The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-12-31
The Story of a Garnet.

The Story Of Carpet.
A lady gives the following account OF
her experience with u negro man whom
she had engaged to take up and clean
carpet and put it down again:
He had told me that he would be on
hand bright an airly." and even hint
ed at the possibility OF his coming by
daylight.
IF you are here by half-past z it will
do" ! said,
"Ha'-pas' seben. lady! Dat am
mons'tous late TO- a man to begin a
days wuk. Use mo- likely to be roun'
by ha'pas' s, lady"
Half-past7 came and went the next
day, and no Jerry. Eight o'clock.
and no Jerry. At half-past he came
leisurely sauntering into the yard.
'How is this, Jerry?" 1 asked.
"You said you would surely be hero by
half-past ~
$50 did, lady, so did; an how !
happened to obersleep myself dis
mawnin' is de mos 'mazin' circum-
stance. Mos gin'rally Use up fo' day.
But I'll hab dat kyarpet up an out'n
de back ya'd lese'n no time"
Its so late. you'll have to hurry if
you get it all done to-day"
"sho. lady! Hits jess play fo' me to
take up kyarpet like dat. clean hit
an put hit down in free hours"
A little after l went into the room.
Jerry had the tacks out on three sides
OF the carpet, and was lying fiat on
his back staring up at the ceiling.
II 'clar. lady" Se said. 'dat's de
puttiest wuk on dat ceilin' eber saw!
Use tryin' an tryin' to make out if hit
am reely painted on dar. or if hit am
only papered on"
You'd better let tho ceiling alone
and get this carpet out ON the line right
away" said sharply.
Don yo' min bout dis kyarpet,
lady. Hill be out o hyar in free
shakes OBJ dead sheep's TAIL" he said.
At 10 o'clock I again went into the
room. Jerry had folded the carpet up
in the middle Of the room and was sit
ting on it.
"Tak:n' up kyarpets is kind o. waxin'
'suk." he said. limos allus has some.
one to help me-"
You don't tneed any help in cleaning
small carpet like this, said.
LA. no, lady! 1 could clean dis
kyarpet wild one hand tied behind me. F"
1t was II o'clock when Jerry got the
carpet on the line. Ten minutes late,
he had disappeared. My little boy
found him two blocks away. in . per.
feet ecstacy over hand-organ and q
monkey.
Il 'clar, ma am, dat am do smartest
monkey! Hit do beat all! Wunner il
hit makes much money!" he said. when
ho came back.
He gave the carpet few listless
strokes with an old broom-handle, and
then laid himself down on the gras.
clean tired out"
Ten minutes later found him initial.
ing my little boy in tho mysteries ol
"mumble-the-peg."
Jerry" said. pointing majestically y
to the carpet.
''Yes. lady, hits all cleaned. Ill pu,
hit down in ten minutes.r
'.It is not half cleaned" said.
you have not beaten one tenth of the
dust out of it,
'.All right, lady. all right" he said
omniously. Hits yo' kyarpet, an
reckon yo' can stan do loss if beat.
hit to rags, Use pounded dat kyarpe,
all hit'll stan, lady. but hits yo'
kyarpet"
But why write more? At 8 O'Clock
that carpet was still on the line, and
Jerry was leaning over the back fence
watching two boys playing at marbles
in the alley. At 6 o'clock he dragged
the carpet into the house and wanted
his pay for that day. saying that he
would get a man to help him and '.gi,
dat kyarpet down quicker'n wink the
next day."
paid him for half e days work. bade
him goodbye forever, and put the car
pet down myself the next day. Youths
Companion.