The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-12-16
A Coon JOKE.

One fine winter evening, early in the
present century, Col. Blank Ga queer
name, is it not? and his maiden sister,
Patty, were sitting, one on each side Of
a delightful hickory fire, enjoying their
oti,,n1 cam 6ignitatus without any inter-
rusotion, for neither Of them had spoken
a word for at least an hour, and that.
considering the sex of Miss Patty, was
certainly very remarkable. The Colonel
was sitting cross-legged in d great arm
chair, with his pipe in one hand, news
paper IN the other, spectacles on-fast
asleep. Miss Patty was moving herself
gently backward and forward in a low
rocking chair sitting as straight as an
knitting. Close at her feet was
Miss Puss, her paws folded gracefully
under her, doing very composedly, and
evincing her satisfaction by murmuring
ical p-u-r-r, while MI. Carlo was
stretched out at full length on the rug in
front OF the fire, and like his master
sound asleep.
At length the Colonel, rousing from
his nap, took off his spectacles and
rubbed his eyes, then, glancing them at
huge pile OF papers that lay on the ia
bic near him, said, yawning at the same
time most alphabetically:
T wish Henry was here to help me
about my rents. .
"Well, really wish he was," an
swered his sister.
IT can't expect him this month, yet, y
yawned the Colonel.
''Hadn't you better send for him,
then ?" said his sister.
Upon this the dog got up and walked
toward the door.
"Where are you going, Carlo?" said
the old gentleman.
The dog looked in his masters face
and wagged his tail a little, but never
said word, and pursued his way toward
the door; and, as he could not very well
open it himself, Miss Patty got up and
opened it for him. The Colonel seemed
perfectly satisfied, and was composing
himself for another nap, when the loud
and joyful barking Of the dog, an
nouncing the approach of some one. in
duced him to alter his determination.
Presently the door was violently opened
and young man gayly entered the
room.
"Why, William Henry, is that you ?"
said Aunt Patty.
Harry, my boy, I'm heartily glad to
see you, said the Colonel, getting en-
tirely out OF the chair, and giving his
nephew substantial shake of the hand.
So Pray, what has brought you home SO
suddenly? %
edo tell, said Aunt Patty, peeking
over her spectacles.
'sOh, I don't know" said Henry. s. It
is rather dull in town, so I thought I
would just step up and see how you all
are getting on. =
'sWell, I'm glad to see you; sit
down." said the Colonel.
$50 do" said his sister.
| But Harry, instead of doing as he was
bid, hoped out of the room, but soon
hopped in again, with a bottle in each
hand, and, giving one Of them to the old
lady, he said
''Here, aunt, is bottle Of first-rate
snuff for you-and here, uncle, is one Of
capital Maraschino.
Thank you, my hoy" said the
Colonel. Positively, it does my heart
good to see you in such fine spirits. /"
"And mine, too" said his sister.
"What did you have to pay for this
snuff"
Here Carlo began to Jump upon him
so he was not obliged to hear the ques.
tion, but busted himself in keeping of
the dog.
''Dewn, Carlo! |" shouted the Colonel,
little sternly, and down went the dog,
with a look SO humbled and detected
that the Colonel began to feel sorry that
he had spoken so cross. So, stretching
out his hand, he patted the dog afec.
tionately on the head, saying:
" Why, Carlo, poor Carlo, you needn'1
f isf1a 50 bad ;,5; only wanted you to be
Carlo pricked up his ears and showed
ether signs Of returning animation,
though he did not Immediately recover
his spirits, but he looked up with an ex.
preston that seemed to say, You need
make no apology, sir, 7 and settled him
/ self in dignifed silence under his mas
/ ter's chair.
i In the meantime, Henry (anxious
either to help his uncle or himself, lean
not say which, had broken the seal from
the top Of the bottle Of cordial, ane
drawn the cork, while Aunt Patty go
some glasses.
/ 'sWel, my boy" said the Colonel
whose good humor increased every mo
rnent, whats the news in Boston
| Anything happened ?"
/ ssNo-yes," said Henry, bursting int
a violent fit Of laughter. Yes, con
tinued he, as he had recovered himself
| L have got one of the best Jokes t
tell you that you ever heard of in you
life.''
8 Nor exclaimed his uncle with ami
nation.