Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-01-10

no Slch zeitsun am II dean seem right
to me. Is mighty oaeasy bout dat
boy deed | is
Daa Nc hab NO consarn on dat
suile soman,r replied her hus-
bare. -. Dat boy amt nebber
gwive hurt hiSelf hy wu'kin' too
hard "a kin res insured ob dat.
'FeatS Ike he's started rudder early
dough- he added glancing at the
cloes. lis on'y twen'y-fi' minutes
alter twel.;'
Having voiced his sentiments re-
gaeoing his son. Uncle Ephriam took
his pipe and repaired to the bench out
side the door for his MONDAY smoke,
where the monotonouS hummng of
deta hmeat OF ogpu'ent bees. towering
over tie purple disks oI the sunflowers.
toRbiued with the oppresSiveness of
the scented air, soon had such sooth-
ing effect upon the old mans nerves,
that his eyelidS closed and his woolly
head dropped gradually forward until
his chin rested upon the bosom of his
checked shirt.
Bu' he had cely lap ell into slum-
ber when he was aroused by the loud
barking of his little dog, Absolom, that
was vigilance personified. Half-open-
F" What am troublin' oh yo', Abslum
Nebber seed sich a ornery little eur in
all nav BON days. Pears like l lxain't
git minutes res widout yo' wakin'
Oh me upn But his canine auditor
secure in the consciousness that he was
doing his duty, was unabashed by the
rebuke. and wagging his tail, barlSed
more fiercely than before.
As Uncle Ephriam raised his head
ne espicd the object of Absolom's dis
trust meek looking round shouldered
little darlley who was slowly approach
ing the house, ana advanced to meet
him. extending a huge, hobby black
hand in token of welcome, while Aunt
Dinah, who on hearing the tumult had
hastened to doff her apron and don a
gay trr' an joined them her perspiring
countenance beaming with hospitality.
After their guest had been comforta-
bly, seated in the only boughten chair
that the cabin afforded, he said, COM
pleasantly. "Yo loolxin' right peart
to-day. Sistah Jonsing. It's reely re-
freshin' to see yo'. ] hopes | did MT
'sturb Brudder Jonsing. He 'peared
to be sleepin when l come fru de
fence;
"Dats from settin' in de sun,
Deacon replied his host. !" 1t made
me dat drowsy dat jes' dozed off, an
eff il hadn't ben foh Abs'lum, reckon
1 wouldn't aheerd yo'. Oar amt muffin
low bout dat dog. He's one OBJ de
fines animals libin', and now dat de
circus am heah, has to watch him
pow'ful sharp. feah dey'll make q show
dog onten him" And he glanced
admiringly at his pet, who was engaged
in consuming unwary flies.
After an exchange Of opinions con-
cerning the prospective melon crop and
the last revival meeting, Aunt Dinah,
whose mind had been continually re-
verting to her promising son, said
earnestly: Dat Andy is gettin' to
be reel credit to us, Deacon, eff does
say so. He wu'ked hard all de morn
in, and dis noon he couldn't skasely
wait to eat his dinner, 'kase he was in
sich hurry to git ober to yo' place.
"What did he want to my house %
queried the caller in a somewhat sur
Drised tone.
" He was gwine to chop dat wood fob
yo'.o was the reply.
"Why. what dUes y0' mean, Sister
Jonsing p asked the astonished
Deacon. "I isn't gwine to hab no
wood choppedo
Uncle Epbriam leaned toward his
friend and said. with profound gravity,
Didn't yo' tell Andy to come ober to
yo house dis afternoon, Deacon
Jones ~
/" No indeed. | hasn't seen dat boy,
foh mo- dan week. was the en-
phatic response.
The injured father rose slowly to
his feet. Into his mind had crept a
terrible suspicion which was confirmed
by the Deacon's words. Den dat no
count boy is done gone to de circus
spite oh mev he calculated, and adj
vancing to the chimney-corner. took
from its resting-place huge hickory
stick, muttering as he did so, isn't
gwine to spar de rod an gpile dat chile
no mo-
The rod certainly bore no evidence
of having been spared 9ndeed. it had
figured prominently in morefhan one
discussion between father and son,
invariably leaving a decided physical,
If not moral. impression upon the
youthful. .culprit
PeTceiving indications Of domestic
storm, Deacon Jones hastened to take
his departure pausing on the threshold
to remark. hopes Andrew III turn
from de ways oh sin fore it am too
Iate.v
"Ef he doan' form 'twontt he nv
fanlt nor de fanlf oh dis yer hick'ry,"
resForded Uncle Ephriam. grimly, and
saon after he was nlcd3ine along the
drstv rrsd toward the circus grounds.
W.T. ~ ~rasred firmly in his
49,
Ii was a long walk. and the sun
u z d down until the heat seemed
Almost intolerable. and he was obliged
le halt frequently TO mop his per-
sDiIing brow, his ire increasing with
cyery flourish of the yellow cotton
handkerchief, till by the time the two
white tents were visible, the outlook
wis 4 most dismal one for Andy.
4 thorough search Of the surround
ings revealed no trace Of the prodigal
son. and the father, concluding that he
was IN one of the tents. proceeded to
the nearer, where a stout, heFid-faced
nan was collecting the price of adj
mission. and said. with an ingratiating
lob Of the head, !" Howdy, sab, howdy.
reckons my boy Andy am in dis yer
tent q lookin' at 20 show an ! wants
70 f0ch him out. S'pose you won't
~ me- muffin foh dat 20
he price Of admission is 2 s cents,o
answered the doorkeeper. grufhy, and
you ean't see this show for less.D
BHf | doan' want to see yo show,
nohow,v returned the old man, wrath