The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-09-13
CHINNY JONES' WELL.
A COW COUNTY sKETCH.
BY PAP.

BY PAP.
Buck -tail-bend is the name of q rur
little hamlet situated upon one of the tr
butaries Of Leaf river, and at the time o
which write, was in, what might be calle
a f1ourishing condition. Two stores, on
grocery--wherein whisky and kindred spirit
were retailed-a blacksmith, and wheelrigh
shop, a school house in which meeting
were held the fourth Sunday in each month
a half dozen dwelling houses, and this wa
all of Buck-tail bend.
The saloon, or 'grocery," as they callet
it, situated upon little eminence overlook
ing the place, was by far the best building
in town, and seemed to be the leading bust
ness house, from the crowds of men wht
constantly thronged its doors, and the
numerous horses and mules hitched about
the place.
Jink Smith, the proprietor, was popular
man, and withal something of a wag, and
many were the jokes passed by him as he
dispensed spirits to the thirsty, over his
own bar. Jink had but one enemy in the
place, and that was Chinny Jones, the hero
of our sketch. The feud between them
arose as follows: Jones was member of
the church, and seldom ever entered the
grocery" but still he loved its contents,
and to indulge his appetite as well as to set
a good example before his brother mem
bers, he invariably took his in private, or,
in other words, he always sent his son with
the little brown jug, and had it filed after
night fall, when the frequenters of the
place had left for home, and as he was
good customer, of course Jink Smith was
too good financier to divulge. Thus mat
ters continued for long time, until one
night, young Jones, on his way to the gro
Gerry, accidentally broke the jug, and fear
ing chastisement from his father for his
carelessness, remembered there was two or
three more empty ones at home like that he
had broken, he Immediately repaired thither
and procuring one on the sly, fastened to
the grocery and had it filled Twas only a
few steps from the grocery to his father
house, and Chinny soon had the cork out
and contents noted.
'Whew," said he with terrible scowl,
after he had taken half glass full; "what
kind of durn stuff's this Smiths gin me,
now I'd like to know ?"
"Whisky, I s'pose,' answered his son,
looking as bold as chicken thief, for Just
then he remembered that one of the jugs
in the little back room where he had got
that, had at one time contained coal oil,
and perhaps that was the one, and then he
wondered he had not thought of it in time
TO avert the catastrophy. "Why, what's
he matter with it ?" he asked, still mains
aiming his innocent look, while his poor
oersecuted father was heaving and gagging
ike sea-sick woman.
"Matter enough yelled Chinny, as soon
Is his agitated stomach would allow him to
peak. ''It's regular rot gut favored with
'oal oil; what barrel did he draw it from ?"
81 don no, didn't watch him." replied
he son.
"Durn his pictur', I'll pay him for this.
ink Smith mustn't think me fool to play ]
18th, arter this fashion, no sir"
Next day, Chinny Jones and Jink Smith
let. Jones accused Smith of trying to poi {
on him with "rat-gut Smith denied it, {
offending he &c mt the same whisky Jones I
ad always bought. Jones said Smith put 6
oal oil into it, while Smith denied it, say>
ng if there was coal oil in it, it wae in the s
lg when it came to his grocery. Jones t
new better as it was the same jug he had {
ways sont; and he kept it locked up at
,me, and always sent it to be filled just as =
on as it was empty. t.
Thus one word brought on another, and
ows seemed inevitable, when friends in> n
rfered and they parted. Jones declaring f,
would never purchase a dollars worth "
Smith, and Smith forbidding Jones fu- h
re access to his (Smith's) we'll. This was
9 "unkindest cut of ALL" for although @,
nith's and Jones' places joined, Smith
d an excellent well of water, and Jones Al
d none; although he had dug two or three IL
ey had proven failures, and for years had Al
cd the water from Smiths well. A high q,
$50 fence separated Jones back yard from N
lith's garden, though the garden is on ec
lch higher ground than the yard, gate NJ
ened in the fence through which the 4,
nes family had been wont to pass to and fo
I'M the well; this was nailed up within an
ur after the difficulty, and all communi- ia
ion between the two places for the time is
led. L
Jhinny Jones was forced to haul water fo
m a spring a half mile distant, and al,
st Immediately became great advocate "a
temperance. ha
ate one hot summer day few weeks 90
,sequent to the events related above, thC
nny Jones had just returned from the
ing with a barrel of water chained to res
drag" stopping near his gate, and ed
ardly bemoaning his luck in having to dir
] water so far, a gentleman driving gar
r Of fine mules attached to a fancy the
lted wagon, halted in the road opposite the
J. abb
Good evening, sir" said The stranger. gar
Good evening"" responded Chinny. He
Warm warm weather." continued the rem
niger. the
Yes, specially when q man has to haul boy