The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1846-08-29


with more precision than the best Of your bn-
rometefap
i swowp chuckled Mr.. Joel spry TO him-
self, if here be'anta chance tn make the pew
ter, then I'm dnrned! Simmons, I'm your
man; down with the dollars, and plh unload
the wagon
Suiiing the action to the word, the BET was
speedily arranged. Mr., Joel Spry with great
care took ont two large boxes, one marked dry
goads,' and the other sfancy a%rticles,' and had
them carefully deposited in the overseer's room.
'Neow.' said he, after taking a stiff glass Of
Mohongahela, tits a gittin' late, and want to
commence. Bring forth the niger thut,ll
match this bG-rometer.'
Here, Jakep buwled the overseer. Forth
with there hobbled from the negro quarters an
old Ethiopian, three shades darker than char
coal, as blind as a bat, and fur times as ugly.
'Haf, massa, haram old jake
tJake, what kind Of weather are we going
to have to-morrowr
Cloudy wedder, massa, cloudy wedder. Ole
Jake's big toe feel like de debbil tonight,
'Wa-al, if that don't beat all that ever l
hearn tell on, l wish may be darned,' said Mr..
spry, with a horse laugh. sOnly tn think, a
blind niger tellin' thestate Of the weather by
his foes! Oh, JehossaphatH
well, sir, and what says the barometerp
said Simmons.
Says? Why it says clear, light winds, and
not a drop Of rain,'
well see,' SAID the overseer. slim fodder
this horse, and put the wagon under the shed.
Mr.. Spry, this is your room. Good night, sir.'
'Good night, Mister Simmons. But wait
awhile, meow, du ,nke care Of them boxes. 4
got nearly four hundred dollars worth Of goods
in 'em, and if the cutlery gifts damp, or the
%calicoes get siled, shall be rui .ed.'
With this injunction the parties retired to
rest. The next morning, when they awoke,
the sky was overcast, and The aspect of nature
portended a long fall Of rain.
tAha, what did old Jake tell you, Mr.. Spry,
wasthe first remark Of the overseer.
'Wu-al, now, the quicksilver in my ba-rome
ter must a been damp. But l say, now, frient
Simmons, you'll let me have another trial =
You won't take all that a poor f~elIer's got OF
airth, jist on account Of the quicksilver's bein
dampg
g, 'Oh, no. said the good-natured Simmons
e. you may try every day for week-your boar
i'd and your horse's feed shall cost you nothing
I'd hut at the end Of that time l must either hav
he your goods, or you my fifty dolIars.'
he Mr., Jrel Spry concluded the bargain wit
o. some apparent hesitation, but seemed resolve
to make the best Of a bad case. Every nigf
DIS Spry's barometer was pitted against old bin
Iat Jake's toes, and regularly every morning til
toes came off victorious. Spry, who ate a
he the while like a horse, and actualled common,
ed getting fat, declared on every s%uccessi'
a. morning that the should be ruined past redemI
re- tion.' He tore his hair, clenched his hand
rk cursed old Jake tpr a hobgoblin, and swor
III. that had he been born in Salem, he would,h a
M been hung for wizard. AT last the seven
an. day came. 1t had rained for six days previol
d. without intermission, and now, as old Jak
er. through his science in t~oeology, had Prediel'
the night previous, in opposition to the indie
tons Of Spry's barometer, the sun shone brig
hat and beautiful. Spry took his mare from the 81
oat BILE and harnessed her in his wagon. Wi
tears in his eyes, he babe the negroes w
Ike were laughing at him, good bye,' and actual
ro. gave old Jake the barometer which had &C
H. him so much trouble.
H. sSimmons,' said he, you won the bet fair
I. take the things, and keep ZEN, and never s
h.. agin that you never knew an honest Yonk
the %pedlar'
.a1 well, well, good bye said Simmons,
I'D wanted to teach one Of you id yankees
,ry lesson, and | guess that I've given you wi
ms you deserved
sWa-al,' said Mr., Spry in a most melanch'
tone, lit can't be help'd. Good Bye, slmmo
i'm. Git up, Nabbyi-git up, you tarnnl crlttur'
So saving he applied the lash to Nabby, a
:, she moved away at an astonishing rate WI
inc spry had got outside the gate' be turned arog
too and said in a loud nasal tone 81 say =
~ mons! them boxes OF mine is full OF goods
Full TO the brim with brickbats andconslaI
~, Cot a weeks board and lodging, and no
feed for nothin,! l kDow'd it was agoin'
rain, for a week, and that couldn't travel
p, oflThat barometer of mine is patentfand no u
n take. / say, Simmons, how sold Jaks'S 70
beGee up NabbyH
vas 4Here, Jim, get me my gun' said s'mm
w in a terrible fury.
81 draw,d the load out afore you was up
i morning. shouted spry, who was no" ON
danger. 49, ! ~
luo'' With anger, If ever | see a yankee psdlar
1lm this plantation again, if ! don't shoot ! WIS
~ may lose d years. pay, and be DID INTO 'n' :
Out- q Na,c OH ans DeLa.