The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-03-17
Uncle Remus at the Telephone.

bloc DdiIy was SltbIhS Dy inc HTG SeWlHs
and singing softly TO herself. she heard
the old man come into the backyard anc
enter che dining-room, where a brigh
fire was still burning in the CRATE
Everything had been cleared away. The
cook had gone. and the house girl hac
disappeared, and the little boy was
asleep Uncle Remus had many priv
ileges in the house of the daughter of hi
old mistress and master, and one of these
was to warm himself by the diningroon
fire whenever he felt lonely, especially
at night. To the lady there was whlm
steal suggestion of pathos in everything
the old negro said and did; nevertheless
her attitude toward Uncle Remus was
one of busting criticism and deprecia
ton. BY leaning back in her chair
little she could see him as he sat before
the fire enjoying the warmth '.'
81 should think twas time for you to
be in bed" she exclaimed. ,is. -
Nom, faint" responded Uncle
Remus. 81 year tell dat wen ole folks
git ter bed soon. dey feelin's bin hurried,
en- goodness knows dey amt nobody
hurted my feelin's dis day." ID. I'D
"Well. there isn't anything in there
that you can pick up. I've had every
thing put under lock and key"
''Yessum, dey is sumpin ne'r in yer,
too. kaze yer Mars John supper settin
right down yer TO de fer, an little mo-
hit 'ud a bin dry spang up if hadn't a
drapt in des wen [ did. | year Mars
John tell dat ar niger oman wat you
call yo' cook fer ter have i'm some fried
sigg ffGr suppeEE7 en- eff deze amt fried en-
dried | amt never see none wat is.
Wen Mars John come you kin set plum
in dar en- year i'm crack UNI up in his
mouf same lax COW chawin' fodder. Las
Satdy night Mars John fotch some fried
listers home, en- eff dish yer niger oman
stay on dis hill many mo- days he ull
git all his vittles cooked down town en-
fetch it home in baskit Whar Mars
John nows"
just then there was call at the tele-
phone. The little gong ratified away like
house was on fire. As the lady went
to answer it Uncle Remus rose from his
chair and crept on his tip-toe to the door
that opened into the sitting-room. He
heard his Miss Sally talking.
"Well, what's wanted? o! is that
your Well, | couldn't imagine. No.
Fast asleep too long ago to talk about.
Why. Of course! No! Why should | be
frightened! 1 declare, you ought to be
ashamed! Remus is here. Two hours!
think you are horrid mean! By-byr'
Uncle Remus stood looking suspicious
ly at che telephone after his Miss Sally
had turned away.
"Miss Sally" he said, presently,
twuz you talkin' ter Mars John3"
Certainly. Who did you suppose it
wass''
Wharbouts wuz Mars JohnP"
AT his office"
"Way down yam on Yallerbamer
Street,"
Yes"
At this piece of information Uncle
Remus emitted groan that was full of
doubt and pity and went into the dining
room, His Miss Sally laughed and then
an idea seemed to strike her. She called
him back. and went again to the tele.
phone.
els that you. Central? Please connect
eleyen-forty with fourteen-sixty." There
was futtering sound in the instrument,
and then the lady said: g Yes, it's me.
Here's Remus. Yes, but he wants to
talk to you.
" Here, Remus, take this and put it to
your ear. Here, simpleton! 1t won't
hurt YOU
Uncle Remus took the esr-piece and
handled it as though it had been load
ed pistol. He tried to look in it at both
ends, and then he placed it at his ear
and grinned sheepishly, He heard a
thin. sepulchrai, but familiar voice call
ing out; 'sHello, Remus!' and his sheep
ish grin gave place to an expression of
uneasy establishment
"Hello, Remus! Hello-ello-ello-
ello-o-oW
&c Is dat you. Mars John?"
"Of course it is, you bandy-legged
old villain. have no time to be stand
ing here. What do you wantP'
" How in de name er Heben you git
in dar. Mars John?"
" la whereF
L" In dish yer-in dish yer applerstus. "
80. you be-fddlestick! What do you
want"
'Mars John, kin you see me, or is she
all dark in dsr?"
care you crazys Where is your Miss
Saiiy9' ..
'sShe ia yer. hollun en- laughin'
Mars John. how you gwine git out I
dars'
"Dry up. Good night"
eyer tits, Miss Sally" said Uncle
Remus. after listening moment. 'Dey':
mighty zoonin' gwine on in dar, en-
dunner whe'er Mars John tryin' tel
scramble out, or whe'er he DIES tryin' fei
ter make hisself comfortable in dar"
''What did he say, RemusP"
'fHe up en- 'low'd dat one un us wus
avilyun, but dey was such a buzzin
gwine On in dar dat L couldn't zactly
ketch de rights I'm it."
Uncle Remus vent back to his place
by the dining-room fire, and after 8
while began to mutter and talk to him
self.
"What's the matter nowe" his Mis-
Sally asked.
81 'us des asayin' dat know Mar
John mus be suffun some rs."
"WhyP"
so, des knows it; kaze ef he amt
wat make he talk so weake He bleed,
ter be in trouble. Tn tellin' YOU d.
Lords trufe-dat wife man talk like h,
~ L n