Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-04-03
From the y. Y. Spirit Of the Tines.l
Joe Meriweather Went

''Whar is Joe, Mr.. AIeriweatheri Is he sick?"
''Oh-h, NOS" groaned his mourning brother
els he dead, then? Poor Joe.' family inquired
the old lady.
81 don't know that, was the broken reply.
''The Lord ha' mercy sinful sOulSl then
rhar is he:" cried the widow, breaking out afresh.
els he run away TO 0reanS-or gone 10 CaliiOrny!
Yes, that's ii! an the poor boy III be eaten up by
them dggers that they say goes rootin' round that
ouilandiSh country, like set Of mean snkn ground
hogs. Poor Joe! he was fine little fellow, an it
was only the other day, last year, when you on
your rounds, that he eat all my little bo-."
ono, he amt gone to Californy as know, inter
rupted his brother.
"Then, fur mercy'S sake do tell body what's be-
come on him!" rather tartly inquired the good old
lady.
''Why, YOU see, Mrs. Harris replied Mr.. Meri-
weather, still keeping the same position and inter
rupting the narrative with sundry bursts of grief,
(Which we'll leave out)-'you see, Mrs. Harris Joe
and went up airy in the spring 10 get boat load
of rock from Boone county, TO put up the foundation
of the new house we're buildn, fur there amt no
rock down in them rich silly bottoms in parts.
Well, we got along pretty considerable, fur we had
live kegs Ov blast along, and what with the hire ov
some niggers, we managed 10 get our boat loaded,
an started fur home in about three weeks. You
did see anything rain like ii did the us day when
we lOatin' down, but we worked like corn
field niger a Christmas week, and pretty near
shutdown we'd made a matter oy nigh twenty miles
afore were ashore and tied up. Well we didn't
have any shelter the flat, raised rousin' big
fire the bank, close 10 where she tied up, and
cooked some grub, and I'd eaten a matter Ov two
pounds of side, and half ov 'possum, and was a
Settin' on log, smokin' Kaintuck regaly, and a
alkin' to brother Joe, who standin' chock up
agin the fire with his back TO it. You recollex, Mrs
Harris brother Joe alters dreSsy sort OF chap;
fond of brass buttons on his coat, and the farneSt
kind ov red neckerchers and this time be had on a
pair of buckskin breecheS with straps under his boots.
Well, when was talkin' TO him the prospect fur
the next day, all sudden thought the little fell
lar TaS a CROWN uncommon tall; Till | diskiyered
that the buckskin breeches that wur as wet as
young rooster in spring rain, wur beginnin' 10
smoke am draw up kinder and wur liltin' brother
Joe off the ground!
"Brother Joe," seq /, ''you're gon' up"
"Brother Tom," SCI he, 81 amt dom anything
else."
''And he scrunched down mitey hard, but il warn't
of no use, fur afore long he wur matter some
fifteen feet up In the air'
''Nlerciful Powers.' interrupted the widow.
''Brother joel" seq l.
'I'm herei" SEE he.
''Catch hold ov the top Of that black jack" SEE |.
''Tak." SEE brother Joe, and he sorer leaned over
and grabbed the saplin, like maybe you've seed
squirrel haul in elm switch June mornin But
il warnt ov use, fur, old oman eff you'll believe
me, il gradually begun 10 Civ way at the roots, and
aore he'd get five foot higher it ist slipt outn the
ground, as easy as you'd pull up spring reddish.
''Brother joel" SEE agin.
'I'm list'nin'," SEE he.
''Cut your straps' l, fur l seed il his last
chance.
''Talk!" sez brother Joe, tho he looked sort a re-
prOachfu like at me, fur brcachn such subject, but
arter apparently cOnsiderin' awhile he outs with his
jack-kniie, an, leann over sideways, made rip at
the sole ov his left boot There was considerable
deal ov cracklin' fur second or two, then crash
sorter like as if wagon load cord wood had bruk
down, and the fIs thing knowd, the tother leg shot
up like, and started him. and the last thing seed ov
Brother Joe, he was tchirlin' round Ike four
sPoked tchesi ,ch the rim Off acay clOst to,CGrds
sundOrnl'