High-resolution, full color images available online
Search, browse, read, and print yearbook pages
View college, high school, and military yearbooks
Browse our digital annual library spanning centuries
Support the schools in our program by subscribing
Privacy, as we do not track users or sell information
Page 24 text:
“
Gnosis eoD oa Pig 5U6(?a Mart Goodloe Billings, ' 20 Bussing and scolding the old negress drew on her thread- bare broadcloth coat (a piece of her mistress ' discarded wardrobe) and warmed her mittened hands at the open fire. Wy don ' Mahse John send Mose or Gawge ovah to that there sugah camp? Ain ' t no speshul cooking has to be done ' bout makin ' a little maple sugah. Dis hyah ain no weathah foh no woman to tramp put nigh a mile in no slush an ' snow. Git out en hyah, you Mahse Tommy! as a small white face was thrust into the door of the cabin, Ain ' no little pick ' ninnies roun ' hyah foh you to torment. ' Lijah he took de whole mess ob ' em down on the hill to slide. Tommy ventured in, followed by a. somewhat smaller boy — evidently his brother, for he had the same freckled snub nose, and inquisitive blue eyes. Mahse Tommy Caldwell, did you heah me tell you-all to clear out? You an ' yo ' li ' l brothah David is the beatenest white chillen in the county, comin ' in hyah an ' messin ' up my new-scrubbed floah with yo ' dirty feet — Where you goin ' , Aunt Sukey? said Tommy, as he fingered the long fringe dangling from a vivid tidy on a rickety wooden chair. None o ' yoah bus ' ness, suh! Git outen hyah — trackin ' up my clean floah with all that duht! I know where she ' s goin ' . Tommy, said David, because I heard father tell her. She ' s goin ' over to the sugar camp to stay all day and make mother some maple sugar. Take me, Aunt Sukey, begged Tommy. If you will, I ' ll give ' Lijah my new fish pole that Uncle Archie brought me from St. Louis. ' ' Huh! snorted Sukey, Who ' d want a fish pole in February, with the snow on the ground an inch thick? No suh, Marse Tommy, I aint goin ' to have no limbs of Satan foolin ' roun ' an ' gettin ' in my way — no suh Pushing the two little boys before her, she shuffled out the door. ' ' Go ' long home you-all. An ' Marse Tommy, ef you don ' t let my ' Lijah alone, I ' ll skin the hide off ' n you. Tommy and David watched her as she lumbered across the premises toward the sugai ' -woods. There was a road to the camp, but it was so round-about and muddy that no one ever thought of using it, but went instead through the
”
Page 25 text:
“
pasture and on over the hill, where some white stones were seen marking the graves of generations of Caldwells. The family graveyard was enclosed by an iron fence, but as the gate always stood open, a path had been worn through the place by the feet of those who went to and from the sugar camp. With a grin Tommy turned toward the stately old brick house that his grandfather had built after the old home had burned. C ' mon Dave, let ' s get our sleds and go hunt ' Lijah. As the tall old clock down-stairs boomed out the hour of ten o ' clock, Tommy sat up in bed. Everything was as still as if it were the witching hour of mid- night, which he imagined it to be. He had lain awake centuries it seemed to him, waiting for mid-night, and he was sure that he had counted twelve strokes. Across in another corner of the great square room, in another small white bed, he could see the small mountain which was David. He chuckled to himself as he thought how mad David would be the next morning when he discovered what he had missed. Baby! thought Tommy scornfully, he ' d be scared to death. Tommy had had the good fortune to be born a full two years before David put in his appearance, and at present he was feeling the full importance of his twelve years. Reaching under the bed, he drew out a small white bundle which he laid on the bed while he put on the necessai ' y clothes. It had been necessary to undress as usual, or David would have suspected something. Picking up his little bundle, he glanced toward David ' s bed. His brother had not moved, and Tommy, with a sigh of relief, stole out of the room and down the stairs. He knew which boards creaked, so carefully avoided them. It was cold outside, and he stopped at the hall closet to put on his heavy wraps before he tried to unbolt the door at the end of the hall. The bolt was already drawn, and he made a mental note that here was something with which he could make Moses ' life miserable for the next day or so. By threatening to tell his father, there was no knowing how many dozens of slings and new sled-runners Mose would make for him. Once outside he did not have to be so careful, for there was no danger of waking anyone. The slave-cabins were at a considerable distance, and everyone in the big house was sound asleep. Turning up the collar of his coat, he began to run toward the little hill, about a half mUe away. There was a moon, and he was able to distinguish the white marble slabs of the grave-yard. At every step his courage diminished, and by the time he reached the open gate of the cemetery, his teeth were fairly chattering with fear. Daily association with his father ' s negroes had given him the same fear of grave-yardis and ha ' nts which ' Lijah or any of the slave children enjoyed. But even twelve year old. Tommy had the Caldwell chin and determination, so he tremblingly entered
Are you trying to find old school friends, old classmates, fellow servicemen or shipmates? Do you want to see past girlfriends or boyfriends? Relive homecoming, prom, graduation, and other moments on campus captured in yearbook pictures. Revisit your fraternity or sorority and see familiar places. See members of old school clubs and relive old times. Start your search today!
Looking for old family members and relatives? Do you want to find pictures of parents or grandparents when they were in school? Want to find out what hairstyle was popular in the 1920s? E-Yearbook.com has a wealth of genealogy information spanning over a century for many schools with full text search. Use our online Genealogy Resource to uncover history quickly!
Are you planning a reunion and need assistance? E-Yearbook.com can help you with scanning and providing access to yearbook images for promotional materials and activities. We can provide you with an electronic version of your yearbook that can assist you with reunion planning. E-Yearbook.com will also publish the yearbook images online for people to share and enjoy.
