Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-12-01
-antaCIaus Stuck in the Chimney

hpry anxious TO traoel Wnen you
7on't want him, but he is wuss than
mule to start when you AK him.
What did You say, Montgomery?
Pull him in"
Uncle Jerry was holding the plow,
md montgomery" as the old color
ed man called him, was driving the
lorse that pulled the plow.
"What did you say: said | didn't
zee any harm in it."
ssNo harm in beer,tastn' and cider
sippin?' Do you member last fall,
when we were plowin,' | called your
Ftention to de fact dat we left small
clump oh weeds at one side de field ?
.Jes leetle han'ful, you know? said
Uncle Jerry, waking warmer and
warmer, his eyes rolling and flashing.
Eyes"
"Well, dat mean leetle han'ful
spread ebry where in dat part ob de
field, catchin' in all sorts oh places.
/ tell you, Montgomery, dis tastin'
and dis sippin' is de lettle han'ful
dat no one can say-not chen de
parson at de brick church hisself-
what it may grow into. Hab heap
oh care."
As Montgomery was anxious to
be on the right side Of the man and
secure weeks job, he said nothing,
but looking away, turned his mean
little face up toward milk-white
cloud, and vented his feelings in a
very sour spiteful look. 1t was a
wonder that the cloud did not curdle
at once.
cam / not comf'able at my time
of life?"
Montgomery nodded his head,
and then Uncle Jerry reflected with
satisfaction upon his situation. He
owned little house with an enor-
nous chimney. The house was so
little and the chimney so big that,
on cold day, it looked as if the
shouse was trying to shrink inside
the chimney and get warm. But
Uncle Jerry loved that little house
and big chimney with all the warmth
fof his ardent nature. He had been
Sstripped by death of wife and chill
gdren, like an old tree of its branches,
Nbut there was his house.
s. 81 may lib all alone" he would
BAY, shut dat sabes all quar'lin', and
when I die, dar will be plenty oh
angels come for to carry me home.
Jurdan looks berry pleasant" he
would add, this pious old soul. He
repeated his question to Montgom-
ery, turning around to enjoy one
look at that big chimney protruding
above the tree-tops. cam | not
comf'able at my time of life? But
what should l ben, had l ben a beer
guzzler?"
AS this was conclusive, at least
with Uncle Jerry, and "Montergom-
cry" wanted weeks job, the con-
yersation ceased.
Christmas eve came, and Mont
gomery celebrated it over the beer
mug. He thought he knew what
was fitting for him far better than
any body else, and especially than 9
colored man, and he emptied the
beer-mug more times than his little
brain could stand it. AS he walked
home by Uncle Jerry's, though ne
saw no light, he knew very well
what Uncle Jerry was doing. The
old man was in the habit of quietly
meditating before his big chimney,
sitting there till the dying GOALS
warned him that bedtime was near.
9sWhen dat fire is moster out, "
Uncle Jerry would say, "its time fur
me to vanish also"
ncame into Montgomery's added
head, as he passed the little retreat
of Uncle Jerry, that it would be a
good idea to play the part of Santa
Claus, and go down Uncle Jerry's
chimney.
at is so big" he reasoned, 81
could do it. And when l get down
1.-THE fire will be about out, and 1t
sSSrp,l IL, mo. and If | owe