The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-02-02
DR.. JeX's Predicament.

1t was the funniest thing that ever
saw in my life. Cruilsshank would have
gloried in it. l 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, with white-teethed
girls. Mabel, my sister, had married
Dick Hucklestone, and they had begun
life in great contentment and a little
three-roomed house scarcely big enough
to hold the bridal presents. But they
were happy, hearty, healthy. They had
two COWS, ice,cream every day, a charm
ing baby, and Uncle Brimmer. Who
shall say that their cup was not full? In
deed, they thought it full before Uncle
Brimmer added himself thereto-a very
pondrous 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 q meal sack, and presented
himself 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 nc
aroun' amyVhar. l don't take up no
ROOM"
Mabel looked thoughtfully upon the
big brown gray-whiskered old negro,
whose proportions were those of n Hercu-
les, and shock herhead. "You are not
Tom Thumb, Uncle Brimmer."
"No, ma'am,' said he, submissively,
"but I've got his spirit Couldn't I
sleep in de kitchen, honey?' he went on,
with insinuating sweetness.
'No, indeed, cried our young house
keeper; II put my foot down on any
body sleeping in the Kitchen"
Aunt Patsey, the cook, stood by, bal
ancing q pan of -four on her head, one
fat hand on her hip. I suspected her of
q personal interest in the matter, and in
deed she afterward acknowledged that
she thought Uuole Brimmer's coming
would prove "blessin' to her feet. ="
Those feet of hers had been saved many
steps through the service of her ten-year-
old daughter Nancy Palmira Kate
called Nanky Pal. for short. But of late
Nanky's services had been called into
requisition as a 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 soath.
'Dar's de lof', Miss Mabel" she sug-
gested
ut is too small, and is cluttercd up
with things already"
ooh, sho, chile, dar amt nothin' in
dat lof' 'cep' de 'tatters, an de peppers,
an de dried apples, an some strings o
terbaczer, an de broken pillow, an
some odds an ends o de chillen's, an
Lucy Crittenden's pups. Lor, dar amt
nothin' ter speak of in de lof."
"He can't get in at the window" said
Mabel, shifting her ground.
"Lemme try" said Uncle Brimmer
The kitchen was q small log-cabln
some distance from the house-"in good
hollerin REACH" to quote Aunt Patsey.
Above it was low room. or lott.
crowded with the miscellaneous articles
enumerated The only way of getting
into it was from the outside. A ladder
against the side OF the cabin admitted
one, through little window, no longer,
/ am sure, than that Of railway coach,
into this storehouse of treasures. Nanky
Pal, who was as slim as a snake, was
usually selected to fetch and carry
through the small aperture. But Uncle
Brimmerl
I'm pretty sho 1 kin do it," he said,s
squirting up one eye as no took off his
coat and prepared to try.
We stood in the doorway as he eau
tiously went up the ladder; and after an
exciting moment he pushed himself
through the window, and turning, smiled
triumphantly.
This settled the matter. A cot bed
was procured for Uncle Brimmer, and
he soon became the mainstay Of the
family. Cheerfullv avoiding all the
work possible; inditferently as an ostrich
eating all he could find in cupboards or
highways; grimly playing hobgoblin for
baby; gayly twangng his banjo on
moonlight nights-memory recalls thee
with a smile Uncle Brimmer, / can