Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19
CHRISTMAS NIGHT.
UNCLE TONY EXPLAINS A BIT OF
NEGRO FOLKLORE.


Philadelphia Times
Christmas Night rs often rs il rcturned
found Uncle Tony and Maum Chloe en-.
icrtaining their friends and kin. sumner
was long over. but side.table was stili nj
hand ON which were set out n treat nan
of marched ground peas, plate of mo.
Iassas candy and huge jug of sugar cane
hocr The cheerful room of the cabin
was lighted naringly by the great roaring
nine. Knot blaze in the cavcrn0us fire place
about which in an immense scmicircle the
company sat a..
"bcy tell. me, spoke up nce Peter.
n near neighbour who, together with his
wife Aunt Callinc Caroline was much
esteemed by both host and hostess. "dev
tells me dat cvc'y Christmas Night de
cows an de- caves AM all dc creatures rts
down an says dar pra'rs-so hrayn Tell
dele many yare Whuh yer tink 'bou
dat, Buh Tony!
"pat wat ych um say" said Uncle
Tony. adjusting his pipe and gazing seri
ously into the fire. There had come n
hush among the cracking ground pea
shells indicative OF quckcned interest
and certain reverence for the old
mans opinion bats wat ych nm
saw, Buh Peter Some says hits So
some says hit amt so But cf yer ax me
fer de troofc halter tell yer upn down
far an squar' dat cl dey don do it deze
DAYS dcy sho1y done it once Ycsser-
,ley done it oncc-sho's yer bawn."
wen dat Tinker Tony" asked cho
rus of young men md women.
"Fo' any yer all w bawn-way back
wander gwine on fifty yare. was the i'm
pressivc reply. Vow, look yuh, he con
tinued. dish yuh VT gwine tell ain
see mcrse'f. But my Bruddrr Jim he see
it, an dats 'nuf fer me. let yer know
Buh Jim ain no lyin' niger an eff 'uz
Twin an right yuh dis minute he'd be
willin' ter kiss cvc'y Bible twix dis an
Baltmo on de homes tack or lie case. "
Uncle Tony paused long enough to
make sure that no one would have the
face to hazard an objection TO such I'M
Improbable testimony, and then pro
cceded
well, Buh Jim say he ~ out a. possum
huntn' on Chris mus Night an come
long home 'Crost mawSter's ticl' an pass
thoo de cow.pcn, bout l. o'clock. buh
Jim say e ain mon put e foot cen dat
COW pen TO e gun Ter git scared. lie say
e feel lack sperrils mout be lloatin all
roun i'm cen de dark an"
"Oh, yes my Lawd, murmured Maum
Chloe. turning up the whites of her eyes
AN e tuck II git cole all down e back
an sbuck an shiver lax wen foxes has de
chill un. fever. Buh Jim say e ain gone
hafe 'crost dat COW pen, 70 10 an behole
e notice supn cuOus bout dem COW, an
e git scared wusscr mo'ner wusscr. Mebby
yer won blecve it, but Buh Jim say e
hope ter drap dead de mex minute et
eve'y las one er dem COW want down on
dcy knees wild dey nose pintn' up tods dc
sky Cocoon ,,.,. ,., ,....,.,.. ,...
AN wen Buh Jim look ut it e known
right OFF dcy w at der pra'rs, lax c hearn
foxes tell about Buh Jim no coward
but e say de Iawd only knows how many
sperrits mouter been crecpin roun' 'mogst
dem fence ccrnders, and e DIES broke and
run fun dem diggngs-one scared Niger
fer true
well, fer de Lawds sake crieC
Uncle Peter, and ordinations of awet
surprise went round the room.
81 aim ter set up dis wy night an see ei
dey duz it sho' .nui, announced Aun
Calline. "Ef live an nutt'n happen
gwine ter see dish yuh funny khye.in' oil
wild my own own eve.
Several others declared their intention
of doing likewise with the characteristic
"Me, too, whcrcupon Uncle Tony re
marked:
II won promise you, yer see, nuttn
member dat, now! An | say is, de,
lister do it, Dcy done it way back yam
der, dat time wen de stars fell. Dat
sticks ter