Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-12-28

"WatermillionsI Big ones, little ones
and 'tweensl Watermcllionsl red, white,
yaller, all kinds and all priccsl"
But this season old Jacobs melon.
patch was failure. There had been n
drought, and tho patch was sorry
wnste OF yellow vines and leaves, aud
3 not half dozen melons on IL Dan.
delion rodo out In tho neighborhood to
buy up all the melons for his trade, but
r the drought had been as hard on the
farmers fields ms In his own patch
II reckon, Dandolion, you'll not make
, much by your melon trade this soa-
son." said Farmer Wharton. "Thcre
, amt fifty melons TO be found II you
scoar the parish from end to end. Yes,
thar Is one place | passed last week,
whore 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 l don't reckon old Grnndad Jimp-
son would sell one. II that old niger
lived noar town he'd make fortune
this summer of his molon-pntch. Do
you know he wntored his vines all tho
time OF tho drought"
"Grandad Jimpson, he lives most ten
mile from town. and awful road"
Dandolion said, in n dcspairing tono.
"Just so," said tho farmer laughing.
TOO fur for Jim Crows old bones. and
thnt shackly 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 Dandclion could not put the mel
ons out OF his mind. He said nothing TO
any ono of his intentions, but rose nt
the dawn OF day, snddled Jim Crow,
and took the road to Grandad Jimp-
sons.
A bad road II was and seldom tra-
versed, but Dandelion's keen eyes saw |
1t was not impossible. For nearly half |
n century the old negro had lived on his
out-of-tho-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 to Centreville to exchange butter
and eggs, feathers and other farm
products, for tobacco eud coffee, but
neither showed any disposition to move
their quarters TO more thickly- y-scttled
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:
"Mornln', Grandad Iimpson."
The old man Immediately rose, and
hobbled out TO the gate, peering curl
ously at the stranger.
"D1ornin', JefI," he said. "Yo, Is JEFF
Rice, aint you' You favors him con-
siderablyP"
mo, sir, Iso Dandelion, Jacob Me-
grims's son."
Jacobs son! dellaw me, | knowcd
yer dad when he wasn't knee-high ter
a duckl Light, sonny, and como in de
house"
Thus permitted, Dandelion dismount- |
ed, and followed his host to the single s
room the cabin contained {
You has seen my darter, Mis'ry, | {
reckon" introducing the woman, who l
was carding cotton bats for an OLD wheel 1
which stood near her. "NNot did
you come way out here fur, Oande- c
lion?" +
As usual the boy could not .ell the
truth,
We'll. coined ter see ef ypu could
spare us some tunnip seed.n
II reckon"
Grandad was not free giver in fact,
rather disposed TO miserliness but he 4,
couldn't refuse few seeds. 10 burst =,
Of generosity he added: +
"Tll gin you half pint oh fine tun- =
nip seed, and I'm gwine ter cut big =
Iatermillion fur you! Jest look at dat :,
ellar," rolling an enormous melon from :,
inder the water shelf. "Aint it whop- I,
Der?n
Dandelion's heart gave an exultant I
hrob. but he thought to himself, "Ef :,
'mires dat million, he'll raise de =
price" SO he said, quietly. :,
Yes, it's fine watermillion. but
awdy, Grandad. you jest oughter see Il
10 millions we gifts in Centreville. You q
lone heerd about EN-, reckonP" in II
luiringly. ~
"MeP l don't nebber git no news +,
rom town. 'cept folks passin by. But :.
pears ter me heerd man say as how n
lie million crap failed in Centreville."
Dandelion laughed uneasily. h
You jest orter see EN-" he said n
But, Grandad, has you mado good i,
rap dis yearT' n
"Come out and see 'emm the old man ~
huckled. :,
Dandelion hesitated.
well. Ill jest take look" he said. 4
Il must be gittin' home, fur dad he's h
yaitin fur de tunnip seed" n,
But when they reached the melon -,
'atch, what sight it was! Dark g,
'reen, light green, striped yellow and \,
notified melons, and some of them 4,
enormous. Dandelion's very soul burn h
'd within him at the sight OF these 4,
reasures, but he strove to speak in 4,
~
"Ise seen better, and Use seen wuss,"
le said. But, Grandad, wot fur YOU
'lant all dem watermillions wen YOU
ant sell a oneP You can't begin ter
,at EN-" r
The old fellow laughed is
Oats jest wot does, sonny. Not r,
aw, but we biles dem down to sirop, q,
md kin tell you watermillion sirop is is
monstous fine sweetenin'" "
Dandelion's spirits sank. Here was n In
hitch he had never contemplated. II W
lse was made OF the melons, his chance IL
II speculating on them were very p
mall. But he did not despair. q
"Reckon you got fifty ripe onesp" he Ii
.sked. engaged himself in rapid cal m
ulation OF the number visible from the W
lace where he stood. 8,
'Fiftyp" in scornful surprise. mEf M