The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-01-30
UNCLE PETE.
Another Good sNfg'' About 10 Pass I'm
His ssChfps.-

Another Good ssNfg'' About TO Pass I'm
His ssChfps.-
[Dan De guile, in the Virginia Enterprisel
He sat in musing mood on the top rail of
a worm fence and gazed wistfully across a
forty acre field toward the double log capin
of Missouri landed proprietor He was an
aged African of most benevolent aspect.
Peace and good will to all were written in
every feature of his ebon coIntenance. A
few gray hairs were visible in his beard and
wool, and, as he got down of the fence and
started across the half plowed stubble field
toward the mansion at which he had been
gazing, bad limp was noticeable in his
right leg, the knee of which bowed outward
somewhat
This venerable colored man was known in
the neighborhood as "Uncle Pete" As he
neared the double cabin he halted, shaded
his eyes with his hand, and, after gazing
moment muttered:
"Yes, dar he is-dar is Marse George a-set-
tim on de porach a-redin' his papah. Golly,
/ cotch um at homer
"Marse George" said Uncle Pete, few
minutes later, as he hoboled into the veran-
| da, seated himself on bench and decor
ously adjusted his old wool hat over the
| glaring patches on the knees of his trousers.
"Marse George, Use come to see you once
mo'-once mo- befo leabes you fo'ebber.
Marse George, Use gwlne to de odder shoah;
Use far on de way to my long home-to dat
home ober acrost de ribber whar de wicked
hab no mo- trouble and whar wstermlllions
ripens all de yeahrl'
"Yous has all bin berry kline to me heah,
Marse George-berry kline to de ole man
but Use gwine away acrost de dark ribber.
Use gwine ober, an dar on dat o" der shoah
| I'll stan and pick de golden hawp among de
\ angels an in de company OBJ de blest. Oar
I'll fine my rest-dar I'll stan befo' de
throne TO ebber mo-, singing and shout
| in susannis TO de Lodi"
'Oh, no, Uncle Pete,'' says the proprietor
OF the plantation, You are all right yet
| you're good for another twenty years"
Berry kline O. you to say dat, Marse
| George-berry kine-but it's no use 1t
almos' breaks my hawt to leah you, an to
| leab de missus an de chillun, Marse George,
but Pse got my call-rse all gone inside.'
Don't talk so, Uncle Pete; you are still
quite hale old man, )" said the kind hearted
| planter.
mo use taIkin', Marse George, Use gwine
| to hebben berry soon. Pears like can
heah de singin' on de odder> shoab Pears
| like / can heah de voice of 'Aund Liza an
de odders dat's gone befoah. You'se bin
berry kline to me. Marse George-de Missus
an de chilun's BIN berry good--seems like
| all de peoples bin berry good to poor old
| Pete-poor cretur like me.
sometimes feels like Use bin a passin'
TO- mo- dan Use wuf-'pears like Use bin
gittin' credit TO CON when L on'y brot cobs
| and shucks to de mawket. 1 may set in de
sun few days mo-; fo' a little time i may
look on de trees an de grass an de sky; /
may hearken to de singin' OBJ de birds little
longer, but Use got de call an L feel ii. Use
all gone inside, Marse George-all gone in
side, sah."
Nonsense, Uncle Pete" said the planter,
smiling cheerfully and speaking encourag-
ingly; "nonsensel you are good for many
years yet. You'll see the sod placed on the
graves of many younger men than you are
before they dig the hole for youl What you
want just now, Uncle Pete is good square
meal. Go into the kitchen and help your
self-fill up inside. There is no one at home,
but think you know the road. Plenty of
cold victuals of all kinds in there"
"Bleeged tye, Marse bleeged
tye, sah I'll go. For de little time l. has
got to stay I'll not go agin natur'; but its no
use. Use all gone inside-Pse got my call.
Pm one o. dem dat's on the way to de
golden shoah."
Old Pete's limp is hardly noticeable as he
departs from the depository of catables and
sanity smile Eliminates his wrinkled
face.
Left alone, the planter is soon absorbed in
his paper-the Missouri Brunswicker-and
he notes not the long absence of Uncle Pete.
At last, however, he is aroused by hearing
the old mans voice as he merrily carols the
following:
''Zounds'' cried the planter, if that old
thief Of Niger hasn't found my bitters bot
tlel Pete! Pete, you black rascal
pete, you rascal, come out of that!'' cries
the planter.
Pete hears not. for he is now dancing
gentle shuttle and singing.
"You, Petei Blast the niggeri" cries the
now thoroughly aroused planter, throwing
down his paper and rushing to the scene of
all this unseemly hilarity.
Unconscious of his approach, or of his
presence in the world, Pete sings.
"Petel' broke in the irate Missourian
"Pete, you internal old rascal is that the
way you are crossing the river? Are those
the songs they sing on the golden shore? Is
this the way for a man to act when he has
got his call-when he is ali gone inside?"
Old Pete looked much as he would had he
been caught in a hen roost as the planter
stood before him and Numbered these ques-
tons at him. At last, however, he fouD nd
courage to say: "Marse George, Use got de
call sure, and Use gwine acrost de dark rib
ber soon, but Use now braced up little on
de inside an DE 'scursion arm postponed
'scursion am postponed, sah!"