Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-09-09

| rung he auction bell, an he leDlcd on
ebcryting 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
ut this direful conclusion of the story.
"Now 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'll
find yuhse'f gobbled up some way wuss
dan dat plantation mouse wus.
Dick grumblcd that he wasn't mouse,
and he wasn't "gwinc arter tarpins, nur
oysters, nudder."
Jus yuh 90 long an pick up some
chips an trash fur to make de fire,
said his father, San don't talk to me no
mo'h OBJ dat foolishness."
Dick walked slowly off to do as he was
bid, and for long time Uncle Enoch
remained standing by the twisted black
gum log without striking it blow.
Uncle Enoch was a 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 gib up all dat
foolshncss bout goin' to Washin tonP'
"Taint no foolishness," muttered
Dick.
"Why, boy" said his father, "'pears
to me yuh is too ole for dat sort o. ting. 3"
at don't make no kind o. difference
how ole page is" said Dick. ''Dat
man said so hissef. He SEES dey got 'em
all ages"
"Dat so, shuhp" asked his father.
"Sartin, shuh," said Dick.
"And dey, gifts sebenteen hundred dol
lars yearp"
YES" said Dick. "An' besides dat,
dey can make lots ob money blackin'
boots an holdin' bosses 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 yere
business. Ef all dat ar moneys to be
got by pagein', agrees to the notion. p"
"Hi-yi!' shouted Dick, beginning to
| dance.
"Yuh needn't cut up any SIGH capers,"
said his father. "Yuh amt gwine. Use
gwine mese'f."
If Dick could have turned pale. he
would have done so. He stood speech
| less.
eyes, sah," continued Uncle Enoch.
"Ef it don't make no difference how ole
de pages is, kin step roun' as lively as
any nv 'em, an kin wait on de Con-
gressmen better'n any boy. l know
what de gcmmen 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 Greg'ry dat Use done
gone to Washin' ton, and dat yuh'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 a 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
Blinker, 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 n real thing,
n 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 was 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 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 gwinc to do wild dat seb-
entecn 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 vineyard NV it. No
use foolin' no more wild little later
patches, an cabbyges, an tree or foh'
dozen hills o. cohn; I'll sell de grapes,
an buy all dat sort o. ting. At de wine
cellar in town dey'll take all dc grapes
| yoh kin raise an Of l 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 dc hot sun brilin' on ter dere
heads"
A little after daylight the next morn
| ing Uncle Enoch, wearing his tall white
hat with the broad band Of Grape around
it which it had on when it was given to
him; with his highest and stifiest shirt
collar; long black coat reaching nearly
to his heels; pair of blue jean trousers
rolled up ut the ankles; his enormous
Sunday boots well BACKED; in one hand
avery small cowhide trunk tied up with
rope and carried in the manner of a
violin-case; vast umbrella with n horn
handle in the other hand; anG the
greater part of his recently paid months
wages in his pocket, started OF to walk
three miles to the naturalization On his
way to become Congressional page.
| Dick assumed the ox-whip, and as
there was no one else to take the vacated
place. he cracked 1t in pride and glory
over the heads of Bob and Blinker, and
although they ran into more stumps,
and got into more deep ruts. than was
good for themselves or the cart, the
winter wood Of Mr.. Gregory continued
to be hauled.
One week, and two weeks passed on
without. news from Uncle Enoch, and
| thar Amt Morso ho<~o,, - <-at x~.ttzut