A Little Florida Lady | Page 3

she was a little doubtful about making up with the porter.
But he proved so very genial that before night arrived, he and "little
missy," as he called Beth, were so very friendly that he considered her
his special charge.

That night both children slept as peacefully as if they had been in their
own home.
In the morning, Beth was wakened by Marian pulling up the shade. A
stream of sunshine flooded their berth, blinding Beth for a second or
two. Snow and clouds had been left far behind.
"It's almost like summer," cried Beth, hastening to dress.
After breakfast, the porter, whose name Beth learned was "Bob," took
her out on the back platform while the engine was taking on water. To
the left of the train were five colored children clustered around a stump.
"Bob, how many children have you?" asked Beth, and her eyes opened
wide in astonishment.
"Law, honey," and Bob's grin widened, "I ain't got any chillun. I'se a
bachelor."
Beth stamped her foot. She could not bear deceit. "Bob, it's very wrong
to tell stories. These children must be yours; they're just like you."
He laughed so heartily at the idea, that Beth feared his mouth never
would get into shape again. "Ha, ha, ha. Dem my chillun! Ha, ha, ha.
Law, honey, dem ain't mine. Thank de Lord, I don't have to feed all
dem hungry, sassy, little niggahs."
"Well, Bob, if they're not yours, whose are they?"
"Dem's jes' culled chillun."
A whistle sounded, and the train was soon under way again. Beth ran to
her mother.
"Mamma, there were a lot of little Bobs outside, but he says they are
not his children--that they're just colored children."
Mrs. Davenport had a hard time making her understand that Bob had
told the truth. Beth sat very still for a while by a window. Suddenly,

she cried out:
"What are those little specks of white? They look like little balls of
snow, only they can't be. It's too warm, and then I never saw snow
grow on bushes."
"That is cotton."
Although the bushes were not in their full glory--only having on them a
little of last year's fruitage that was not picked--Beth thought a cotton
field a very pretty sight.
[Illustration: Beth thought a cotton field a very pretty sight. (Illustration
missing from book)]
The pine trees of Georgia prove monotonous to most people, except
that their perpetual green is restful to the eye in the midst of white sand
and dazzling sunshine. Beth, however, liked even the pines, being a
lover of all trees. They seemed almost human to her. She believed that
trees could speak if they would. She often talked to them, and fondled
their rough old bark. Children can have worse companions than trees.
They were a great comfort to Beth all through life.
On the way through Georgia, the train was delayed by a hot box. While
it was being fixed, Bob took Beth for a walk, and she saw a moss-laden
oak for the first time.
"Oh, Bob," she cried, "I never before saw a tree with hair."
His hearty laugh broke out anew. "Ha, ha, ha. I'll jes' pull some of dat
hair for you, missy," and he raised his great, black hand to grab the
curling, greenish, gray moss.
"Don't, Bob," and when he gave her no heed, she added, "I'm afraid it'll
hurt the tree. I know it hurts me greatly when any one pulls my hair."
He laughed more than ever at her, until Beth grew ashamed, and
meekly accepted the moss that he piled up in her little arms.

The hot box so delayed the train that Jacksonville was not reached until
the middle of the night.
Bob took a sleeping child in his arms, and carried her out to the bus.
"Good-bye, little missy," he murmured, before handing her to her
father.
Her arms tightened around his neck while her eyes opened for a second.
"Don't leave me, Bob. I love you."
Then she did not remember anything more until she wakened in a
strange room the next morning.
At first, she could not think where she was. Then it came to her that she
was in a hotel in Jacksonville. She sprang out of bed, and ran to a
window. The room faced a park, and afforded Beth her first glimpse of
tropical beauty. Strange trees glistened in the glorious sunshine. From
pictures she had seen, Beth recognized the palms, and the orange trees.
Below, on the piazza, the band was playing "Dixie." Delighted as Beth
was, she did not linger long by the window, but dressed as fast as she
could.
Mr. Davenport entered the room.
"Do you know what time it is? It's fully eleven, and I was up