New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1890-07-30

the conversation he overheard.
Cotton pickin Z he muttered.
] "Well, I swum! Now's the time fer
4 my frolic. I'll pick his cotton Ter
/ him-dinged eff won't. y
Leaving the road, and taking a
short cut through the woods, be
emerged on the other side Of Ole Man.
Billings house where his cotton was.
The moon had just risen in the
star lit heavens, throwing the dark
pines on the edges Of the path into
sharp relief. A soft breeze was sigh
ing through the whispering bran ches,
bringing a little shower of autumn
leaves to add to the carpet already
on the ground, although in Novem-
Der it was warm enough to have
been night in June. The cotton
field made a beautiful picture with
it's background of dark forest. The
leaves had withered and dropped
with the first early frosts of fall, and
only the brown withered stalks re-
manned like pigmy skeletons having
many hands, holding in their bony
grasp great masses of the feecy
white cotton.
But Jimp was in nosmood to en-
JOY the beauties of nature. His
heart throbbed with anger, for add
ed to the slight was his sWeetheart's
connivance in it. Revenge was his
one thought. AS the sound of a fid-
die waited on the evening breeze from
the house smote on the stiffness, he
muttered half aloud.
you'll be dancin' to a different
toon tomorrer, er my name amt
Jimp. Winning is winning, an
you can't alter EN-, but I'll get even
with the old man'' With rapid strides
he reached the forest. He took his
knife, and his strong arm grasped
with vise-like hold-what-so me
dark form lying in the shadow.
There was a struggle. a quick blow,
a fall. Then Jimp bent down and
rose with his burden, only a stout
hickory pole.
He occupied himself in trimmin
it off and getting it ready for use as
| he retraced his steps to the cotton
field.
The wind, which before had lulled,
sprang up again, and the cotton
stalks bent and rustled and trembled
as though thrilled with fear at the
approach of jumps angry step. Well
might they tremble! His purpose
now was quite clear. Pole in hand,
he took his place at the furthest end
of the field, and bending his muscu-
lar frame to the task, gave mighty
sweep of the pole.
Swish, swish! went the cotton down
upon the ground-six rows at a time
from the avenging arm.
The sounds of revelry and feast sting
crept out on the still night air, and
found limp hard at work.
The moon Waned and sank, and
still the work of vengeance was not
done. 1t was not until herosy tints
Of morning began to tint the eastern
sky that Jimp rested from his labors.
His vengence was complete. Heg
one satisfied look at his finished
work and then turned and fled.
Morning dawned bright and glori-
GUS. The merry makers of the pre-
ceding night were up betimes and on
their way to the scene of action.
The procession was headed by Ole
Man Billings, who led the way with
all the dignifled tread of conscious
pride.
AS they reached the field they came
to halt. Billings was saying:
Now, fellers, whoever picks the
most cotton by fair weight -" he
looked at the field and stopped short.
The eyes of the others followed his
dismayed glance. 0, what sight
was there! A sight to freeze the
blood of any farmer.
The finest field of cotton in the
country lay before them; but alas!
Jimp's ruthless hand had left not
one lock of cotton in the bolls. The
ground was covered with fair white
cotton trampled into the dust.
At last the silence was broken:
"Wal!'' said Farmer Billings, ssI'll
be gol sloshed!''
Years rolled away. Ole Man Bill
ings raised other cotton crops,
though he never gave another cot
COn- PlCh1uS. Jllup WAS lOrSOGCen Dy
the Flatwoodsians, save for his con-
nection with that event styled cole
Man Billings surprise
One day the Flatwoods was agitat-
ed by the news that the squire had
received a letter-an unprecedented
thing in the annals of the neighbor-
hood. 1t was brought to him by a
neighbor from the town ten miles
distant. Billings opened it with the
air of a man quite bored by his cor
respondence.
1t ran thus:
Sir: Some years ago you gave cotton
| picking to which you invited the whole set
/ Element with the exception only of myself
was mad, and l made up my mind to get
even with you. That morning when you
come out TO pick your cotton you found it
| picked
WE'LL it was mean trick, but how cheap
| you must have looked that morning.!
Since then have risen in the world, and
send you check for $3.50, which N ore than
repays you for all you lost at my hands
Next time you give a cotton-pick ing you
/ had better invite JMPsoN JONES.
Ole Man BILLINGS face was a. st11dv