Part 59 (1/2)
”Ya.s.sam--Mr. Castle's killed a Yankee ossifer on de s.h.i.+p an' dey gwine ter sh.e.l.l--”
”Boom!”
The deep thunder peal of a great gun shook the world. There was no mistaking the sound of it or its meaning. The fleet had opened fire on the defenseless town. Mandy's teeth chattered and her voice failed.
And then pandemonium.
Poor old negroes and helpless pickaninnies swarmed into the house for shelter from the doom of Judgment Day.
”Run--run for your lives--get out of the way of those sh.e.l.ls!” Jennie shouted.
Her three terror-stricken maids huddled by her side in helpless panic.
Her grandmother sprang to her feet and asked in subdued tones:
”What is it, child?”
”The fleet's sh.e.l.ling the town--grandma--you'll be killed--the house'll be smashed--you must run--run for your life--”
Jennie screamed her warning into the sweet old lady's ears and seized her by the hand.
”But they can't sh.e.l.l a town full of helpless women and children, my dear,” the grandmother protested gently. ”It's impossible--”
”Boom--boom!” pealed two guns in quick succession.
”De Lawd save us!” Lucy screamed.
”You see they're doing it--come--”
Jennie grasped her grandmother's hand firmly and dragged her from the house. From the servants' quarters came one long wail of prayer and lamentation mingled with shouts and exhortation. An old bed-ridden black woman, a fervent Methodist, raised a hymn:
”_Better days are coming, we'll all go right!_”
Jennie had reached the gate when she suddenly remembered her canary--a present Billy had given her on her eighteenth birthday. She rushed back into the house, s.n.a.t.c.hed the cage up and started on the run again.
What was the use? It was impossible to take the bird. He would starve to death.
She quickly opened the cage, took him out and kissed his yellow head.
”Good-by, Jimmy darling!”
The tears would come in spite of all she could do.
”I hope you'll be happy!”
With quick decision she tossed him in the air.
The bird gave one helpless chirp of surprise and terror at the strange new world, fluttered in a circle, spread his wings at last and was gone.
The girl brushed her tears away and returned to her grandmother's side.