The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-05-16
A MIRACULOUS HAM.
The Old Man Attempts to Tell
 Curious Story but is Interrupted.

@How are you, Uncle Ike P said young Mulkittle. entering the cabin and address ing the old man. The old msu did not resp ond.
 "I say, how are you. Uncle ikei" re- peaied the boy.
 |" know whut yer say. Needn' pu, yesset ter no trouble bout me-"
 "Whas's the matter, uncle lkep"
 "Neber mine. Yer ten ter 70 bus. ness an I'll ten ter mine"
 "You aint mad at me, are you ?"
 "Yes, 1 is."
 "Whyi"
 "Neber mine why"
 @Wha, have done. U aclc tkeI"
 "Nehsr mine ~hui yer done. Went roun' de neighboshood ,Alkin' bout me, das's whut yer done"
 declare didn't"
 "Nebes mine, dat's uhut de folks tells me-"
 "Well, anybody that says so tells story"
 "Nebes mine. da's prepar'd ter prube it."
 "If you won't believe me se'sf you are mad at me will go on away an' not come to sec you any more"
 Bless de chile's hones' meaf," ex. claimed the old man, holding out bis hands. Wy, honey, didn' yer know dat de ole gennerman ain got nothin' ergin yer1 Haw, haw, haw hos 1 did fool dis heah angel O CT white mans chile. Ur, he, he. hel Jes' wanted ter see, honey, ef yer had CT hae feelin', he, he. Wy, yer'd do anything fur ole Ike, wouldn' yer, honey5"
 "Yes, would"
 "Talkin' nov, sho's yer bond, yer is. Wouldn' see dis ole Pusson suffer fur nu,hin'. would yer honsyl"
 "No, sir, wouldn't"
 "ralkin' load now, honey. Ef dis ole man ~ul nsasiy dead fur suthin' yer'd git 1t far him, voaldn' ysrf"
 "Yes, if could"
 "Talkin' like CT lawyer, now. Woaidh' let dc ole gennerman suffer in de flesh, wosld yef, kossyi"
 "No, wosIdn'tr
 "Taiiin' ike q tsAss, ss~. El de ole pusson wur hongry fus CT certain sol O viddults yer'd stir yesssf foun' sn' hep him es little, woaldn' yeFT
 "Yes."
 ~Talkin' like er gub'ner, nos Ismme tell yer. E, pusson ~hus talks like es ,sw : yer, den hke CT jedge an den like like ss gub'nex is gwineter climb up high 'mong de pieters artes srwhile. It do me good ter think erbous |. Say, smels ercan' dis mownin' an de ar shut wus circu- lasin' bout said dat dar wuz ham bsin' billed in dc white folks house. Nos aim had no ham fur CT lasng time an wants some awful bad Now, l teil yes whut yer do UT, he, he, it's sich CT joke. Yer 60 an sit me sr piece Q dat ham an feech 1t heah an arter CT while when CT bad P.:sca comes heah sn' gifts ter taikin' erbout CT ham. yer ken den up an' say dat yer gin me dat meat yessef. Ran 1oDg am m tell ger de bes' tale yer nebe1 hearn."
 The boy rao to the dining room aad soon resursed with . piece oi meat
 "Wen iss' pus dis on dc shef," said the old negro. '.jes put is up heah whar dc rif-raf kain' resch 1t. Ons lime when 1 wuz CT boy h A6k&y ! wss gwine through the voodx ! s,smhied obss suthin'. L,okin' down sesd ~ mon ssrous fire ham. already cooked. Wall, bein' sssssz heasEy nys<G sack eas my knife sn' vuz jes' srbout tss carve o6 ! er chunk when scmethin' say,
 -'HoIe sa. hole ea, Tab in de cellar aa' de bsosm h de iof
 Hole on. hoie sn, Oats In de fodder rack sa' co'n in de trca :, ~l pat down ds ham an' looked all sFoun' an axed wko dat talkin' sex me, nah r s'Me,' says de ham.
 "whus, yer dosa say SOP 1 @'Yes, l doeA Eat CT piece . me an [ vont be good fur yer II -wAn, now, va'nt % easy skessed. | sidss dss vuz hoagry, e l slaahed or { Y piece q de meat an' come dovn e itI rid my jsw. An, Lavdi Dc fna ding !,