Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-11-19

glass, aud further ornamented by a chain
of the most atrocious description conceiv-
able. Before this thing of beauty (which to
him had been a joy for weeks, Joe paused
and fingered, and smote his little black
breast. and sighed the sigh of poverty.
Then he went in, What mought be the
price o dat gents pin in de corner ob de
winder?' he inquired
Il don't see any gent in the corner of the
window said the proprietor of the store.
Joe took the mild pleasantly, and inquir-
Ing what mout be de price Of the pin p
was told that it might be anything-from
nothing up-but 1t could go TOR seventy
five cents.
He stood again outside the window.
looking sadly and rejecting at the attrac-
tive bijou, then seated himself on the curb
stone, his crutches resting in the gutter,
and thoughtfIlly smoothed between his
finger and thumb the twenty five cent note
Mr.. Wise had given him. .Ef takes dis
an de one Mas Toms gwine to gimme
mex week. dat'll be fifty cents, but IL won't
be seventy five, SO got to make quarter
on de two. Ef Miss Mollie knowed, | spec
she would wait anoder week to git mar.
ried, an den | wouldn't run no resk o.
desc; but | amt gwine to tell her, cos l
know she couldn't help telling Mas Tom,
an. want to s'prise him. Mass Tom Is
made me feel good a many q time; I want
TO make him feel good wunst. He don't
nnver come dis way, and, aint seed dat
pin, or he would ha' had IL fore now
Then Little Joe bestirred himself, and,
obtaining the assistance of a friend, took
his dry-goods box up to Capitol Square.
There he turned 1t upside down, spread a
newspaper over the top, and proceeded to
display his wares.
pyramid of three apples stood In one
corner; small stack of peppermint candy
was its ris-d-ris, tiny glass of peanuts
graced the third, and was confronted by a
lemon that had seen life. aud was now
more serc than yellow. But the crowning
glory was the centre-piece-an unhappy
'N'''. ~ ~ 'ATa-' itaS anu NIlli pnNsl
que, yet how beautiful to Joe. He stepped
back on his crutches, turning his head
from side TO side As he surveyed the effect
took up lotust branch he had brought
with him TO brush away the flies, and.
leaning against the iron railing, with calm
dignity awaited coming events.
His glance presently fell on the figure
OF a negro boy. who stood gazing with
longing eyes on the delicacies of his table.
and 1t was with "A strange feeling of kim
ship that Joe continued to regard the
newcomer for he too had been brand
cd by misfortune. He appeared TO be about
Joe's age. and should have been taller.
but his legs had been amputated nearly up
to the knee. and as he stood on the pitiful
stumps. supported by short cane in one
hand, his head was hardly a, high a. the
iron railing. He had none Of Joe's bright
ness. but looked ragged and dirty and hum
cry, and evidently had no Mas Tom to
help the good Lord aud the birds of the
air TO take care of him. His skin was of a
dull ashen hue, and the short wool which
clung close to his scalp was sunburnt til
1t was red and crisp, and formed a curious :
contrast TO his black face, One arm was
bare, only the ragged remains ofa sleeve
hanging over the shoulder, and it seemed
no great misfortune that his leg. had been
shortened. for he had hardly pantaloons
enough TO cover what he had left.
He looked at the pie, and Joe looked at
him. Presently the latter inquired serious.
ly 'Whar yo' legsT
Cut otf,' was the answer.
How come dey cut orr
Feet was fros'-bit. Like ter kill me.
What yo' name:' asked Joe.
'kiah'
What were yo' mas name:
Didn't have no ole mas.
Was you a natchfui free Digger?'
Dunno what you mean said kiah.
Fore We was all sot free explained
Little Joe. Was YOU born with an ole mas
an ole mis-, or was you born freezes
natchully free
Free, said kiah. thus placing him self,
as every Southerner knows, under the ban
of Joes contempt, 'Umph: my Lor'. Dat
pie shdv do smell good"
You look hungry, said Joe gravely.
Il is,' said Kiah-'hungry as a dog,
Negroes are generous creatures, and
Joes mind was fully made up to give kiah
a piece of pie; but before he signified this
bnevoleut intention he rested his crutches
ulder his shoulders, aud swung his miss
lnpen feet almost in kiah's face. He leer-
I'd at him; he griued at him; he stuck his
:hin in his face. and made dart at him
with the crown of his head; finally snap
ping his eyes and clapping his sides and
swinging his heels TO the following edition
of 'Juba,' repeated with incredible rapidity
aud indescribabie emphasis -
Ruby-eyed 'simmon seed
See Billy hopping ,jes in time;
Juba dis an Juba dat,
Juba' killed de. .yaller cat.
Round de kittle o possum fat.
Whoop a-hoy! whoop a-hoy.
Double step o Juba!
Forty pound o candle-grease.
settin' on de mantlepiece.
Don't you see ole Granny Graee'
She look so homely in de face.
Up de wall an down de 'tition,
Gimme axe sharp as sickle,
Cut de nigger's woozen pipe
What eat up all de snasfengers!
Git up dar, you little niger!
Can't you pat Juba?
He stopped suddenly and grinned fero-
ciously at Kiah. Kiah gazed stolidly back
at Joe. Then Joe stepped to the table, took
up rusty old pOcket-knife. and cutting
out piece Of the pie handed it to Kiah.
Kiah bit of point OF the triangle with his
eyes fixed on Joe as If in doubt whether he
would be allowed to proceed, but finding
that the liberty was not resented, he eag-
erly devoured the remainder, drew his
coat-sleeve across his mouth, and said
'Thanky.' And thus their friendship COM