McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-11-27

allowed her many luxurleS, little dellca
cies that the African palate does Sc
crave. 81
There had been stranger vessel il
the little cabin at one time in the shape
of Mr.. 'Lige Parks, who had married
Aunt Dinah after brief but enthusiastic
courtship.
He had loafed on her sublime patience
for nearly seven years, doing nothing
but eat and sleep, until at last she had
literally driven him out of the house.
He had departed with a vague threat
of making her sorry, and had been
heard of but once since, and thenit was
not entirely unconnected with hog steal.
ing in South Florida.
"a nasty, lazy, triffiin', pot-lickel
Niger" said Aunt Cinah to me once in
a moment of confidence, endurance
oh de time he libed wild me, he didn't
arm ten dollahs. l was glad ter git
shet OBJ him." t-@t
On Sundays Aunt Dinah quit all
work. After an early breakfast she
dressed herself and the children, clean.
ly and neatly, and locking up hel
house, went to church. Only when the
preacher was to take dinner with her
did she remain at home.
Then Cuffee was sent to church alone,
to return at o'clock p. m. with port
ly individual dressed in greasy black,
surmounted by a silk hat that had APP
parently done duty in more than one
procession before it reached its saint
lier destination.
Son these occasions glance at the
dinner table would have easily decided
the inquiry as to which destroys the
most chickens, preachers or owls?"
Riding by one day 1 found Aunt
Dinah more than usually happy. Her
broad face was wreathed in smiles, and
Cuffee and Lille were grinning in di-
rect ratio.
''Why, you look as happy as lark,
Aunt Dinah," said 1. ssWhat has hap
pened? Has the parson asked you to
marry him, or has somebody handed
you a bill that you never expected to
get? Why you are positively getting
young again. Now if you'd only fat
ten up little
yah! yah! yah! G'long wild dat fool
ishness," she replied, her fat sides shak-
ing with merriment. 81 dunno what I'd
do eff got any fatter. Wha' fo' you
tink l want annuder man aroun' me fo' ?
Des to eat up all my taters, an collards
and chickens? Is had three men, has.
an don want no mo- Cuff, go show
de Cap'pen de turkey yer mar bought
yes day"
Cuffee, smiling, led the way to large
coop built against the side of the chick
en- house, near the front and only door.
Aunt Dinah. wringing the suds from
her hands, had quickly followed and
now assumed direction of affairs. With
a queenly gesture she babe me look.
1t was lordly turkey, sure enough.
Aslarge, black gobbler, Respondent in
lustrous plumage and the reddest of all
red neck and head gear. This is
noble bird, Aunty.'' said I. 81 expect
you want to selEit, Ell? What will you
take for it?' She turned from me in
an indignant manner, highly amusing,
while Cuff and Lii set up an outcry of
DON sell him, nanny, don't sell
irm." '.Hush dat noise, chillen. Use
much obleeged to you, Cap'pen, but I
got dat ar turkey fer my own dismorse-
men" and Use gwineter hab him fer my
rankgibin' dinnah. sah," and she turn
ID away from me in an absurdly males
manner. -. ~
"oh! I beg your pardon, .Auntie," 1
fastened to apologize. 81 hope you
will have apleasant time, and if you
end Cuffee around the day before, I'll
i've you enough apples to make pie
Ilmost as big as yourself"
The clouds fled; all was smiles again.
The children resumed their frolic. Aunt |
)inah went back to her tub of steaming
lothes, and as far as [ could hear came |
Ter jubilant voice
y ''My wool is gettin' white,
My wool is gettin' white,
My wool is gettin' white,
In de sabin' pool
You will all remember that the night |
efore Thanksgiving, 1883, was a very
ark night. The moon was in the |
ulks, and the stars were invisible.
he only planet to be seen was the star
n the Town Marshal's coat.
Shortly after midnight a strange fig
re skulked and crawled around the
lace. The figure was that of tall,
ngainly negro, as dark as the shadows
mong which he was moving. In his
and he carried large fowl, indistin-
in the darkness.
Reaching the coop, this stealthly fig
re cautiously tore out one of the Stats
nd quickly made a transfer. Replac-
lg the slat carefully and firmly, he
apidly crept away.
Thanksgiving morning dawned bright
nd cool and pleasant.
The air, crisp with slight suspicion
frost, brought a glow to the cheeks
Aunt Dinah and her children as they
topped out into the yard.
"Now, chillen," said the good old
oul. ''bring me dat ak, fer I'm gwine
sr kill de turkey
Cuffee brought the AK, and the pro-
ession formed and proceeded to the
oop.
Hardly glancing where the faint out
nos Of tho t1IrkaU uara visible sba |