The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-01-09

"Why, howdye. Mawse Nick! Huh you
do? Huh you dor he exclaimed, grinning
IA he rose. and rubbing his hand on his
osnaburg breeches, before he held it out
in hearty welcome. Use plum glad tel
see you'll"
Nicholas shook hands, and sat down in
the splnt bottomed chair, in the corner
opposite the sweet gum block. Then old
GilDert's eyes fell upon the umbrella, and
grew big and round.
"You is found him, Mawse Nick? Dat
hands with chuckle of satisfaction.
Glands off I've something to say
first" cried Nicholas, with q countenanct
and voice SO unwontedly stern that old
Gilbert felt his heart knock at his ribs
"Where do you suppose this umbrella
was found?'
81 amt nuver been able ter recomem
Der, sub, whey leffum," stammered ole
Gilbert, abashed; but rallying his cour-
age, he added, "'ceptin' Diet had him in
Eden"
SIN Eden it was found" said Nicholas,
still stern; "beside the horseback that
stands not far from the gate in front Of
a house on the east of the cornfield."
Nicholas paused.
"Tubbe sho'" calculated old Gilbert,
family. He did not know what else to
say, Nicholas so SHIELD him with his gilt.
tering eye."
"What were you doing there?' de-
manded Nicholas, sternly.
Old Gilbert looked at him and was
silent.
"You were watching mel" cried Mich
olas. with growing anger. "And now
want to know what tale you carried to
my father
81 wuz awatchin you," said old Gil
bert, stoutly; "'cause my min misgive
me what you needed lookin' after; but de
Lawd he knows what l amt toted no
tales ter mawster. l jes' toll him what
hit wuz pow'ful lonesome ter Sunrise, en-
he'd better fotch you home"
Nicholas smiled. "There's your UNI
brella," he said, yielding the treasure TO
the owners waitinghands. you've the
soul of a gentleman, as I've remarked
once before"
Il wuz fotch up long wild yo' gram
paw, Mawse Nick, =" old Gilbert reminded
him, with visible pride. "All de Thornes
wuZ gemmen."
"White and black!' said Nicholas, and
burst out laughing. "Confound your old
umbrella! If had found that you had
carried tales to my father, should have
felt tempted to break it over your med
ding old head. You leave me to man.
age my own affairs hereafter, do you
mind!'
"rubbe sho, Mawse Nick, 'ceptin' jes'
dis--young folks think ole folks is fools,
specially po' no count ole niger; but
Igwan say dis ter you. Use toted you
onter my back when you wuz little, Use
roden you in de fox cyart, en- Use trained
you ter swim wild de holp o gourds; Use
carried you a-ishin' en- a-possum hunt
in, en- Use larnt you yo' fust manners.
All dis" said the old man, with solemn,
uplifted forefinger, "all dis mex hit huk-
kom gwan give you instruction now.
Doan you go mix yo'se'f wild folks what
amt yo' kind, Mawse Nick. amt say
in nothin' beginst dem Furnivals, Mawse
Nick; but de amt yo' kind"
"You shut upr' said Nicholas hotly,
and strobe away.
"De Lawd SEN us help outen de sank.
tuiry," sighed old Gilbert. Else pow'ful
'sturbed in my min bout dat boy. Chill
luns is wuss 'en money. You kin hide
dat away, ur you kin tote it in yo' pock-
ct; but yo' chilluns you is gotter tote in
yo' heart, en- sometimes dc is heavy
weight, heavy weight"
Nicholas did not return to the parlor
until an hour or SO later, when Aleck
Gage was distinguishing under the
colonel's auspices, one might say, for
never since he possessed house of his
own had Col. Thorne been so gracious in
speeding the parting guest.