Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 89: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE GIFT HOUSE. house to that noble imstitution. Vinegar Atts was the preacher in charge of the Shoofly Church, and felt that if Ginny had been properly enlightened she would have willed the house to his religious congre- Pap Carfain called upon Bion Hanly and - secured a little legal advice. After that he hurried to the home of Ginny Babe Chew. ‘“‘T hears dat you is giv’ away yo’ home, Ginny Babe,” he began. “I’s come to ax you to leave it to de Nights of Darkness | “Te cain’t be did dis late,” Ginny Babe told him. “I done willed it to Skeeter Butts an’ de Nigger Uplift.” “Dat km be fixed easy,” Pap replied. “Lawyer Hanly tole me dat you could make anodder will at any time.” _“Dat’s news to me,” Ginny. Babe said with surprise. “1 figgered dat I couldn’t gib my house away bat only one time.” “You kin gib it to as many as you wants to,” Pap assured her. “It’s de las’ one - you gib it to dat gits it.” Ginny Babe meditated for a long time. She had always been just about as popular as a sick dog. She had a desire to be respected and loved. Here was the chance of her lifetime -to befriend another noble institution, and be looked upon with favor by afi its adherents. While she thought about this, Pap was talking about some- thmg else. “ Dis ole house has been sed és. ripper boardin’-house fer years. At some time or yuther, eve’y nigger man has lived in dis house kept by you. “You oughter die an’ leave it to de lodge of men whut has boarded Rere wid you an’ he'ped you keep dis house gwine on en- durin’ all dese years. Us kin turn it into a home fer our ole an’ sick todg@® members.” -‘‘ Dat's pretty sal talk, ” Ginny encour- aged him. “ Bestdes -dem argymints,” Pap con- tmued, “five of yo’ husbunts is been mem- bers of dat lodge, an’ all of ’em up an’ died on: us an’ had to be buried at de lodge expense. We gib ’em a pretty nice fun’ral, too. You oughter ’preciate dat fack.”’. _ After a little more persuasion Ginny Babe consented to go to the lawyer’s office. » Google - “and contentment. 71 The poor drmk- -sodden Blon Hanly was not above using quéstionable methods of mak- ing money when his finances were low. Pap would have to pay ten dollars for writing another will, and Pap’s money was good. So he asked a few questions, drew up the ‘document and collected his fee. After Pap had pocketed the will and escorted Ginny Babe back to her home, he sat upon the porch for a while trying to imagine himself the manager of the home for aged and infirm lodge members, and then he feft her with his thanks and good wishes for a long life, but with the hope in his heart that the old thing would die before the next day. “{’s gittin’ ofe an’ feeble,” he solito- quized, as he walked away. “I think we oughter start dat home fer ole an’ broke- down lodge membcrs, and put me in as keertaker. I would enjoy settin’ on dat porch an’ smokin’ my pipe while de yuther lodge members fotch me my vittles an’ my clothes.” Pap had not been gone long when the Rev. Vinegar Atts appeared at Ginny’s home. He found her sitting on the porch smoking a ciay pipe. She was enjoying her popularity, and she carried an air of peace {t was quite pleasant to her to give her house away when she did not have to surrender possession until she had no further use for it. Having made two wills, she had acquired the habit. When Vinegar suggested that she will it to another worthy cause, she listened with eagerness. “T think yeu made a great mistake in not willin’ yo’ house to de Sheofly Chu’ch, Sister Chew. Now dis house kin be used aS a orphanage fer little nigger chill. Dar is plenty pickaninnies in dis parish whut ain’t got nobody to take keer of ’em an’ nowhar te~Stay at.” “My mind ouwghter kotch on to dat fack at fust,” Ginny Babe-said. “ Dat’s de very best use f could make of my house.” ‘ Suttmiy,”’ Vinegar agreed. “Ef you leaves dis house to de Uplifters, dey won't hab nothin’ here but dances an’ cyard par- ties—it ‘fl be a gamblin’ pen. Ef you leaves it to de lodge, a lot of ole nigger bums an’ fancy sons of rest will be settin’ aroun’ on x byl ial fro Forte ©) nie 6)(0)) = So C@