OCR Text |
Show .IJU J.hli'ISIJWtrait- HOW DELIVERANCE CAaClE. Ttaeo Furebntoil at tho ISipaista of n llrlgbt Jte.t Jortty. I waa sltllnR nt my desk writing ono day, saya a wrtlor In tho 1'hllmtelphU Times, whon I was startled by n volco close besldo mo. Ix)Uiiik tip I saw n tall, slim negro Kir), wearing a most dilapidated onstuma of many colors nnd pieces. Her faco was pinched and ashy, her oyes a kind of muddy lioiol, tho peculiar combination giving her an unusual appearance "dot any olo do's ) or wnntcr tradol" aho Inquired, abruptly. "No, I think rot," I answered, glancing nt tho baakots ot borrlca which hung on her arms "Hotter git somordesotioro berries; doy's mighty nlco. I'll tako moa' any thlun; for 'om. Olmmo somoolamod'ctnsef you got any. Homo uv na Is purty nigh always lck. I shuddered to think of tho consoquencea tjiat might result from my ventura In a aeoond-hand drug establishment, but began to ooutemplata my stock of old clothes, as aho seemed so dotermlnnil to "trade." It was an evlt hour, Indoed, that led mo to be-Eln be-Eln a series of "trodinir," that grew with tho weoks and strengthened with the months Until years oinn Imd passed over my benighted bond. Hcnrocly a fortnight pasted after I first made, her acquaintance that I did not have a visit front my ubiquitous berry woman, Alio brought bar rirs and fruit In their season, and nuts and chickens In Uioir sonaon; In fact, aho claimed all soatons for her own. Whon 1 ha.1 begun to despair of eyor ridding rid-ding myself of my "old man of tho sea," when I saw a long vista of years stretch, logout boforo me in which I mutt bo trad Ing and giving la trado, happily wo moved to a distant atreet. I enloyod a reipllo of two months In my new homo unmolested by tho tnuliug Josephine. At last, ona day In early fall, sbo roap-1 noarcd upon the acono with renowod vigor, bringing a basket of nuts and ono chicken. I waa compelled to sacrifice a plate of "vlct uala"andan old bat on tho altar ot hospitality hospi-tality and tho abovo-montloncd articles. During my search for tho hat Josephine spied, hanging In my closet, a very protty rod Jersey, which a few stitches might render very useful, and Immediately began to dovlao ways aud moans to possets her self of It. I at first told her I didn't want to dispose of It, but, suddenly, with tho Inspiration of a providential Interference, I conceived a plan of deliverance. With a alghformy dear deparUng jersey, but a bright hopo for-tho for-tho future, I took tho jackot down and gavo It to her, saying: "Hero, Josephine, you may tako It, and next wook bring mo two chlckons for IU" "Ycssum," sho rospondod, eagerly, "I'll fetch you dom chlckons or Chutoday, aho. You kin 'pen upon glttln' 'em. I aln' tolo yor no Uo jit, an' I uln' gout to toll yer none now." aho departed, to Iravo mo In peace), for flvo yeara havo pasted alnco, and to thla day I have not scon her or "dom chickens" either. |