“You can't go 'thout you's a nigger,” was the reply; “Sam Lamb say they ain't no white folks 'lowed on this train 'cepin' the engineer an' conductor.”
“Sam Lamb'd take care of us if we could go,” continued Jimmy. “Let's slip off and go down to the depot1 and see the niggers get on. There'll be 'bout2 a million.”
Billy's eyes sparkled with appreciation3.
“I sho' wish I could,” he said; “but Aunt Minerva'd make me stay in bed a whole week if I want near the railroad.”
“My mama 'd gimme 'bout a million licks, too, if I projeckted with a nigger 'scursion she 'bout the spankingest woman they is. My papa put some burnt cork5 on his face in the Knights6 er Pythi's minstrels and I know where we can get some to make us black; you go get Miss Minerva's ink bottle too, that'll help some, and get some matches, and I'll go get the cork and we can go to Sarah Jane's house and make usselfs black.”
“I ain't never promise not to black up and go down to the depot,” said Billy waveringly. “I promise not to never be no mo' Injun—I—”
“Well, run then,” Jimmy interrupted impatiently. “We'll just slip down to the railroad and take a look at the niggers. You don't hafto get on the train just 'cause you down to the depot.”
So Miss Minerva's nephew, after tiptoeing into the house for her ink bottle and filling his pockets with contraband7 matches, met his chum at the cabin. There, under the critical survey of Bennie Dick from his customary place on the floor, they darkened their faces, heads, hands, feet, and legs; then, pulling their caps over their eyes, these energetic little boys stole out of the back gate and fairly flew down an alley8 to the station. No one noticed them in that hot, perspiring9, black crowd. A lively band was playing and the mob of good-humored, happy negroes, dressed in their Sunday best, laughing and joking, pushing and elbowing, made their way to the excursion train standing10 on the track.
The two excited children got directly behind a broad, pompous11 negro and slipped on the car just after him. Fortunately they found a seat in the rear of the coach and there they sat unobserved, still and quiet, except for an occasional delighted giggle12, till the bell clanged and the train started off. “We'll see Sam Lamb toreckly,” whispered Jimmy, “and he'll take care of us.”
The train was made up of seven coaches, which had been taking on negroes at every station up the road as far as Paducah, and it happened that the two little boys did not know a soul in their car.
But when they were nearing Woodstock, a little station not far from Memphis, Sam Lamb, making a tour of the cars, came into their coach and was promptly13 hailed by the children. When he recognized them, he burst into such a roar of laughter that it caused all the other passengers to turn around and look in their direction.
“What y' all gwine to do nex' I jes' wonder,” he exclaimed. “Yo' ekals ain't made dis side o' 'ternity. Lordee, Lordee,” he gazed at them admiringly, “you sho' is genoowine corn-fed, sterlin' silver, all-woolan'-a-yard-wide, pure-leaf, Green-River Lollapaloosas. Does yo' folks know 'bout yer? Lordee! What I axin' sech a fool question fer? 'Course dey don't. Come on, I gwine to take y' all off 'n dese cars right here at dis Woodstock, an' we kin4 ketch de 'commodation back home.”
“But Sam,” protested Billy, “We don't want to go back home. We wants to go to Memphis.”
“Hit don't matter what y' all wants,” was the negro's reply, “y' all gotta git right off. Dis-here 'scursion train don't leave Memphis twell twelve o'clock tonight an' yuh see how slow she am runnin', and ev'y no 'count nigger on her'll be full o' red eye. An' yo' folks is plumb14 'stracted 'bout yer dis minute, I 'low. Come on. She am gittin' ready to stop.”
He grabbed the blackened hand of each, pushing Jimmy and pulling Billy, and towed the reluctant little boys through the coach.
“Yuh sho' is sp'iled my fun,” he growled15 as he hustled16 them across the platform to the waitingroom. “Dis-here's de fus' 'scursion I been on widout Sukey a-taggin' long in five year an' I aimed fo' to roll 'em high; an' now, 'case o' ketchin' up wid y' all, I gotta go right back home. Now y' all set jes' as straight as yer kin set on dis here bench,” he admonished17, “whilst I send a telegraph to Marse Jeems Garner18. An' don' yuh try to 'lope out on de flatform neider. Set whar I kin keep my eye skinned on yuh, yuh little slipp'ry-ellum eels19. Den20 I gwine to come back an' wash yer, so y' all look like 'spectable white folks.”
Miss Minerva came out of her front door looking for Billy at the same time that Mrs. Garner appeared on her porch in search of Jimmy.
“William! You William!” called one woman.
“Jimmee-ee! O Jimmee-ee-ee!” called the other.
“Have you seen my nephew?” asked the one.
“No. Have you seen anything of Jimmy?” was the reply of the other.
“They were talking together at the fence about an hour ago,” said Billy's aunt. “Possibly they are down at the livery stable with Sam Lamb; I'll phone and find out.”
“And I'll ring up Mrs. Black and Mrs. Hamilton. They may have gone to see Lina or Frances.”
In a short time both women appeared on their porches again:
“They have not been to the stable this morning,” said Miss Minerva uneasily, “and Sam went to Memphis on the excursion train.”
“And they are not with Lina or Frances,”—Mrs. Garner's face wore an anxious look, “I declare I never saw two such children. Still, I don't think we need worry as it is nearly dinner time, and they never miss their meals, you know.”
But the noon hour came and with it no hungry little boys. Then, indeed, did the relatives of the children grow uneasy. The two telephones were kept busy, and Mr. Garner, with several other men on horseback, scoured21 the village. Not a soul had seen either child.
At three o'clock Miss Minerva, worn with anxiety and on the verge22 of a collapse23, dropped into a chair on her veranda24, her faithful Major by her side. He had come to offer help and sympathy as soon as he heard of her distress25, and, finding her in such a softened26, dependent, and receptive mood, the Major had remained to try to cheer her up.
Mr. and Mrs. Garner were also on the porch, discussing what further steps they could take.
“It is all the fault of that William of yours,” snapped one little boy's mother to the other little boy's aunt: “Jimmy is the best child in the world when he is by himself, but he is easily led into mischief27.”
Miss Minerva's face blazed with indignation.
“William's fault indeed!” she answered back. “There never was a sweeter child than William;” for the lonely woman knew the truth at last. At the thought that her little nephew might be hurt, a long forgotten tenderness stirred her bosom28 and she realized for the first time how the child had grown into her life.
The telegram came.
“They are all right,” shouted Mr. Garner joyously29, as he quickly opened and read the yellow missive, “they went on the excursion and Sam Lamb is bringing them home on the accommodation.”
As the Major, short, plump, rubicund30, jolly, and Miss Minerva, tall, sallow, angular, solemn, were walking to the station to meet the train that was bringing home the runaways31, the elderly lover knew himself to be at last master of the situation.
“The trouble with Billy—” he began, adjusting his steps to Miss Minerva's mincing32 walk.
“William,” she corrected, faintly.
“The trouble with Billy,” repeated her suitor firmly, “is this: you have tried to make a girl out of a healthy, high-spirited boy; you haven't given him the toys and playthings a boy should have; you have not even given the child common love and affection.” He was letting himself go, for he knew that she needed the lecture, and, wonderful to tell, she was listening meekly33. “You have steeled your heart,” he went on, “against Billy and against me. You have about as much idea how to manage a boy as a—as a—” he hesitated for a suitable comparison: he wanted to say “goat,” but gallantry forbade; “as any other old maid,” he blurted34 out, realizing as he did so that a woman had rather be called a goat than an old maid any time.
The color mounted to Miss Minerva's face.
“I don't have to be an old maid,” she snapped spunkily.
“No; and you are not going to be one any longer,” he answered with decision. “I tell you what, Miss Minerva, we are going to make a fine, manly35 boy out of that nephew of yours.”
“We?” she echoed faintly.
“Yes, we! I said we, didn't I?” replied the Major ostentatiously. “The child shall have a pony36 to ride and every thing else that a boy ought to have. He is full of natural animal spirits and has to find some outlet37 for them; that is the reason he is always in mischief. Now, I think I understand children.” He drew himself up proudly. “We shall be married to-morrow,” he announced, “that I may assume at once my part of the responsibility of Billy's rearing.”
Miss Minerva looked at him in fluttering consternation38.
“Oh, no, not to-morrow,” she protested; “possibly next year some time.”
“To-morrow,” reiterated39 the Major, his white moustache bristling40 with determination. Having at last asserted himself, he was enjoying the situation immensely and was not going to give way one inch.
“We will be married to-morrow and—”
“Next month,” she suggested timidly.
“To-morrow, I tell you!”
“Next week,” she answered.
“To-morrow! To-morrow! To-morrow!” cried the Major, happy as a schoolboy.
“Next Sunday night after church,” pleaded Miss Minerva.
“No, not next Sunday or Monday or Tuesday. We will be married to-morrow,” declared the dictatorial41 Confederate veteran.
Billy's aunt succumbed42.
“Oh, Joseph,” she said with almost a simper, “you are so masterful.”
“How would you like me for an uncle?” Miss Minerva's affianced asked Billy a few minutes later.
“Fine an' dandy,” was the answer, as the child wriggled43 himself out of his aunt's embrace. The enthusiastic reception accorded him, when he got off the train, was almost too much for the little boy. He gazed at the pair in embarrassment44. He was for the moment disconcerted and overcome; in place of the expected scoldings and punishment, he was received with caresses45 and flattering consideration. He could not understand it at all.
The Major put a hand on the little boy's shoulder and smiled a kindly46 smile into his big, grey, astonished eyes as the happy lover delightedly whispered, “Your aunt Minerva is going to marry me to-morrow, Billy.”
“Pants an' all?” asked William Green Hill.
The End
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1
depot
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| n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站 | |
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bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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4
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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7
contraband
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| n.违禁品，走私品 | |
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8
alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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9
perspiring
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| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
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10
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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11
pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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12
giggle
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| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
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13
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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14
plumb
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| adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深 | |
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15
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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16
hustled
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| 催促（hustle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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17
admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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garner
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| v.收藏；取得 | |
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19
eels
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| abbr. 电子发射器定位系统（=electronic emitter location system） | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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21
scoured
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| 走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮 | |
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verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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23
collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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26
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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27
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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28
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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29
joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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30
rubicund
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| adj.(脸色)红润的 | |
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31
runaways
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| （轻而易举的）胜利( runaway的名词复数 ) | |
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32
mincing
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| adj.矫饰的；v.切碎；切碎 | |
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meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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34
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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outlet
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| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
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38
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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39
reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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41
dictatorial
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| adj. 独裁的，专断的 | |
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42
succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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43
wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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44
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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45
caresses
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| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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46
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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