Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-11-27
Jim Wolf.and the Tom Cats.

Here is ono Of Mark TwallI's good stories.
He knows how to make the reader laugh, and
if the following does rot provoke smile 1t is
because there is no mirth in mankind during
the hot weather:
knew By the sympathetic glow upon his
bald head knew by the thoughtful look
upon his face-I knew by the emotional flush
upon the strawberry on the end OF the old tee
liver's nose, that Simon WLeelcr'S memory
was busy with the oldcn time. And 50 pre-
pared to leave, because all these were symp-
toms Of rcminisccncc-signs that he was
going to be delivered Of another OF his tire
some personal eXperences-but was too
slow ; he got the start OF ne. As nearly as
| can recollect, the inaiction was couched in
the following language:
81 We were all boys, then, and didn't care
for nothing, and didn't Lave no troubles, and
Didn't worry about nQ,hing only low to shirli
school and keep up revivin' state. of devil
ment all tie time. This yar jim VOL was
talking about was the prentice and he was
the best hearted fcllcr, he was, and the most
forpiyir' and onsefsh | ever sec-well, there
Couldn't be III re Luilicr boy than he was,
take him how You would; and sorry enough [
wa. when | see him FOR The last time.
"Nlc aud Henry was always Fostering him
and plastcrins bo4s bills on his back ani put
ting humble beesin bis bed, and 50. on, and
sometimes we'd cro;:d III and bank Wit: him,
n outstanding his growing and then we'd let
on to ge; nal and iigh. ac:o>t Kim, SO as to
keep him stirred up like. lie Was nineteen,
he was, and iorg. and lank, "nd bashtni, and
we was fifteen aid sixteen, and tolcrably lazy
and worthless.
- So, ;.;at night, you know, that my sister
Nary giyc iAc candy pullln', they started US
Oh 70 bed early, SO IS tue company could
,,.ayc li.! sw,'s, and we rung liz ON jim IL
nave some luii.
"Oar w.idow looked out onto the roof Of
the ell and about tan o'clock :. couple OF old
tom cats got 10 rarin' and cEargin' areurd on
it aud Carrying ON like sin. There was four
inches If suoT on the roof, and it Was fro
zen so that there was rigat smart crust vi
ice on it, and Tie moon w@s shining bright,
and ne could see them CATS like daylight
First ,bey'i stand C!f AID c-yoT VOW yc"',
lust Inc same rs i; they Was cussin one all
other. you know, and bow up their backs End
push mp their tails, and swell around and
spit, ard then all Of Snddcn the gray cat
hs,d snatch = hln;!f;:l Of .uf cut o! lhe y lier
CATS ham, and spin bcr. around, Ike a but
tn OH barn-lcor Bat the yalIrr Cat Was
game, and Lc'J conc and clinch, and the way
they'd gruge, and bite ard howl and'the way
they'd make the fur ily was powerful.
"Well, Jim, he got diSgustcd with the row,
and 'lowe,l he'd climb Gu; there, and shake
h:,u oifn the roof lie hadn't rea!y no notion
doill' it likely, but we evcrlastin'iy logged
HIN, and Lullyragged him, and lowed how
he'd always Dragged hos he wouldn't take q
dare, and SO on, till bimeby he high,ted up
tie windcr, aud 10 and behold you, he went,
exactly as bewas-nothin' Oh but. a Shirt and
it was short. But you ought to see Kim !!
You ough. TO see him crcepin' over that ice,
and diggin his toe-nals and finger in
lor to Keep from sfppin'; and 'bovc all, you
ought TO seen tha, Shirt happin' in tue wind,
and them long ridiculous shanks Of his'n a
glisteniu' in the moonlight.
"Them comp'ny folks WAS down there un-
der the caves, the whole squad OF em under
that onery shed oil old dead Washin'ton Bow
er vncs-al scttin' round about two dozen
sasscrs of hot candy, which they sot in the
snow to cool. Ard they was laughin' and
talkin' lively but they didn't know nothin'
bout the panorama that was goin' ON over
their heads. Well, Jim he went a.she-akin
and a sneakin' up uubeknowns to them tom
cats-they was swishin; their tails. yoT-.
yowin' and lhreatcnm to clinch. you know,
aud. no! payin any attenlion-hc went q
sneakin' right up to the comb of the roof, till
hc was in :. foot and half Of 'em, and then
all of a sudden he made grab for the yaller
cat! But by gosh he missed fire and slipped
his holt, and his heels flew up and he Hoped
on his back and shot oiE'p that roof like
dart! went snashin' and a craShin' down
through them old rusty vines end right in the
dead centre of them comp'ny people !-sot
down like an earthquake in them two dozen
sasscrs of red hot candy, and let off a howl
! that was bark from the tomb! Them girls
we'll they felt you know. They see he warnt
dressed for comp'ny and SO they left. AL
done in second, it was just one little wal
wloop, and whish! of their dresses and
blame the wench of 'cm, was in sight any
whars
"Jim, be was sight. He was gormcd
with that bilin' hot molasses candy clean
down to his heels, and had more busted sas
sers hangin' to him than if he was a lngur
princess-and he came prancin' up stairs
lust whoopin, and Ia cussn', aud every jump
he gave he Shed some china, and every squiru
he fetched he dripped some candy!
aAnd blstered!' Why bless my soul, tha
pore creatur could'n really sit down comforta
bio for as much as four weeks"
In Sumter County, Alabama, the planter
have been considering the subject Of the labo
offreedmcn. Alta recent meeting, they adopt
ed resolutions, insisting upon future faithful
co Compliance of freedmen with their crop con
tracts, on penalty of being discharged, ant
fixing one fourth of the crop as the share
the laborers when provisions are furnishes
them, one-third when they furnish their ow
or one-half when they furnish their own pro
visions aud pay half the expenses. They ais
recommend $40 month as wages Of first
class field hands, $S for second class and s