Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-31
UNCLE HENRY'S DOGS.
He Had Four Worthless Ours, but
COuldn't Spare Any.

correspondent of the Ame1icda Field tells
this:
was stopping at the house of a young planter,
who owned a very fine hound, but as he was
not 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 darkey on the PLAN
tation owned four cur dogs, and the young
planter, thinking he would be better pleased
with a big, bob-;ailed "yaller" dog than he was
with his fine hound, decided to go down to
Uncle" Henry's cabin and make trade, being
fully convinced that "Uncle" Henry, who was
quite hunter, would jump at the chance OF
getting genuine hunting dog for one of his
ours accepted an invitation to go along and
witness the trade.
patch" adjoining the house, leaning on his hoe
to see what his dogs were barking at when We
arrived.
"Uncle Henry" said the owner of the hound,
II have come down to give you a good dog
trade anc as one of the dogs, simon
added' Il viii give ~ yeg nv Ms line R hound tor
this dog, as don't need a hunting dog, and
only want Il dog to lay around the yard and
We'll Mars Billy; Use alerese ready for a
trade; and willin' to Oblige you,'' said Uncle
Henry. 'but Use gwine to tell yer poin'dly dat
it will be many day before Uncle Henry aud
dat dog parts, unless some one knocks one of
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 a
better hunting dog than either OF your FOUR
Pointing to one of the others he said, "Well
will trade for that one."
II couldn't think of letting that one go, cause
he's my main 'possum dog, and, besides, he's
got such FRENZY sort of way wild him. 1 sorter
feel like mes some kin to us. DE ole woman
neOer would quit calling me all sOrter hard
names if let dat dog go out OBJ de family"
u don't want your coon dog nor your possum
dog" said the planter; 81 just want a dog to lay
about the house, and / don't care if he is good
for nothing, and l am willing to give yon q
good, young hound for your poorest dog. Trade
me that one" he said, pointing TO one OF the
others.
Now I specs dat houn' am mighty peert, an
declar' l would like TO hab him, but dat dog
you looking at wouldn { be no good to you any
how, for he wont hunt nCr do muffin but some
sort OF meanness. He'll steal de hot meat outen
de pot or de bread off de table cherry chance he
gets, an de ole woman and cherry one else dat
comes about here done abuse him so much hit
looks like m de only fren he's got left. gifts
awful mad when l sees him toting of a not
piece OF bacon de Ole woman cooked Tor my
supper, but when dey all beat him an he comes
up to me to beren' him, can't help liking him
wild all his meanness. reckon Use de only
fren' he's got in de world, and l knows if he
goes up to your house he an de misSus gwine
to hab trouble. an de poor dog will git killed."
We'll, Uncle Henry" said the planter, why
not trade 1Or the other One?'
MARS Billy said Uncle Henry, 81 neber
would a believed you'd er ak me to part wild dat
ole dog. Why, he's nigh onto twe,ve years ole,
and don't You recOllect when you boy
and Il nce Henry was straighter and a heap
younger EN- what he is n,'w, de happy days and
nights me and dat ole dog used to spend down
in the bottom? Part viii dat ole dog? Why,
Mars Billy, if cher l get to be mean hopes
de speretS OBJ de coOus and de possumS dat ole
dog has cotched for me won't let me sleep. You
mought we'll talk about parting Inc and de
ole woman as to talk about parting me and dat
ole dog. AS long dere's a little meal and
bacon in de cabin dar am three Oh what will
divide hit, an OATS me and de ole woman an
de ole dog