The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-06-28
A WOULD-BE SOLDIER.
spolson Bonyparte Has His For
tune Told.

"Yes, Sis Dinah, dey says rs 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 eben ter de wart on his
nose, till she could most see him, and
she nebbcr said mortal word bout
him ter one oh 'em. Use clean feared
to 60 and see dem."
Mrs. Cleopatra Allen, a credulous old
negress, two shades darker than her
namesake 4 the Nile, had dropped in
for a pleasant gossip with her neigh
Dor, Mrs. Dinah Maria Mullins.
An encampment of gypsies at Holly
Springs, about a 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.
We'll, I.lunno, Sis Cleopatry." Mrs.
Dinah answered, deliberately. She was
stout. stolid-looking black woman,
slow of speech and slow of comprehen-
sion. Il dunno as how you ought ter
60. 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 'em."
Maybe dey kin tell ef Use gwine ter
Dc sojer. mammy"' Napoleon Bona
parte cried.
Napoleon. being very short and stout,
with small head which only held q
nambleful of sense, had decided that
feslmentals would exactly suit his
style. He believed that with gun and
sword and fierce mustache, a few strag
ging hairs of which he was at that time
nursing, he would be a terror to the
oys OF his own age at Turkey Creek
and hero to its dusky damsels.
whether he was to be drummer OF
sgeneral he had not vet decided. mol
now he was to reach the envied military
height; but he had several times seen /,
parade of militia at tho neighborins
,oWn OF Plaquemine. and his thoughts
Y aay and dreams by night were full o
war;
nus mother smiled proudly and ap
p'ovingly at her sons speech.
!, II DO beat all de way dat ar bo,
,aos sojerin'," she said. Hes jes
m'ned one, and he's light complecte'
a.s nls Uncle Nathan, wot went on
sm Marse James Anderson and fout il
war OBJ Independence. Leastwise
aaise James he fout, and Nathan h
a &c battles wild his own eyes.
ise been arter Jacob ter SEN
.n .veon ter dat milintary school de
s,s West Pint and let him foller d
.ser trade. He's all de chile we's
sA Sis Cleopatry. and his papp
lynn ter hinder him; but Jacob
ag'nst de milintary. and he goes o
al when we talks bout it."
ne amt got no call to do dat
.u Cleopatra replied. solemnly
~ no pore folks, Ger skimp and say
Nc KIN glib his son an eddicatiol
sAs 90 say Brudder Jacob has got
s Ter OBJ money hid away. Gaze b
believe in no banks"
@ Mullins smiled mysteriously.
e. aon't say yes and / don't say nj
ueopatry. Sartaiu sure, Jace