The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-11-05
LITTLE JOE. 5"
rProm Lippencott's for November.]

fellow, with heart OF the same Order,
was standing at the corner talking to
friend. He held cigar to his mouth
with his left hand, and with his right
had lust struck a match against the
lamp. post, when at--or rather under
his elbow exclaimed cheerily, Busted
agin, Mas Tom y
Tom threw glance over his shoulder.
and there stood ''Little joe small,
misshapen negro about fifteen years
old, with crutches under his arms and
feet all twisted out of shape, his toes
barely touching the ground as he
hoped along. He had on an old straw
hat with only hint Of brim. There
must be some law of cohesive at
traction between straw and wool, for
little Joe's Uranium was large, while the
hat was small, and set back much
nearer the nape of his neck than the
crown Of his head, yet held its place
like natural excrescence or horrible
bore. Joe had met with very few peo-
pie mean enough to laugh at him for,
though he possessed all the brightness
and cheerfulness and pluck of deformed
people generally, there was a wlsttul
look about his eyes which
his want of height and
his position on clutches intensified lin
deed, perhaps, created), by keeping
them upturned while talking with any
one taller than himself; and this was
generally the case, for there were no
grown people so small as Little Joe.
His shirt was torn and his pantaloons
ragged. bat TO gid these faded glories
he wore a swallow-tailed coat with
brass buttons, which some one had
given HIM, whether from a sense of
humor or sentiment of charity let the
gods decide.
"Busted agin, Mas Tomt'
"What busted you this time, Joe =
asked Mr.. Wise.
Lumber, Mas Tom. was in de
lumber dismiss las week, buyin' ole
shingles an sellin' 'em for kindlin !;
but my pardner, he naked run on de
bank-lcas' ways on my breeches pocket
an den ruined away hissef. Amt
you gwine to sot me up agln' Mas
Tom :"
"What business are you going into
this week a.
'Feckshunnery," replied Joe, TAX
ing the quarter Mr.. Wise handed him.
"Dis'll do to buy de goods, but 'twon't
rent de sto', Mas Tom
What store1" asked Mr.. Wise.
"Dat big sto' Hunt an Manson is jes'
moved onten. Mr.. Manson say may
hab it for sebben hundred dollars eff
you'll go my skoorty."
Tom laughed: "Well, Joe, I was
thinking wouldn't go security for any
body this week. Don't you think you
can do business on smaller scale g
Jse's countenance fell, and he suf-
fered visibly, but a cheering thought
presently struck him, and he exclaimed
disdainfully, "Anyhow, l amt a-keer-
ing bout Hunt an Mason's ole sto'-
der ole sebben-hunderd-d dollar sto'! l
can git goods box an turn it upside
down, en- stan it up by dc Capitol
groun s, an more folks'll pass long an
buy COOLERS dan would come in dat ole
sto' all de year. Dey amt spitin
me-"
As Joe limped off to invest his money,
his poor little legs swinging and his
swallow-tails tapping, Toms friend
asked who he was.
Belonged to us before the war,
said Tom. ''Poor little devil! the
good Lord and the birds of the air
seem to take care of him. set him
up in business with twenty-five cents
every week, and look after him little
IN other ways. Sometimes he buys
matches and newspapers, and sells them
again; sometimes be buys ginger cakes
and eats them all but he is invariably
busted" as he calls it. by Saturday
night--Joe o oh, joel
Joe looked back, and, with perfect
Indifference to the fact that he was de-
tanning Mr.. Wise, answered that hi
would ''be dar torectly,' continuing his
negotiations for an empty goods box
lying at the door Of a neighboring dry
goods store. what ysu want, Mas
Tom :" he asked on his return.
Miss Mollie is going to be married
week after next, Joe, and you may
come up to the house if you like.
was afraid l might forget it,
"Whoop you, sir! Thanky, Mas
Tom. l boun' to see Miss Mollie stel
off de carpit. But, Lord-a-mussy den
new niggers you all got amt gw'ne t.
femme in.
Come to the front door and ask fo'
me. Cut out now, and don't get busted
this week, because ! shall need all m,
money to buy breastpin to wait Of
my sister in. Come, John, let's regis
ter.
Joe's glance followed Mr.. Wise an,
his friend till they were out of sight
then he turned and paused no more til
he reached an out-of.the-way grocer,
store. in the window Of which were dis
paved samples of fish and soap an
calico and kerosene lamps and dreadfr
brass jewelry, among which was
frightful breastpin in the shape of
crescent set with red and green glass
and further ornamented by chain {
the most atrocious description concei'
able. Before this thing Of beaut.
which to him had teen JOY for week
Joe paused and fingered, and smote h
,oi- hr,,e4 .,A e;ohod the Sich