North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-08-11
WHOLE No. $50.

| The magic whisper.
"Children," said Uncle Ned, "wha
color is dat var rose p
"Red,: ;: they shouted, '.just as red as
rose can be-"
"No dispution about dat at all, is dar p
said Uncle Ned mysteriously.
"Of course there isn't said the children
swell pursued the old negro, whom
every body called Uncle Ned; "wha
would you chill'en soy if war to whispe,
a message to dat var rose which would b.
de occasion ub maxim it turn white ir
spots, whiter'n white folks?''
20 Uncle Ned! you couldn't do it.
they shouted.
swell, now, jess you chill'en be still
and circumspectuous minute, an old
Uncle Ned II show you sum6n." So say.
ing, he took the bright red rose and asked
the youngsters to ''look sharp at it in
every 'ticular' so they'd know it agair
sartin and sure" Then carrying it into
the pantry, be called out:
"Is you all seated, still and circum-
spectuous p
"Yes yes" they cried.
Out he came with the rose hidden in
his hand, then holding it to his lips for q
moment, he whispered his message, roll
ling his eyes at a great rate all the while
Looking into his still nearly closed hand
he added aloud
'He! he what skeer you SO? You's
NOSE as white as de chillen. Here, show
yourseffi"
"Oh! oh oh - cried the children, Al
they crowded about Uncle Ned t. admire
the flower. 'Isn't that lovely? Why,
it's all variegated red and white. Ho
did you do it, Uncle Ned?"
SLOW did warimegate it? Didn't you
comprestand? glib it message"
''Tell me the message, please do - said
the littlest girl of the party. "Teach me
how to whisper to the rose."
Uncle Ned shook his head. ....
"Please do" she pleaded. She was
Uncle Ned's pet.
"Well, come into de pantry, Miss Nelly,
an dom never tell livin' SOUL"
In they went with a fresh red rose, and
soon came out with it even more beauti,
fully variegated than the first was.
ooh! oh! oh p cried the children
again. "Tell US, Nelly Tell US the mag.
ic whisper I" But Nelly just folded her
chubby arms quietly, and said she had
promised Uncle Ned to keep the secret
like little lady.
Then such hubbub as there was The
children crowded around the old negro
and teasen him until at last he declares
that if they couldn't "misbehaye dem
selves no better dan dat, he'd jess clar
out and leave 'em.' ''But," he added,
''if it's gwine to discombobberate you at
dis yere rate, guess ole Uncle'll tell you
afore he goes. You jess light match
an hole it quick under de rose an let de
fumes rise up into it, kinder pertectin' de
rose, so, wild your hand, SO it ken git a
heap oh de gas out oh de match, bein'
mighty keerful not to scorch it, and it
warimegates beautiful. Nose any red
aower'll do de same-peenies, roses, or
NOSE any OBJ 'em. De whispers jess a
make>believe. But, Lor! it don't take
muffin to fool white folks"
All the rest OF that day the children
were trying Uncle Ned's plan of"warime,
eating" roses and other flowers, and in
time they succeeded quite as we'll as he.
They soon discovered that if the rose was
not sufficiently changed before the wood
of the match began to burn, it was best to
blow out that match and hold another
freshly-lighted one under the flower
Nelly variegated blue larkspur and
changed a red fuchsia so beautifully, thai
when her uncle, the botanist, dropped ir
to see them in the evening, he really
thought it was some wonderful new vari
ETY. that was shown him.-HearM anc
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