Imperium in Imperio: A Study of the Negro Race Problem | Page 3

each pair was missing; so Mrs.
Piedmont simply transferred the good leg of the linen pair to the suit of
the navy blue, and dressed the happy Belton in that suit thus amended.
His coat was literally a conglomeration of patches of varying sizes and
colors. If you attempted to describe the coat by calling it by the name
of the color that you thought predominated, at least a half dozen
aspirants could present equal claims to the honor. One of Belton's feet
was encased in a wornout slipper from the dainty foot of some young
woman, while the other wore a turned over boot left in town by some
farmer lad who had gotten himself a new pair. His hat was in good
condition, being the summer straw last worn by a little white
playfellow (when fall came on, this little fellow kindly willed his hat to
Belton, who, in return for this favor, was to black the boy's shoes each
morning during the winter).
Belton's mother now held in her hand a wet cloth with which she
wished to cleanse his face, the bacon skin which he gnawed at the
conclusion of his meal having left a circle of grease around his lips.
Belton did not relish the face washing part of the programme (of course
hair combing was not even considered). Belton had one characteristic
similar to that of oil. He did not like to mix with water, especially cold
water, such as was on that wet cloth in his mother's hand. However, a
hint in reference to a certain well-known leather strap, combined with
the offer of a lump of sugar, brought him to terms.
His face being washed, he and his mother marched forth to school,
where he laid the foundation of the education that served him so well in
after life.
A man of tact, intelligence, and superior education moving in the midst
of a mass of ignorant people, ofttimes has a sway more absolute than
that of monarchs.

Belton now entered the school-room, which in his case proves to be the
royal court, whence he emerges an uncrowned king.

CHAPTER II.
THE SCHOOL.
The house in which the colored school was held was, in former times, a
house of worship for the white Baptists of Winchester. It was a long,
plain, frame structure, painted white. Many years prior to the opening
of the colored school it had been condemned as unsafe by the town
authorities, whereupon the white Baptists had abandoned it for a more
beautiful modern structure.
The church tendered the use of the building to the town for a public
school for the colored children. The roof was patched and iron rods
were used to hold together the twisting walls. These improvements
being made, school was in due time opened. The building was located
on the outskirts of the town, and a large open field surrounded it on all
sides.
As Mrs. Piedmont and her son drew near to this building the teacher
was standing on the door-steps ringing his little hand bell, calling the
children in from their recess. They came running at full speed, helter
skelter. By the time they were all in Mrs. Piedmont and Belton had
arrived at the step. When Mr. Leonard saw them about to enter the
building an angry scowl passed over his face, and he muttered half
aloud: "Another black nigger brat for me to teach."
The steps were about four feet high and he was standing on the top step.
To emphasize his disgust, he drew back so that Mrs. Piedmont would
pass him with no danger of brushing him. He drew back rather too far
and began falling off the end of the steps. He clutched at the door and
made such a scrambling noise that the children turned in their seats just
in time to see his body rapidly disappearing in a manner to leave his
feet where his head ought to be.

Such a yell of laughter as went up from the throats of the children! It
had in it a universal, spontaneous ring of savage delight which plainly
told that the teacher was not beloved by his pupils.
The back of the teacher's head struck the edge of a stone, and when he
clambered up from his rather undignified position his back was covered
with blood. Deep silence reigned in the school-room as he walked
down the aisle, glaring fiercely right and left. Getting his hat he left the
school-room and went to a near-by drug store to have his wounds
dressed.
While he was gone, the children took charge of the school-room and
played pranks of every description. Abe Lincoln took the teacher's
chair and played "'fessor."
"Sallie Ann ain't yer got wax in yer mouf?"
"Yes sar."