Sharp County record., 1881-04-14


tell it took acres to make a silver mine
but a silver dollar smart boy like
him might find in Sleeps track, or
thereabouts. A cunning look twinkled
in the corners of the boys eyes. He
cave the tobacco a final shove with his
toes, then leaped down and went whis-
tling back to report to Aunt Hannah,
and have his share of the muSh and
milk, for which his afternoons work
had given him hearty relish.
Next morning two of Aunt Hannah's
biggest melons were missing from the
patch, and brace of erfatteSt capons
from the roost; but suspicion was di-
verted from the real culprit by the
tracks of huge shoes freely displayed
throughout the patch.
"'Pears to me, Isrul," said the Woe
begone Hannah, "dat thief mus have
wore shoes made upon his own laS'-I
nebber saw sich a foot on any ob my
acquaintance
"Dats so, Hammer; dat gospel truf.
Der aint no sich build of foot sea cely
sence de days OBJ Collier"
Yet, as Hannah turned off in per-
picked thought, the old sinner slyly
thrust forward his own huge shoes, Civ
inc a significant poke with the bowl Of
his pipe at the sand and clay filling the
coarse seems.
"Ki," he inwardly chuckled, "dat
bov Jube better not let de ole 'ooman
know how close under her nose he done
'skiver his silver mine. She'll have her
shere of intrus' off O. him, shore as yer
born"
But Jube was as sly as he was naugh-
ty. Aunt Hannah was unsuspecting.
"Juba," said she, tenderly, "ef |
had the money you should go ter de
'nagerie tomorrow"
Jube was prompt to seize his golden
opportunity.
"Ef 1 armed the money, Nam my,
mought go?"
"Ye-es,n drawled Nanny" cool
inc little; "ef Isrul s'poses he kin
spar yer from the baccy gathering,
yer mought."
"Ef yer fines the silver mine, Jube,
eff yer fines the silver mine, yer kin 90"
said Israel, pressing IN the feathery
ashes of his pipe with the horny tip OF
his finger.
This time, Jube executed double
shuttle in good earnest, and returned to
the tobacco-feld much relieved. That
afternoon, when he went to the pasture
tor the COW, he turned old Brindle's
nose homeward, and hurried off to the
village to do little trading on his own
account. For this, Hannah had we'll
seasoned hickory laid up for him when
he came back, but Jube knew her weak
point, and when he had hauled forth
whole quarter Of a pound of good tea,
(which" he said, ga fellar at store
had Gin him for runnin' of arrant, "
she was so touched by his thought of
her, that the rod was quietly slipped
out of sight, and Jube felt quite enough
in favor to exhibit the tiny square of
cardboard which he had brought back
as the result of his stolen expedition.
Hannah's curiosity was at once aroused
by the mysterious signs thereon.
"What's dis, Juba?n
"Why, lor', Nanny! OATS ticket
of mission to de surcuss."
"Dat is? Sho, now! An what's dis
writin', JubeP You is scholard. What
do de writin' say?"
at says to le' me into de 'nagerie
an big show" said Jube, who, having
enjoyed three months of educational
advantages at a free school, felt compe-
tent to render a free translation of the
hieroglyphics which SO puzzled his
illiterate relative.
"Well, land O. CanaanT" calculated
Aunt Hannah. "But whar did yer git
it, Juba?"
Jube was ready for the question and
he assured her that "one of de surcuss-
men had gin it to him fur carryin' of
his nags to water"
Hannah did not look convinced, but
she had learned discretion in "argufy-
in" with Jube, so contented herself
with a word of warnin',n by saying:
Remember, you Jube, ef you's a
foolin' me, de truf will out some day!'
Jube, however, was content to risk
any calamity, if it should only come after
he had enjoyed one day with the circus.
And he had his day, for next morning,
as we have said, he was up and dressed
betimes, and indeed, was well on his
way to the village before the sun had
lifted his head above the eastern hills.
Such a day of rare fun and jollity as
that was for Jube! His dusky skin fair
ly glowed and glistened with the full
ness of his delight. In all the twelve
years of his life he had never been to
circus, so even before he had reached
the climax of wonders under the can
vas of this one, he had decided like
the Queen of Sheba, that he had not
been told the half OF the glories he was
to see.
The granOle entree was of itself
stupendous revelation to him. Was
there on earth such another glttering
line of men, women, horses and band
wagons? There, too, were cages of
wild beasts, poking out here great
foot and there ferocious head, or the
whole terrible animal pacing restless
ly. But the elephant was as Jube had
told ole Isrul," the wonder of all.
My! Amt he a whale!' he said, un-
der his breath, as if fearful his words
might reach Aunt Hannah.
And just here we may chronicle that