Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-11-26
The Story of a Carpet.
Youths Companion

4 lady gives the following account of
her experience with negro whom she
had engaged 80 take up and clean carpet
and put it down again.
He had told me that he would be
on hand bright and early" and even
limited at the possibility of his coming by
daylight.
IF you are here by half past it'll do"
I said.
"Ha-pas' seben lady! Dat am mon
s'trous late 70 g man TO begin days wuk.
Use mo- likely to be roun' by ha'- pas 6,
lady"
Half-past came and went the next day
and no Jerry. Eight o'clock and no Jer-
~ At half past he came iesUrely ssun-
tering iato the yard.
How is this, Jerrvs" I asked. You
said you would surely be here by half
past !.
50 did lady, so did; an how I hap
pened to obersleep myself dis Iuawnin' Is
&c mos 'mazin' circumstance. Mos
gin'rally Use up TO day. But I'll hab dat
kyarpet up an out'n de back yard less'n
no time"
Its so late, you'll have to hurry if you
get it all done up to day"
"Sho. lady! Hits Jess play 70 me 10
( take p Il ike Cat. CLStt1t iLIt al
put hit down in free hours"
\ little after 3 l went into the room.
| Jerry had the tacks cut on three sides of
the carpet, and WAS lying Hat on his baak
staring up at the ceiling.
i 'cIar, lady" he said. Oats dc put
test wuk on dat ceiling l eber saw! Use
tryin' an tryin' to make out if hit am
! RELY painted on dar, or if it am only pap
! cred On
YOU'D better let the ceiling alone and
get this carpet cut ca the line right
away l said sharply.
Don't mind bout dis kyarpet lady.
/ Hill be out o hyar in free shakes OBJ &
! Sleeps tail,
/ 1t 10 O'clock 1 again went into the
/ Dom. Jerry had folded the carpet up in
/ the middle OF the room and was sitting on
/ i.
"Takin' up kyarpets Is kind o waxin'
wuk,'' he said. Il mos alius has man to
| help me-
You don't need any help in taking up
a small carpet like this
"Ly, no, lady! could clean dis kyarpet
wild one hand tied behind me-
1t was II o'clock when Jerry got the
carpet on the line. Ten minutes later
g, he had already disappeared. My little
/ boy found him two blocks away, IN PER
feet ecstasy over a hand-organ and a
monkey.
Il 'clar, mann dat am de smartest mon
key! Hit do beat all! WINNER if hit
makes much money!" he said, when he
came back.
He gave the carpet a few listIess
strokes with an old broom handle, and
then laid himself down On the grass
clean tired out
Ten minutes later found him initial
ing my boy into the mysteries OF mum
/ ble-thep peg.
"Jerry!' l said, pointing majestically
to the carpet.
Yes, lady, hits all cleaned. III put it
down IN ten minutes
1t is not half cleaned" l said, You
| have not beaten one-tenth OF the dust out
of it,"
''All right, lady, all right" he said, ON
niously. Hits yo' kyarpet, an reckon
yo' can stan de loss if l beats hit
all to rags. I'be pounded dat kyarPet
all hit'u stand, lady, but hits yo 1yar-
pet"
But why write more? At ) o'clock that
carpet was still on the line, and Jerry was
/ leaning over the back fence watching two
boys playing ma,bies in the alley. At G
O'Clock he dragged the carpet into the
house and wanted his pay for that day,
saying he would get a man to help HIM,
and git dat kyarpet down quicker'n a
wink the next day
l paid him for half days work,
and then babe him good-by forever,
and put the carpet down myself the next
day.