The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-11-24

hOme:"
Mr.. jackson laughed lightly. 81 hasn't
never found any OBJ de fair sec OATS en-
tangled my confections yet. Now eff l had
knowed you befo you was Mis- Bosley, that's
no tellin' what mout a-happend," he SAID,
gallantly; and Aunt Bette came as near
blushing as her complexion would permit,
and even Uncle Moses was flattered by this
compliment to his wife's charms.
80, you is jest a-jokin' now, Mr.. Jackson.
You know you doesn't mean it," Mrs.
Bosley answered coquettishly.
Mr. jackson insisted upon his sincerity,
then turned the conversation by expressing
great admiration for the Mississippi river,
which had come into view as soon as they
crossed the levee, and upon whose banks
the road stretched out for miles.
Cottonwood, catalpa and pecan-trees,
sometimes covered with wild grape vines,
and sometimes adorned with scarlet
trumpct-tlowers, grew by the way-side, and
late berries, black and sweet and lucious,
dropped from their thorny vines almost be-
meath the wheels of the wagon.
Mr. Jacksons praises were voluble, but
Uncle Moses assured him that these things
were as nothing compared with the giant
hickory and beech trees upon his home
stead.
You don't say so, Mistah Bosley! !
wisht eff it wouldn't be a-intrujin' too much,
that you'd take me fo a bo'dah You see,
spects to be in desc parts week or two
anyhow, as my business is important and
can't be hurried. | is a pension agent,
a-wOrkin' up de claims OBJ POI culled men
who was in de wah, and has nebber been
paid yet TO- suff'rin and dyin' fo' dey coun-
try. Eff my membry is correc', Gubenor
Oglesby tole me you isdisquallfed fo' pen
sion Brudder Bosley!" said Mr.. jackson, in
Quiringly.
Unclo Moses hesitated for moment, but
the love of money was deep in his soul
''Well, / KANT zactly say as l was
wounded, but pears like my rheumatis
wouldn't "a been so bad fo' the las five year
ef hadn't a-driv that rashun wagon in de
army" he said, the desire for a pension
stronger than his conscience.
Glow long you done druv thatteam, Mistah
Bosley!' said Mr.. jackson. with an official
air. "Be keerful, now! Remember you is
jest the same as on yo' oaf, and | wants de
whole troof and muffin but de troof, case |
is one oh de gubernmeut officers, and has
took my oaf to do my duty"
Uncle Moses was little frightened at
this solemn assertion, and answered. truth
fully: well, you see, l wasn't really neber
u soldier at all, but was jest hired to drive
a wagon from Villa Ridge to Cairo, when
Col Wallace was dere with his three-months
men but 1t war awful rainy day. and
TUX cold that settled in all my bones, and
dest nearly coughed my inards out"
"Ob co'sc, den de guberment owes you
pension, Mistah Bosley, and is glad is heah
to see dats you gifts it. But befo' we goes
~, f1,.N o,. Wit 4
straight to de pint and AK you eff YOU won't
ooa'd me. is able to pay well, and since
Use got 'quainted with you and Mis- Bosley,
pears like | couldn't feel satisfied boardin'
nowhGrs elsen Uncle Moses looked at his
wife, and waited until she gave little
affirmative nod before he answered: Owes
dest POI folks, Mr.. jackson, and has DO
Twin, but eff you kin put up with our grub,
Wen take you"
Il is ever so much obleeged to you, I'm
sho, Mr. Bosley, but dereis one thing | done
forgot to AK about. Does you hold family
wushup reglar, and does you say grace at
de tabled Case couldn't be satisfied Iess'n
you did"
Moses assured him that those religious
services were never omitted, and invvartiiy
set Mr.. jackson still higher in his estima-
ton.
81 b'leeves in bein' strict in business mat |
tiers, so what mout yo' charges be, Mr.. |
BOsley"' was the next inquiry.
The two old people considered together in |
an undertone for moment, both deciding
that since the agent was so wealthy, they |
might as well charge large price.
eve thinks about four dollahs week !
would kiver expenses" said Moses.
Again Mr. Jackson's generous spirit re |
volted against the smallness Of the amount. |
81 couldn't allow you to rob yo'selves dat |
away, nohow. De guberment allows me
two dOllahs a day for boa'd, and Is not |
goin' to be dishoues enough to pay you
only four dollahs a week, and keep de res
myself. l only axed You fo' fear it mout be
mo dan two dollahs a day. he said
Visions of more tive-ccnt lawns and new
hat for herself began to dance in Aunt
Bettie's brain as she listened, and Uncle
Moses thought of "dem shoats he done been
wantin' TO buy for sech long time from
Bruddcr Jake Bowlegs," and whose posses
sion now seemed almost a certainty with
both pension and board money.
Then Mr.. Jackson entered into elaborate
explanations Of his plans of procedure in
the pensiOn-worll, and engaged Uncle Moses, |
at salary of two dollars day, to go around
Ilt uclSlDOEuOOu ana introduce MN, QlS-
playing at the same time a voluminous
array OF documents bearing so many red
seals and gilt eagles on their surfaces that
Uncle Moses was deeply impressed with Mr.
JacksOn's Importance
Meantime Aunt Bette was fussing and
worrying inwardly; she was so afraid
Alviry would not be fixed up" when they
got homo, and cudgeling her brain for
plan to avoid having her daughter appear at
a disadvantage before this fascinating
stranger, So she muttered a few words in
her husbands ear, and accordingly when
they reached their corn-fcld, through which
there was a short cut home, she declared
she was too tired to ride another minute
longer, and climbed out of the wagon, de-
clining the company of the gallant pension
agent as politely as it was offered.
Aunt Bette came as near running then as
her superabundance of Ehesh would allow,
and reached the cabin very warm and al
most GREATNESS.
"Alviry you Alviry whar is you!" she
called, eXcitedly, the moment she got in
hearing distance Of the house.
"HallOa, nanny! here is" said lanlI,
lean girl of about seventeen years. with big
bare feet and straight bony legs that were
but sparsely covered with her scanty blue
cottondress Land sakes, nanny what's
the matters You look all beat out and