The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-09-02
TOBEY'S FORTUNE.

In 1862 Tobey was 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 de shootin' ?''
Uncle Jim Kinkle, who was snoring
E comfortably in one corner of the cabin,
under great pile of dingy quilts and
spreads, was slow in coming to the sur
face.
Whats de matter, TobeP" he
growled in sleepy tones.
"Fightin's de matter" shouted Tobey,
hopping up and down. Don't you
hear dc guns? Come out to de mound,
; an wake up nanny, so she kin come,
too
He was off with these last words, and
Uncle Jim, now fairly aroused, jumped
up and jumped into his clothes in about
the length o. time it was said to take
the wife of BILLY boy'' to make
cherry pie.
Then he dashed out, head in front, as
a bull charges. He was soon with Tobey
on the top of an old mound, from which
there was a good view.
Great gran daddyp' cried Uncle
Jim, as he looked. -..'Jerusalem- criek-
cts, Eharioh an all his hostsr'
A vigorous fight &aA CHING onylthei
sharp crack of rifles and occasional wells
were borne distinctly to their. ears,
Suddenly a ringing cheef Ibnrst from a
Sthohsand thtoats; a mounted sqalad tore
like whirlwind across the field, with
another in hot pursuit o., -,r,,,ir 5r.
(Which is runnin'p Tobey," cried
= Uncle Jim. my eyes is,gittin' ole. 1
cant tell tudder from which NJ e v,
>"Hooray fur de Ragged Rebsr'
shrieked his offspring "De, Yanks is
gittin' over de grodnr like skeered rab-
bits. Whoopee! ain't dis sightP'
By this time Aunt BetseN had swad-
died to the mound. W. N'>A
-----''fs de worl' comm to an endp" she
asked putting between her words like
No, nanny" said Tobey, "de
( worp amt comm tol AM end; but de
Feds is whipped out, sho's you bawn."
Look at yo' daddy.sITobe," said
Aunt Betsey; "what in de Lam is he
doln = m. -..A. N4,.t.utN
Sure enough, what UdS he doingP He
had stepped behind a magnolia tree
growing on top of the mound and had
turned his trousers wrong side out. See
ing this a ray of comprehension lighted
Aunt Betseys face. ttH
$50 long wild you, niger! Nobody's
gwine ter notice an ole IDIOT like YOU"
she said, with such 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 brooches. aud he had
worn them proudly. But, like the Vicar
of Bray, Mr. Kinlole had no particular
principles, and meant to keep on, good
terms with both sides. To-day the bows
in gray had the victory, and should he
stand confesseda partisan of the Union,
betrayed by his breechesp Perish the
thought! He could not change them,
however, for in Aunt Betsey's creed no
man needed more than one pair at a
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 face beaming' with rebel en-
thusiasm. -
l "Pmgwineto town. heIremarked.
"Don't you 90 roun' whar de fightin'
is" said Aunt Betsey. You'll Git killed
fust thingyou know" IT
Il reckon de iightin' is about over,
ole CONAN. We have whipped out de
intruders ON our sile beio' sun-up," said
Uncle Jim, with dignity. r-
"Well, yoll'll want some breakfas' be-
TO you Git of. ,, 'I'
mo smiling mysteriously. 81
spec kin Git better in town dan what
Won could give me-"