Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-11-19
Slrmth's Column.
DON'T FAIL TO LOOK IN YOUR
ROOTS. A


been blacker. He had. though, white
conscience on all matters of truth.
had rather have a black face and white
conscience than black conscience and
a white face. The color outside is not
the great thing. A white skin is very
unpopular in Africa. An old woman
who befriended Mungo Park on the
banks of the Niger couldn't help ex-
claiming when she looked at him, "God
preserve us from the devil !" 1t is the
color inside that is the great thing; and
here lot could be said for Cuffy. He
was honest. That shone out of his hand
some dark eyes. They were deep wells
with a sparkle to them that guided you
right to the bottom, and there you saw
the truth. Nobody yet had ever caught
Cuffy in lie. And still one day, Mr..
Simpson. his employer at the hotel,
thought surely he had ished lie and a
theft out of the shining depths of Cufy's
eyes. And this was the way it happened.
He was singing my Lubly Lady"
and at the same time with his brush
playing an accompaniment on the boots
of the boarders. In came Mr.. Simpson,
rather nervous that morning and wanted
to hurry up every living thing. from
the bootblack in the cellar to the cham
ber-maid in the attic.
"What, Cufy !" he said, mot done?
Let me take hold. Where are the min
ister's boots? I'll shine them for you.
Getting lazy, Cufy?" Cuffy only grin
ned more good naturally than usual,
till it seemed as if the split that nature
made in his face would run round from
ear to ear.
Guess, massa, you'd better stay in
dat Office. You makes fussy work of it. 1"
Mr.. Simpson was reddening with the
exercise till his round face glOwed like
red hot griddle, and it was wonder
the perspiration on it didn't sizzle
"Fussy, Cuffy Pussy amt SO bad as
lazy.
Cufy gave another grin and showed
more ivory pillars than ever in his
mouth.
"Well, massa, don't spill yourself into
dose boots. Dere's wristbaDd coming
off p
tut, tut! Cuffy. I'll take care
There lazy boys work is done. Now
scamper round with these boots"
The next moment, Cufy was shutting
along the entries, whistling an apprO.
pirate tune, Garry me home p anG
dropped his burden of boots at one dOOl
after another. Five minutes later Mr.
Simpson was in a stew, boiling ovel
with vexation. He couldn't find {
wristband with valued gold button t
it. Where was it? He fused out OIL
the sidewalk. He bothered. He thumb
screwed the souls of the walters. H
ran up to the market to see if he ha,
possibly left it there while buying pie
meat and pumpkins. He excited s
much interest in that sleeve-button b
questioning everybody that it wouldn'
have been surprising if some one ha'
run and struck the town bell, sounde,
an alarm, and called out the people I
institute general hunt for the missin
article. 1t suddenly came into Nj
Simpsons mind, "Why, there's Cuffy
He was with me when had the buttol
He spoke about it. The rogue has e
it, surel"
He found Cufy in the Office an
turned upon him as cat upon nous
Nothing like pounce all at ono
thought Mr.. Simpson. to surprise IL
guilty. "Cufy, give me my sleeve bu
tOn." he abruptly demanded. 1 don
know but that he expected Cuffy to tur
pale in his confusion, something Cuff
had never been known to do yet Cuff
however. faced his employer boldl
The spirit Of George Washington al
Benjaman Franklin, supposed to resic
in every honest boys soul, rose right l
in the breast of Cuffy. and it seemed
if his curly hair would really stand U
in his indignation.
81 didn't do muffin, massa," repli
Cufy. Mr.. Simpson looked in astonis
meut on the bold Cufy. but Cuffy loo
ed back till it seemed the eyes wou
start out of his head and Fly at NJ
Simpson like bullets at mark.
A crowd began to gather from t
entries.
go get the police" suggested
bOarder.
don't care if he gets the pleese a
the whole of Uncle Sans army. did
do nufhin," shouted Cufy, de6antly.
just then the minister came in,
Thomas, occupying one Of Mr.. Simpso
rooms. He stopped. looked at the Gro
and then came up to Mr.. simps
What's this? | just wanted to s.
sir, on my way out to take walk. Il
1 found this" He held up wristba
with gold button dangliugl 81 do
know but you'll think the minister is
thief. fOr-fOr-tO own up, found
in my 6Ootsl How it came there do