Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-08-13
AL GONE INSIDE p
Old Uncle JEFF. At Col. Hacketts
Ranch In Nevada.
by DAN DIX QUILLE.
BY DAN DIX QUILLE.

colOred man of most benevolent
and sanctimonious appearance.
"Peace and good will to all' is
written in every line and wrinkle
of his ebon cOnntensnce. Many
white hairs are sprinkled in his
beard and wool, and he has a bad
limp in his leg, which is bowed
outward at the knee, giving him a
somewhat rolling gait. He is wont
to "Got dat leg in de ole slsbery
times, sab, befo' de wab."
Some are 30 uncharitable as to
hint that he acquired his bad leg
one night while running away from
a smOkehouse, back in Missouri,
being overtaken in his flight by a
charge of buckshot sent in pur-
suit of him by a man who had be-
come aware that his bacon was dis.
appearing more rapidly than was
accounted for by the statistics of
home consumption. Old jeff, how
ever, has a romantic story of how
he "got dat legn while fighting on
the side of his old master against
"de Buck Webster SET"
The old fellow loves to tell what
a powerful man he vas before he
was lamed. The leg now serves
him as an excuse for doing very lit
tie work of any kind. Also, for
years he has claimed to be con-
sumpted-"all gone inside, sah"-
and in daily expectation of being
called to his long home. He there
fore spends most of his time in max
ing farewell calls upon his old ac-
aualntances, particularly such as
hail from the South, where he is al
ways sure OF a square meal in the
kitchen. Besides visiting all such
in town, he scouts out into the
country to distance OF several
miles to enjoy the hospitality OF
southern people who are settled on
ranches.
At the ranches the old man may
make himself at home tor a week
or a month, with nothing to do but
tinker about among the chickens
and pigs, or to look after the young
sters and amuse them with songs
and stories. AS Uncle jeff has a
weakness for drains, he is generally
better off in the country than knock
ing about town.
One of Uncle Jeff7s favorite places
of resort in the country is the ranch
of Col. Hackett, on the Carson riy-
or. The Colonel is a former Mis-
souri, acquaintance, and one of the
old school whole.souled southern
planters. There the old fellow does
as he pleases and can remain as
long as he chooses, as he affords
the Colonel much amusement, and
serves to remind him Of the days
when he had about him score or
more of colored servltors.
Last week Uncle JEFF made his
appearance at the ranch Of the Col
onel, who is always to him "Marse
George" and was more than usual
| ly downhearted and nigh unto
deaths door. AS the old man hault-
ed at the vine.covered gate and
peeped in, the Colonel heard him
chuckle to himself: "Yas, dar he is
-dar he is q settih' on de poach a
readin' his papah. Golly, | done
cotch um at home"
"Marse George" said the old man,
a few minutes later, as he hoobled
into the veranda, seated himself on
a bench and decoriously adjusted
his old wool hat over the glaring
patches on the knees of his trousers.
"Msrse George l hopes | sees you
well, sab. Pse come to see you once
mo'-once mo- befoh / leabs you
fo'ebber. Msrse George, Pse gwine
| to de odder shoah; Pse far on de-
way to my long hOme-tO dat home
scrost the ribber whar de wicked
hab no mo- trouble an de weary
cease to rest You 'uns has all been
barry kline to me heah. Marse
| George-berry kline to de ole man
but he's gwine away acrost the
dark ribber to jine dc company OBJ
de blest. Oar, Marse Gearge, I'll
soon take my stan to sing susan
mas to do Lo'd for ebber mo'w
"Oh, no, Uncle jeff" said the
Colonel "you're all right yet-good
for another twenty years."
"Berry kline o you to say dat
Marse George-berry kline but it's
no use. It Almost breaks my hawt
to Ieab you, an to lesb de missus
an de chillum, Marse George, but
pse got my call-pse all gone In
side" and he swabbed his eyes
with his cotton hankerchief
"Don't talk 80, Uncle Jefi," said
the kind hearted Colonel, "you're
still q hale old man."
"No use talkin', Marse George,
| Pse got de call dis time, suah.
Gittin' so oh nights now pears like
| | can heah dc singln' on de odder
| shoah. Pears like | can heah de
voice ob Aunt Liza an' de odders
dat gone befoh. YOu'se lin berry
Kine to me, Marse George ; de mis-
sus an de chillin's bin berry good
I-'pears like all de peoples been
berry good to poor ole Jeff-poor
ole creetur like me-" and again the
old man swabbed his eyes.
"AlI bin so kine,' continued the
old man, "dat | sometimes feels