The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-07-25


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 real thing,
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 gwine to do wild dat seb-
enteen hundred dollars, " said Uncle
Enoch, as he sat on low chair sewing
up a 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. 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
yoh kin raise an eff l have to buy boss
an wagun to haul 'em inter town, yuh
won't see dis we're 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
ing Uncle Enoch, wearing his tall white
hat with the broad bandof Grape around
it which it had on when it was given to
him; with his highest and stiffest shirt
collar; long black coat reaching nearly
to his heels; pair of blue jean trousers
rolled up at the ankles; his enormous
Sunday boots we'll BACKED; in one hand
VERY small cowhide trunk tied up with
a rope and carried in the manner of a
violin-case; vast umbrella with horn
handle in the other hand; and the
greater part of his recently paid month S
wages in his pocket, started off to walk
three miles to the railroad-station on his
way to become a Congressional page.
Dick assumed the ox-whip, and as
there was no one else to take the vacated
place, he cracked it 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, anC
then Aunt Maria began to get impatient
Look a-heah, Dick" she said, "wher
you come home ter.night, an has haC
yuhr supper, an has done split up den
ole rails, what's too short fur de fence
anyway, fur faint no use for yuh to try
no mo'h on dat black-gum log what yuf
daddy done went away and luf, an e
he don't come back soon he won't find n,
fence at all, Ireckin, when he do come
Yuh JUS sot down an write him letter
an tell him faint no use fur him to b,
sabin up all dat sebenteen hundred dol
lars to buy vineyards while his chill
lun's gwine about wild scace no close t.
dere backs.
"Dere's yuhr sis'r Charlotte what ha
to 90 to church wild dem light blue slip
pers Miss Sallie glib her, an no stockuns
an no wunner de people laf at her, An
dere's yuhr daddy maxim all datmone
down dere in Washin' ton wild de Con
gressmen.
can she a gal, too, what's done wo
de prize tree times in de cake-walk.
spec he's done forgot what L tole hir
bout de weddin' ring fur me. | don
tole him to buy it wild de fus' money h
got an send it in letter. Use nebbe
had none yit, though we wus both maj
ried long back befoh de war.
San it's no use waitin', nudder, fU
little Jim's funeral till he comes bacl
He kin sen de money fur de cake an
wine JUS as well as not, an BruddC
Anderson is ready, he tole me la
Sun'y, wild de fax an de tex. Lit
Jim's been dead now nigh on ter tw
yeah, an it's time his funeral VIZ
preached.
II amt got no 'jections to de win
yard, spesh'ly eff we hab ter hab wa!
on to haul de grapes, but 1 don wal
yuhr daddy to come back heah an fin
hissef 'shamed NV his family art,
Twin down dar 'mong all dem qualit
folks. I'll send Charlotte dis mawnil
to borrer a sheet Nv paper, an pen a
ink from Miss Sally, an see eff she won
let her pick up some apples in de o
chard while she's dar, an p'raps she
give her bucket NV buttermilk eff she
done churned yistiddy. An yuh put g
dat in de letter, an SEN 1t off jus
soon as yuh kin. ......
Dick willingly undertook this bus
ness, having made up his mind while b
mother was talking to him to put in
few words on his own account; and b
fora ba boora,, tho in,portopt an; ctla aoi