The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-01-25

That night my sister Mary gaze can
ey pullin', they started Us on to bed
early. so as the company could have full
swing, and We run in On Jim to have
some fun.
Our winder looked olr onto the roof
of the ell, and about 10 o'clock couple
of old tom cats got to rarin' and chargin'
around it, and carryiu' on like siB.-
There was four inches Of snow os the
roof, and it was frozeD so that there was
a right smart crust of ice on it, and the
moon was shining bright, and we C. uld
see them cats like daylight First, they'd
stand of and eyow VOW. VOW, just the
same as ifthey was cussin' one another,
you know, aud bow up their backs aod
push up their tails, and swell around and
spit, thcn all of sndden the gray cat
he'd snatch a handful Of fur out OF the
yaller cats ham, aud spin him round
ike the button on barn door. Eu, the
yaller cat was game, and he'd come aud
cliDch, and the way they'd gouge, and
bite ard howl, and the way they'd make
the fur fly, was powerful.
Well, Jim he got disgusted with the
zow, and lowed he'd climb out there
and shake 'em off D that roof. lie hadn't
reely no notion Of doin' it, likely, but
we everlastin'ly logged him, and
bullyragged him, aud lowed he'd always
Dragged how he wouldn't take a dare,
and so on, till bimcby be highsted up
the wiuder, and, 10 aud behold you, he
weDt-went exactly as he was, notbin'
Oh but a shirt, and it was short. But
you ought to seen him. You ought TO
seen him ere e-pin over that ice, and
diggin' his toe nails in to keep him
from slippiu aud 'bove all, you ought
to seen that shirt tail :. fippin' in the
wind. and them lopg ridiculous shauks
Of his giistcniu' in the moonlight.
Them company folks was down there
under the caves, the whole squad of EN-
under the orpery shed Of old Washin ton
Bower vines-al settin' round about
two dozen sassers of hot candy, which
they'd sot in the snow to cool And
they was laughin' and talkin' lively;
but bless you they didn't know nothin
about the panorama that was goin' on
over their heads Well Jim, he went a
sneaku' up, unbcknovns to. them tom
ea.s--they we're swlshin' their tails
and VOW yowin' and threatening to
cliDch. you know, and not payin' any
attention-he went sneakiu' right up
10 the comb Of the roof. till he was in a
fooi'n 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 few up
and he Topped on his back, and shot off u
tha, rooflike dart.-wcnt slashiu' and
crashin' down through them old rusty
vines, and landed right into the dead
centre of them comy'ny people .-sot
down Ike yearth quake in them two
dozen sassers Of red hot candy, aud let
of howl that was bark I'm the tomb :.
Them eals-welI, they Lokcd. you
Know Ihey see ne WASH t dressed for
company, and so they left. All done in
a second. it was just Que little war hoop
and sh;sh of their dresses, and blame
the weneh OF 'em was in sight any
where,
Jim he was sight. lie was gormcd
with that bilin' hot molasses candy clean
down to his heels, aud had more busted
sassers hansin' 20 him than if he was an
lnjup princess-and he comes prancu'
up stairs. just whooprn' and prancu'
and every squirm he dropped some
candy
And blistered Why, why bless your
soul, that poor cretur couldn't reely set
down comfortable for as much as four
weeks.