River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-12-13
Look In Your Boots.

1OVh az UnA DbNNHs
Gully was black. Blacki If he had
had coat of his fayorite DAY and Mar
tin" on bis face he couldn't have been
blacker. He had though, white con-
science on all matters of truth. He was
! honest That shone out of his handsome
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 vet had ever caught Cuffy in a
lie. And still one day, Mr.. Simpson, his
employer at the hotel, thought surely he
had fished a lie and a theft out of the
shining depths Of Cuffy's eyes.
He YVES 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 wanting to
hurry up every living thing, from the
bootblack in the cellar TO the chamber
maid in the attic.
What, Cuffyin he said, mot done. Let
me take hold. Where are the minister's
boots, I'll shine them for YOU. Getting
lazy, Cuffy?" Cuffy only grinned more
good naturedly 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."
Mr.. Simpson was reddening with the
exercises till his round face glowed like
red-hot griddle, and it was a wonder the
Precipitation on it didn't sizzlel
Pussy, Cufy. Pussy amt SO bad as
lazy"
Cuffy gave another grin, and showed
more ivory pillars than ever IN his
"Weli, massa, don't spill yourself into
dose boots. Dere's wristband coming
off,
Tut. tut Cufy. I'll take care. There
lazy boys work is done. Now scamper
round with these boots"
The next moment Cuffy was shutting
along the entries, whistling an appropriate
tune. ''carry me homer and dropping his
burdens or boots ar one door after another.
five minutes later. Mr.. Simpson was in a
stew, boiling ever with veXation. He
couldn't find wristband with a valued
gold button in it, Where was it! He
fused under all the tables; he fused in
the entries; he fused out on the side
walk: he bothered the cook; he thumb
screwed the souls of the walters: he ran
up to the market 10 see if he had possibly
left it there while buying pie meat and
pumpkins. lie excited 50 much interest
in that sleeve button by questioning every
BODY. that it wouldn't have been surpris-
ing if some one had run and struck the
town bell sounded an alarm, and called
ont the people 70 institute general hunt
for the missing article. 1t suddenly came
into Mr. Simpsons mind. Why there's
Cuffy he was with me when / had the
button. He spoke about Il. The rogue
has got il sure
He found Cuffy in the office and turned
upon him quick as cat upon mouse.
Nothing like a pounce all at once,
thought Mr.. Simpson, to surprise the
guilty. "Cuify, give me my sleeve but
ton." he abruptly demanded. / don't
know but that he expected Cuffy to turn
pale in his confusion, some8ing Cuffy had
never been known to doyet. Cuffy, how
ever. faced the employer boldly. The
spirit of George Washington and Benja-
min Franklin, supposed to reside in every
honest boys soul, rose right up in the
breast of Cufy, and it seemed as if his
curly hair would really stand up in his
indignation.
II didn't do muffin, massa," replied
Cuffy. Mr. Simpson looked in astonish-
ment on the bold Cuify, but Cuffy looked
back till it seemed the eyes would start
out of his head and fly at Mr.. Simpson
like bullets at a mark.
A crowd began to gather from the en-
tries
"Go,get the police" suggested board
er.
Don't care if he gets the pleese and
+ the whole of Uncle Sans army. | didn't
do muffin, f" shouted Cufy, defantly.
Just then the minister who was occu-
pying one of Mr.. Simpsons rooms, en-
/ tered. He stopped, looked at the crowd
and then came up to Mr.. Simpson,
whats thisl Just wanted to say, sir, on
my way out TO take walk, that / found
this" He held up wrist band with
gold button danglngl 81 don't know
+ but You'll think the minister is thief,
+ fcr-for-to own up, l found it in my
boots. How it came there l don't see"
/ Cuffy began to grin. The crowd began
/ to laugh and cheer. Poor Mr.. Simpson,
4 looked as if an immediate balloon as
cension would be relief. "Well--wellm
he stammered out, He hesitsted a mo-
ment. "Cuffy, forgive me" he gasped
out "All right, massa, will" cried
Cuffy.
That ended il, but the next time that
Mr.. Simpson wants to charge any one
with theft he will be likely to stop first
and look in the boots he has BACKED