_The Picnic_
Mrs. Morton and Floe spent most of the time during the day in
the homes of Bucktown. They would call the neighbors together
to sew for a certain family. After the sewing a prayer meeting
was held and many women and children were saved in these meetings.
In this way the wives and children were made ready to join with
the heads of the homes in Christian living. The children were
dressed and put into the Mission Sunday school; the family altar
was established and home life took on a new phase in Bucktown.
Many were after the loaves and fishes only; and they got them.
Mrs. Morton knew that they were trying to deceive her but she
never stopped helping them. When real trouble came they would
always send for her and many that started out to "work" the
Mission found Jesus before the "work" ended.
As time drew near for the Mission picnic, the young people and
children talked of nothing else. Six or seven hundred people
attend the annual picnic and the day is one never to be forgotten
by those who go.
Two days before the picnic, Jimmie rushed into Morton's office
and said, "Mr. Morton, I want ter ast you fer somfin'."
"What is it, Jimmie?" asked Morton.
"Well, kin I have it?"
"You can have anything I can give you, my boy; but what is it?"
"I want der gospel wagon and white horses fer picnic day."
"Now, what in the world do you want with a thing like that?"
asked Morton.
"Didn't yer say dat everybody was invited ter der picnic?" asked
Jimmie.
"Yes, that's what I said."
"Well, I want ter take der Bucktown gang what can't go dere
by demselves, and I want der wagon ter haul 'em. Der's more
'an twenty of 'em 'at can't go dere in street cars. Der's
one-winged Bob, Hump Rumpord, Goosefoot Sus, Stumpie-der-shine,
Nigger Mose, Hop Hawkins, Blind Billy, der pianer player at
Dolly's, 'sides those nigger kids of Griffin's 'at's been sick
all winter, and 'sides, Mrs. Rollins says Swipsey can go wid
me if I'll take care of 'im. He near died wid der dipteria and
he's just gittin' over it."
"Well, can you run such an excursion, if I get a good man to
drive the team?" said Morton.
"Kin 'er duck swim? 'Course I kin run her. Kin I have her?"
asked Jimmie.
"Yes, you may have them and we will help you in every way we
can," said Morton. "How's Dave Beach getting on?"
"Gee, he's under construction. He's mad at everybody, drinks
like er fish and swears ter beat der cars," said Jimmie.
"You mean that he is under conviction," said Morton.
"Well, what ever she is, Dave can't swaller 'er an' she's near
choking him."
The day of the picnic was warm and bright, a great crowd was
there with lunch baskets, and every one was in the best of humor.
Thirty minutes after the cars reached the park, Jimmie's excursion
came. The white horses were covered with foam and never did
they seem so proud as they danced and pranced up the steep hill
to the park. Jimmie stood on the back step and was as proud
as the team. Bill Cook lifted Swipsey from the wagon and placed
him in a hammock. Jimmie introduced his load as "der bunch."
"When do we eat, Hump?" asked Bob.
"I dunno. I hope mighty soon. Jimmie says it's goin' to be swell."
"Wonder what dey'll have. Did yer see any of der stuff?" asked
Hop.
"Nope, but I hope they have pie an' soup an' cake wid raisins
in it. Say, Mose, which you'd rather have, sweet potates and
possum or watermelon an' 'lasses?"
"Hush yuh business, man! Hush, yuh business! I'd drop dead suh,
if I'd see a possum. Who said watahmelon? Look yah, man, I ain't
had no pokchop foh moh 'an a week. Hush, man! I can't stan'
no foolin' 'bout such impotent mattahs."
When dinner was announced Morton gave orders to have Jimmie
with "der bunch" sit at the first table. He told the young ladies
who waited upon them to give them everything they wanted. The
first things that were passed to them were several plates of
ham sandwiches.
"Please, how many kin I have of 'em, missus?" asked Hump.
"You can have all you want of them; help yourself," replied
the lady.
He took no less than seven sandwiches the first grab. All that
the rest of "der bunch" needed was some one to start the thing
right, so they all took a like amount.
"Leave der rest of 'em for Blind Billy," said Hump, as one of
the ladies started away with one of the plates.
"What's dat yeller stuff comin', Jim?" whispered Swipsey.
"Gee! don't yer know nothin'?" said Jimmie knowingly. "Dat's
hard eggs wid corn mush over dem."
After Swipsey had tasted of it a few times, he turned to Jimmie
and said, "Them's taters, jus' common taters, wid dat stuff
spilt on 'em and they tastes jus' like green walnuts."
More sandwiches, baked beans, pickles, potato salad, lemonade,
etc., were being stored away so fast that it kept several ladies
busy waiting upon them. When they were well filled Mrs. Morton
sent a plate of fried chicken to their table. Mose stood up
and looked at it.
"Look, yuh woman, where dat chicken come from? I'd give my hat
if I had dat ol' ham an' bread out of me. I'll put my share
of dat chicken away if I bust."
They all grabbed at once. Jimmie got the largest piece and gave
it to Blind Billy. "I don't want no chicken, no how," he said.
Two large watermelons followed. They were cut in fancy scallops
and the waiter put them both down in front of Mose. He took
the largest piece and laid his face upon it and laughed until
he cried. "Mah, watahmelon, what am I eveh 'gwine to do with
you. If I eat dat melon, I'll die suh. But I neveh could die
any happier."
They all ate watermelon till they could hardly straighten up.
Then, when the ice cream and cake was set before them, there
was great sorrow.
With tears in his eyes, Stumpy stood up and said, "We're der
biggest lot of d---- fools what ever lived. Here we'se are
full to der neck wid bread and taters and dem cheap beans dat
we'se kin all git ter home and never left no room for chicken,
watermelon, ice cream and all dis here kinds of cake. Somebody
oughter take us out in der woods and kick us ter death."
"An' yer all doin' der same ting every day," said Jimmie. "Yer
gits so full of cuss words and shootin' craps and boozin' and
stealin' and lyin' dat yer don't have no room fer Jesus. Jesus
is ice cream and cake an' watermelon, an' Morton says He's honey
outen der rock. Yer don't git no feed like dis at Fagin's or
no where else where they ain't got Jesus."
On the way home, Jimmie attempted to get his load of cripples
to accept Christ; and the argument they had about "'ligion,"
as Mose called it, would make splendid reading for preachers;
but we will pass most of it by. Jimmie told them that Jesus
loved them all and was able to help them.
"In der picture I see'd of Him, He's got long hair and wears
long dresses like a woman and looks jus' like he's goin' ter
cry. What's He know erbout guys like us? I can't walk er nothin'
and kin a womany man help me?" asked Hop.
"I don't care erbout no pictures," said Jimmie. "He ain't no
womany man. He built houses and barns and was a carpenter when
He was here. He was born in a barn and slep' in a barn same's
I do an' He didn't have no more home 'an I got. He jus' knows
what I'm doin' an' what I need an' kin take care of me, 'cause
He's been there."
When they were in the midst of their argument the wagon stopped
in front of Dave's barn. Dave's opinion on any subject was final
in Bucktown.
"Say, Dave, come here, will yer?" cried Jimmie. "Dese pikers
are tryin' ter say that Jesus don't love 'em and can't save
'em and sech like and I want yer ter prove that I'm right. Don't
Jesus love everybody?"
"Yes, everybody," said Dave.
"Ain't He got der power der save everybody?"
"Yes, everybody," said Dave.
"Cripples an' all?" asked Jimmie.
"Yes, cripples and all," said Dave.
"Won't He fergive 'em all der mean things dey done?"
"Yes, all of them," said Dave.
"An' won't He take care of 'em all der time?"
"Yes, all the time," said Dave.
"Now, smartie, what did I tell yer?" said Jimmie to Hop.
"Say, Dave," said Hop, "do yer believe all yer sayin'?"
"I certainly do," said Dave.
"Say, Dave, why don't yer git it if yer believe it?"
Dave was dumfounded.
"Oh, it's not for me, boys," he said. "You see, it's----"
"Den it's not fer us neither," Hop ejaculated. "So yer see yer
don't believe a word yer say. We're goin'. So-long, Dave."
Jimmie's eyes filled with tears as he watched Dave stand there
with his head down. Never had he known Dave to get the worst
of an argument before. As the team started, Dave looked up at
Jimmie; their eyes met for an instant. The pain and sorrow on
Jimmie's face pierced Dave to the heart.