The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-03-27

was as delicious as it looked. 1 made
it gorgeous, to suit the flashy tastes of
those who were to see it, and in the GEN.
ter of the large bouquet which crowned
it, stuck little red flag with motto
in gilt letters
"All tastes suited by the Imperial
Cake" in reference to the varied nature
of its contents. Cato's eyes opened to
their fullest extent when he saw it.
Je-ru-sa-lem!" he exclaimed, "ef
dat amt stunning. I've brunged the
waiter, a'am, to put it on"
care you sure you can carry it safe
ly, Cato?' asked.
"Sartain sure, ma am; sides I'm got
boy out dere to help, eff gifts tired"
l looked out of my window, and there
stood the obnoxious Albert Stark, lean
ing in an easy attitude against the gate
post-a very disreputable-looking vaga-
bond he was, too.
Tomorrow came, and l saw Celia
marching mournfully from the front
gate with her turban in ahopeless state
of collapse. knew she was suffering
no common calamity. She saluted me
gravely, and in monotonous voice be-
gan her tale.
"I've come to tell you bout my far,
ma am, but feels like hidin' my pore
ole head foreber more. Well, it goes
off mighty well, de supper was splendid,
and de folks was fit to bust wild envy to
see tings got up in SIGH style. / was
rejoicin' at DER downfall, like poor
blind sinner CONAN, when ! hears a
crash and boiler in de yard where my
gumbo was cookin'! 1 run out, and
dere was dat wicked Albert Stark and
my Cato sprawled fat, de gumbo pot
turned ober, and dey was wallerin'
in it."
Scaldedp" l asked.
"Ah, nom. De gumbo wasn't hot.
But dey screeched like dey was kilt.
But dat want any ting totalk bout.
Accidents will happen when boys
wrastle right into a gumbo pot. I'm
comm to de worst.
81 brunged de cake out, and cherry
body shouted when they seed it. tell
you Satan jest pulled me up wild pride
and worldly glory lookin' at dat cake,
and t'inkin' how light and nice it WAS.
1t didn't seem to be fedder's weight
when l sot it on de table, and cried
out
"Now beat dat eff you kin!
"De chances = twelve dollar was
sold right off, and Ned Bowman he wins
it. Well, Ned's free-handed boy, and
he picks up knife, and he says
"sEbery mudder's son and dartel
wat likes imperial cake, let 'em now
speak up, or cher arter hold deli
peace
"All cried out fur some, and / stooc
dere a-smilin' and a-watchin' Ned q
fiourishin' his knife in de air, ane
a-bringin' il down on de cake kerhop
Down went dat knife to de bottom OBJ d'
plate. and de big cake jest crumblet
right fiat down, noting but a shell oil
icing and little wall OBJ cake. All d.
raisins and citron, and white cake ant
gold cake, all gone. De inside al
out"
Celia covered her face with he
hands, and cried silently for few min
utes.
"UncIe Nose Green he ups and tell
] me he had seen dat varmint Albert WI
Dig nunk % Irult-cdkc, anu my Va"
was Jest stuffin' his greedy self wild cake
So knowed fore found out how it a.
was. Dat Albert had 'suaded Cato t
dig out de inside oh de cake when wa
out bout dusk. 1t was Cato's misha
to be ober- 'suaded.
swell, GIBBS 'em back DER money
cherry cent, and den l Says
al went inter de far, KNOWN it wa
low-down ting, jes' fit fur de scruff Q
de 'arth, and l went into de raff1
KNOWN it was a sin, and I've got m
dues. 1 wish you all good evenin', Il
dies and gentlemen, and l want You
to cl'ar right out OBJ my house. t! CT
hooted wild sin fur you, and I'm dor
wild it and wild you too"
"What did you do with the two lit
thievesP'
"You'd better AK 'em!" she a.
swered, with an ominous frown. 9
! gave him realizin' sense OF what mi
hap it is to get into low down compan
He's laid up for repairs. Mrs. Mar
B. Williams, in Youths Companion.