The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-07-24

Use pow full sorry, but 1t rained
much in de low groun's las year ds
my cohn wus all split; an dere WASH
no rain on de high groun's, an de cob
deere wus all wilted; an de fros' don
cotch my baccer craps, an didn't hav
money enuf fur to buy quinine fur d
hans.
''Den de town mouse he ses to d
sheriff, ses he:
"'You call aroun' Monday mawnin'
an I'll pay you dat money. 1 WI
a'spectin' my fren' ter-day, and don
forgot to k'lect it,
".Dat won't do ses de sheriff. rs
heerd dat story often 'nuf.' An h
rung he auction bell, an he lebied o.
eberyting in de house; an as dey didn'
fotch enuf, he sold dat city mouse an
dat plantation mouse fur slaves"
Dick uttered an exclamation of horro
at this direful conclusion of the story.
..Now look a-heah, boy" continued
Uncle Enoch. ''ef yuh thinks you is gwin'
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'l
find yuhse'f gobbled up some way wus.
dan dat plantation mouse wus."
Dick grumbled that he WASH a mouse
and he wasn't .gwine arter tarpins, nun
oysters, nudder."
Jus yuh go long an pick up some
chips an trash fur to make de fire, '
said his father, ''sn' 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 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 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 precision
around stumps, rocks, and the varied
impediments of the rough woodland
road.
"Yuh Dick" said he to his son in the
evening, sis you done glib up all dat
foolishness bout goin' to Washin' ton?"
''Taint no foOlishness," muttered
Dick.
"Why, boy" said his father, "'pears
tome yuh is too ole for dat sort O ting"
at don't make no kind O. diff renee
how ole 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.
lars year?"
Yes" said Dick. AN besides dat,
dey can make lots OBJ money blackin'
boots an holdin' HOSES an runnin' 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:
Use made up my mind bout dis we're
business. Eff all dat ar moneys to be
got by pagein', agrees to the notion"
''Hi-yi" shouted Dick, beginning to
dance.
''Yuh needn't cutup any SIGH capers,"
said his father. "Tuh amt gwine. Use
gwine mese'f."
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 livel as
any NV 'em, an kin wait on de Con-
gressmen better'n any boy. l know
what de gemmen wants, an l knows
how to do it. Use waited on 'em 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 Creepy dat Use done
gone to Washin' ton, and dat yGh've
come to drive de oxen. Yuh's ole enuf
fur dat now, an it's time yuh was be-
ginnin'."
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 and
guide the slow progress of Bob and
was to him high delight and
honor which impressed him the more
forcibly because it was so totally unex-
pected. 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 and dignity which he knew all
about. Dick was entirely satisfied. As
to the pages salary, which his memory
or his ears had so greatly exaggerated,
he did not even think of it.
Uncle Enoch determined not to an
nounce his intention to his neighbors,
nor to take counsel of any one. He
went into the house. and, after electrify-
ing his family with the statement of his
intended step into what vas to them
wealth and high position, he set them
all to work to get him ready for an
early start the next morning. Washing,
ironing, patching and packing went on
during a great part of the night, his
wife. "Aunt Maria" his three daugh-
tiers, and even Dick. doing their utmost
to fit him out for his great undertaking.
"What Use gwine to do wild dat seb-
enteen hundred dollars" said Uncle
Enoch, as he sat on low chair sewing
up gap in one of his Sunday boots. sis
TO buy dis track O. land on de hill back
heah, an make a VINEYARD Nv it. No
use foolin' no more wild little later
patches, an cabbyges. an tree or foh'
dozen hills O COIN; I'll sell de grapes,
an buy all dat sort o ting. At de wine
cellar In town dey'll take all de grapes
goh kin raise an eff have to buy boss
an wagun to haul 'em inter town. yuh
won't see dis yere family waikiki to
church no mo'h wild de mud up to dere
knees and de hot sun brilin' on ter dere
heads"
A little after daylight the next morn