The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-07-25


smoke his cigar, 'yuh come to de city
an see me, and when you taste what
dem dar tings is like, yuh won't be con-
tent fur to stay no more on dis yere no.
count farm, SO fur from de railroad
$50, soon as he sell he 'baccer, de
plantation mouse he go to see his city
frien'. He glad to see him, an sot him
right down to pow'ful good dinner
wild all de canvis-back ducks an de tar
pins an de oysters an de CHAMPAIGN, an
de udder tings dat he done tell bout.
"'If I'd a-knowed you was a-comin',
ses de city mouse, I'D had reg lar
cump'ny dinner; but yuh'll have to go
long and jus take pot-luck wild us dis
time,
f" Den you didn't git my letter. ses
de phantom mouse.
"'No, sab. Reckin yuhr man done
forgot to put it in de pos'office.'
$50 dey sot an eat till dey mos like
to bus, an de plantation mouse he
wonner what he would a-had if he fren'
had done got he letter.
Z 'Jus' as dey was litin' dere cigars,
and putin dey heels up on two cheers,
de dinin'-room door open, an in walk
de sheriff OBJ de county.
"ICok a-heah, kurnel. ses he, have
yuh got de money ready fur all de ducks
an de oysters an de wine you've had
fur yuhsef; an de slab meat an de
cohn from de West fur yuhr han'sP
Yuh know l said wouldn't give yuh no
longer nur ter-day.' De city mouse he
turn pale, an he TUX de plantation
mouse into one corner, an ses he:-
"Look a-heah, kin yuh len me two
or free tousand dollars till tomorrow
mawnin', when de bank opens?' Den
de udder mouse he pull drefful poor
mouf, an he ses:- .s.t-
"Tse pow'ful sorry, but it rained so
much in de low groun's las year dat
|. my cohn wus all split; an dere wasn't
no rain on de high groun's, an de cohn
dere wus all wilted; an de fros' done
cotch my baccer craps, an didn't have
money enuf fur to buy quinine fur de
hans.
"Den de town mouse he ses to de
sheriff, SEES he: ..t
"'You call aroun' Monday mawnin'
an I'll pay you dat money. [ wus
a'spectin' my fren' ter-day, and done
forgot to k'lect it,
"'Dat won't do, ses de sheriff. Use
heerd dat story often 'nuf. An he
rung he auction bell, an he lebied on
eberyting in de house; an as dey didn't
fotch enuf, he sold dat city mouse an
dat plantation mouse fur slaves"
Dick uttered an exclamation of horror
at this direful conclusion of the story.
Nov look a-heah, boy" continued
Uncle Enoch, "ef yuh thinks you is gwine
down to Washin'ton to git tarpins an
oysters an CHAMPAIGN out OBJ dem Con
gressmen, yuh won't be tux an sold
cause deY can't do dat now, but yuh' Il
find yuhse'f gobbled up some way wuss
dan dat plantation mouse wus.
Dick grumbled thathe wasn't mouse,
and he wasn't "gwine arter tarpins, nul
oysters, nudder."
Jus yuh 60 long an pick up some
chips an trash fur to make de fire, y
said his father, "an' don't talk to me nc
mo'h OBJ dat foolishness."
Dick walked slowly off to do as he was
bid, and for long time Uncle Enocf
remained standing by the twisted black
gum log without striking it a blow.
Uncle Enoch was skillful and prac
ticed ox-driver, working in that capacity
for the farmer on whose land he lived
All the next day he walked meditatively
by the side of the slowly moving Boil
and Blinker, hauling wood from thu
mountain. He did not shout as mucl
as usual to his oxen, but he guided
them with all his customary precision
around stumps, rocks, and the varied
impediments of the rough WOODLAND
road.
"Yuh Dick" said he to his son in tn,
evening, sis you done glib up all da
foolishness bout goin' to Washin' ton?'
faint no foolishness," mutterec
Dick. En-
"Why, boys said his father, spear
tome yuh is too ole for dat sort O. ting.
ut don't make no kind O. diff renc
how ole page isl said Dick. "Da
man said so hisse'f. He SEES dey got 'er
all ages" ..'t. ..'.
"Dat so, shuhP" asked his father.
"Sartin, shuh," said Dick. B 3
"And dey gifts sebenteen hundred do
lars yearP"
Yes" said Dick. "An' besides dat
dey can make lots OBJ money blackir
boots an holdin' HOSES an runnin' al
rants fur de congressman, when court
out"
Uncle Enoch looked steadfastly at hi
son for some moments without speal
ing. Then he said, "Look a-heah, boy
Use made up my mind bout dis yer
business. Eff all dat ar moneys to
got by pagein', agrees to the notion.
"Hi-yi!" shouted Dick, beginning
dance.
"Yuh needn't cutup any SIGH capers,
said his father yah amt gwine. rs
gwine mesef."
If Dick could have turned pale, b
} would have done so. He stood speech
less. .I
Eyes, sah," continued Uncle Enocl
, ! stLHf Jo,ft ,,,ol-o ~ L - i