The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1891-07-29
HOW UNCLE EPHRIAM WENT
TO THE CIRCUS.


Uncle Ephriam lived on the out
skirts of the little town OF B., and
gained livelihood by doing any odd
jobs that came in his way. lie was
quite character, and seldom lacked
employment. for which. in addition to
his regular earnings, he received a
sufficiency of cast-off wearing apparel
to clothe himself and family, the latter
c0nmrising wife and son.
The household wardrobe. being de-
rived from so many sources. was
strangely assorted nature, of which
Uncle Ephriam's attire was fair
representation. The coat. a black
swallow-taii, which in its palmy days
had done duty at many festive gath
erng, had undergone such n trans
formation since entering his possession
That ITS former owner would scarceiy
have Recognized u HAVING Deen
made Tor n $ 'enoer iigue, lt was utterly
out OF proportion To the old mans
broad shoulders. but Aunt Dinah OBJ
waited this difficulty by pieceing it
across the back with brown material
which increased the eem,9s6 OF The
garment but proved aecldcniy aetri-
mental To its APP elf2nce Inc front;
remaimng unrhanged IN width, coui9
not by an possibility be bnitoned, ana
consequently swiins open aispiaNing z
vast territory OF coiored snirt, vest
helng, III ms oIini0h' an unnecessary
luxury. His blue pantaloons, per-
quisite nom the locai DafDer, iaieu
hv several iches to connect with the
d'ngy shoes beneath.
In this singular garb, so utterly At
sable visage, he presented strilsingly
grotesque appearance as he sat ON a
bench against the little whitewashe1
en- ~. Wa,ching the e9ideh-up
ciouas IN the iar west ana wondering
whether the bright gates oil heaven
were any more beautiful lie had
speriehc lglon snort ume
before and was 1eehhg very pious IN
consequence.
ii s meditations. however, We're OF
shot duration. his attention being at
OF his SON Anny, VINO Tor some MN
uteS had been lingering uneasiiy about
IN the yiclnlty, advancing ana fctrcat-
ing and rolling his eyes appeailngiy
toward his Parent. VINO at siengtn;
unable to r9SI. @ nus euriosi.y. said san y
irri'aply, nls am ,c ,H,., nl,.er, M,u .u
70 ruhhii r.s.l an ro,lh l 5ii.Ae ee eS
,nnI ,n1ckens wnen osat 5,s ms''a am cus on
" nao uVes yo M.u,e 81,
Anoy ceased ms gyratlons ana with WITH
desnerate e',rles.ness, porn Oh aIInost
Set' e.i '.il Nv Ihao .nS anS "
M PISi'i1n Muuiu oe a. . ~, s,'iu'
t.u!; hain !, 80 10 ue cirSus
ue 4Wo "as 'he ie;,i,e nornii'1u III ta
response. NO; san, yo kaih go 10
no sIcn pl:Ce Sanleu oo yo' All
crew 1oiisinS: uocu IS AZ, ol.,
p', us I.' ~ e,o ieDe,- vi,
iious nous Anurem. an USE s sir,'c !, ue eiieu' was
mean yo Went soseii
rs 'speiienced .ligion sence den,"
said the old man imnressively, an
now 1ab is lined de church, i sees de
sinlnihess oh sch t1ngS. III y0
dean, take cah- boy, ySii he in de
ciutches oh de>dehbil, suah.
amt a1eafd oh de debbll gittin'
me" muttered his unconvcrted son,
sulieniy.
Den ef yo amt afeard oh de debbil
yod, be afeafd oh me" was the
omnhauc reply, Ion let me heahs one
ccd"r WORT 'hout dis yer wicked pro]ec
an yoii 40 some hneiy uancih TO de
tune oh good stout hickry switch,
v" uhregeh rate sinner
At this luncture, Aunt Dinah, who
had been hilStling about inside pre-
pairing the evening meal, appeared in
the doorway, wiping her greasy hands
on her blue gingham apron, certain
lnulCatIOn tnat the bacon ana nOmnY
were on the table.
No sooner was supper over than
Andy betook himself to the fields to
hemoan in solitude his unenviable lot.
What's dc use oh tryiR to hab any
fun wild sich 'ligious fadder and
mudder ?'' he lamented. "Seems like
dey done forgit dat Use on'y fo'teen
ycah ole an wants some 'joyment like
cdder hcys. / 'clar' foh it, daddv's de
meanes' ole brac k niger in de State.
| Dars dat twen'y-ff cents what de
Major glib me foh holdin' oh his hoss.
Dat would pay my way in, but now''-
Then overwhelmed by the magnitude
of his deprivation, he sat down on n
rock and walled aloud.
But his grief. though violent. was
not lasting, his Respondent mood soon
giving way to more hopeful frame of
mird and he sprang to his feet with
low chuckle. exclaiming excitedly
"GOlly! dat's ies' what I'll do. I'll
go to dis yer circus ennerhow, an eff
daddy does fin it ont. why reckon /
wont min de whippin' so much arter
rs seen de show.''
The next morning at breakfast Aunt
p'r"h n~"" 10 ~-->'-'''- --''' ','niIo-i'