The Osceola times., 1888-12-29
A MELON MONOPOLY.
Why Dandelion's Shrewd Bargain
Proved Improbable.

The worst enemy OF old Jacob Me-
grims' son Dandelion, could not deny
that he was q shrewd trader in spite of
his queer name. That name came TO
him in consequence of the strong liking
Of his mother, pious old colored wo-
man, for the book OF Daniel The
Bible was the object OF her deepest
reverence, but the portion OF it which
| treated of Daniel was listened TO by her
with holy awe, and what she called
"refrishment OF de spirit"
When her friends among the young
white ladies would come to read to her,
which was every few days, she would
say: Read in the book OF Danl,
honey. 1t sorter uplifts me wen hears
bout dc ravenin' boastesses comm
open mouf ter swaller him, and he Jest
as brave and quiet, as cf dey was yelp-
In tarriers a-barkin' at him. Dellaw
me! de bcrryfEnt pusson | 'quire bout
wen gifts in dc.golden chariot and
says, Goodbye world, gwine ter be
dat same Dan'l."
or course, with that fervent admira-
tion for the Bible hero, her first son,
after five daughters, was named in rev.
ercntial memory OF him.
II aint denyin' Dan'l. aint a good
Scripter name" said old Jacob in his
usual deliberate fashion, "but its sort
OBJ permiscus aint it, round here? How
you gwine TO 'stinguish our Danl from
Dan Brown and Dan Higgins. and dat
owdacious white trash, Dan Larry?"
"You aint got much gumption. Ja-
cob," said his better-half, with a scorn-
full sniff. my sons got ter be name
Dan'l, but aint gwine to mix him up
permiscus wild dem rag and bob-tails
Use gwine ter name him Dan'l-ob-de-
lions den."
"Dellaw me, ole ooman," calculated
Jacob, lifting up his hands in dismay.
"Wot name you call datP 'Taint no
Christian name at all. No preacher
gwine to baptize him in dat, shore"
well, Use got to hab Dan'l and lion
int it," persisted Hannah Jane Me-
grims, becoming little uncertain her.
self as to the quality Of the name. 'Ef
we is 'bliged TO gi up dc den, ! reckon
VIC kin call him Dan de lion, and no
preacher aint gwine to cut up bout a
plain name like dat"
So that was how Dandelion came by
his wild flower name. A. flower Han
nah Jane had never heard OF, or doubt
less she would have sowed the seed all
over the garden. She never allowed 1t
to be abbreviated. One day luckless
visitor addressed the boy as Dandy, and
was requested to depart.
II amt gwine to hab no miscallin' OBJ
Scripter names under dis here ruff,"
Hannah Jane said, with angry dignity.
'lt amt manners, and it amt Christian
conduct and Use 'bleeged ter tell you,
Miss White, as how yer room is heap
better dan yer company"
When Dandelion was nineteen he was
shrewd, wiry, wide-awake young fell
low. and not very scrupulous where his
interests were concerned. He was
darker than his mother. who was
light mulattress, and fairer than his
father. who was as black as tar, but he
was very unlike his honest, simple
minded parents.
Imust say Hannah Jane did her best
TO bring him up properly. and did not
spare the rod, but his wiry little body
used TO slip out OF her grasp. and his
cunning little mind devised thousand
expedients for escaping punishment.
Vainlv did she hold up before him the
heroism OF her Bible hero, for instead
Of being uplif,ed as he ought to have
been, he was apt To Singer irreverently,
I'm 'iraid, sonny, you amt brave
she said one day, with heavy sign,
..You're skulky. and you cant s'ana