Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-07-23

acapitalist, when the unlucky collapse
OF the Freedman's Bank swept away
the bulk of his garnered boards.
This made him moody and irritable
at times, but did not impair his ability
as cotton picker, which was some
thing wonderful to behold.
Jerusalem, or ''Ju," was short and
fat, and, like my old friend, Hamlet,
somewhat scant of breath.
His skin was so black that SCOT
would have made white mark upon
It. HIS eyes were small and twinkling,
induces of the good humor that ami
mated his being.
His lips were large and luscious, like
slices of a ripe mango, and No. IA
shoe gave him dignity otherwise i'm
possible to obtain.
His speech was slow and deliberate,
indicative of a mind much given to
inward thought, and his ears were
large and hayward, restless with
every motion that fitted across his
expansive face.
AS an only son and presumptive
heir to much land and some stock, his
presence was always a desirable one
at the little social gatherings that en-
livened either side the "branch." The
woman in the case, Miss Sophy Gig
giles, was winsome creature of some
10 years, voluptuous as to outline,
and tasty as to dress.
Her complexion was clear, healthy
brown, and dazzling white teeth lent
splendor to her frequent smiling.
The way she frightened up her hair
I,,r 4 ha nd 1at
Sundays, convinced all of her inherent
genius, and her singing is said to have
made many mocking-bird pull out
its tail feathers in sheer envy.
She had worked two seasons i'm Tai
lahassee, also, so to her other charms
were added the vague but delicious
refinements of city life.
No wonder the little boy Cupid used
her as bow from which to launch his
dainty arrows. Given the place and
material he could not have displayed
much greater wisdom.
Both men were in love with her;
that was plainly to be seen.
Both settlements knew, snickered
ut it, gossipped over it and speculated
as to on whom the choice would fall.
Sophy, like most of her sex. was a
born coquette, and gave no sign of
favoritism. If she went to ball with
"Ju" one night she went to festival
with Ananias the next, and accepted
the sticks OF sugar cane with the same
sweet smile and honeyed thanks from
one, as she did the quart of peanuts
and suspender buckle from the other.
Neither had ever kissed her-so she
said although the attempt had been
often made. and it was an open ques-
ton as to who would eventually win.
The climax came one day in balmy
June, when the birds were singing
their sweetest, and the mud turtles
felt the throb of JOY in their gentle
bosoms, and old Aunt Jenny was the
cause of it.
She had dropped into the house of
Jerusalem's parents for social chat,
and finding no one home but his ia
Their, good old Uncle Hypothenuse
johnson, the conversation rapidly
drlfted in the direction of his love af-
fairs.
II year your son gwinter be kicked
by Sophy Giggles, Uncle Muse. Am
dat SOP" said Aunt Jenny, inquisitite-
ly.
II dunno, | dunno, Aunt jimmy"
was the reply; "but If she merries tibet
triilin, owdacious, yeller niger, Ana
niah, she's gwinter be sorry fer hit be-
TO de var am out"
"Well, Uncle Muse, dat boy Mas
am right peart boy, on 1 year he's
got rigat smart bunch OBJ cattle in
de woods somewhar.n
Fright smart bunch oh cattler' said
Uncle Muse contemptuously. "Sho,
Only got three bull yearlin's an, one
ole COW. Look yer, Aunt jimmy" eX-
citedly, "lemme show you wha' my
boy JUL git when he gifts married. p"
And the old man opened musty old
trunk that stood in one corner of the
room, and, after much delving there
in, and much hard breathing, brought
out an old stocking.
CHANGING cautiously around, even
going to the door TO see il anyone was
approaching, he showed Aunt Jenny
its precious contents, goodly store of
gold and silver, with some bills.
Then, carefully replacing it, he re-
sumed his seat.
Huh! Right smart bunch oh cat
tie. Ell? Aunt jimmy" impressively,
"when thct boy oh mine gifts married,
he gifts four-hun' err -dolars-an'-
twenty-acres--o good Ian"
That settled it; as Aunt Jenny on
her way home met Sophy when about
half way there. there could be but one
result That night, by previous en-
gagement, Ju took Miss Sophy to a
/ IL at ,.aa,Ianna 4f ha
Rev. Capsicum Grant, on the way
back got his courage to the sticking
point, told his love and was coyly but
promptly accepted. The kiss that
followed nearly made an owl tumble
/ from his perch near by, and so bewild-
/ cred him that an audacious tree toad
sang an air from Norma right under
his very nose.
The news of the betrothal was known
all over the neghborhood next morn
ing. and then the storm came.
That same morning | was sitting In
my Office trying to evolve an editoria
on the beaut es of carpet-bagism, wher
the door thrilled beneath most lugu
brious knock.
In answer to my "come in!" behold
the long, lank figure of Ananias.
His countenance wore look o
mingled ferocity and melancholy.
"Cap'pen," said he. IL has come t.
you for some disvice
showed my writing materials aside
and motioned him to chair. Then
lit cigar, the brand particularly af
fect-O. P.-(other people's), ant
said Proceed"
He shufiied awkwardly to the chair
took nositiOn on the extreme edge O