Columbia College - Columbian Yearbook (Columbia, SC)

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Well, wha is Cap'n, Miss Lizzie?', interrupted Pete, starting for the do . or How do I know? Down to de lot, I reckin. Triflin' thing, she mut- tered, looking after him with a contemptuous glance. Accustomed to Lizzie's pleasant greetings, and so not disturbed by them, Pete went towards the lot, hoping that he would Find Cap'n Lewis alone, and in a good humor, buthe was disappointed in one respect, for he heard someone talking to Cap'n inside of the stable. His worst fears were realized when he found Capln Lewis with his son Robert, and his nephew John, the boys of whom Cindy had spoken. More apologetically than ever, Pete said: Mornin' Cap'n, mornin'g an, Mr. Robert an' Mr. John. How is you-all today ? Cap'n Lewis looked up. He was examining the foot of a new colt that Robert had just bought. The two boys were currying and brushing the colt. Only Cap'n Lewis vouchsafed an answer to Pete's hearty greeting. The boys held Lizzie's opinion of him. Dis sho' am a fine pony, Mr. Robert. Hit's de one whut you got from Mr. Watts, ain't hit P Pete continued, trying to pave his way, but, receiving only a grunt from Robert, he went on, Mr. Robert, you jes' lemme do dat for you. I know how to curry a hawsef' And he made a motion to take the curry- comb, but Robert said: Aw, get out of the way. You can't curry worth a--. Stand back there, or youlll get your head knocked off. Wlhat are you hanging around here tor, anyway? Yes, what do you want, Pete? T know it's something, added Cap'n Lewis. l-l, Cap'n, I-but's jes' a little business. I-you know, Cap'n, my olrl lacly, Cindy, she+ rubbing his hands and grinning at the floor, undecided about which foot to stand on. Robert helped him along: Yes, l know doggone well what you're after, something to eat. d XX hat is it, Pete? asked Cap'n Lewis, smiling, and amused at his son's wor s. y'XYell, Qap'n, as 'l wuz a-sayin', Cindy, you know, she all time takes cle mis ry in dis here kind o' wedder, and she 'low hit tain't nothin' but a chicken- A roaring laugh from Robert interrupted him. 1 XX ho ever heard ot chicken curing rheumatism. You want it for your 'mn 5I0Qfl'lUl N0TlN11Q selT. Then, to his father, Dad, don't give it to him. Make him work for it. J ,Pk -FYI. go get a rabbit, Pete. The woods are full of them this weather. .1 e my od gun. The Missus can't spare her chickens, said Cap'n Lewis. H.AXu, Dad, we re going rabbit hunting today, snapped Robert. Oh, well, there s room for everybody, son.', Will Pete' you stay off ' l ' ' . - , . - r 1, P' tl rctmaung Pete. , our ral, you hear. he said angrily to TC nm mpftfi Sllippefl Calfll 'Lewis' old gun from the back-porch easily, in order L,lm,kQn 5gflrA'MUS 1411210 He was greatly disappointed though about the ' In 5 would moan and complain all day now, and besides, he had SIXTY

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The wind whistled across the fields d , an ' - unprotected Cabin all night, and heavy, white clrdiiillsecilrizlheaiiiiiosimtlied siiifi sprinkling the earth with a fleecy blanket. Pete, not a particularlyiearlf fist-'f' was speechless with astonishment when he saw the snow. He had ewpbcted cold, C1632 d-2135 gl' H1056 Laing anything but snow. His cabin was nearly a foot eep in t e ri ts an t e field around was level and white, reaching to the woods where the trees stood like sperrits. Aw, my marsterl look a-here, Cind place. How is I a-gwine to git wood now? he exclaimed, 'fWhat's.dat? Hit's done snowed? she cried, rearing up from her mountain of quilts, I knowed hit, I knowed hit. I becha hit started las' night when my fu st mis ry struck me. Uh! My Marster, hitls done got me, an' widout a drap o' Japanese. Pete, whut is I gwine to do? . Pete regarded .the snow, the sky, his shivering dog, the snow-covered woodpile, and the wailing Cindy. The prospect of that railing all day forced him to think of some relief. - Ne' mind, honey, Iill git dat chicken frum Cap'n Lewis. You jes' wait 'tel I git back. I'm a-gwine up dar right now. He tucked her in, trying to console her by various rash promises, and presently started out towards Cap'n Lewis's. Across the glistening field he went, his woolly old head down between his shoulders, and his hands deep in his pockets. At the foot of the hill leading up to Cap'n's back yard, some children and dogs were playing in the snow. Red- nosed, rosy-faced little ones called to the approaching Pete, and the dogs ran barking to jump upon him. VVith them he was a particular favorite. VVell, ef here ain't my baby, out here in dis cold. Honey, you gwine to freeze, he said to the rosiest, smallest lass of them. y. Hitis done snowed all over de . Pete, Pete, ride me up, she cried, putting the sled-rope into his hand. Pete scolded and protested, he was busy, he didn't have time-hitching himself to the sled all the while. Up and down they went together, the dogs barking, racing ahead of the sleds, and sending the snow flying, the children screaming and laughing, Just once more, Pete. Each time he answered, I declar, you children. I ain't got time to be wastin' here wid y'all. Now dis here's de las' time. Breakfast was over at Cap'n's, and Miss Lizzie was washing dishes when Pete shuffled apologetically into the kitchen, bowing and rubbing his hands. . . . . . - - n Good morn1n', Miss Lizzie, morn1n'. How's you dis fine morn1n'? You come in my kitchen a-trackin' up my flo'. Git outno' here. Am't I done see you down yonder a-wastin' your time wid dem chillern, when you ought to been to work? Triilin' thing, I becha done come here to beg for sump n. Well, tain't no use, 'cause we done done breckfuss, and ta1n't nothin lef . Now, Miss Lizzie, ain't you 'shamed to talk to old Pete dat,-a-way. I ain't stud'n 'bout no breckfuss. I come up here to see Cap'n'LCyy1S b0L1'f 501119 business. You see now, Miss Lizzie, your tongue .is too quick, he ,sa1d, and hastened to add before she could break forth again, VVhar is Capn Lewis, Miss Lizzie? . Marse Lewis ain't got no time to fool wid you. M6 21 jest- n' Mis' Alice was Ffrrv-MNE

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smacked his lips all morning over a prospective drumstick. .-Xnvwav a rabbit hunt was fun, and rabbit me t f X ' ' i ' ' ' a it as second to chicken meat. lhen, too, he would not have to stay at home and console Cindy. Cindy greeted his empty-handed return with wails in spite of thc fitt tl t she had discouraged his hopes before he went, and she would not stop wziilingihi listen to anything about a rabbit or anything else. Pete put on his other coat, coonskin cap, and Clfldy S Old Heuralgyn rag. In the midst of Cindv's doleful wails, Pete grabbed his gun, and called to a reluctant and Uloomv extd l l , H, ,- coffttat shivered on the hearth. He jumped up a rabbit in the hrs ' i ' 5 , I 5 piece ot woods that he entered, but the rabbit did not stop running when he shot, I How come. you ain't git after dat rabbit, dawg? Don't you know l's gittin' too old to kill em? If 'n we don't fotch one back, old Mis' Cindv ain't gwine to let us sleep none tonight. ' The dog refused to walk ahead of his master, trotting pessimisticallv at his heel instead. They walked for an hour without seeing a track. Then around the end of a thick bunch f f f 1 ' ' ' o su ampy vxoodland, a big rabbit came at tull speed. VVith a war whoop, Pete .leveled his gun, and killed the rabbit. Pete and the dog, which now showed his first sign of interest, ran after the dead rabbit. I 'clar to gracious, dis here scound'el jes' run right slam into my gun barrel. Hit's jest nachully done been sent from heben, I b'lieve- His soliloquy was arrested by a yell. Pete jumped around, and saw Robert and john coming around the end of the swamp. Put down my rabbit, you rascal. VVhat do you mean by shooting a rabbit that we ran up? Give it here. Didn't I tell you not to get on my trail? de- manded Robert, coming up and jerking the limp rabbit from Pete's hands. Mr Robert, dat's- Shut up, you black rascalg and get on home, before I put a load of shot in you. Come on, john, and put the rabbit in your bag. He threw the rab- bit to john, and left Pete without further notice. Pete stared stupefied at the departing boys. Presently he again took up his gun, and his soliloquy also: Ne' mind, dawg, dem boys is gwine to get payed for dis. Dat wuz my rabbit, and if hit hadn't a been Capn's boy I would a-a-fought him. Yes, I would-a. The boys went on for about two hours or more, but without hnding any- thing except Pete's tracks. They crossed those at every turn, and finally, CXT1- perated, they started home, with only the rabbit that Pete had killed. Col . tired, and hungry-ravenously hungry-they emerged from The Woods alt UC edge of the field near Petels cabin. As they neared the cabin, they saw that a place in front had been cleared of snow, in which a big black POI Steamed OVFT some coals. They hurried to warm their stiff fingers and toes over the coa s. for the cabin looked deserted. They knelt down and huddled over thehcoals. Presently Robert threw the brick off, and sliding back the hd looked into t e po . A rich odor floated up to their noses. SIX TY-ONE