The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-01-15
DIR. JEX'S PREDICAMENT.


IT was the funniest thing that l ever
saw in my life. Cruikshank would have
gloried in it. / wish had him here to
illustrate that scene with the spirited
vigor that only his dancing pencil gives.
1t was in Kentucky that it happened
that pleasant land of bluegrass, and to-
bacco, and fine stock, and white-teethed
girls. Mabel, my sister, had married
Dick Hucklestone, and they had begun
life in great contentment and little
roomed house scarcely big enough to
hold the bridal presents. But they were
happy, hearty, healthy. They had two
COWS, ice-cream every day, charming
baby, and Uncle Brimmer. Who shall
say that their cup was not full? Indeed,
they thought it full before Uncle Brim-
mer added himself thereto-a very pom
derous rose leaf. He was one of our old
family servants, who fondly believed
that Miss Mabel and her young husband
would never be able to get on without
him. He walked all the way from Mis-
sissippi to Kentucky, with his things tied
up in meal-sack, and presented him
self before Mabel, announcing affably
that he had come to "stay on"
"But | haven't any place for you,
Uncle Brimmer," said Mabel, divided
between hospitality and embarrassment.
"Lor', honey, you kin jes' tuck me
aroun' Gny Whar. | don't take up no
room"
Mabel looked thoughtfully upon the
big brown gray-whiskered old negro,
whose proportions were those of Her.
cules, and shook her head. "You are
not Tom Thumb, Uncle Brimmer."
"No, ma'am," said he, submissively,
''but I've got his sperit. Couldn't
sleep in de kitchen, honeyP' he went on
with insinuating sweetness.
"No, indeed" cried our young house
keeper; 81 put my foot down on any.
body sleeping in the kitchen.
Aunt Patsey, the cook, stood by, bal.
ancing a pan of flour on her head, one
fat hand on her hip. 1 suspected her OF
personal interest in the matter, and,
indeed, she afterward acknowledged
that she thought Uncle Brimmer's com
ing would prove "blessin' to hel
feet" Those feet of hers had beer
saved many steps through the service o.
her ten-year-old daughter, Nancy Pal.
mira Kate-called Nanky Pal for short
But of late Nanky's services had beer
called into requisition as nurse, and
Aunt Patsey, who was fat and scant o
breath, thought she had too much to do
and so she viewed with evident delight
the stalwart proportions of our good.
natured giant from the South.
"Dar's de lof', Miss Mabel" she sug
gested.
cit is too small, and is cluttered ur
with things already"
"Oh, sho, chile, dar amt nothin' il
dat lof' 'cep' de Eaters, an de peppers
an de dried apples, an some strings o
terbacker, an de broken pillow, an some
odds an ends O. de chillen's, an Lucy
Crittenden's pups. Lor', dar amt moth
in ter speak of in de lof'.''
"He can't get in at the window" sale
Mabel, shifting her ground.
"Lemme try" said Uncle Brimmer
The kitchen was small log-cabir
some distance from the house, il
good hollerin' REACH" to quote Aun
Patsy. Above it was low room, OF
loft, crowded with the miscellaneou,
articles enumerated. The only way O
getting into it was from the outside. A
ladder against the side of the cabin ad
mitted one, through a little windew, nj
larger, am sure, than that of railway
coach, into this storehouse of treasures
Nanky Pal, who was as slim as snake
was usually selected to fetch and carry
through the small aperture. But Uncl'
Brimmer!
"I'm pretty sho kin do it," he said
squirting up one eye, as he took off hi
coat and prepared to try.
We stood in the doorway as he eau
tiously went up the ladder; and afte
an exciting moment he pushed himsel
through the window, and turning smile'
triumphantly.
This settled the matter. A cot be,
was procured for Uncle Brimmer, ant
he soon became the mainstay of tn
family. Cheerfully avoiding all tn
work possible; indifferently as an os
trich eating all he could find in cup
boards or highways; grimly playin
banjo on moonlight nights-memory re
calls thee with smile, Uncle Brimmer
can close my eyes now and recall him
big, shapeless, indistinct in the semi
darkness, as he sat under the mulberry
tree, singing,
"Wish wass in Tennessee,
A. settin in my cheer,
jug o. whisky by my side,
An arms aroun' my dear"
This was his favorite. Who shall doul
that it expressed to him all the poetr!
romance, passion, of lifeP
After time Uncle Brimmer fell il
and we sent for a doctor.
DR.. Trattles Jex was the medical ma
sa..-A.. l. lid T.. E;JJ1ab,,r,