Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-09-01
TOBEY'S FORTUNE.

In 1852 Tobey was n small black boy
living in Holly Springs. which was
then Southern town unluckily placed
in the path of both armies, so that its
war record soon became of the most
exciting nature. But none had an ex-
perience TO be mentioned in the same
breath with Tobey, who had fortune
in his grasp and never knew it! 1t is
too outrageous for belief, but it is liter
ally true, and this is how it happened:
1t was the twentieth of December
"the glorious, glorious twentieth" the
people Of Holly Springs call it to this
day. Tobey, whose other name was
kinkle, was awakened early in the
morning by the sound of firing.
''Git up, pappyr' he called excitedly,
"don't you hear dc shootin'?''
Uncle Jim Kinkle, who was snoring
comfortably in one corner of the cabin,
under great pile of dingy quilts and
spreads, was slow in coming to the sur
face.
What's de matter, Tobe?'' he
growled in sleepy tones.
"Fightin's dc matter" shouted Tobey,
hopping mp and down. Don't YOU
hear dc guns? Come out TO de mound,
an wake up nanny, so she kin come,
too"
He was of with these last words. and
Uncle Jim, now fairly aroused, jumped
up and jumped into his clothes in about
the length of time IL was said TO take
the wife of BILLY boy" to make
cherry pie.
Then he dashed out, head in front. as
bull charges. He was soon with Tobey
on the top of an old mound, from which
there was good view.
Great gran daddyr' cried Uncle
Jim, rs he looked. Jerusalem crick-
etsl Pharioh an all his hostsr'
A vigorous fight was going on; the
sharp crack of rifles and occasional wells
were borne distinctly to their ears.
Suddenly ringing cheer burst from a
thousand Threats; a mounted squad tore
like whirlwind across the field, with
another in hot pursuit
(Which is runnin'P Tobey," cried
Uncle Jim. My eyes is gittin' ole. 1
can't tell tudder from which"
"Hooray fur de Ragged Rebsr'
shrieked his offspring ''De Tanks is
gittin' over de groun' like skcered rab-
bits. WhoOpee! amt dis n sght?''
BY this time Aunt Betsey had wad-
died to the mound.
lis dc worr comm to an end?" she
asked, putting between her words like
an engine.
mo, nanny" said Tobey, "de
worp amt comm to an end; but de
Feds is whipped out, sho's you 5awn."
Look ut yo' daddy, Tobe." said
Aunt Betsey; "what in de Lam is he
doin'P"
Sure enough, what vas he doingP He
had stepped behind magnolia tree
growing on top of the mound and had
turned his trousers wrong side out. See
ing this ray of comprehension lighted
Aunt Betsey's face.
$50 long wild you, niger! Nobody's
gwine ter notice an ole ijiot like YOU"
she said, with such n laugh as made her
shake like bowl of calf-foot Jelly.
1t must be explained that some days
back one of the soldiers had given Uncle
Jim pair of blue breeches. and he had
worn them proudly. But, like the Vicar
OF Bray, Mr.. Kinkle had no particular
principles, and meant to keep on good
terms with both sides. To-day the rows
IN gray had the victory. and should he
stand confessed n partisan of the Union,
betrayed by his breeches? Perish the
thought! He could not change them,
however, for in Aunt Betsey's creed no
man needed more than one pair ut n
time, and no sooner had her husband
donned the blues than she cut down his
old ones and put them on the growing
Tobey Uncle Jim, however, was a
man for emergencies. A born turn
coat. he readily understood how to turn
trousers as well, and when he stepped
from behind the tree it was with snowy
legs and a facS beaming with rebel en-
thusiasm.
I'm gwine to town." he remarked.
Don't you 90 roun' whar de fightin'
i" said Aunt Betsey. You'll git killed
fust thing you know"
IL reckon de fightin' is about over,
ole CONAN. We have whipped out de
intruders on our sile befo' sun-up," said
Uncle Jim, with dignity.
"Well, you'll want some breakfaS' be-
TO you git off.''
"No," smiling mysteriously. CT
spec l kin Git better in town dan what
YOU could give me-"
kin l SO wild you, pappyg" asked
lobe.
''Yes, chile. reckon you won't new
or learn no younger"
Aunt Betsy, as is the lot of women.
had to stay mt home. She fried some
bacon and roasted an ash-cake. and ate
her breakfast placidly. Then she beat
up her feather bed and MIXED the COW
and tied the calf; after which she wad-
died again to the mound. Seeing moth
ing. she leaned her broad back against
the magnolia tree, shut her eyes, and
placidly went to sleep.
Suddenly she walked with a start.
The atmosphere was heavy. In the dis
lance flames were mounting to the sky.
Then terrible explosion that seemed