Joel Chandler Harris

“ It was soon known, from the negroes themselves, that the chief object of their organization was to array the blacks against the whites, and this discovery aroused the deepest resentment, giving rise to many acts of unreasoning violence.
Just when this feeling was at its height, Mr. Orestes Richardson, the uplifter, as innocent of practical politics and as free from a desire to stir up strife as the bird that flies, appeared on the scene. Rumor, whetted by suspicion, made him out a very dangerous character. ”

“ Since people must buy, there must be men to sell to them, and these last must have fairly comfortable quarters whereat to display their wares. Thus it was that Aaron Chippendale's foresight made itself felt, not only on his beloved children, but on the community itself, for Irene and Tom, out of their income, large for that time and place, were able to give succor to many unfortunates among their friends and acquaintances. ”

“ Tom made a faithful report of this speech to Irene, closing abruptly with, "Now, what do you think of that?"
"Why, I think what I've always thought," she promptly replied; "the man is daft."
But of course this was not what she thought at all. It made her pulse beat high to know there was a young man in the world capable of entertaining such notions, and strong enough to stand by them. Women, as we know, are terribly unpractical at times, and especially in matters of this kind. ”

“ He had grown taller and stouter, and as he went down the steps holding himself proudly erect, Mammy Minty exclaimed to herself: "De Lord knows he's a man!"
Meanwhile Tom Chippendale took charge of affairs inside the house. Would Miss Richardson oblige him by sitting at the table where the light fell on her face? And would Mr. Richardson go into the next room out of range of the front door? ”

“ Tom came home, not much the worse for wear, bringing word that Haskell had fallen in with some kinsmen in Virginia with whom he would spend a long-needed vacation. The Chippendales were not wholly given over to poverty by the war, for Aaron Chippendale, with a shrewdness that was an offset to his simplicity, had invested in the commercial future of the village. He had built and owned more than half the stores on the only business street in Halcyondale, and these made a very handsome return on the investment; for whatever else happens, business and trade must go on. ”

“ Then they went to bed, and by that time there was not a light to be seen in Halcyondale except the one that shone from the windows at Chippendale's where Harvey Haskell, speaking in no loud voice, was telling all the troubles he had had on account of the wrinkled and crooked course of true love. ”

“ To uplift the black people—that was the scheme to which he gave his waking thoughts and fondly carried out in his dreams. The negro he yearned over was the negro of politics and literature. The real negro, Mr. Orestes Richardson had no conception of whatever. Living in Maine, he could not know that the genuine negro is as superior to the negro of politics and literature as man is superior to a myth.
So he came South and his daughter came with him; and, after looking over the ground, as he termed it, he determined to make Halcyondale his head-quarters. ”

“ Orestes Richardson, sorting his letters carefully. "I have no time but for my duties. These are pressing enough, heaven knows."
"In regards to which, for instance?" suggested Colonel Blasengame with a dryness that made no impression whatever on the Uplifter.
"Well, sir," responded Mr. Richardson, "with respect to elevating and uplifting the unfortunate people who have so suddenly been cast on their own resources."
"I reckon you think a white man is most as good as a nigger, don't you?" inquired Colonel Blasengame. ”

“ Flewellen leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and inwardly contemplated the vision which his words had conjured up.
"That's a fact!" exclaimed Colonel Blasengame, after a pause. "A mighty likely gal. That's why I hope you boys won't do anything that you'd maybe regret. I'm heartily sorry I brought the matter up," he went on. "I don't care what the man's up to: in town here we can take care of ourselves. ”

“ She had travelled a good deal, and her very liberal education was supplemented by a course of miscellaneous reading. Simple and democratic as she was, her ideals were too high to suit the views of the marriageable young men of Halcyondale. Nevertheless, they continued to hover around her, though in an aimless and a hesitating sort of way; for she was not only very attractive to the masculine eye, but had a comfortable fortune at her command.
She was a trifle taller than the average of her sex, and, therefore, according to all the theories, she should have had a great deal of dignity ”

“ This was Mammy Minty's report, more accurate than satisfactory. Meanwhile rumor was busy, being spurred on by the thousand and one prejudices growing out of Southern defeat, and by the irritation resulting from the obnoxious Reconstruction Laws. Fresh as that period is in the memory, it is difficult to reproduce, on paper, even a hint of the bubbling, boiling, hissing cauldron in which one party heated water to pour on the other party's back. ”

“ The noble columns of the piazza rose to the roof, where they blossomed into carved capitals, while behind them, apparently suspended in the air, hung a balcony beautiful enough to serve as a stage for Juliet's amorous discourse. ”

“ Whatever the man maybe a doin', there's the gal, and no Southern gentleman (I don't care who he is) can afford to do anything calculated to worry a young woman. By letting the man alone you let the gal alone."
Mr. Bill-Tom Birch's under-jaw was prominent enough at best, but it protruded a trifle farther, as he allowed his cold gray eyes to rest on the Colonel's pinkish face. ”

“ It's the talk of the county that you are goin' around amongst the niggers organizin' these here danged Union leagues, and tellin' 'em that the white folks are makin' all arrangements to put 'em in slavery ag'in."
"That is a mistake," replied Mr. Orestes Richardson, with a smile. "I know nothing of the leagues, except through report. I am no politician."
"That's what I told the boys," remarked Colonel Blasengame, reassuringly; "almost them very words. Now, if it was the town boys, everything would be all right; we'd have the smoothest kind of sailin'. But it's them pleggon'd country chaps. ”

“ Bill-Tom Birch, with a sinister grin. "It's all greased and fixed. Everything's on skids—in town; but what about we-all in the settlements. We ain't got no calaboose bell; we ain't got no great big crowd ready to muster every time a dog barks. You-all have got everything fixed but what are we all goin' to do when the worst comes to the worst and keeps on gittin' worser? I wish you'd tell me that."
If there was any answer to this, Colonel Blasengame didn't have it at his tongue's end, and, as for the others, it seemed to settle the matter. ”

“ When Colonel Blasengame left his front gate, he turned sharply to the left, thus avoiding the main thoroughfare that led through Halcyondale. He went two blocks and turned sharply to the right, still traversing what might be called a back street. He carried his gun at "trail arms," and moved rapidly. Presently he paused at the little red house where Mr. Orestes Richardson made his home. Without hesitation, he went along the gravelled walk, mounted the low steps and knocked at the door. ”

“ She say I oughter be mighty, mighty glad; an' den I ax her what de diffunce in hard work one year an' harder work de nex'; but 'bout dat time Marse Tom come sa'nt'in' roun' de cornder er de house, an' she wuz de wuss flurried white gal you ever laid eyes on. She snatched up her pitcher an' Marse Tom snatched off his hat. He ax her ef he can't tote de milk fer her, but she got red in de face an' 'low dat 'tain't no trouble ter tote it. But you know how Marse Tom is. Ef dat white gal hadn't broke an' run, he'd er tuck de pitcher 'way fum her anyhow. ”

“ These danged country chaps have got old Nick in 'em since the surrender. They think you're stirrin' up the niggers ag'in the whites, and preachin' social equality and the like of that, an' you couldn't git the idee out of their heads to save your life. Some time or other they'll git a dram or two ahead, an' they'll ride into town after you, and when they do it'll be all-night-Isom, as sure as you're born. ”

“ I up an' 'low, I did, dat she mus' be mo' richer dan what she look, but she say dat ain't got nothin' 'tall ter do wid it, kaze folks don't hatter be too rich fer ter pay fer dat what dey git. So I say, here's what don't keer ef Miss Irene don't, an' den she planked down er shinplaster an' I po'd out de milk, an' I gin her good medjer, too, ef I does say it myse'f. Nex' day she up an' ax me what my name, an' I 'low hit's Minty. Den she say de full name mus' be Arryminty, an' I 'low ef dat's de case, I shedded de Arry whence I wuz too little fer ter cry 'bout it. She's a mighty talker. ”

“ They live out there in the woods and swamps, an' when they git an idee in their heads it's danged hard to git it out ag'in—next to impossible, as you may say. From all that I can hear, an' I hear a great deal more than I want to, some of these country chaps are fixin' up to invite you to a little frolic. ”

“ She ran to the big house, toiled up the flight of back steps, and went into the wide hall only to find the house apparently deserted. Irene and Tom were sitting on the veranda. Mammy Minty lifted up her voice——
"Miss Irene! 's Irene! Oh, Miss Irene!"
"What is it, Mammy?" came the reply.
"I wish you'd please, ma'm, step here quick ez you kin."
Irene went tripping from the porch into the hall, where Mammy Minty was standing panting.
"Miss Irene! " she exclaimed, "you better run over yon' ter the yuther house. De white men is ku-kluckin' dat ar young 'oman." ”