The Osceola times., 1888-12-29

| uo ucooii, IKE DandeliOn orter TAI
do.' His mother spoke truly. Heva,
not brave, he was not honest. but wbe,
worsted, was cunning enough to throw
dust in the eyes OF his antagonists ant
get on skin whole while they were rag
ing in the arena
IL had been very bad season for wa
termelons In and around Centreville
ana melons were a commodity In which
Dandelion dealt He had a shackly old
cart and a mule, Jim Crow, which wa.
lean enough and old enough TO be
turned out TO grass. and during the
melon season from early morning until
late evening, the streets OF Centreyille
resounded with the melon-vendors
cries.
"Watermillions! Big ones, little ones
and 'tweens! Watermellions. red, white,
yaller, all kinds and all pricesm
But this season old Jacobs melon
patch was failure. There had been a
drought, and the patch was a sorry
waste oil yellow vines and leaves, and
not half dozen melons on it. Dan.
delion rode out in the neighborhood TO
puy up all the melons for his trade, but
the drought had been as hard on the
farmers fields as in his own patch.
Il reckon. Dandelion, you'll not make
much by your melon trade this sea-
son" said Farmer Wharton. There
amt fifty melons to be found II YOU
scour the parish from end to end. Yes,
thar is one place l passed last week,
where the melons is as thick as bristles
on hogs back. But it's too fur for
you to buy 'em and bring 'em to town,
and | don't reckon old Grandad Jimp-
son would sell one. II that old nigger
lived near town he'd make q fortune
this summer off his melon-patch. Do
you know he watered his vines all the
time of the drought?"
'Grandad Jimpson, he lives most ten
mile from town, and awful road,"
Dandelion said, in despairing tone.
"Just so,n said the farmer laughing.
"Too fur for Jim Crows old bones, and
that shacbly cart OF yourn. Put melons
out of your mind, boy. and make profit
on the walnuts and pecans you will sell
this fall. There are enough of them all
round here"
But Dandelion could not put the mel
ons out OF his mind. He said nothing to
any one of his intentions. but rose at
the dawn of day. saddled Jim Crow,
and took the road to Grandad Jimp-
sons.
A bad road it was and seldom tra-
versed, but Dandelion's keen eyes saw
it was not impossible. For nearly half
century the old negro had lived on his
out-oi-the-way farm with no neighbors,
finding its products ample for his wants,
and that OF an elderly daughter, n
widow, who lived with him. Once n
year the pair drove in an old-fashioned
gig 10 Cent 'eville - exchange butter
and eggs, feathers and other farm
products, for tobacco and coffee, but
neither showed any disposition to move
their quarters to a more thickly-settled
neighborhood.
According TO the custom OF the coun-
try, Dandelion drew up Jim Crow at
the gate, and without dismounting
called out to the old man on the porch:
"Mornin'. Grandad Jimpson."
The old man Immediately rose, and
hobbled out to the gate, pcering curl
ously at the stranger,
"Mornin', JEFF" he said. "Yot is JEFF
Rice, aint you? You favors him con-
siderably?"
mo, sir, Use Dandelion, Jacob Me-
grims's SON."
Jacobs son! dellaw me, ! knowed
yer dad when he wasn't knee-high ter
a duck! Light, sonny, and come in de
house,
Thus permitted, Dandelion dismount-
cd, and followed his host to the single
room the cabin contained.
"You has seen my darter, Mis'ry, |
reckon" introducing the woman, who
was carding cotton bats for an old wheel
which stood near her. "Wot did
you come way out here fur, Dande-
lion?"
As usual the boy could not tell the
truth,
well, l coined ter see ef you could
spare us some tunnip seed"
II reckon"
Grandad was not free giver, in fact,
rather disposed to miserlincss. but he
couldn't refuse a few seeds. In burst
OF generosity he added:
"Ill gin you a half pint OBJ fine tun-
nip seed, and I'm gwine ter cut big
watermillion fur you! Jest look at dat
fellar," rolling an enormous melon from
under the water shelf. "Aint it a whop-
perp'
Dandelion's heart gave an exultant
throb, but he thought to himself, "Ef
l 'mires dat million, he'll raise de
price," so he said. quietly.