The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-12-05
BTJAH'S HOUR.

Inc OIIlof Qay, Wnen q man uTOpp0u
in on Bijah and wiped the tears from
his eyes, and said that his family waa
in rags, hungry and sick, the old jani-
tors heart swelled up and he replied:
$50 down to my farm and help
yourself, take half the crops-take all
of them"
"It't too good-too good!"-sighed
the weeping man.
''No, it amt, continued Bijah, 81
put in them crops On purpose for the
poor of Detroit, and you hire wagon
and go down there and draw off enough
to last your family all the winter"
y The citizen broke down and sobbed
like a child, and BTah blew his nose
with great violence and said to him
self:
''Whats the use of being bald-head-
ed and big-footed if you can't put pry
under human being in distress"
The man was gone about an hour,
and he returned without any tears in
his eyes. On the contrary, his face
was red, his eyes flashed, and he stood
before Bijah and yelled:
"Pm a good mind to rub your ears
agin yer shoulders"
"Great cider-mills! but what has oc-
Cured now" gasped the old man.
''You sent me down to the farm!"
81 did, and told you to draw of all
of the crops"
d" And I've dFawed 'em and here
they are!"
The man unrolled paper and ex-
hibited shiveled old beet, two cab
| bage leaves, three or four faded string
beans, and a potato about the size sf a
/ buckeye.
''You told me to hire wagon and
draw 'em OFF, he went on, throwing
the beet on the floor. II hired one,
and this is the load! you have cost me
fifty cents, and I'm a good mind to
lick youl you are an old chimpanzee
under the fence-an old garter-snake
in a frog pond-a hyena in-!"
At this point he got so mad that he
hit Bijah nnder the chin with the beet
and rushed out doors. The old man
stood like one in a trance, and it was
! fully. three minutes before he could
gasp out:
''If gratitude exists in the human
heart then I'm willing to be called q
dodo!"
THE ELIXIR.
A woman and boy slowly approached
the station.
They were mother and son.
The boy looked serious and the
mother was doing a great deal Of talk
ing. She said she'd heard that they
had opened a museum at the station,
she asked John Henry if he'd ike to
90 in and see the animals.
"'Sposc they got any snakes?" he
asked
''Lots of EN-"
"Any babboons?"
'More'n Dozen"
"And stuffed bridegrooms?"
eyes, heaps of 'em."
The boy had his suspicious, but GU
riosity overcame them, and he finally
consented to go in. As he entered the
parlor the mother winked at BJah
over his head, whispered the one word
elixir and she was gone before
John Henry could realize the situation.
81 am glad to see you. my boy" re-
marked Bijah, by way of breaking the
ice.
"Where's them babboons?" demand
ed the boy, as he looked around.
''NIy son, the way of the transgress-
or is hard, no matter whether the spell
Iing-book says so or not.
'Where's that stuffed bridegroom
shouted the boy.
''FIe has gone out for walk in the
mellow sunlight, Johnny, but come VI
stairs and III show you the Elixir"
"You can't fool mel"
'sThere is no fooling about this. Or
the contrary, this is a very solemn oc
casion. Come on"
The boy suspected the worst, anC
making a dive to get under the tabl
he upset it and came near getting on
doors. He was finally secured ant
elevated to the second story, the doc
locked, and he was placed in the biz
chair labeled: Meditation" he mad
up his mind to die in the last ditch.
"Your mother didn't have time I
9 explain your conduct nor detail you
history" remarked Bijah in fatherl
tone, ''but I think she wants the Elixi
] applied on general principles. F"
"Murderl" shouted the boy as h
tried to get out of the chair.
'sI should like to sit here and stud
: your disposition" unused BJah, "bu
time flies, and I'm a leetle bit anxiou
to try this new spanker."
Don't you darel' shouted the bo
; having a dim idea Of what was con
h ing.
: "You observe my son, that faste
d this shet-iron pad around my left le