The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-06-02
A WOULD-BE SOLDIER.
"Poleon Bonyparte Has His For
tune Told.

eyes, Sis Dinah, dey says as how
dem gypsies camped down at Holly
Springs knows ebrything in de world;
how long you gwine ter lib, how much
money you gwine ter make, and who
yer gwine ter marry eff you is single.
Why, Sis Mary Jemimy Lee, she
pintedly told me how dey 'scribed her
fust husband chen ter de wart on his
nose, till she could most see him, and
she nebber said a mortal word bout
him ter one oh 'em. Use clean feared
to go and see DEM"
Mrs. Cleopatra Allen, credulous old
negress, two shades darker than her
namesake of the Nile, had dropped in
for pleasant gossip with her neigh
Dor, Mrs. Dinah Maria Mullins.
An encampment of gypsies at Holly
Springs, about mile distant from the
Turkey Creek settlement, had thrown
the colored folks into the widest con-
fusion. Nothing was heard but their
wonderful prophecies and fortune
telling, and though the wisest and most
experienced of the men tried to prevent
their women folks from frequenting
the gypsy encampment. many a dollar
crossed the hard palms of the decep-
tive old crones.
"Well, I dunno, Sis CleopatIy." Mrs.
Dinah answered, deliberately. She was
a stout, stolid-looking black woman,
slow of speech and slow of comprehen-
sion. 81 dunno as how you ought ter
go. Jacob he says as how they're Gyp-
tians and witches, and cast-offs from
de Lord, and dat it don't become church
members to 'sociate wild sech heathens.
I'm powerful Gurus, must say, ter
know eff dey kin tell me who tuck my
brass kettle wot wos stole last summer
outer de yard. P'raps I'll send Poleon
Bonyparte ter axe EN-"
maybe dey kin tell eff Use gwine ter
be sojer. mammy!" Napoleon Bona
parte cried.
Napoleon, being very short and stout,
with a small head which only held a
thimbleful of sense, had decided that
regimentals would exactly suit his
style. He believed that with a gun and
sword and fierce mustache, a few stray
Cling hairs of which he was at that time
nursing, he would be a terror to the
boys of his own age at Turkey Creek,
and a hero to its dusky damsels.
Whether he was to be drummer or
a general he had not yet decided, nor
how he was to reach the envied military
height; but he had several times seen a
parade of militia at the neighboring
town of Plaquemine and his thoughts
by day and dreams by night were full of
the "pomp and circumstance of glorious
war"
His mother smiled proudly and ap-
provingly at her sons speech.
ut do beat all de way dat ar boy
lubs sojerin'," she said. He's Jest
horned one, and he's light complicated
like his Uncle Nathan, wot went out
wild Marse James Anderson and fout in
de war OBJ Independence. Leastwise,
Marse James he fout, and Nathan he
seed de battles wild his own eyes.
Use been arter Jacob ter send
Poleon ter dat milintary school dey
calls West Pint, and let him foller de
sojer trade. He's all de chile we'se
got, Sis Cleopatry, and his pappy
oughtn't ter hinder him; but Jacob is
sot aginst de milintary, and he goes on
awful when we talks bout it.
"He amt got no call to do dat, "
Mrs. Cleopatra replied, solemnly.
Hes no pore folks, ter skimp and save
so he kin glib his son an eddication.
Folks do say Brudder Jacob has got a
power oh money hid away, Gaze he
don't believe in no banks
Mrs. Mullins smiled mysteriously
81 don't say yes and l don't say no,
Sis Cleopatry. Sartain sure, Jacob
Mullins don't b'lieve in banks, wot's
always a-bein' robbed and breakin'
and losin' folks money. He says as
how when he gifts money, he's gwine to
keep it."
"Wot's dat yer sayin', ole CONAN,
bout money!" and Mrs. Diuah, turn
ing, saw her husband looking sus-
piciously at her.