The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-08-30
PERVERSlTY OF PARTNERS,
by WILTON BURTON,

BOodS-mOfe tnan We shall ever sell, Im
afraid"
The speakers we're merchant md his
former slave. The latter had walked to
the back part Of tho store, and, with the
nir Of one that feels himself privileged
character, had taken a seat mbidden IN
the best chair by the fire.
The appearance of the store justified
the comment In one corner, by the
fireplace, was an island of bacon sur
rounded by miniature sen of brine; in
tho other, group Of syrup casks, one Of
which rested horizontally on two billets of
wood, and shed its contents, drop by
drop, through lealIy faucet into tin
can. Between the fireplace and the ends
of the two counters, that ran lengthwise
of tho room, was Il tangled mazo of
tlour-barrcls, sugar hogsheads, and
crackcr-boXcs, threaded by narrow
footpath that led to the door, The
counters were piled nigh with "domes-
tics,' gayly-colored calico and ready
made clothing, SO that there was scarce.
~ room for tho two broken show. cases.
with their display of cigars, neckties,
pocket cutlery, and pinchbcck jewelry.
The shelves were filled to their utmost
capacity, and up above the cornice the
spiders had woven n net of cobwcbs over
long array Of dusty crockcry and wood
cnwarc. Truly, there was a powerful
sight o stuff i'll the store.
For some timo Uncle Toby snt silently
smoking q clay pipe. Presently the fire
made him drowsy, and he fell to nodding.
This pastimo might have continued in
definitely had not his pipo fallen from
his lips to the hearth. The crash
aroused him, and he resumed the CONVEX.
ENtion:
"Sccm like to mo 7 nin't never been
see no ctter fire to roas' tater in dan
what dis yer fire is, cf L des had do
tntrr."
'"rhcrc are somc in that barrel help
yourself"
"Thanlly, sah."
And Uncle Toby buried q potato in
fhc ashes and pat two OF three others in
his pocktls for his wife, "Marthy Ann,"
he said.
"You ain't set no partlncr in yer, is
you, Mar&o Jinmic?"
Yes; Mr.. Humphrey owns o half in
tcrcst."
The negro Gruutcd disapprovingly.
"AIr. Rumpl s. mighty clever man.
He gin me II quarter for holm his horse
oNct. j ain,t A-Sayin' nothin' agin HIM.
an' I'm hopes YOU an himll cit along
hamoMiklc; but Of ever you year tell O
me a-goin cahoot long Of a yuthcr Mig
ger a%in, YOU can mako Il hen ncL' out'n
my ole hat"
Did you over have a partner, Uncle
Toby?"
"Yas, sah, T had partner onct---a
rrappm' padncr-an me an him couldn't
gree no ways we could fix it,"
THAT was bad"
" lit WAS bad, but it couldn't be hope,
hrEase pardncrs is naichcrly dc mcancs'
folks in this ncwitcd worl'. But | ain't
n, 'sputin' but what MI. Rumploss mighty
clever man."
81 suppose you think Mr.. Humphrey
may be an exception TO the rule"
"To be sho'."
can't vOIlch for that !; but what did
you and your partner disagree about"
We'll, sab, eff you wants to know all
about dat, take Il seat and set down in
dat cheer, bcli@Hc dat tatcr III have plenty
time to roas' 'fora git done tellim' YOU
bout SoMdy Brooks"
Was that your partners name"
Dem was his cntitlcmentS, an he was
Il h@Glty niggcr, too. He use more
blg1pWorda dan what dcZc ycrc Methods
crcI5-Iidcrs use. He think hissef some
punkln$ bcllasc he could read an write.
lie low he lnowcl it all.
:" L Gcclar' to gracious, Marse Jimmie,
dem cheese smells so good don t b'liepe
I kin tell you bout Sandy Thought I
has slshC Of 'cm to toas' on do cen O.
dis stick.
"ThaNlly, sab. Doze cheese is good,
Sho' but cheese looks sorter lonesome
,,'rph YOU has crackers to go long wild
en-. Thanky, sab. I always knowed
yo1l was dc frcc-handest one O old
lNDStHr1 hnVo A. T
didn't toc her so.
We'll, dat Sandy niggcr he war sto'
close, an he smoke scegyars ever time
ne could pick up ole stump On de
groW'. N0
"ln dem days Mr.. Waggintire use to
keep sto' i'll dis yer same town"
Wagner" ~
Eyes, sab; denis um, only dcy fell
tho whole Sto' to hissCf.
"Wcll Mr.. WaGgintirc he had q niccn
o Ian, an he rent it to me an Sandy for
tho fo'th o what VIC could mako on i
Sandy had two big stroppm' gals, named
Ritter and SuSc, which he low dcy was
cS good icp hans cs Mr. ANYBODY.
lie put hisscf an dem in, an I put IN
IlSSSi. L was 10 GIT &c 10 Iii an SANDY
WAS to have three fo'ths, bakase he wui
thrco hans. Mr.. WagGintiro vance fo.
us.
""rwarn't long fore seed Sandy was
gwino r. git do cgwantago O mo. Ever
day he ~ n to de 8to' after sllmp'n nerer
Marthy Ann low we better buy ever.
thing We wants, OF Sandy d git it all
sandy keep his count in little ole book:
n"t cYc:' time [ bny q dollar worth
maho@ toleroblo long mark on de chin
bly wild fire coal. Ef it warn't dnt
much make q sortcr short mark, cord
IN to do mount. know my count was
DC kcrcckCs'
"No sooner wo start to pitch de crap
de lll5S DG8T. | want to plant de long
slipe hy de branch i'll cotton, an SANDY
want to plant con dar; l want to plant
de chaneybcrry iicl in con an taters ar;
goobers, an Sandy swar by tho pint o. I