Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-12-10
THE DARBY AND HIS DOGS,
Trying to Decide the Question as to Which
One He Would Part With.

One He Would Part With.
l was stopping at the house of a
young planter, who owned very fine
hound, but as he was no hunter he had
no affection for his hound, which was
overload of spending his time in the
woods instead OF remaining at home to
please his master. An old darky on
the plantation owned four cur dogs,
and the young planter, thinking he
would be better pleased with a big,
bob-tailed ''yaller" dog than he was
with his fine hound. decided to go down
to .'Uncle Henry's cabin and make a
trade. being fully convinced that I'm
Gle" Henry. who was quite n hunter,
would jump at The chance of getting a
genuine hunting dog for one of his
ours. l accepted an invitation 10 go
along and witness the trade.
We found Uncle Henry in his
truck patch. adjoining tho house,
leaning on his hoe TO see what his
dogs were barking at when we ar
rived.
Uncle Henry said the owner OF
the hound. II have come down to give
you good dog trade" and as one OF
the dogs, simon-purc eur, came up
wagging his stub tail, he added: 81
Will give you my fine hound for this
dog. rs l don t need hunting dog, and
only want dog to lay around the yard
TO brighten tramps =
"Well, Mars Billy. Use alters ready
for trade, and within to oblige you, .
said Uncle Henry; 'but Use gwine to
tell yer poin' dly dat hit be many 4 day
before Uncle Henry and dat dog parts.
unless some one knocks one oil US on
de head. Why, Mars Billy, he's my
main coon dog"
But. Uncle Henry" said he, ..you
have three others. Besides, this hound
OF mine will make better hunting dog
than either of your four" Pointing to
one of the others he said "Well, l will
trade for that one.
Il couldn't think of letting that one
go, cause he's my main 'possum dog,
aud, besides. he ) got such frenzy
sort of way wild him. | sorter feel like
he's some kin TO us. De woman
neber would quit calling me all sorter
hard names If let dat dog go out OBJ
de family"
Il don't want your coon dog nor
your possum dog, said the planter;
Il just want dog TO lay about the
house, aud don't care if he is good
for nothing, and am wiling to give
you good, young hound for your
poorest dog Trade me that one," he
SAID, pointing TO one OF the others.
Now | specs dat houn' am mighty
peert, AN declar | would like to nab
him. but dat dog you looking at
wouldn' be no good 10 you anyhow,
for lie won't hunt nor do muffin but
some sort of meanne3s. He'll steal the
hot meat outen lie pot or de bread often
the table ebery chance he gets, an de
ole woman and cherry one else dat
comes about here done abuse him 50
mucn hit looks like I'm dc only fren'
hes got left. gifts awful mad, when |
sees him toting off hot piece of
bacon de ote woman cooked for my
supper, but when dey all beat him an
he comes up 10 me to befren' him,
can't help liking him with all his mean
ness. reckon Use de only fren' he's
got in dc word, and | knows ii he goes
up to your house he an de missus
gwine 10 hab trouble, an dc poor dog
viii git killed. y
''Nell, Uncle Henry" said the
planter, 'nny not trade tor the other
one?'
MARS Billy" said Uncle Henry, II
ncocr would believed you'd cr TX me
10 part via dat ole dog. Why, he's
nisn onto Twelve years ole, and don't
YOU rccoliect when you was a boy ANA
Uaelo Henry was stray liter and a heap
yOHn or On what he is now, dc happy
days aud nights me and dat old dog
used To spend down III dc bottom? Part
wild dat oie dog? Why, Mars Billy, Ii
eDrr i glt 10 DC So mean | hopes dc
sperets Oh tie coons and de 'possums
dat ole dog mas cotcned for nue. won't
let me sleep. You mought as well
talk about parting me and dc ole wo-
man as to talk about parting me and
dat ole dog. As long as dere's little
meal and bacon in lie cabin dar I'm
three OF Us what will divide hit, an
dats me an de ole woman an de ole
dog. "--American Field