy by a circuitous route.
He handed me in the pitcher of buttermilk and pat
of butter before essaying his entrance. Then we56

The Crisis at Shilo.

decided sweet milk was the proper thing to drink
with our impromptu meal. So he made another
trip.

In almost no time my biscuits, puffy and light,
with a golden crust, were ready to eat.

Andrew took his plate and sat on a little stool
near the door where he could sass the bees.

Israel sat by the oven door, took his plate be-
tween his knees, after his usual custom, and
mopped his bread in butter and honey mixed.

44 Yo bettah teek dem cloze outen de house," he
advised, pointing to our armour, ukaze de smell
uv dem pizen bags mecks some folks pow'fui sick;
dough I done yheahed hit ud kuah rumatiz. Dey
sez 'at ef a pusson what got de mis'ry de wust kind
ud let a whole passel uv bees sting him, he'd git
well."

"Perhaps one will find Aunt Cindy and cure
her when she comes lo cook supper tonight," I sug-
gested, chuckling at the wrath sure to follow our
invasion of her rights; for our cook was the cross-
est old woman imaginable. "Then she wouldn't
be lame after shouting at protracted meeting, so
I'd have to do her work; and every time she flew
into a tantrum she couldn't lay her suffering to the
rheumatism. Don't you warn her to come in the
other door, Andrew. You hear me?"

"Yassum," answered Andrew with his mouth
full. "No'm," looking at the door and his eyes
shining in anticipation of revenge for the beating
she gave him that morning.MatchmakingMATCHMAKING.

Swinging leisurely to and fro in my hammock
hung on the wide veranda of our southern home, I
had not a care in the world. It was Sunday morn-
ing, an August morning, and needless to say, a
warm morning, and the rest of the family had gone
to church in the village just visible in the distance;
for we lived on a hill that gave a magnificent view
of the country.

The humming of a drowsy fly on a neighboring-
window had nearly lulled me to sleep, when a re-
spectful voice from the ground below inquired:
"'Miss Kate, does yo want some fresh watah? I
thes done fotch hit fum de spring."

As I sipped the refreshing draught, old Israel
sat down on the piazza steps, took off his Sunday
hat, and mopped his face with his treasured ban-
danna only flourished on sacred days.

"Hit am mighty wawm tuhday. Hit minds
me uv what de wedder am in de low ken try, 'long
'bout C'lumbus, whar I come fum."

"It couldn't be much warmer than this any-
where, uncle, I don't believe," I grumbled, drop-
ping the tin dipper into the cedar bucket he had
placed on the floor beside me.

"Yassum, hit am. Yo sees dat ar heat thes a
shakin' obah de valley, lack a drove uv gnats
'long 'bout sun down? Wal, hit am dat60

The Crisis at JShilo.

away, day in an' day out, down dar. De han's
ha'tuh quit wuck in de middle uv de day so's not
tuh git obah het. A man ain't much 'count ef
he once gits obah het."

"What can the people do to keep cool?" I ques-
tioned .

"Oh, dey thes lays 'roun\ My young leddies
uster go down tuh de spring house de vehy hottes'
days. Hit uz al'ays cool dar, dough dey uz pow'ful
skeert uv de spring lizzuds. Dat suah uz de put-
tiest place I evah seed; made uv brick 'gainst de
rock wall, whar de spring come fum undah, an'
ivy a climbin' all obah hit, an' li'l blue flowahs a
growin' in de branch. 'Membah me'uz de name
dey calls 'em.''

"Did they ever have company Sundays? You
said they iived away out in the country, so I
thought they did not," said I, thinking of guests
expected that evening, for whom my hair was still
in curl papers.

"Com'ny! Laws, chile, yo doan know what
comp'ny am yhere," indignantly replied the old
man, who thought his "young leddies" unequaled
in every way. "Der comp'ny come tuh visit, not
meek li'l pop calls. Day stay thee, fo' days; all
'ceptin' one young man what come tuh see Miss
Alice. I nevah did lack that man, no how, but I
doan know huccum 'twas I diden' fine hit out tel
he mose got Miss Alice. She's de putties' an'
sweetes' gal ole Marse had, dough Miss Lou an'
Miss Cahey ain't fur behine her, an' her gran'maw
done lef' her heap uv money in de bank, an' er bigMatchmaking.

61

plantation, when she die, kaze she say Miss Alice
do favah her when she's a young gal; dough ef
. she wahn't a membah in good standin', hit ud be
hahd tuh b'lebe when she loss all her teef, an' her
hahr done gone, an' her face puckahed lack a ripe
persimmon. Anj^how, Miss Alice she had de
money, an' haps dat de reason she had mo beaux
dan de othas." He wagged his bald head and
winked a knowing wink that went glancing along
the crow's feet at the corners of his black eyes, still
bright in spite of his three score and thirteen years.

"She sortuh favahed young Kneelyas Wilkins;
but her paw ain't like him. Ole Marse uster growl
an' cuss when he seed 'em gwine tuh ride, ur walk-
in' frew de paves in de gyahdin; but she thes oodn't
listen when he say de young man got he eye on her
dollahs ez well ez herse'f. He say tuh me one day,
'Izul, de fambly done all dey kin tuh bust up dat
match* an' failed. See what yo kin do tuh save yo
Miss Alice, an' ef yo 'ceed I'll gib yo dat silvah
watch I tuck on a debt las' week.' An' encose I
'gree tuh dat.

"Dat man suah kept de roads hot dat summah,
kaze he's feared uv Marse Harry's fren', Mistah
Ralph Gordon, who uz a visitin' we alls; but, bless
yo soul, he ain't set up tuh ary one uv de gals;
thes pleasant an' meckin' 'em laf all de time, an'
he sutin'ey uz han'some; big an' wide, 'ith big
brown eyes, an' nary mufstach ur whiskahs tuh
hide his mouf.

uDe Gordons uz powful fine fambly, bes' in de
state uv Souf Kahliny, an' uz some kin tuh we alls;62

The Crisis at Shilo.

dat's huccum he a Yisitin, dar; but he ain't rich
hisse'f.

"I done said 'at Mistah Kneelyas uz 'fraid uv
him; an' one day he called me tuh de side uv de
buggy, hit uz rainin' so Missy diden' go tuh de
gate 'ith Mm, an' he say, 'Izul, I gib yo er ten dol-
lah, sto' botten suit uv cloze ef yo he'p me cote yo
Miss Alice. Yo yheah?' An5 I sez, 'Yassuh.' I
lack dat mighty well, kaze I drap a coal uv fiah on
my Sunday britches an5 bu'nt a hole in 'em one
time when I light my pipe; an' de coat, hit uz lee-
tle too tight fur a man my size.

'"Yo say all de nice t'ings yo kin t'ink uv
'bout me, an' watch dat scoundil uv a Gawdon;
doan let him hab no chance. He ain't atter nuffin
but her money.'

" ' Law, Mistah Kneelyas, he ain't atter ouah
gals 'tall. I 'spec' he got sweethaht whar he come
fum, de way he ac',' sez I.

" 'I doan trus' him, nohow,' sez he, an' driv
off—clup, clup—thes a splashin' mud obah evthin;
—me, too, an' I all dyked out fur Sunday.

" 'Atter her money, is he?' t'inks I. 'Ef yo
wahn' t'inkin' de same way yo'sef, yo udn't be
kuzin' otha folks; an' I reckon ole Marse is plum
raight 'bout yo; an' Marse Ralph's a heap likelyer
'an what yo is, 'ith yo yaller mufstach what look
lack hit been chawed, an' yo leetle light eyes. Go
'long 'ith yol I ain't gwine tuh he'p yo 'ith yo
co'tin'.'

"Raight den my coat gin me er pinch, zif tuh
'mind meuv dat suit uv cloze he done promise me,Matchmaking.

63

so I goes back tuh de house a studyin' mazin' hahd.

"Marse Ralph ain't sed nuffin tuh me 'tall, an' I
ain't know fur suah; but I rec'lec' how white he
git dat time Miss Alice's hoss broke a loose fum de
fence at Miss Josphene Harrises' an' come home
'ith de saddle tu'ned; an' how he rid bahr back tuh
fin' her. But den,—he ain't sed nuffin (I reckon
he low he doan need no nigger tuh he'p him cote
his sweethaht), an' dar uz dat suit uv cloze.

"T'ings went 'long all right fur two ur th'ee
weeks, an' I kep' a talkin' Mistah Wilkins up. I'd
fotch her drink uv watah an' tell her Mistah
Kneelyas say he 'low Miss Alice been drinkin'
outen dat goa'd, de watah tase so sweet, evey time
he drink; an' he say she ha' tuh hab her stu'up
made extry small, kaze a o'dinay one ud keep a
slippin' off her li'l foot; an' dem roses in de
gyahdin borry li'l scrap uv her cheeks tuh color
'em; an' all sich foolishness. I sutiney did cote
my young mistis scanalous fur dat suit uv cloze.

"But I ain't keep quiet 'bout how Mistah Ralph
got his foot step on by dat big gray hoss uv Marse's
an' ain't cuss a bit. Mistah Kneelyas he do sutiney
cuss awful, an' I tells Missy so, 'zif hituz funny,
dough I knowed de preacha call her one uv his
choisest membahs. An' how he out 'ith his pistol
an' shoot big pizen snake thes ez hit uz fixin' tuh
bite Marse Harry; an' she right foolish'bout her
brer.

"She an' her beau uz 'gaged 'bout dat time, an'
Marse low I'ze de bigges fool nigger on de planta-
tion an5 he gwine sen' me tuh de cotton patch. 'Zif64

The Crisis at Shilo.

my kerriage hosses ud let anybody else tend tuh
'em!

"So one Sunday I 'minded Mistah Wilkins uv
dem cloze an' he say I arnt 'em—Missy done tole
him 'bout dem trades he passed on her, de ones I
gin her,—an' gin me a o'dah on a sto' in de county
seat, an' nex' Sat'day I rid ovah dar an' got 'em.

"While I uz dar I yheahed some niggers say,
4 Yondah goes Mistah Kneelyas Wilkins an' his gal a
ridm' by;' an I looked, an' dar he uz, big ez life,
'ith ole man Rogahs' oldes' gal, an' he look at her
thes ez quare. I 'gun tuh smell sumpin raight den,
so I pulls my hat down an' sez I got a arrant down
dat away an' calls fur my cloze on de way home,
an' rides atter 'em, slow lack. Bimeby dey comes
tuh a shady piece uv road, an' I seed him put his
awm 'roun' dat low down huzzy an' kiss her. Uh!
An' she dat ugly she tu'n de milk souahl Dat all
I wan tuh see, so back I goes an' 'quiahs some mo'
uv dem niggers, nuvah lettin' 'em know who I is,
an' finds out he bin thes 'bout crazy ovah dat ugly
gal fur gwine on th'ee yeahs,—sence he taught
school an' she ustuh go tuh him,—'foah he knowed
we alls. Come tuh study 'bout hit, I ain't nuvah
seed him look dat quare way at Miss Alice.

"I goes home, an' de nex' day uz Sunday, an'
up he driv, thes ez big Ike ez evah, an' I sont Zeke
tuh teck his hoss. I skeert he'd ax me 'bout dem
cloze.

"Dar uz gwine tuh be a big bobbycue in dat
d'rection de vehy nex' week, an' I sez tuh ole
Marse:—fcI yheahed 'at ole man Rogahs gwine tuhMatchmaking.

65

meek big speakin' an' run fur Congress at dat bobby-
cue, Marse. Is yog wine?'

44 'Speech! Congress!' sez he, sortuh gaspin'.
4 Why, dat blame fool ain't got de sense Gawd gev
a gozlin'. Congress!'

4401e Marse cuden abide Mistah Rogahs kaze
dey hed a li'l fallin' out oyah a game uv kyahds
one time, an' I knowed dat raight well, dough I
ain't yheahed nary wud 'bout no speech nur no
Congress.

44 6Is yo gwine?' sez I.

4 4 4 Lawd, yes! I oodn't miss seein' dat ole mud
tuckle meek a bust fur a pritty.' So Chewsday we
hitch up de gray an' wen'.

46We got dar in good time, an' while I uz
teekin' out de hoss I spies Mistah Kneelyas an' dat
Rogahs gal a meckin' fur de spring wha' hit uz
cool an' quiet. Hit ain't dinnah time so de folks
ud go dar yit. Atter a li'l spell, long come Marse
fur his bottle an' I aez tuh him,4Dar uz man yhere
minit 'go say he lack pow'ful well tuh swap yo his
crittah fur dis yhere hoss.'

4 4 4 Did he hab a good crittah?' axes Marse.

4 4 4 1 do' know. I ain't seed hit, but he went on
tuh de spring,' sez I.

4 4 4 All raight, come 'long an' pint him out tuh
me,' an' off we stahted. De groun' uz sortuh sof'
an' when we git dar, what we see but dat man an'
dat gal; an' he hed his awm 'roun' her an' kiss her
thes ez we come nigh nuff tuh see 'em good. I
looked at Marse, an' he so rad in de face I skeert
he gwine hab a fit.66

The Crisis at Shilo.

" 4 Who dat gal?' sez he, lack he were choked.

" 'Hit's ole man Rogahs' gal, suh,' sez I in a
whispah.

"He look mad 'nuff tuh kill somebody an' I uz
skeert he gwine hu't dat man an' git hung, so I
sneezes hahd an' dey jumps up an' goes on. Dar
uz no holdin' Marse atter dat; no bobbycue, no
nuffin' gwine keep him, so home we wen'. I kin
smell dat meat yit how good hit uz a cookin'.
Um—Ah!" smacking his lips at the remembrance,
and the mention of barbecued meat made me wish
that dinner was ready.

"I ain't yheahed what he sed tuh Miss Alice,
but she diden come out on de po'ch atter suppah.

4 4Ole Marse uz 'way ovah in yander fiel' nex'
day when dat no 'count scoundil driv up, an' I tells
yo I uz glad, kaze dat mawnin' I seed him a feelin'
uv de whips in de bawn, an'he pick out a blaek-
snake an' low he gwine weah hit tuh a frazzle obah
dat Wilkin's hide ef he evah sot foot on his plan-
tation again. I ax him pintedly what time hituz,
an' dat stahted him off on sumpin else. He laf at
me—not hawty lack he usual 'Haw, haw,' but he
fotch me de watch outen de house.

"Miss Alice she meet dat Wilkins trash an' teck
him in tuh de pahla an' dey quahled some, den dey
come out on de po'ch an' he sez, 'I done 'splain tuh
yo 'at yo info'mant uz mistaken. I ain't seed dat
young lady in a month. Dat Gawdon feller's at
de bottom uv dese lies, an' I hope yo won't regret
what yo thes done,' an' off he strut tuh de gate.
De idee! Meckin' her paw out a story.Matchmaking.

67

"Marse Ralph come oat thes dat minit, but she
ain't know hit an' say, 4He's lack all de rest. Hit's
my money dey's atter.' I'ze a tyin' up de honey-
suckle vines an' drap a awmful so I hed tuh look
down thes then, an' I seed Marse Gawdon rare his
haid back an' look mighty mad. I wish't she'd
look at him too, he uz so han'some an' his eyes
shine so bright.

"'Hev yo an' Mistah Wilkins hed a lovah's
quahl?' he axt.

" 'We hev pawted fur good. I hev thes foun'
him out;' sez she, an' smile a try in' sort uv smile.

"I knowed raight den he ain't gwine meek luv
tuh her til he got mo' 'an she hed, an' sho nuff,
hit uz thes lack I tole yo; an' I uz sutiney grievin'
bout hit, too, kaze I needed new hat an' pah uv
shoes tuh go 'ith my cloze; but I calklated Miss
Lou's beaux cud funish dem, He wen' back tuh
his home in Souf Kahliny an' uz fine lawyah.
When he uz gone I 'gun talkin' him up tuh Missy
evey chance I got. I sez tuh her, sortuh keerless
lack, one day when I uz a drivin' her, lDey's a
sight uv diffunce 'tween de young mens what
comes yhere now an' dem when yo paw uz young
an' his sistahs hed sich a sight uv beaux. Sho! Yo
an' Miss Lou an' Miss Cahy ain't got a sho win'
'long side uv dem; an' dey uz likely lookin', too.
De young mens now a days is ez ugly ez home
made sin, scuzin' Marse Gawdon; he sutiney is a
fine gent'man.'

64 4Does yo t'ink he's good lookin', uncle?' sez
she, an' she look de otha way pintedly.68

The Crisis at JShilo.

" 'Dat ain't fit tuh be named in de same day
'ith him,' sez I. 'I'ze plum suah dem Souf Kali-
nah gals t'inks so, too,—he, he, he! I reckon dey
runs atter him till dey pestahs him tuh def. 'Haps
he got sweethaht dar uz de reason he ain't try fur
one uy yo sistahs.'

" 'No, he tole me he hedn't none 'tall,' she low
sortuh quick.

" 'Did he now, honey? Den he mus' be col'
blooded ez er toad frog, kaze folks do say dem
gals is mazin' putty. Po' ole Gawgie ain't got no
sich. Anyhow, I knows he's a sight open handeder
'an ary otha young man what comes tuh see we
alls; nuvah fergits tuh say 'Thanky' when ole nig-
ger opens de gate, ur frow him a dime ur quahtah
when he blacks his shoes. I wisht he'd come again.'

" 'Maybe he will. He say 'haps he mought;'
an' Missy ain't look grievin' 'bout hit, nutha. But
de nex' summah he ain't come, ain't even writ tuh
Marse Harry, so he uz sortuh mad 'ith him; an'
when cotton pickin' time come de yeah atter I 'gun
tuh git oneasy, so when I yheahed 'at Jedge Harris
hed comp'ny fum Cha'lston I goes ovah dar on a
arrant an' mecks de 'quaintance uv de waitin' maid
dey brung 'ith 'em,an'—Bless yo soul! ef she ain't
know Marse Ralph hisse'f. She low he thes 'bout
wuckin' hisse'f tuh def; on't teck no res' nur
go 'way in de summah when hit uz so onhealt'y
an' yaller fevah runnin' eve'ybody tuh de piny
woods,—dat's huccum her folks up ouah way,—
an' dat he looked raight po'ly de las' time she
glimpsed him.Matchmaking.

69

" 'Hit's a cuyus t'ing tuh me he ain't got a wife
tuh meek him go,' sez I, tuh fin' out how de lan'
lay (hit ud nevah do fur one uv ouah gals tuh be
a studyin' 'bout a man what got nur sweethaht),
but she 'clare he thes on't notice dem Souf Kahliny
leddies, dough dey's plum distracted 'bout him;
thes 'fuses dey invites till dey quahled at him eve'y
time dey met up 'ith him.

"Dat ud do me, so dat night I tecks de banjo
an' sets out in de yahd what thes been swept clean
ez a flo', an' 'gunpickin'. Dreckly de niggers getli-
ered an' 'menced dancin', an* de white folks come
out on de po'ch tuh watch 'em. I moves obah an'
tilts "my cha' 'gainst de house close tuh 'em an'
sings out; 'Stan back, y'all, while I plays de
tchune Marse Ralph Gawdon lack.' Den dey all
'gun a wonderin', what b'cum uv him, an* Zeke
ax, 6Ain't he nuvah gwine visit we alls no mo'?'
An' I sez, 'Marse Ralph ain't gwine no wha;
'ceptin' hit's tuh Glory, ef he ain't dar dis minit.'
Missy shove back in de shadder an' I yheahed her
bref.

" 'What yo mean, Izul?' ax ole Miss; an' Marse
Harry say, 'Come yhere dis minit, yo fool, an' tell
us what yo's a croakin' 'bout.'

"'Dat's what I yheahed, ma'm,' sez I; 'Dat
he's whar dey hez de yaller fevah, an' Mahalie
what's at Jedge Harrises, say he's bin puny all
summah, an' 'foah she lef' dar she yheahed he uz
down sick in de house by his lone se'f.'

" 'Oh, de po' boy! De po' mothaless boy, sick
an' lone!' sez ole Miss, a cryin;—she uz de bes'70

The Crisis at Shilo.

hahted lady in de worl\ 'Deah Emly's only chile,
an' she my fav'rite cousin! Yo mus' go tuh him,
Harry, de fust t'ing in de mawin', an' bring him
home fur me tuh nus. I'd nuvah furgive myse'f
ef enthin' happened tuh him kaze I 'glected him.'

"Marse Harry say nuffin gwine keep him fum
bringin' him back, 'thout he's daid, an' Missy
'gun tuh cry so her maw hed tuh teck her intuh
de house.

uBefo' sun up next mawin' me an' Marse Har-
ry driv tuh town tuh teck de train. 'Peared lack
Miss Alice cuden stay still one minit an' sont me
in atter lettahs eve'y day; but twahn't no time
hawdly til dem two step offen de train. Marse
Ralph ain't look so powful sick an' dey bofe laf at
me good fashion fur raisin' sich a rucus 'bout him.
Marse Harry say he hatluh drag him outen de
office by de scruff uv de neck, but atter dey git
stahted de train can't go fas' nuff tuh suit him. I
looked aidgeways at him an' seed him git rad in de
face, so I 'gun tellin' Marse Harry de news fum
home. When hit come tuh leavin' Miss Alice sick
in de baid Marse Ralph ac' lack he 'bleeged tuh git
out an' walk,—de gray can't git obah de groun'
fas' nuff fur him; but when we driv up tuh de do'
he uz thes ez cool ez yo please, a tellin' eve'y body
'howdy'.

"Miny uz way back in de hall when we come,
so I sont Zeke tuh de stable 'ith de hoss, an' tuck
de kyahpet sacks out uv de kerrege. While ole Miss
an' de gals uz a axin' Marse Harry 'bout de trip,Matchmaking.

71

Marse Ralph step back tuh speak tuh his sweet-
haht. 'Ain't yo got no welcome fur me?' he ax,
an' teck her two han's. 'P'haps I orten't, tuh
hev come atter what yo tole me, 'at yo nuvah cud
cah' fur me, but when Harry stepped in de do' my
'termination not tuh pestah yo gin out, an' I
come. Won't yo say yo's glad tuh see me? Won't
yo gin me some hope? I'll go raight away ef yo
sez so.' But Missy done foun' her tongue by dat
time an' say, 40 Ralph 1'

"Dat uz all I cud see, fur he shove her in tuh
de palah an' shet de do', an' I ha'tuh go 'long up
stahs 'ith de bunnels."

"Did they marry, Uncle Israel?" I asked as he
paused. It was a trick of his to feign leaving off
at the interesting point if he thought one was not
paying strict attention. Perhaps I was too com-
fortable to ask the required number of questions
to keep him going.

"Encose dey marry. Ain't I tell yo dat?
Dey's a libin' dar yit an' got fo' uv de putties'
chillun."

"Did you ever see them?"

"I'ze rid de las' one uv 'em on dese yhere ole
knees, lack I rid dey mammy, bless dey hahts.

"Wal, ef dar ain't a red buhd! We gwine tuh
yheah news foah sun down. Nuvah knowed dat
sign tuh fail. Spec' de folks '11 hab sumpin tuh
say when dey comes fum preachin'."

Just then the shrill, unmusical voice of Aunt
Cindy, the cook, sounded from the kitchen.72

The Crisis at Shilo.

"Yo Izul! Yo ole man Jackson, ain't yo ebah
gwine fotch me dat ar bucket uv watah?"

f'Yhere I come," replied the old man in as
energetic a tone as if he had just come from the
spring at the foot of the hill, and picking up the
bucket, he vanished around the corner of the house.A Ole Time CawnShuckin*A OLE TIME CAWN SHUCK1N'.

"Mawnin', Miss Kate. Does yo' want tuh
come out tuh de bawn an' see de new calf?"

Uncle Israel tapped at the door, then poked
his bald head in to ask the above question.

"Yes, of course. Wait till I get a shawl," I
replied. When people live in the country they
take an interest in all young things on the place,
especially calves and colts. The little one I went
to see this time was really pretty, soft tan color, with
large, dark eyes, and had walked over and lain
down on a pile of straw. How anything so young
could have sense enough to know the difference
between straw and the bare floor is a mystery
to me.

"Dat sutiney am a fine calf. I 'low hit's full
blood Jehsy." Israel wagged his head sagely,
though he knew we had not a single Jersey cow.

4'It will be when it gets killed on the railroad
and we claim damages," was my answer.

From the cow house we went to the stable to visit
the horses, passing from stall to stall, treating the
mules, however, with greatest respect. He said,
"I tells yo' what, honey, I'ze got de rumatiz pow-
ful bad, in my ole han's. I kin hawdly get de
cawn shucked fur de hosses' breckfus 'fore hit's
time tuh shuck fur dinnah. When I t'inks 'bout
dat th'ee bunded an' fawty bushels in dat ar cawn76

The Crisis at Shilo.

crib, I plum gin out." He held out his knotty
old hands, from one of which he had lost two
fingers years ago.

"It must be hard work, uncle. How can you
manage it?" said I.

"Doan know, ma'm." A pause—finally, as I
turned to leave, he said:

"Miss Kate, honey, yo' ax yo' paw tuh gib us
a cawn shucking won't yo'? A reg'lar ole time
cawn shuckin'. Dey'd git all dat shucked in one
night, sho's yo' bawn."

"A corn shucking! What is it like?''

"Like, chile! Why, all de niggers fur miles
'roun 'ud come ef I 'vites 'em, fur yo' an' y'alls
cooks some hams an' tatahs an' bread fur 'em.
P'haps yo' maw 'ud let 'em come in an' play a
while on de cement flo' uv de basement, atter dey
gits all de cawn done." The latter idea was
thrown out as a feeler.

"Gracious, Israel! You know Aunt Cindy
would quarrel for a year if she had to cook for
such a lot of folks."

"Oh, y'alls cud git ole Riah Goah, an' Black
Mag, an' Mawket Reece tuh come an' do de cookin'
de day befo'." He had thought it all out and the
plan promised amusement, so I asked and obtained
my father's consent and we set to work.

"Yo'd bettah hab it dis week, kaze nex' week
am Christmas," suggested our advisor.

"Israel, you ride out to Fair Lawn and ask all
the people there, and tell Miss Annie to come in
and keep us company." He also sent word to theA Ole Time Cawn Shuckin\	77

colored people on all the neighboring plantations.

Marie, Mag and Margaret came Tuesday, so
we commenced our preparations. Hams were
boiled in great pots in the yard, huge pans of
finger bread and heaps of corn pones were baked,
Cindy kindly allowing the use of her oven. The
turnips and sweet potatoes that were cooked in the
pots after the hams were done! All the negroes in
the vicinity accepted Israel's invitation with
alacrity.

"Dey fairly jump up an' crack dey heels
tugerr at hit' he explained.

Thursday morning it poured rain, and kept
on pouring until we were in despair, for that night
was set for the entertainment and it seemed as if
no one would come, but at three o'clock Israel
stepped in and said, uDey alls is a comin', chilluns;
dey doan mine a li'l showah; dey colah ain't de
kind what comes out in de wash."

Greatly to my delight, about four o'clock the
rain lightened and my friend Annie drove up, and
before long the farm yard was full of darkies, big,
little and middle sized; all more or less ragged, be-
sides mules and horses braying and pawing and so
thin they resembled "shadders onde grass." Israel,
as master of ceremonies, soon set them to work on
the big barn floor. They sat about in groups,
each one rivaling the other in size of the heap of
shucked corn before it and all singing over the
task. When one of the men found a red ear he
was at liberty to kiss his sweetheart; this being a
prohibition county, the other time honored custom78

The Crisis at Shilo.

of "a pull at de jug" was not observed. Occasion-
ally a dispute over some matter of vital importance
would arise,—for instance, Bunk Jones declared
that his hound could jump more rabbits than
"Rastus" Henderson's, or "Bijah" Jefferson jeered
at Pink Morris for being left handed; but at first
sound of war, Israel appeared with a uYo shetyou
mouf an' 'have yose'f" that quieted them. Mamma,
Virginia, Annie and I superintended the supper,
which was served in the barn; and the way they
did eat was a caution. Put a whole ham on each
end of the table and it would disappear in an amaz-
ingly short time, accompanied by like proportions
of other eatables. I thought of the negro preacher's
version of the miracle of the loaves and fishes:

"De mericle wuz dat dey diden' bust."

Mamma said they might play in the basement
until eleven o'clock, so at nine in they came. One
enterprizing youth had brought his fiddle, and
the plays of 4'steal partners," "twistification,"
i'sugar and tea," were soon turned into a dance.
We stayed down to watch the fun and nearly went
into convulsions of laughter at their antics. Israel
at first remonstrated with them on the sin of it,
but he was not heeded, and the fun went on. The
regular beat of their feet sounded on the floor in
time to the tune of "Shorten bread and cold hog
head, and don't dat nigger lub shorted bread."
Bare feet were as serviceable as shoes,—better, for
the soles never wore through or parted from the
uppers. Little Wilyum Henery sat and beat straws
on the fiddle-strings to mark time, and suddenlyA Ole Time Cawn JShucTcin'.

79

the fiddler let out a horrible howl. I thought he
must be dying, but it was repeated, "Yah!" and
again uYah;" until it dawned upon me he was em-
phasizing the time in that way.

"Do look at Uncle Israel,'' gasped Virginia.
There he was reproving some church member for
being so worldly.

"Doan yo cross yo feet, Bud; yo'll nevah git
tuh Heben ef yo cross yo feet. I'll 'pote yo tuh
de chu'ch, Jeems, ef yo doan watch out. Yo
Walt, de young leddies am at de do'. Yo be
mighty 'specful whar dey is." Then a quarrel
arose between Ruffin Gimson and his partner. She
had once spent two weeks in Atlanta and informed
him that he did not dance as they did there.

"Wal, git away ef yo doan like hit," said he
most ungallantly. "Yo Sal, git up offen dat
bench," and he dragged another girl into place,
leaving poor Tempy to sulk in a corner. Israel's
eyes shone and before long we heard him say:

"Yo fools doan know nuffin 'bout dancin'. I
shows yo dat Jigger." He pushed and pulled them
through it. After that nothing could keep him
still and he fell to patting and calling with all his
might.

"Lef han' to yo' partnah; swing conahs all."

"Cut dem steps, Jeff; lif up dem feet,suh!"

"Ladies bay net; keep on, doan stop in de mid-
dle ur de road. Dat's raight. Now—Gents quatah
dash. Oooo-eee."

Shuffle and jump, prance and scrape; first one
man would cut a pigeon wing and another would80

The Orisis at Shilo.

out do him. The girls clutched their skirts and
"buzzard loped'' from side to side, while the men
went at it forward and back.

"Heah, face me, nigger, yo' ain't no good;"
and two would get in the middle and dance a
duo. Such a lifting of sole leather, scraping, and
jumping as went on then, until at last one gave up,
when the victor exulted audibly over the enemy,
while the whole company joined in the laugh.
They kept it up without a pause until eleven
o'clock, when mamma reminded them that the
time was up, so they retired to the barn, church
members and all, and danced till broad day light,
only the old folks going home.

Did Israel go home? No, indeed; he stayed
through it all to play chaperone, and after break-
fast he sighed and said:

"Hit's a pity dey shucked all dat cawn. I
skeert de weevils mought git hit befo spring.
But we alls hed a pow'ful good time, and dey ain't
nuffin kin beat a ole time cawn shuekin'.""Dcm Hant Hosses""DEM HANT HOSSES."

"Somebody's a cominY' announced Israel,
poking his bald head in at the parlor door. 4'I
yheahs 'em a roundin' de cuhve uv de road an'
stepped in tuh tell yo so yo cud sortah git ready
fur 'em."

I listened, and plainly heard the tramp of a
pair of horses coming up our drive way, so hast-
ened to tuck my novel under a sofa pillow, put
the writing materials in a table drawer, and straight-
en the chairs around, preparatory to assuming a
graceful attitude and expression of innocent aston-
ishment at the arrival of callers.

"Hit mus' be de Murrys ur de folks fum de
river bend, kaze dey's a dribin' two hosses, lest
hit's some young man fum town/' looking inquir-
ingly at me; but I had had no intimation of such
an event, so we both listened as the hoof beats
came nearer, and finally we distinctly heard the
impatient stepping of the horses at the hitching
post.

"You go to the door, Israel," I said, "because
Fanny has gone home, and then see about taking
the horses out for them."

The old man withdrew to a station in the hall
and waited for a knock at the door. He waited
and I waited. He even cautiously tiptoed to the
door and peeped out through the glass. Then he84

The Crisis at Shilo.

went back to the kitchen. Directly he returned
carrying a lantern.

"Well, Israel?" I asked.

"Well 'um," he replied, setting the lantern on
the hearth because his hands shook so he could
not hold it; "well 'um, I bin out dar, an' dar
ain't nobody dar, an' what's mo', dar ain't nobody
bin dar."

"But, uncle, I heard them, and so did you
when you were at the back of the house. Perhaps
they turned around without stopping, though I
didn't hear them go back."

"No'm, dey diden, kaze I'ze done bin down de
road plum tuh de gate, an' dar ain't nary sign uv
no track. Yo know hit rained hahd 'bout a houah
'go, an' de groun' so sof' yo cud see a hen track,
let 'lone two hosses an' a buggy."

"What in the world could it haye been? Both
of us couldn't have mistaken that sound,'' said I
positively. It is difficult to doubt the evidence of
one's senses.

"Hit can't be nuffin in de worl' but dat hant,"
said he, lowering his voice to an awesome pitch
that made cold chills creep up and down my spinal
column.

"Haunt! Nonsense!" I exclaimed. "There is
no such thing."

"Ugh, ugh," said Israel; "cuden come dat on
dis nigger. Needn't tell me dar ain't no hants,
kaze I'ze seed 'em."

"The very ideal" I remonstrated; but across
my mind flashed the theory of a friend of ours who4 6 Bern Hant Hosses.''

85

was born and raised on a big plantation amid hun-
dreds of slaves. She said she believed that the
negroes saw things that we could not, in the same
way that dogs were gifted with a sense of smell
that could distinguish friend from foe. She had
heard them declare that they saw strange, unex-
plainable things, spirits, queer shapes in fire, and
many other phenomena that to her were invisible;
negroes whose veracity in other matters she had no
reason to doubt.

Here was our Israel, a great church member,
declaring he had seen ghosts, and plainly terrified
at that moment.

"What do you mean, uncle?" I asked uneasily.
4'Where have you seen haunts?"

44In de lane goin' fum yhere tuh my house. I
seed ole Judy Ann a goin' intuh her house one
moonlight night las' spring, an' torreckly I yheahed
her a singin'."

4 4 Perhaps some one had moved into the cabin,"
I suggested.

4*iVo, ma'm. Hit's gone tuh rack sence her an'
Uncle Mel died. Nobody won't stay dar sence dey
tuck tuh comirC back.

44An' dat ain't de oney hant I'ze seed. 'Clare
tuh goodness! I blebe I'ze seed dis vehy one."

44The one that drove up here? I didn't know
our place was haunted; but at any rate, I'm glad
we haven't a one horse ghost. Ours comes in a
carriage and pair." I laughed, trying to down my
own nervousness as well as to reassure him, for
the servant question is nearer home than the Chi-86

The Orisis at Shilo.

nese or any other problem, and if the darkies took
a notion that a haunt stalked about on the hill,
they could not be induced to work for us.

"Hesh, hesh, chile! Fer de Ian' sake, doan go
meckin fun uv ghosses! Hit's pow'ful bad luck.
No knowin' what'11 come uv hit.

"Ain't yo nuvah notice dat wawm streak uv
a'r raight at de cuhve uv de road?"

"Why, yes, every time I came up/' I answered,
for that warm air was noticeable the coldest nights
for a distance of about ten paces.

"Yo mus' al'ways blow yo bref out comin'
frew hit ur de witches'11 ride yo at night," cau-
tioned the old deacon. "Ain't yo notice nuffin
else?"

"Come to think of it, we've heard this team
three times before; several of us, at different parts
of the house, too; and it fooled us into thinking
it was somebody." The memory of those unex-
plainable sounds rose up before me, of evenings
when I had been brave enough to hold the lamp
for the one who searched for the foot prints.

"What'd I tell yo? Mubby yo'll blebe ole
Izul nex' time he sez sumpin."

"Tell me about this, then," I commanded.

"Ain't yo nuvah yheahed 'bout de hant on dis
hill?"

"Not a word."

"Wal, hit uz long ago," he began, seating him-
self on the hearth, "long befo' de wah, befo' yo
granpaw bought dis place an' built y'all's house.
Dar uz nur house raight whar dis stan's, but no-uDem Hani Hosses."

87

body libed in hit fur yheahs an' yheahs an' hit bu'nt
down.

"Dar uz young leddy libed up yhere an' she
hed sweethaht 'at uz one uv de wickedest men
evah in dis kentry. Why, I'ze yheahed tell 'at
when he'd git mad niggers an' white men ud thes
fall away fum him, thes teck tuh de woods, crawl
behine a log ur eny kin' uv sheltah: dey skeert
Gawd A'mighty gwine sen' fiah fum Heaben tuh
blast him in his tracks, de awful way he rare an*
cuss an' blaspheme, a pintin' his han' raight up in
desky. Ughl" and the old man shuddered. "Dey
skeert dey mought git cotched in de mix up.

"He libed 'way obah yandah, beyant Connesena
chu'ch, eight mile fum yhere. One night he
stahted tuh see his gal, a drivin' a span uv hosses
an' 'ith his nigger man in de buggy, too, when
'long come up de awfulest stohm. De thundah
roahed obah de hills, an' de lightnin' meek splin-
tahs outen de trees evehy which away. 'Last de
rain come down so hahd de hosses thes cuden
g'wan, so dey stop at de chu'ch an' go inside fur
sheltah. Hit uz thes a log chu'ch out in de woods
'ith a grabeyahd 'roun' hit. De nigger, he stay
'way at de back, kaze he' pow'ful skeert, but de
man mawch plum up tuh de altah, mad ez he cud
git kaze de weddah kep him fum seein' his gal', an'
'menced his awful cussin' an' blasphemin'. When
he git tiahed out he haul up a cha' an' sets down
a leanin' his haid 'gainst de BiblePutty soon he
feel sumpin sortuh tech his haid lack fingahs. He
'low hit's de nigger a tryin' tuh skeer him, so he88

The Crisis at Shilo.

calls out, 'Tawm!' 'Yassuh,' sez Tawm fum 'way
by de do'. 'Nuffin,' say de man, an' he 'low
he'll teck a nap. Thes ez he git quiet yhere
come dem fingahs 'gain, sortuh feelin' thoo his
hair. Dat meek de scalp feel lack hit's tu'nin' in-
side out, but he on't gin in. 'Yo Tawm!' he call
'gain. 4Yas, suh,' say Tawm, teckin' a step to'ds
him so he cud yheah he shoes cry on de flo'. 4Stay
wha' yo is,' sez de man, an' settle hisse'f back
'gain 'ith his haid on de Bible.

"De stohm uz thes awful an' de lightnin' flash-
in' so yo cud see evehy thin' plain ez day. Den
dar come a quiet spell, one uv dese thes befo' de
thundah bust aloose wusser'n evah, when two bng
arms rech down fum de raftalis, an' de han's
grabbed dat man's hair, an' de horriblest laf thes
fill de chu'ch: 'Ha, ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha!'

"Tawm, he uz mighty nigh skeert white, an'
come a flash uv lightnin' 'at showed him a ooman
a layin' up in dem raftahs, her eyes thes a glowin'
lack fox flah, an' she hed her han's in de man's
hair, a lafin'; 'Ha, ha, ha!' an' him a jerkin' tuh
git a loose. Tawm slip out de do' an' squat down
by big toomstone,—nuffin cud be wuss 'an inside
dat chu'ch,—when 'long come de man thes a
chawgin' out, an' a sweahin' 'at man, Gawd, nur
de Debbie gwine keep him fum seein' his gal dat
night. He call Tawm; but Tawm uz a prayin'
down by dat toomstone an' ain't answah, so he
clum intuh de buggy an' off he stahted.

"Dat same night de young leddy yheahed de
buggy, thes lack yo done tuh night, an' helt de"Dem Hani Hosses

89

lamp fur him tuh see de way intuh de house, but
he nuvah come. Nex' mawiin^ dey search de road
but cuden fin' nary track tel dey come tuh de
aidge uv de woods, an' dar uz de buggy, hosses,
an5 man, all daid; 'ith a big tree layin' a top uv
'em. Dey sez 'at.his hair hed tu'ned white ez cot-
ton, an' dar uz two chunks pulled out uv hit, meat
an' all, wha' dem han's done fasten in hit. Dey
met up 'ith some folks what uz huntin' for a crazy
ooman, so dey searched de chu'ch an' foun' her
up in dem raftahs, thes a lafin' tel hit frez de
marrer in dey bones, an' her han's uz full uv
hair."

"But that was no ghost, Israel," said I, breath-
ing freely once more,

"Mebby not; but huccum 'tis when dar comes
big stohm leetle atter suppah yo'll yheah dem hant
hosses an' ain't yheah 'em no otha time, not when
dar's bin de same kin' uv stohm an' de same evehy
thin' else?" He looked at me sternly for a mo-
ment, and then as I could not answer his argument,
he added impressively, "Hit's Mm a comin' tuh
see his sweethaht.

UI done passed dem hosses in de big road one
time," the old man continued, "tu'ned 'way out
mighty nigh intuh de ditch, an' seed 'em an' dat
buggy ez plain ez I sees yo dis minit, one time
when I uz haulin' a load uv cotton fur yo paw,
an' de team behine me diden' see nuffin; de drivah
squall out uz I drunk, a tryin' tuh opset de load
in de ditch.

"Yas, an' a heap uv 'em hez seed hit. Mistah90

The Crisis at Shilo.

John Clayton," mentioning a friend of ours, "an'
a dozen mo', white an' black. Mistah John done
same ez me one night comin' fum camp meetin'.
He tu'n out fur hit, an' de team behine him cotch
a glimpse uv sumpin, but de whole string uv folks
behine 'em thes kep on down de big road, an'
nuvah tu'ned out nur passed nuffin'.

"Needn't tell me dar's no hants. No, sir—ee.
I knows dar is."

The awfulness of this love, stronger than death,
that for half a century had come through the
storm to our very door in search of its object,
completely overwhelmed and terrified me, and I
felt frozen in my chair.

Israel crouched over the fire for a while and
threw out strong hints for me to get him a dram,
but I wouldn't move out of that room till some one
came to get me, so he picked up the lantern and I
heard him go around the house and down the hill,
braving briars and possible snake bites in the field
to passing through the "warm streak" on the road.Diplomacy Versus RightDIPLOMACY VERSUS RIGHT

We borrowed a baby to play with, my brother
and I, as the mother stopped at our gate for a chat
on her way to church. It seemed such a harmless
little morsel, finding such attraction in the doubled
up fist that it didn't have time to cry, and we took
it for granted that the child would go to sleep as
soon as we wished it to.

The mother drove off, casting a dubious look
at us as we strode proudly up the driveway to the
deserted veranda, for the rest of the family had
gone to preaching.

Things went on swimmingly for about half an
hour, a live doll was such an improvement; when
all at once, "Wah, wah, wah!" and we knew not
how to stop the racket. What was to be done with
a baby that was too young to eat cake, that ab-
solutely refused to maltreat the kitten, or be
pacified in any sensible way?

Highly disgusted, Ed walked off around the
far side of the house, leaving me to battle single-
handed with the foe. By and by he returned with
the big dinner bell, a choice toy, and began to ring
loud and long. The baby stopped crying for one
scared second. Ed misinterpreted this silence and
kept on ringing, sure he had solved the problem.

Suddenly Israel hurried around the house and
up the steps. 44 What de mattah?" he panted, and94

The Crisis at Shilo.

when we told him we were amusing the baby he
exclaimed: 44 'Fore Gawd, I t'ought de house uz
a fiah! Yhere, y'alls got dis child plum skeert tuh
def. Lemme hab hit."

He took and dandled the baby as he had his
master's children years ago, singing queer old
songs, and working his face into droll grimaces;
all to no purpose. The noise continued and if
possible grew worse. At last he declared: "Dar
ain't nuffin' tuh be done, Miss Kate, 'ceptin' ketch
a hen/'

"A hen!"

"Yassum. Ef vo puts some 'lasses on dat chil's
han's me and Mistah Ed'll ketch a hen an' pull out
some sof' feathas an' put 'em in de syrup, hit'11
meek 'im hesh sho nuff."

i6Anything, anything," was my answer as I
picked up the YELL and carried it to the molasses
jug, while Ed cast aside the dignity of twenty-one
years and raced about the yard after a chicken,
Israel too; and anyone who has not seen an old
darkie, nearing four score years, chase a tricky
fowl has missed a good laugh.

At last they succeeded and brought me some
soft, fine feathers, Israel having forethought to
wring the chicken's neck and hang it up ready to
dress for dinner.

Talk about charms if you want to; but when
that baby saw the feather on one hand it stopped
crying and tried to pick it off with sticky fingers,
renewing the*attempt with the other hand; and so
on, over and over, with increasing astonishment.Diplomacy Versus Right.	95

Gradually the sobs subsided, and then a crow and
gurgling laugh were heard from the little sinner
tied in the long unused high chair.

Israel surveyed his ruse with much satisfaction,
then noticing a catalogue with a gaudy picture of
a watermelon on the cover, he remarked:

"Dat 'minds me uv a watahmillon my ole Marse
gin me an' nur lil nigger when I wahn't knee high
tuh a grasshoppah, a tellin' us tuh 'vide hit. Dat
ur boy uz bigger 'an me an' he scratch down de
middle uv a green stripe an' say dat half uz his'n,
an' I 'gree tuh hit an' we c'mmenced eatin'.
D'reckly dat boy he cut nur slice an' say dat dar
uz de stripe, but I seed hit de otha what been
scratched, an* kaze I 'spute he wud he cut nur big
slice an' et hit. I 'clare I gwine tell ole Marse, an'
wid dat he hit me a lick an' while I uz a squallin'
et up de balance. I hollah good fashion den, kaze
I do luv millon same ez I does now, an' we mixed
raght dare. 'Den up come my big Bud! 'Look a
yhere, nigger, what yo chunkin' my lil Bud 'ith
rocks fur?' he 'low. De otha boy say kaze I tryin'
tuh beat him outin his sha' de millon; 'at his uz de
bigges' paht kaze he de bigges' boy an' he gwine
hab hit. Wid dat my big Bud whirl in an' thes
natshully tore de hide offen dat low down, lyin'
nigger. Yo see he uz a peekin' frew de crack, his
mouf thes a waterin' fur dat millon, an' seed ole
Marse han' hit tuh us, a laflin' at de way my eyes
stan' out. He knowed I uz raght.

"An' dat's de same 'ith dat chile. Hit's pinted-
ly got de raght tuh squall fur hit's maw,96

The Crisis at Shilo.

an' we thea 'stractin' hits 'tention 'ith dem feathas,
same ez all dat cbat 'bout stripes an' 'vidin' a
foolin' me; an' y'all got tuh ansah fur yo sins
when dat chil's maw comes.

"Wal, I reckon I'd bettah pick dat chicken fur
Cindy tuh fry," and the old fellow departed.

When that baby's mother did return she cer-.
tainly had the sweetest child in the land. Syrup
and feathers were in the silky hair, the clean white
frock was a sight, and even ten sticky pink toes
peeped from beneath crumpled petticoats. She
gave us a withering look, clutched her treasure,
and rode away, while Ed and I stole crestfallen up
the short cut.This book is a preservation facsimile produced for
the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
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