Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-08-22

DINAH'S STOCKINGS.

Cuhee johnson was white washer by pro-
fession. His sign, painted in struggling, un-
even letters, so informed the passerby in Sui
livan street. An airy colored dandy was
Cufee, in spite of his poverty and bad clothes.
When he sailed out, with his brush over his
right shoulder, his pail of whitewash in his
left hand, and his hat balanced airily on the
side of his woolly head, all the admiring
wenches showed their admiration in broad
grins But if he was captivating in his work
Ing clothes, how shall 1 describe him in his
evening and Sunday dress-the dress in which
he leaned against lamp-posts and wore in his
hours of relaxation
Dinah Hucklebee was at this time, by COM
mon consent, the darkey belle of Thompson
street. Her hair was the kinkiest, her skin
the shiniest, her teeth the whitest, and her
lips the thickest. Dinah was the daughter of
poor but honest parents. Her father was
connected with the peanut interest, and her
mother drank bad gin with assiduity worthy
better cause. Therefore, Dinah's exchequer
was as lean as church mouse. Her ward
robe was not extensive. Her education had
been sadly neglected.
In the course of Thompson and Sullivan
street events, it fell out that Cuffee johnson
and Dinah Hucklebee fell in love. Cuffee
was an attentive lover. He took his Dinah
to the colored balls-and right here my story
properly commences.
There was to be grand Terpsichorean
event-the greatest Ethiopian shin-dig of the
season. The swell walters of the Broadway
restaurants were to be there, and the waves of
excitement in colored society ran high.
"Shall we go?" said Cufee.
"Ifyer says so, replied Dinah, showing her
ivories in blissful anticipation.
That settled it.
-- The night came : and Cuffee called for his
Dinah in ample season. His get-up was of
the most agonizing description. 1t actually
included "biled shirt" and paper collar
But Cuffee found his Dinah in tears burn
ing tears. w
"What under goodness is de matter, Dinah ?'
questioned CuAee.
Ic-c-can't g-go," whispered the sable
beauty.
"An' why, il in de name of common sense,
can't you go?"
"Cause amt got no stockin's, CuAee.
Pop promised to get me some to-day, but he
didn't-an' now | Cant g-go."
The sight of his sweetheart in tears fred
Cuffee's manhood.
"This hain't no time for hesitation" he ex-
claimed, waving his arms in melodramatic
style; "this are time for action. Wait you
here my Dinah until I return"
Out he bounded, leaving the stockingless
belle in doubt as to his sanity.
"He's got 'em for sure" she murmured. II
tole him dat Robinson's whisky was de wust
whisky in de hull ward. He's got 'em for
sure"
Within ten minutes Cuffee returned, bear
ing the implements of his trade-a brush and
a pail of whitewash.
"You shall go, Dinah," he cried. "You
shall 60. I've got idea. Stick out your
feet"
Dinah did as she was bidden, and by few
dexterous brushes by the artist in lime, they
were neatly whitewashed.
"Have 'em long or short?' he paused to
ask.
"'Bout middlin', Cufee," was the reply.
"Middlin' it is; stand up second. There
yer are, an whittier, cooler, or better fttin'
pair Of stockin's no gal ever had
"Yes, an dey saves garters, too, Cuffee."
And so they went to the ball in spite Of ad
verse circumstances, and were the jolliest COM
pany Of jolly negroes in the whole jolly assem-
blage.
Cufee thinks of getting out patent on his
invention, but Dinah says if she catches him
furnishing any other girl with whitewash
stockings, she will break his skull with pa
vingstone.