The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-11-05
THE DARBY AND HIS DOGS,
Trying to Decide the Question as to Which
One He Would Part With.

was stopping at the house of q
young planter, who owned very fine
hound, but as he was no hunter he had
no affection for his hound, which was
over-fond of spending his time in the
woods instead of remaining at home to
please his master. Az old darky on
the plantation owned four cur dogs,
and the young planter, thinking he
would be better pleased with a big,
bob-tailed 'yaller' dog than he was
with his fine hound, decided to 60 down
to Uncle Henry's cabin and make a
trade. being fully convinced that I'm
Gle" Henry, who was quite a hunter,
would jump at the chance of getting a
genuine hunting dog for one of his
ours | accepted an invitation to go
along and witness the trade.
We found Uncle" Henry in his
truck patch" adjoining the house,
leaning on his hoe to see what his
dogs were barking at when we ar
rived.
''Uncle. Henry" said the owner of
the hound, II have come down to give
you a good dog trade" and as one of
the dogs, simon-pure cur, came up
wagging his stub tail, he added: Il
will give you my fine hound for this
dog, as l don't need hunting dog, and
only want dog to lay around the yard
10 frighteD tramps-'
"Well, Mars Billy. Use alters ready
for trade, and wilEn' to oblige you,"
said Uncle Henry; "out Use gwine to
tell yer poin' dly dat hit be many a day
before Uucle Henry and dat dog parts,
unless some one knocks one of Us on
de head. Why, Mars Billy, he's nv
main coon dog"
"Dut, Uncle Henry" said he, "you
have three others. Besides, this hound
OF mine will make better hunting dog
than either of your four" Pointing to
one of the others he said: "Well, l will
trade for that one.
II couldn't think of letting that one
60, cause he's my main 'pOssum dog,
and, besides, he's got such a frenzy
sort of way wild him. | sorter feel like
he's some kin to us. De ole woman
neber would quit calling me all sorter
hard names if let dat dog 60 out oh
de family"
Il don't want your coon dog nor
your 'possum dog" said the planter;
Il just want dog to lay about the
house, and don't care if he is good
for nothing, and l am willing to give
you good, young hound for your
poorest dog. Trade me that one," he
said. pointing to one of the others.
Now l specs dat houn' am mighty
peert, an declar l would like to hab
him, but dat dog you looking at
wouldn't be no good to you anyhow,
for he won't hunt nor do muffin but
some sort of meanneSs. He'll steal the
hot meat outen de pot or de bread often
the table ebery chance he gets, an de
ole woman and ebery one else dat
comes about here done abuse him so
much hit looks like I'm de only fren'
he's got left. gifts awful mad when l
sees him a toting off hot piece of
bacon de ole woman cooked for nv
supper, uut Wueu uey All UeaL nln All
he comes up to me to befren' him, |
can't help liking him with all his mean
ness. | reckon Ise de only fren' he's
got in de world, and | knows if he goes
up to your house he an de missus
gwine to hab trouble, an de poor dog
will git killed"
"Well, Uncle Henry" said the
planter, why not trade for the other
0neP"
MARS Billy" said Uncle Henry, 81
neber would believed you'd er ak me
to part wild dat ole dog. Why, he's
nigh onto twelve years ole, and don't
you recolIect when you was boy and
Uncle Henry was straighter and heap
younger EN- what he is now, de happy
days and nights me and dat old dog
used to spend down in de bottom? Part
wild dat ole dog? Why, Mars Billy, if
eber L git to be so mean | hopes de
sperets OBJ de coons and de possums
dat ole dog has cotched for me won't
let me sleep. You mought as we'll
talk about parting me and de ole wo-
man as to talk about parting me and
dat ole dog. As long rs dere's little
meal and bacon in de cabin dar am
three of Us what will divide hit, an
dats me an de ole woman an de ole
dog. ."-Afericd1, Field