The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-11-12
"LITTLE JOE"

Tom WISE, a great big, handsome fel-
low, with a heart of the same order, was
standing at the corner talking to a friend.
He held a cigar to his his mouth with his
left hand, and with his light had just
struck a match against the lamp-pOst.
when at-Or rather under-his elbow a
voice exclaimed cheerily, Busted agin,
Mas Toni"
Tom threw glance over his shoulder.
and there stood Little joe" a small
miSshappen negro about - years old,
with crutches under his arms and feet all
twisted out of shape. his toes barely touch
ing the ground as he hoped along. He
had on an old straw hat with only a hint
of brim. There must be some law of CO.
heSiYe attraction 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 Ikea
natural eNcreScence or a horrible bore.
Joe had met with very few people mean
enough to laugh at him; for, though he
possessed all the brightness and cheerful
ness and pluck of deformed people gener-
allv, there was a wistful look about his
eyes which his want of height and his pO-
SitiOn on crutches intensified (indeed, per
haps, 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, but to gid these faded
gloricS he wore a swallow-tailed coat with
brass buttons, which some one had given
him, whether from a sense of humOr OF
a sentiment of charity let the gods de-
eide.
"Busted agin, Mas Tom ~
"What busted you this time, Joe p
asked Mr.. Wise.
Lumber, Mas Tom. | was in dc lum-
Der bizniss las week, buyin' ole shingles
an sellin' 'em for kindlin'; but my pard-
ner, he naked a run on de bank-leaS
ways on my breeches pOcket-an den run
ned away hisself. Amt you gwine to sOt
me up agin, Mas Tom?'
"What business are you going into this
week."
b" Feckshunnery.' replied Joe, taking
the quarter Mr.. Wise handed him. "Dis'll
do to buy de goods, but 'twon't rent de
sto'. Mas Tom"
"What storeg asked Mr.. Wise.
Dat big stO' Hunt an Manson is ies'
moved outen. Mr.. Manson say | may hab
it for sebben hundred dollars eff you'll 60
my skoorty."
Tom laughed: "Wen. Joe, | was
thinking | wouldn't go security for any
body this week. Don't you think you
can do business on a smaller scale"
Joe's countenance fell. and he suffered
visibly, but cheering thought presently
struck him, and he exclaimed disdainful-
ly, Anyhow, | amt a-keering bout
Hunt an Manson's ole stO'-der ole seb-
ben hunderd-dollar stor | can get 4
goods box and turn it upside down, an
stan * up by de Capitol grOun's, an
more folks'll pass long am buy goobers
dan would come i'm dat ole sto' all der year.
Dey amt spitin' me- :"
As Joe limped off to invest his money.
his poor little legs swinging and his swal-
low-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 a little in other ways. Some
times he buys matches and newspapers
and sells them again, sometimes he buys
ginger cakes and eats them all; but he is
invariably busted as he calls it, by Sat
urday night-JOe, ooh, JOem
Joe looked back, and, with perfect indit'
ference to the fact that he was OBTAINING
Mr.. Wise, answered that he would . be dan
torectiy," continuing his negotiations foI
an empty goods box lying at the door Of
neighboring dry-gOodS store. "What
you want, Mas TOm?' he asked on In.
return.
Miss Mollie is going to be married
week after next, Joe, and you may come
up 10 the house if you like. | was afraid
might forget it"
"WhO0p yOu, sir, Thanky Mas Tom
boun' TO see Miss Mollie step of de car
pit. But, Lord-a-musSyi dem new nigger,
you all got amt gwine to lemme in.''
sCome to the front door and ask 70
me. Cut out now. and don't get buste,
this week. because | shall need all m,
money to buy breastpin to wait on m,
sister in. Come. John, let's register"
Joe's glance followed Mr.. Wise and hi
friend till they were out of sight; then n
turned and paused no more till he reache
an out-Of-the-way grocery store, in In
window of which were displayed sample
of fish and soap and calico and kerosen
lamps and dreadful brass jewelry, anon
which was a frightful breatpin in tn
shape of a crescent set with red and gree
glass, and further ornamented by a chai
of the most atrocious description concelN
able. Before this thing OF beauty, whic
10 MN had been Joy for weeks, Joe pau;
ed and fingered, and smote lis little blac
breast and sighed the sigh of poverty
linen he went in. "What mout be
price O dat gents pin i'm de corner OBJ de
windery' he inquired.
don't see any gent in the corner q
the window" said the proprietor of th
store.