(Continued from page 25) about medicine, the English Master took a commission in Englishman, and when Sam and of the tragic story of Leona.
 to hide the Statue of Liberty language, music and about the Louisiana Tigers and took care along, he was taught Kidnapped out of the cotton
 under a coat of red paint. life in America. Suddenly he Jethro, who was in actuality English by the professor and fields of Mississippi, she was
 The men on the porch stifled was ten years old again and his half brother, to Virginia. then put in a musical institute brought to Le Chein Rouge,
 their laughter, managed to he could hear Sam's gentle In the Seven Day's Battle, he to learn to play the piano. and there a chain of events
 respect Miss Louise's instruc- voice. Boy, didn't your fa was killed. Jethro could only Sam played a small segment occurred which rendered her
 respect Miss Louise's instruc- v Boy, didn't your fa- save mute, and found Sam escapmg
 tions to keep Ferdie's secret, ther ever teach you about the save the watch and his Dahl- of an etude, but stopped as he mute, and found Sam escaping
 and chided Sam as they aways germ theory?" gren revolver. He went on to felt his strength going. In short from New Orleans on a mule
 did germ teor serve in the Yankee army, got direct sentences, stopping to drawn carriage. Leona killed
 did. They fell into each other's the Medal of Honor, and came rest or to play to illustrate a white man, the savage pimp
 lGo on up thar, Sam and arms, each squeezing hard, back to New Orleans where he his story, he told Ferdie of his of Le Chein Rouge, and Sam
 play us some real back home afraid to let go lest they break opened schools to teach freed young manhood in Storyville, would be identified if he played
 this White Christmas musishit Finally theyate the pie untilcry black men. to read and write. of his wanton years as the star the piano. Then Leona would
 this White Christmas shit. Finally, they ate the pie until His partner was an educated piano man of Le Chein Rouge, (Continued on page 27)
 "Yeah, Sam, give us Black it was all gone, and drank the s artner was a educated piano man of Le Chein Rouge, (Coninued on page 27)
 Christmas..." cold milk and talked about
 Sam nodded, accustomed what had happened since
 to their jibes, stil refusing to they last spent that wonder-
 answer or explain. They waited ful summer together, trying
 expectantly as they guessed not to mention how both had
 what Sam would do when he changed, and how different
 saw the watch and the pie and things were.
 the milk. Sam looked at the gold
 "White Christmas," was watch lovingy, and opened it
 coming to yet one more finale to hear the beautiful tinkling
 when the first chords of a fu- "Marseilles." He Iooked at
 nereal dirge were heard. The the time, as if to say that his
 men stopped laughing tolisten, strength was ebbing and he
 Ferdie jumped from his car to didn't have much time left.
 better hear the music. It was then that Ferdie could
 Soon the men recognized not withstand his curiosity
 the sad chords, and oneman, about Sam any longer. Who
 with a deep voice, sang along. was he? Why did he and Leona
 "I went down to St. James come to Tampa? Why didn't
 infirmary, Leona speak? Why didn't Sam
 To see my baby play the piano? Why didn't
 there., f Sam sel the piano, particularly
 Then the tune shook its now when he' was sick and
 mournful tone and stepped needed the money. Why?
 into ragtime tempo, which Sam nodded when Ferdie
 slipped into stride piano with burst forth with a brace of
 amazing ease. Ferdie's heart questions.
 jumped as he raced into the "I see that you have gravi-
 house. tated to the central question
 "I tole you that nigger could and polarized me into a posi-
 play the piano if he wanted tion where I'm obligated to ..
 to... answer. "Sam's eye had the
 Ferdie found Sam at the old mocking gleam in it, and New Directons In Planning, Design & Engineering
 piano, a smile on his wrinlded he started by telling Ferdie of
 face. The moustache was white his father, Jethro who, while
 now, and the straight hair was he was a slave on a Louisiana
 thin, but to Ferdie's eyes he plantation was still the son of
 looked like Sweet Sam, the the Master. When the Civil War
 man who taught him so much came, the legitimate son of the















 Sau.ien.,

 TAMPA C! COUN. IL* DISTRICT 3 ... ",



















 Thanks to La Gaceta
 for being the voice
 for the voiceless. COLO I B.

 FROM YOUR FRIEND Al vwww.colonialbank.com Member FDIC

 M.G. Manny Alvarez, Jr.
 Chairman of the Board
 OR SH itiB M th 4414 N. Armenia Ave. 874-1323 400 N. Tampa 223-2832 Membsr
 c oED 3702 W*l4tiz~ 3702 W. Bearss Ave. 961-8858 1701 S. Dale Mabry 254-1125 FDIC


Page 26 Section B/Friday, December 22, 2006