The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1854-03-29

dog. half mastiff and half bull Of roble pres
ence and a fearless courage Drive and Shad-
raeh were inseparable. They worked and
played together, slept together in the same
loft, aud Shadrach never ate a meal while the
dog l;ved, at least at home, without sharing il
with bis canine friend. He would talk with
Drive for hours. when they we're alone, al
though the dog didn't say much himself, vet
Shadrach said good many things, aud laid
down aud argued out a great many queer
propositions. against which Drive uttered not
word Of dissent.
One chilly night in October, Shadrach and
Drive had been out along the corn.felds on an
unsuccessful coon.hunt On their return, the
dog dashed off through the orchard, aud in a
minute or two commenced barking and
Shadrach. Of course, supposed he had treed
coon on one ofthe fruit-trees. Now Shadrach
had an abiding faith in spiritual manifesto
tions and stood in mortal fear Of "the gen.
tleman in black" and all manner Of spooks
in general.
Upon arriving at the "tig tree" by the
loot OF which Drive sat, and looking up among
the branches. he saw there in the darkness a
great black object, with something that seem
ed like a windng-sheet in its hand. Shad-
rach's hair began TO curl as he looked. and
hallowing &" Seek him - to Drive, broke like
a quarter.nag for the house. lie broke
breathessly into the kitchen, exclaiming--
Massa, Alassa Drive got dc debblc in
de big apple tree y.
Whats that, you woolly pated rhinose.
ros ?" replied his master.
Drive got de debble treed on de biz ap-
pie tree" repeated the negro
a torch was lighted, and upon going into
the orchard. there sat our thicving ncighbor
among the branches, with bag half filed
with the coveted fruit Our father said not
word to him. but after giving Shadrach GER
tain directions, returned quietly to the house.
Old Shadrach laid his jacket down by the
roots Of the apple tree, and ordering Drive to
watch il. said to tho occupant Of the tree
Look hea. you brack tief you cum down.
an Drive eat yer head of, sartin. Ugly dog
dat. Eat a white tief up like a coon. sure
Roost up dar like a turkey, yah yah :"
Shadrach went 10 his loft, and laid himself
quietly away. When the day broke, there
was the thief in the tree, and there was Drive
watching him. When the sun rose they
were there. The negro gave Drive his break
fast, and left him his jacket and the man in
the tree TO watch Our father and the boys,
Of whom we we're one, went to hushing corn
in the orchard. Ten o'clock came. and there
was the dog at the roots, and the man perch
ed among the branches Of the big apple
tree" The horn sounded for dinner, and
when We returned the two were there STILL
The thief called beseechingly to our father to
let him come down.
We'll" was the reply, why don't you
come down ?"
"This internal dog will eat me up if do :"
said the thief.
'sNery likely" was the calm rejoinder, and
we went on husking the corn.
Once or twice the occupant Of the apple
tree, after coaxing and fattering the dog, at.
tempted to descend but Drive'sivOry warned
him Of his peril, and he went back to his
perch.
There never was another human being in
such ecstaces all the day as was that negro.
Yah yahl he would break out in an uncon-
trollable caehination, and then roll and holloo,
and yah yah among the corn-stalks until
YOU could hear him mile.
The sun went down behind the hills. aad
there still were the thief and the dog. We
all went to supper, and in the twilight OF the
evening, in pity to the famished aud fright
eued culprit the dog was Withdrawn and he
was permitted to sink away home. lie new
er stole apples again, or anything else from
our father. while Drive aud old Shadrach re-
mainod on the farm.