Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-11-21
MISCELLANEOUS.
ABOUT A BAROMETER.

g 1t was near eight O'Clock in the evening,
when the overseer Of a plantation in the
interior Of this State was aroused from a
half and half kind of stupor, caused by1
the combined influences of the heat of the
weather and the odor of some genuine Ha-
vana leaf, by the shrill cry of House
house! Haint there nobody to hum heress
Jim.' shouted the overseer, looking to-
wards the negro quarters, go to the gate
and see what on earth all that bawling's
for!' e,
Obeying the order, Jim hastily unbar-
red thesgate. and there drove up one of
those nondescript vehicles known as yam
kee pedlar's wagon. There emerged from
the vehicle aforesaid curious specimen of
natures handiwork. He was tall, slim
man, with pair Of small, twinAling grey
Ieyes; a nose whose only occupation SEEM
ed 10 be to sniff and witch whenever its
owner spoke. The mouth of the individ-
ual was ornamented with slight pncker,
and his whole appearance denoted that he
wished to place himself in the smallest
space possible. In proof of this, his bell
fcrowned hat stuck directly on the top of
his head; his coat and vest had evidently
belonged to younger brother, and his pan
falcons fitted him like India rubber. Yes,
in one thing he was profuse, and that was
he termed his hair It was beautiful hair
lin color 'delicate ginger or may be
what the urchins would call "a yaller taffy
COLOR 1t was combed behind his ears and
fell in graceful negligence on the back of
his coat. In fact, to take him for 'all in
all at first sight, one would be impressed
with the idea that Nature had made Joel
Spry, for such was his name, at the very
lowest terms, Of the most ordinary materi-
al, and on the very cheapest scale. ...
'Wa-al,' said he, after surveying Mr..
Simmons, the overseer, for second or
two, your name be ant Hodson,-no moi
Hodson, 'Tomkins; no, darn the name =
And after studying that book on nimmo.
tichny. .(mnemotechny) too, that tells alters
what people forglt, only tn think that
can't think of. Oh, now got it! Your
name be'ant IA Jenk-I say mister, wha
+ might be your name!
Simmons answered. the overseer.
} 'Wa-al, now, only to think! though
Of that name all the while, and yet couldn'
git it out. Why, mister. the man tina
keeps the plantation admin your'n told mi
, that you was almighty clever and said hi
thought as how l mought du little tradil
Ewith you ...
WELL said Summons, 'what have 20,
got to sel!'
, Self said Joel with look of wonder
what have l gottu sell? Why, Mr.. Sim
mons, | got all on airth that kin be sold.-
i CaIicoes, potash, cutlery, calomel, broad
cloth, buttons, yarn. nutmegs. aIispice
clocks, thermometers, barome!ers-'
y And.Aas if sudden thought struck him
he looked appealingly in the overseer'
face, and in voice of the utmost solici
tude said, Meow, Mister Simmons, d
YOU want fust rate barometer! Yo
don't know how much you could save
$ It'll tell you when it's a'goin tn rain an
e when it's a'goin tn shine-when tn plar
IS and when tn hoe-when tu-'
Oh said Simmons, cutting Mr.. Spr
: very short, I'll bet you fifty dollars again'
all you have in your wagon, that have a
, old blind niger who can tell the change
: of the weather with more precision tina
= : the best of your barometers s
- swow ! chuckled Mr.. Joel Spry I
himself, .if he be'ant chance make til
: pewter, then I'm darned! Simmons II
. your man; down with the dollars, and L
a uaioad the wagon .e b
re Suiting fhe action to the word, the b.
- 10 was speedily arranged. Mr.. Joel Spry wi,
u great care took out two large boxes, or
or marked edry goods and the other fanc
as articles and had them carefully deposite
lin the overseer's room. . i... .,. .
.Noew,' said he. after taking q stiff gla
: of Monongahela, it's giuin' late, and
want In commence. Bring forth the nj
IN ger that'A match this barometer
Here, Jake!' bawied the overseer.-
Forthwith there hobbled from the neg
: quarters an old Ethiopian, three shad
darker than charcoal, as blind as bat, al
n four times as ugly.
" sHar, nassa. har am old Jake
Jake, what kind of weather are we G
ing to have tomorrow ~ IS
;or sCloudy wedder, massa, cloudy wedde
Ole Jake's big toe feel like de debbil
: night L.u1 I5a
p sWa-al, if that don't beat all that ever
g; bern tell on. wish I may be darned.' sd
Mr.. Spry. with horse laugh. Only
think, blind nigger tellin' the state OF Il
weather by his toes Oh. Jehossaphat
NV .Il.:. and xu hat savs the harosoofc