Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-06-19

an Billy Haskell, an oldish man that
lives about a mile from here, he come
over an offered 10 work the farm on
sheers an furnish Il moss jest as Hiram
did. Now Billy didn't begin to be as
good a worker rs Hiram was, but
there wasn't nothin' better to be done,
as far rs / could see. an SO l agreed
that he should come an work the farm
IN furnish a boss, IN have half the
crap. Well, the long an the short of
the story is that Billy came an worked,
but he didn't furnish no boss, an l had
to hire the Wilder Burns boss, which
she vas mighty glad to let every time
there was any boss work to do, which
seemed to me to be pretty much the
whole time. An now, Billy, he up
an says. an he sticks to it, too, that
he's to have half the crap. An, sir, |
leave it to you, is there anybody IN his
world, except Billy Haskell, that nd
call that fair?"
Certainly not" said l. IF your
neighbor did not furnish Il horse, and
thus fully perform his contract, he is
not entitled TO his full half share of the
crop"
That's jest what the young lady
said!' exclaimed Mrs. Grome. with
much animation, evidently delighted to
have ME on her side. ian she said,
says she, that if IA regular lawyer could
be got to 60 an tell that old to Billy, it
nd settle him, an he'd know there'd
be no use of sum me, which he keeps
on threat'nin' TO do, specially sence
this years crap II soon be comm in,
which it has nearly ruined me to hire
the work bcin' done for, an if old Billy
was 10 sue me besides ! might jest as
We! have a gen'ral vandoo, an 90 to
the poor house"
''But if he has no case he can't hurt
you,"I said. 81 suppose you are will
ing to give him what is fairly due
him?''
..Sartainly," said she, i've offered
TO pay him wages for every day he
worked, but he won't take 'em. What
he wants is half of last years crap. It's
no use my talkin' to him, which I've
done over an over. An the young
lady. she went an talked to him, bat
he thinks women don't know nothiG',
an he stuck it out jest the same, that
he ought to have half the crap. There
never was a lady like that young lady.
II she'd "A been my darter and had been
away from me fur a long time, an Jest
come back, she couldn't a been kinder.
nor more willin' TO do fur me-" And
plen the old woman went off into a
royogy of this lady, to which | did no
beg strict attention, for my mind was
thuinning to be interested - nay sur
aeundings.
When | came from the brigh, light
outside into this somewhat darkcned
parlor | had noticed that there seemed
to be a superabundance of small orna-
ments in the room; the mantle-piece
and some tables being nearly covered
with objects, over each of which was
tied a piece Of pink cause TO keep the
flies off, while on the walls were anum-
Der Of small pictures protected In the
same In fact the room pre-
sented the appearance ola patient in
the early stages of Il pink ever But,
III tllc w I'LL, III III Al IoSIt vi tliS
light of the open door fe fall upon it,
was an object which was not covered
with cause. This was . plaque of some
sort of carthen ware which appeared to
be of "A very curious design ] have a
great fancy for ceramics; and, like
many other people, ! affect those things
which are odd and unique more than
/ .l,,n .l;,J ~ hnn,tiful anI y,nintln
| was 80 much interested in the plaque
that | arose and approached IT while
the old woman was still praising her
benefactress. 1t was, indeed; a very
curious object. the like of which had
never seen before. 1t was n round
plate about Il foot in diameter, and
quite deep, so as to be almost basin
like in form. The body of the plaque
WAS of "A rich; red color. but it WAS
NEARLY covered with oriental designs Of
various hues, the forms Of which were
outlined with what appeared to be
Iitirreads of brass. which were evidently
merely sunk into the clay. and not
fastened upon a copper basis, AZ M
Cloisonn ware. But the most remark
able feature of this plaque was the
body of a little demon, jet black in
color and about four inches in length,
which leaned over the edge of the plate,
his legs and feet being underneath il,
Directly opposite to him. aeaning far
backward over the edge of the plate
was a bright, green Chinaman, with
his legs and feet also underneath. One
out3tretched arm Of the black demon
clutches the end of the queue of the
green Chinaman, the combination OF
queue and arm forming a handle to the
plate, though apparently too slight fol
use i'm that way. The widespread
feet of the Chinaman and those of the
devil under the plaque served as sup
ports 30 it whether set upon the table
or hlaDg upon the wall. There was an
amount of wild, idiotic glee on the face
of the demon, anal of uhtrammeled ter
ror on that Of the Chinaman. which
gave a delightful life and vigor to the
situation.
MAY j ask where you got this
said t. Mrs. Grome who now stood by
me.
That's jest what the young lady
wanted to know she answered. She