The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-08-17
AT JoYNRR's BEND.
RY oPIR F. BRAD.

A Flatboat he'd just landed at Joynsr's Bend On the Little Red River. The laxy loungers and the industrious liars had gone down to the landing; the half clsd negro boy. had thrown down their hshing- poles, and, with wide-open eyes, were standing about Some one exclaimed: "YoDder comes Knock Kneed Bob. Fetch out de cards fellers, fur dat nigger gwine ter buck ergin us."
 The cards were brought out, and were thrown down on . bale of cotton; old Bob, paying no at tention to the cards, stood gazing at the boat.
 "WhAt's de matter, Bobf" . deck-hand cried. wy, 1owed you'd be shufin' dem dar paste bos sy dis time eOspul folks ain't got alter you,
 Bob At down on stump, and number of deck hands, astonished at his refusal to play gathered about him expecting to hear miraculous story of reformation.
 @Look yare. Digger," said an old fellow known as Flat Head Kinchin. "WhArfo' you ack % cuis
 in munity dat is straightford am ter de pinti Oar lays do cards on de bale; yare is de boys jinglin' de dimes mighty like d. ken hardly hol' 'em In dar pccketa Wy wouldnter come up on dis trip ter-day lessen I hadenter thought dat gwine ter git some O dat money whut you totes round In yo' jeans. Look yare, man, whut is de matter wid you, nohowf Some preacher done got do swing on yo'7 Some mo'ner's- bench politician dun 'vinced you dat yo' gwine ter de place whar do worm Ain,t dead yit an whar dAr ain't been no
 "Genermen," old Bob replied, "I didn' come down yare ter gamble. l ain't gwine gamble no mo- I wanter sec de cap'n ofde boat ter sec ef kaint git some plank"
 "What in dc worp you want wid plank, man7 Gut dem pastebods dar am let us dance ter de music O dc nlver jingle"
 "No, tells you," Bob replied. "I tells you DO, flat footed. Day befo' yistidy wien dis boat down fur de purposs O g.nSiin', nuthsr. My
 little gal wuz sick, an my wife she gin me thirty cents, all de money dar wus on de place, am tole me ter hurry ter de plantation drug sto up de bayou yonder am git some medicine. I got long yare samk hnaA lmw&1a A~I me ter play cards wid you. Wall, thinks I,
 thirty cents ain't gwine buy huff medicine ter do much good SO I'll try my luck fur CT mint UT two, oazs feels like ken win anyhow"
 "An' you did win," old Kinchin exclaimed "Yas, did win. I win s1O. Den struck CT trot fur de sto, an wen got dAr I felt % proud O my 'bility dat thought I'd treat myself ter CT little flicker; % alter gitten de medicine tuck or drink O flicker. Den some Q de boys trapped in and we had some mo-. 'Den,' thinks I, tdar has sich luck come ter me dat ken er-ford ter joy mysef right yare. sailed in, did, an' bought CT quart, am den putty soon l started for home. Fl cut ar cross CT near way through dc woods, but hadn't gone fur till met O ole Abs boys. We sat down on CT log an looked at de sun through my bottle. De next mornin' woke up, lyin' side Ter log in de swamp. De fust thing thought CT bout wuz de medicine. clapped my ham on my pocket an dar 1t wuz Den | hurried on home thinkin' bout my little gAl-thinkin O her sweet song In de ebenin' alter all her work wuz done Jest befor' got home met ole Aunt SIlvy Johnson. "'Good mawnin', Aunt Silvy,' says l. "'Good mornin', Bob,' she piled, an stopped in de path. She stood dar fur . few minits, an den aid; "I has jest left yo' house.
 "Dat's jes like you, Aunt Silvy, huntin' for places whar folks Is sick De Lawd ain't gwine furgit you. Wall, mus hurry on home wid dis yare medicine my little gal ken sing ergin in de ebenin' when her work is done.'
 @'You nsenter hurry now said she. 'Yo' little gals ebenin' hes come, ar her work Is done. Dc little lady is deAd.s
 "GeneFmen," the old negro added, as he took up his hat "Pse come down ter de cap'n O de boat ter git some plank ter make . coffin outen."-l America.