by Harry Stillwell Edwards (1855- )

[From Harper's Magazine_, August, 1885; copyright, 1885, by Harper & Bros ; republished volume, Two Runaways, and Other Stories_ (1889), by Harry Stillwell Edwards (The Century Co ) ]

Elder Brown told his wife good-by farmhouse door as mechanically his proposed trip to Macon, ten miles away, was an everyday affair, while, as matter of fact, many years had elapsed since unaccompanied he set foot city kiss her Many men never kiss their wives But small blame attaches elder omission occasion, since his wife had discouraged all amorous demonstrations of her liege lord, and particular moment was filling the parting moments with rattling list of directions concerning thread, buttons, hooks, needles, and all the many etceteras of an industrious housewife's basket The elder was laboriously assorting these postscript commissions memory, well knowing that to return with neglected would cause trouble family circle

Elder Brown mounted his patient steed that stood sleepily motionless warm sunlight, great pointed ears displayed right and left, their owner had grown tired life burden their weight inflicted upon him, and was, old soldier fashion, ready to forego the once rigid alertness of early training pleasures of frequent rest on arms

"And, elder, don't you forgit them caliker scraps, or you'll be wantin' kiver soon an' no kiver a-comin' "

Elder Brown turn his head, but merely let the whip hand, which checked in its backward motion, fall as he answered mechanically The beast he bestrode responded with rapid whisking tail and great show of effort, as it ambled off down the sandy road, the rider's long legs seeming to touch the ground

But zigzag panels rail fence crept behind him, and the freedom morning beginning to act upon his well-trained blood, the mechanical manner old man's mind gave place to mild exuberance weight seemed lifting ounce by ounce fence panels, the weedy corners, the persimmon sprouts and sassafras bushes crept away behind him, mile lay between him life partner joys and sorrows in reasonably contented frame of mind, and still improving

queer figure that crept along the road that cheery May morning tall and gaunt, and for thirty years or more The long head, bald on top, covered behind with iron-gray hair, and in front with short tangled growth that curled and kinked in every direction, was surmounted by an old-fashioned stove-pipe hat, worn and stained, but eminently impressive An old-fashioned Henry Clay cloth coat, stained and threadbare, divided itself impartially over the donkey's back and dangled sides all that remained elder's wedding suit of forty Only constant care, and use of late years limited to extra occasions, had preserved it The trousers had soon parted company with their friends The substitutes were red jeans, which, while well match his court costume, were better able to withstand the old man's abuse, for if, frequent religious excursions astride his beast, there ever was man who was fond of sitting down feet higher than his head, it selfsame Elder Brown

The morning expanded, old man expanded with it; for while vigorous leader church, the elder at home was, it admitted, an uncomplaining slave intense astonishment beast he rode, there came new vigor whacks which fell upon his flanks; beast allowed astonishment him into real life and decided motion Somewhere elder's expanding soul tune had begun to ring Possibly up the far, faint tune that came straggling gang of negroes away off field, slowly chopped amid the threadlike rows of cotton plants which lined the level ground, melody he hummed softly and then sang strongly, quavering, catchy tones of good old country churchman, was "I'm glad salvation's free "

during the singing hymn that Elder Brown's regular motion-inspiring strokes were first time varied He began to hold his hickory up at certain pauses melody, and beat the changes sides astonished steed The chorus under this arrangement was:

I'm glad salvation's free_, I'm glad salvation's free_, I'm glad salvation's free for all_, I'm glad salvation's free

Wherever an italic, the hickory descended It fell about as regularly and fashion stick beating bass drum during funeral march But the beast, although convinced that something serious was impending, consider funeral march appropriate occasion He protested, at first, with vigorous whiskings tail and rapid shifting ears Finding these demonstrations unavailing, and convinced that some urgent cause for hurry had suddenly invaded the elder's serenity, as it had his own, he began the ground with frantic leaps surprised his owner could he have realized going on But Elder Brown's eyes were half closed, and singing top voice Lost in trance of divine exaltation, for the effects invigorating motion, bent only on making the air ring lines which he dimly imagined were drawing upon him the eyes whole female congregation, supremely unconscious that his beast was hurrying

And thus the excursion proceeded, until suddenly shote, surprised calm search for roots in fence corner, darted road, and stood for an instant gazing newcomers idiotic stare which only pig can imitate The sudden appearance unlooked-for apparition acted strongly donkey With one supreme effort he collected himself into motionless mass of matter, bracing his front legs wide apart; , he stopped short There he stood, returning the pig's idiotic stare with an interest have led presumption that never before in all his varied life had he seen such singular little creature End over end went the man of prayer, finally bringing up full length sand, striking just as shouted "free" fourth time glorious chorus

Fully convinced that his alarm well founded, the shote sped out from under the gigantic missile hurled at him donkey, and scampered down the road, turning first one ear and then the other to detect any sounds of pursuit The donkey, also convinced object before which he had halted was supernatural, started back violently upon seeing it apparently turn to man But seeing had turned to nothing but man, he wandered up deserted fence corner, and began to nibble refreshment from scrub oak

For moment the elder gazed up sky, half impressed idea camp-meeting platform had given way But the truth forced its way front disordered understanding at last, and with painful dignity he staggered into an upright position, and regained his beaver shocked again Never before in all the long years it had served him had he seen it shape The truth is, Elder Brown had never before tried to stand head As calmly as possible he began to straighten it out, caring but little dust upon his garments The beaver was his special crown of dignity To lose reduced to level common woolhat herd his best, pulling, pressing, and pushing, but the hat look natural when he had finished It seemed laid off into counties, sections, and town lots Like well-cut jewel, it had face for him, view it from whatever point he chose, quality which so impressed him that lump gathered throat, eyes winked vigorously

Elder Brown was not, however, man for tears man of action The sudden vision which met his wandering gaze, the donkey calmly chewing scrub buds, green juice already oozing corners frothy mouth, acted upon him like magic , after all, only human, and when he got hands upon piece of brush he thrashed the poor beast until it seemed even its already half-tanned hide eternally ruined Thoroughly exhausted at last, he wearily straddled his saddle, and chin upon his breast resumed the early morning tenor way

II

"Good-mornin', sir "

Elder Brown leaned over the little pine picket which divided the bookkeepers' department of Macon warehouse room in general, and surveyed the well-dressed back of gentleman who was busily figuring at desk within The apartment was carpetless, dust of decade lay deep old books, shelves, familiar advertisements of guano and fertilizers which decorated the room An old stove, rusty nicotine contributed by farmers during the previous season while waiting by its glowing sides for their cotton sold, stood straight up in bed of sand, and festoons of cobwebs clung upper sashes murky windows The lower sash of one window raised, and yard without, nearly an acre in extent, lay few bales of cotton, with jagged holes in their ends, just sampler had left them Elder Brown had time to notice all these familiar points, figure desk kept serenely at its task, and deigned no reply

"Good-mornin', sir," said Elder Brown again, most dignified tones "Is Mr Thomas in ? "

"Good-morning, sir," said the figure "I'll wait on you in minute " The minute passed, and four more joined it Then the desk man turned

"Well, sir, what can ? "

The elder was not best of humor when he arrived, state of mind improved He waited full minute as he surveyed the man of business

" I mout some arrangements to git some money, but I reckon mistaken " The warehouse man came nearer

" Mr Brown, I believe recognize you at once in often us "

"No; my wife usually 'tends town bizness, while I run the church and farm Got fall from my donkey ," , noticing quizzical, interrogating look face before him, "and fell squar' hat " pretense of smoothing it The man of business had already lost interest

" money will , Mr Brown ? "

"Well, about seven hundred dollars," said the elder, replacing his hat, and turning furtive look warehouse man The other was tapping pencil little shelf lying across the rail

" get you five hundred "

"But I oughter have seven "

"Can't arrange amount Wait till later season, and come again Money is very tight now cotton raise ? "

"Well, I count on hundr'd bales An' 't git the sev'n hundr'd dollars ? "

"Like to oblige you, but can't right now; will fix it later on "

"Well," said the elder, slowly, "fix up the papers for five, an' I'll make it go as far as possible "

The papers were drawn note out for $552 50, interest was at one and half per cent for seven months, and mortgage on ten mules belonging elder was drawn and signed The elder then promised to send his cotton warehouse sold fall, and with curt "Anything else ? " and "Thankee, that's all," the two parted

Elder Brown now made an effort to recall the supplemental commissions shouted to him upon his departure, intending to execute them first, and then take his written list item by item His mental resolves had just reached this point when new thought made itself known Passersby were puzzled the old man suddenly snatch his headpiece off and peer with an intent and awestruck air into its irregular caverns were shocked when he suddenly and vigorously ejaculated:

"Hannah-Maria-Jemimy ! goldarn an' blue blazes ! "

He had suddenly remembered having placed his memoranda hat, and as he studied its empty depths his mind pictured the important scrap fluttering along the sandy scene early-morning tumble It that caused him to graze an oath with less margin that he had allowed himself in twenty years What would the old lady say ?