The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-04-14
DIR. JEX'S PREDIGAMENT.

It was the funniest thing that ever saw
in my life. Cruikshank would have glori-
fed in it. wish had him here to illus
trate that scene with the spirited vigor that
only his darcing pencil gives.
| 1t was in Kentucky that it happened
that pleasant land of blue grass, and tobac'
GO, and fine stock, and white teethed girls
Mabel, my sister, had married Dick Huck.
lestone, and they had begun life in grea:
contentment and little three-roomed
house scarcely big enough to hold the bri.
dial presents. But they were happy, hearty,
healthy. They had two cows, ice cream
every day, charming baby, and Uncle
Brimmer. VINO shall say that their cur
was not full? Indeed, they thought it full
before Uncle Brimmer added himself
thereto very ponderous rose leaf. He
was me Of our old family servants, who
fondly believed that Miss Mable and her
| young husband would never be able to get
on without him. He walked all the way
from Mississippi to Kentucky, with his
things tied up in a meal sack, and presented
himself before Mable, announced atfably
hat he had come to stay on.
''But haven't any place for you, Uncle
}rimmer," said Mabel, divided between
he hospitality and embarrassment.
"Lor', honey, you kin jest tuck me
aroun' anywhar. don't take up no room."
Mabel looked thoughtfully upon the big,
brown gray whiskered old negro, whose
proportions were those of Hercules, and
shook her head. .'You are not Tom
Thumb, Uncle Brimmer."
mo, ma'am, said he submissively, ''but
I've got his sperit. Couldn't sleep in de
kitchen, honey?" he went on, with insinuat-
ing sweetness.
No, indeed, cried our young housekeep-
er; Il put my foot down on anybody Sleep
ing in the Kitchen"
Aunt Patsey, the cook, stood by balanc-
inga pan of -four on her head, one fat hand
on her hip. I suspected her of personal
interest in the matter, and indeed, she
afterwards acknowledged that she thought
Uncle Brimmers coming would prove
''blessin' to her feet" Those feet of hers
had been saved many steps throug gil 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 nurse, and Aunt Pat
sey, 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.
''Dars de lof, Miss Mabel" she suggest
| ed.
1T is too small, and is cluHered up with
! things already"
"Oh, sho, chile, dar amt nothin' in that
lof 'cep' de taters. and de apples, and some
strings o'terbacker, de broken plough, and
some odds an ends O. de childrens and Lu-
cv Crittenden's pups. Lor dar amt moth
in to speak of in the lof."
He can't get in at the window" said
Mabel shifting her ground.
"Lemme try" said Uncle Brimmer.
The kitchen was small log-cabin some
REACH" to quote Aunt Patsey. Above it
was low room, or loft crowded with the
miscellaneous articles enumerated. The
| only way Of getting into it was from the out
| aide, ladder against the side of the cabin
admitting one through little window, no
larger, I am sure, than that of railway
coach, into this storehouse of treasures
Nanky Pal, who was as slim as a snake, was
usuly selected to fetch and carry through
the small aperture. But Uncle Brimmer?
I'm pretty sho kin do it, he said squin>
ing up one eye, as he took off his coat and
prepared to try.
We stood in the doorway as he cautiously
went up the ladder; and after an exciting
moment he pushed himself through the
window, and turnining, smiled triumphant
ly. -
This settled the matter. A cot bed was
became the mainsay of the family. Cheer
fully avoiding all the work possible; indif-
ferently as an ostrich eating all he could
find in cupboards or highways; grimly play
ing hobgoblin for baby; gaily twangling his
banjo on moonlight nights memory recalls
thee with smile, Uncle Brimmer! + can
close my eyes row, and remember him big,
shapeless, indistinct in the semi darkness, AS
he sat under the mulberry tree singing:
s'Wish I wuss IN Tennessee,
A-settln' in my cheer,
Jug of whisky by my side,
An arms aroun' my dear!"
This was his favorite. Who shall doubt
that it expressed to him all the poetry, TO-
nance, passion of life?
After a time Uncle Brimmer fell i'll, and
we sent for doctor.
DR.. Trattles Jex was the medical man Of
our county, He lived in Middleburn, seven
miles away, and he came over trotting on
great bay horse, with pair OF saddle-bagS
hanging like Gil pin bottles, one on each
side. He looked as diminutive as monk
ey perched on the tall horses back, and in~
deed, he was "a wee bit pawky body, as he
said of Tommy Moore. But bless me! he
was as pompous and self important as
though ne nad IOulO LQe place 10 Stlnu Oh,
and could move the world with his little
lever. A red handkerchief carefully pinned
across his chest showed that he had lungs
and mother. His boots were polished to
the last degree. His pink and beardless
face betrayed his youth; and his voice-ah!
his voice. What treasure it would have
been could we have let it out to masquera-
ders! Whether it was changing from that
Of youth to that Of man, or whether, like
can't tell. One instant it was deep and
bass, the next, squeaking and soprano. No
even tenor about that voice!
He held out his hand, with good morn