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About Intermountain tribune and Linn County agriculturalist. (Sweet Home, Linn County, Or.) 1913-1914 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 1913)
St. Clair, with lowering brow, went efty nad been mortgaged already. Be I out on the guard, as the deck outside sides. there was no time to negotiate. * the cabin was called, and. sitting him New Orleans was the nearest place self down in one of the wooden arm- where such a matter could be attended ; chairs he found there, gavé himself up to,, and to go there, make a loan and * to remorse at having yielded to temp- return would require several days. ' tation. He was not troubled »at the Sam came in just as they had agreed * money he had lost, for money in itself that nothing could be done to save was of little value in. his eyes. But he his boy to him. He looked anxiously had used his credit to the uttermost from one to the other to see if there farthing, and he saw no way to pre was any hope. St. Clair nodded to his vent the boy he had lost: Billy, from wife to speak for both. Before the Emancipation being torn from his parénte. In ten “There is no time in which to pre Proclamation x days a scene would be enacted that he vent the separation.” she said. “Your dreaded. Ten days! Why. in ten days master has received a message that It would be Christmas. Billy will be called for tomorrow. We By ELLA RAY WELCH St. Clair arose from his chair and can only promise that If we can keep paced the guard feverishly. Of all the a knowledge of Billy’s future where days tn the year to take a boy from abouts we will buy him back If ft It was Dec. 15. That was before rail his parents and turn him over to should be possible.” roads had taken from the Mississippi strangers! Why had he not made the There was no comfort In this for river the great carrying trade of time twenty days—any other than on Sam. He knew: his master’s goneness freight and passengers, and the steam Christmas day? It had not occurred to drift financially and believed that ers plying back and forth between to him that the tenth day from the he would get deeper and deeper In St. Louis or Cincinnati and New Or present would be the day on which all debt. With a moan he turned away to Christians tried to make all other leans were the main means of convey Christians happy. How could he tell impart the sad tidings to his wife. The news that little Billy had been ance in the southwest One might his man. Sam. that on Christmas day start from either of these cities early instead of being made happy by gifts sold and was to be taken aw^y on in December, when the ground was his family was to be made miserable Christmas morning cast a gloom over all, white and black, on the plantation. covered with snow, and reach New" by the loss of one of its number? “Dis won’t be no Chrls’mas at all, Orleans for Christmas to find summer St Clair carried his trouble home said one. still lingering. with him. but kept it to himself till the “Wha’ mars go sell Billy fo* to go On this day of Dec. 15. when the day before Christmas He tried to steamer Tecumseh was passing Baton nerve himself to tell his wife, that she way on Chrls’mas? He ought to had Rouge, in the cabin sat two men play might relieve him of the task of telling mo’ sense than dat.” said another. “Yo* shet up. nigga.” said a third. ing cards. In those days on the Mis Sam and Susan, the parents of little sissippi gambling went on openly, Billy, that on Christmas day they must “Mars wouldn’t ’a’ done dat if he hadn’t either chips or money on the table part with their best beloved. But his had to done it.” These criticisms, though plentiful .. without any pretense of concealment, effort was a failure. A del fa St. Clair and these two.,men were playing with took as much interest in the welfare of among the negroes, were not mingled the principal currency of the period—: her negroes as if they were a part of with much blame. They all knew the state bank bills. One of them her own family. Her husband could their master and had perfect confi was a professional gambler, the other not nerve himself to confess how weak, dence in his Intentions. As soon as St. Clair had finished his a young sugar planter, whose home he had been. breakfast—a cup of coffee—he left the was in Louisiana, hot far from New He knew that Sam was very fond of Orleans. The gambler was quietly him. though he was Sam’s master. He plantation in order to avoid being pres- taking away from the planter what had often stood between Sam and. I ent at Billy’s departure. About 10 money he had with him: now permit harm and had given him everything he o’clock a house servant announced to ting him to win a few dollars, and wanted. He felt that he could impart Mrs. St. Clair 'that a man had come now forcing him to lose a great many. the news to Sam with less pain to for Billy. Mrs. St. Clair went to a Presently he took the last of his op- himself than to any one else and knew jewel box. where she found the re mains of her jewels that had not been pdnent’s funds. that by confessing the whole story Arthur St. Clair could not afford to Sam would blame him less than any pledged. Taking a mental inventory lose this money, He owned a good one else. So the day before Christmas, of them, she could not possibly make plantation and the negroes to work It.; calling the slave aside where he would out their total worth at over $300. but had no capital. Indeed, many of I not be overheard by others, he made She sighed at not being able to find anything more. the planters of that day were In a con-, his confession. Taking the remnant of a property timral state of debt, usually borrowing “Sam,” be added, when he had told on a new crop before having liquidat that on Christmas the new owner of that had been in her family for many ed their indebtedness for the old one.. Billy would arrive to take the boy generations, she. went downstairs. She was surprised to find a well dressed St. Clair was one of these. Besides away, “this breaks my heart.” man. not at all like one who might working on the credit system tn vogue- “Mars Arthur/’ gasped Sam. “I for at the time, he was a very kind mas give you. but I wouldn’t forgive no have been sent for a negro boy. He rose deferentially as she entered. ter to his slaves and never denied them udder marster in de worl*.” “I am surprised.” she said, “at see- . anything they wanted, no matter what Adelia St. Clair learned the secret the cost Nevertheless, having lost that her husband could not force him J ng a gentleman. Are you the owner | some $800 to the gambler, he yielded self to tell her from the boy’s mother, of the boy you have come for?*’ “Yes. madam.” to a temptation to risk separating one who. frantic with grief, went to her to of the families he owned, for the pur entreat her to do something to save her I “May I ask who you are?* she added curiously. pose of making an attempt to recoup. from being separated from her boy. “A gambler, madam.” / i “T have a negro boy. ten years old.” The blow was almost as severe, upon “A gambler?* he said, “whom I consider worth at the mistress as upon the slave. But “Yes. madam. I am the gentleman least $400. Will you lend me $200 on she kept her head and sent Susaii .away who won the boy from your husband.” him?” assuring her that if there was anything This looked hopeful. Mrs. St Clair “Certainly, suh; with pleasure, suh.” she could do to prevent the calamity produced her jewels and was begin “i’ll draw up a note containing a she would do it. but. knowing her hus ning a speech as to their value when I lien on the boy.” band’s financial straits, she could give the man interrupted her. “Tt’s not necessary, 1 assure you, suh.. no hope. “Is your husband at home, madam?’ Your word is quite enough, suh.” As soon as Sue had departed Mrs. St. “No. I expect he went away to get So they played on till the amount loaned was lost: then $200 more was Clair sent for her husband. The eus-, rid of seeing this poor family lose borrowed. This also being lost, a bill tom of gambling wag so prevalent their treasure.” “I did not notice, madam, when I I of sale for the boy was made out for among the planters of that day that the property to be delivered ten days she did not reproach him. She could took a bill of sale from your husband from the date, signed by St Clair and not but recognize that he had been that the property was to be delivered I weak to risk the happiness of a fam on Christmas day. I have come my- I handed to the gambler. “I would be happy to loan you more ily whom both he and she considered self to see Mr. St. Clair to impress on other of your servants, suh.” said committed to their charge by Provi upon him the folly of playing cards I dence, but she knew nothing was to be for money with a professional gambler. the gambler. “No.” said the other ruefully. “By gained by holding up to him his sin. I found him an easy prey.” Taking I what I have done I have separated a and she knew he suffered keenly for out a wallet, he,handed the lady a roll family, The boy I have lost at cards wljat he had done. She began at once of bills and paper, then added. is the only child of the best man and to confer with him upon some plan by “There is the amount, madam. I won the best woman I have on my planta which a sum might be raised to buy from, your husband, and there is the tion. It will break both the father’s back the boy. In vain they went over bill of sale for the boy.” The latter he and the mother’s hearts to part with everything they possessed that could tore into bits and threw them Into a him. I have done very wrong and will possibly be mortgaged. All such prop- fite burning on the hearth. “I thought Christmas would be a proper day. dq^jio.jnpre.” madam, to give this advice to your husband. I found him a very attrac tive gentleman and am glad to have had an opportunity to show my appre ciation of him. I bid you good morn ing, madam.” But Mrs. St Clair would not let him I go. • She sent negroes to scour the country for her husband, and when he | •V was’ found and brought .in Sam and Sue and Billy were also sent for. The latter were not told of what had hap- pened and came, s ipposing that they had been called for the parting. We furnish the be^t dinner in the valley for 25 cents That Christmas which opened so gloomily turned out to be the merriest BRUER BROS. Props. LEBANON, ORE. that had ever been known on the St Clair plantation. A Southern Christmas A man may be rough looking and yet have a touch of sentiment about him. A ragged, ill kept looking man ap peared at the door of a woman’s home and In a pleading tone asked: “Have you a piece of cake, lady, to give to a poor man who hasn’t had a bite for two days?* “Cake?* echoed the woman In sur prise. “Isn’t bread good enough for you?” “Ordinarily, yee. ma’am. But this ts my birthday.” explained the tramp.— New York Journal. (Sometimes Pays. Sanitary Barber Shop J. F. MALONE, P rop . Clean Towels and Prompt Service BATHS IN CONNECTION Sweet Home Oregon Mortgage Loan« Negotiated Notary Public B. H. CHESS A New York contractor said, apropos of a poor man who. after taking tre mendous risks, had improved his posi ATTORNEY AT LAW tion a little: “This fellow’s case proves to us that ft is sometimes better to try the tire than to stay always in the frying pan.” Office en Main St. Lebanon, Ore. -Exchange. BUT YOU WILL NOT GET WORK THAT IS SO GOOD AS WE DO. i You May Pay More I BUT YOU WILL NOT GET WORK THAT’S ANY BETTER, IF AS GOOD These statements refer to Photograph work. Our facilities are complete. We use only the best material, and our • prices are reasonable for first class work. Wei do no other kind, We always satisfy our customers. A. E. EDWARDS, SWEET HOME, OREGON Absolutely Free One Years Subscription TOTHE Intermountain Tribune The Tribune has secured a number of. Excelsior Combination Kitchen Sets, consisting of eight useful articles for use in the kitchen, viz When in Lebanon go to the Home Restaurant For Your Dinner One large Butcher knife, worth..... One Bread knife, worth.... ............... One kitchen Cleaver, worth...... ... One Paring knife, worth.................. One large fork, worth... One Meat Saw, worth...... ........ One can opener, worth... .........—. One emery knife sharpener, worth .- Total -..2..................^.—...... 50 dts 30 ¿ts 75 éts 10 dis 20 dis 50 dts 10 dts 5 cts $2.50 All of these handy and useful articles have ebony handles, are made of highly tempered steel, are guaranteed and well worth the price Trojan Stumping Powder MAGAZINES AT ALBANY AND SALEM ORE. ------ ;------- —Prices on Application----------------- One Kitchen Set and one year s subscription to the Intermountain Tribune for the price of the set Harley Davidson Motorcycles THÈ 1914 MODELS ARE NOW ON DISPLAY Guns, Bicycles, Sporting Goods MAIL ORDERS ARE GIVEN PROMPR ATTENTION ALBANY GUN STORE HAUSER BROS., Props. Albany, Ore. ■■■■■■■■■■I Salem, Ore. WH Subscribers by paying up arrears, if any, and one year, in advance can avail themselves of this offer. We have only a few sets which will last but a short time. If you want a set, call at once at First Historian—You can’t deny that Diogenes was an honest man. Second Historian—What? I’m dig ging up facts now to prove that he didn’t pay for the oil in his lantern.— Chicago Dally News. THE INTERMOUNTAIN TBIRUNE