Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-07-03
Lowland Folks.

: queer old place when | learned thai
there was to to be picnic out at the
"falls" the next day. Everybody was
as much excited as on the eve of 9
Fourth of July, and the colored peo.
pie could hardly hold themselve:
down. The widow Baker, at whose
house found lodgings, had been
cooking for the last three days, and
it was with fitting sense of dignity
that she informed me of the fact that
she was the COMMITTEE boss on vittles
to eat" During the evening mum
ber of men dropped in, and after a
bit the committee on arrangements
got together to perfect some details.
Now, then, you Jim," said the
chairman, as he finished making some
notes on piece of paper, "you are to
watch the Babcocks-the ole man an
his two boys. They'll come fixed to
fight, and at the fust sign of row
you'll whistle the committee together
and pile on 'em."
"K'rect, Mr.. Simmons" answered
Jim, who was the village blacksmith.
"And you, Tom, you are to watch
the Harpers-the three boys. The
ole man is sick and won't be yere.-
Them boys is on the shute, you know,
and hev got to be squelched right on
the go.off."
81 kin lick the hull passle of 'em,
Mr.. Simmons" confidently replied
Tom, who kept one of the general
stores.
"And you, Henry, you kinder keep
walking around and hev yer eye out
fur everybody. If you see airy man
draw his gun, jump right on to him.
We can't hev the glorious festivities
of this festivious occasion knocked
endwise by any onery conduct"
When / asked under what auspices
the picnic was to be given, one of the
committee replied
"Wall, the three or four kinds of
religion around yere hev sort O. chip
ped in together, and I'm bound thar'll
be right smart of sinners besides"
AT an early hour next forenoon |
repaired to the grounds. two or three
miles away, and found good many
people there. Every sort of vehicle
in use in the south had been pressed
into service, and every sort Of people
and costume were to be seen. 1t was
to be day off for old and young, and
everybody looked as if he meant to
enjoy it. The place was wild and ro-
mantle, the weather delightful, and
the jubilee songs of the darkies echo
ed up and down the gorge. The first
cloud arose just after the crowd reach
ed the ground. The chairman of the
committee on order came to me look
ing very anxious and asked
(Which 'un do you abide by p
what do you mean ?"
(Which Observation-Disclosures or
Baptist ?"
81 rather lean to the Presbyterian.
Why ?"
Because one of the Baptists yere
is taking advantage of the occasion to
try and convart the ole man Parker.
l say it don't belong. 'Tain't the time
sot apart. If he goes in then some Of
our Methodists will feel to go in, too,
and the whole thing will flop over TO
camp meeting. | want you to meet
up with him and tell him that he is
off the bridge"
Fortunately for all, the old man
Parker announced in loud voice that
he'd whip the man who talked relig-
ion to him on week day, and the oc-
casion didn't flop over, as predicted.
l soon found the Babcocks, father and
two sons. They were plain, honest
looking folks, with nothing of the ruff
fan or desperodo in looks or actions,
and we had been talking for quar-
ter of an hour before anything was let
slip. Then one of the boys announc-
ed:
"Say, pop, ole Jackson is yere."
"He ar, eh? How's he conductin?"
"Oh, sorter."
"Well, if he'un wants to be healthy
he'll walk soft. | don't want to kick
up no row around yere, cause it's a
festimous occashun, but he mustn't
presume"
"Aud Jerry Baker is yere, too,
pop" added the boy.
GLOW sasserirous fur the likes Of
Jerry to show up yere. How's he con-
ductin p
Parrish"
"Well, don't you shute onless he
draws fust. It's festemous occasion
and dead folks lying around takes the
edge off of pusson's appetite"
"And Tom Straker is over thar,
pop" continued the son.
"Does be'un dare show up yere as
as big as ife2 How's he conductin ?"
"Tolerable."
~ T.. Il T.. L