Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-07-31
lie dinin-room door open, an in walk
Il, q I,h Ia

4
"Look 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 yuhse'f; an de slab meat en- de
cohr from de West fur yuhr hans?
Yuh know 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:-
"I'se 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 enuff fur to buy quinine fur de
hans
"Den de town mouse he ses to de
sheriff, ses he:-
"'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 'nuff.' 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 and
dat plantation mouse fur slaves"
Dick uttered an exclamation of hor-
ror at this direful conclusion of the
story.
"Now look a.heah, boy" continued
Uncle Enoch, def yuh thinks you is
gwine down to Washin ton to git tar
pins an oysters an champain out ob
dem Congressman, yuh won't be TUX
and sold, cause dey can't do dat now,
but yuh'll find yuhse'f gobbled up some
way wuss dan dat plantation mouse
wus."
Dick grumbled that he wasn't
mouse, and he wasn't "gwine arter tar
pins, nur oysters, nudder."
"Jus yuh go long and pick up some
chips and trash fur to make de fire."
said his father, "and don't talk to me
no mo'h OBJ dat foolishness.
Dick walked slowly off to do as he
was bid, and for a long time Uncle
Enoch remained standing by the twist
ed black-gum log without striking 1t
blow.
Uncle Enoch was skillful and prac-
ticei ox-driver, working in that capac-
ity for the farmer on whose land he
lived. All the next day he walked med
itatively by the side Of the slowly NOV
ing Bob and Blinker, hauling wood
from the mountain. He did not shout
as much as usual to his oxen, but he
guided them with all his customary pre-
cision around stunps, rocks, and the
varied impediments Of the rough wood
land road.
"Yuh Dick" said he to his son In the
evening, sis you done glib up all dat
foolishness bout goin to Washin ton p
"Taint no fOolishness," muttered
Dick.
"why, boy" said his father, "pears
to me yuh is too ole for dat sort o. ting"
at don't make no kind o. difference
how ole a page is," said Dick. "Dat
man said so hisse'f. He ses dey got 'em
all ages" ......
"Dat so, shuh ?" asked his father.
"Sartin, shuh," said Dick.
"And dey gifts sebenteen hundred
dollars year?"
eyes" said Dick. "And besides dat,
dey can make lots oh money blacking
boots an holding hosses an running ar
rants fur de Congressman, when courts
out"
Uncle Enoch looked steadfastly at his
son for some moments without speak
ing. Then he said, "Look a-heah, boy;
I'se made up my mind bout dis yere
business. Eff all dat ar moneys to be
got by pagein, agrees to the notion"
"Hi-yil" shouted Dick, beginning TO
| dance.
"Yuh needn't cut up any sich ca
pers," said his father. "Yuh amt
1 Dee c,u,ipa ,nacn1f ~
If Dick could have turned pale, he
would have done so. He stood speech
| less.
"Yes, sah," continued Uncle Enoch.
"Ef it don't make no difference how ole
de pages is, kin step roun as lively as
any NV EN-, an kin wait OH de Congress
men better'n any boy. know what de
gemmen wants, an / knows how TO do
il. I'se waited on EN- fore yuh was
bawn, boy, an yuh neber libed mong
white folks, nohow.. Jus yuh take dat
ox-whip ter-morrer mawnin, an tell
Mahsr Greg'ry DAT I'se done gone TO
washin'ton, an dat yuh've come to
drive de oxen. Yuh's ole enuff fur dat
now, an it's time yuh was beginnin.
Downcast as Dick was when he heard
that he was not going to be page In
the halls of Congress, his spirits imme-
diately rose when he was told that he
was to take Uncle Enoch's place as OK
driver. To crack the long whip anG
guide the slow progress Of Bob and
Blinker, was to him a high delight and
honor which impressed the more forci-
bly, because it was so totally unexpect-
ed. The Government position had held
forth glittering advantages, which had
greatly attracted him, but which his
mind did not entirely comprehend. But
to drive the oxen was real thing, a JOY