The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1891-07-29

stGu As ne Swaller dat hunk q con-
bf al warts him TO take dc hoe an
star lob de 'tattr path. an low he'll
sleep letter to-nightn
Afdf obeyed with pleasing If some
what <urpiising alacrity. but all that
ioua forenoon while his hack was
bending ober tho pdtato hills, his mind
was Wandering among the ferocious
anin:I'< and adventurous acrobats rep
rcscried on the gaSly colored circus
lpcstel<.
lrIniptly at noon he returned to the
hoi'sr. and after attacking and sue
cfs faily demolishing the food piled
and with We'l-ass.Ime ed air cf indiffer-
cncc. said. Daddy, Deacon Jones
wants nie to como roun to his place
dis AFTERNOON an chop wood foh him.
= We'll. BOW ! Is pleased replied his
gfat;i;eI parent De Deacon's per-
fessab 5b ligion an a prcpah good
man, 4n' rs glad TO hab' yo' under sich
edi fyis5 iniiTnce- When yo git dar.
dc an Itusit to tel him bout dat s'prise
part ,-.Aes gvine To Glib him, 'kase he'll
want [s1hab 'freshments foh his fficn's-
ts ys.Azwine right way now ~
The boy answered in the Affirmative,
and as he shuflled down the little path,
boidered on either side with nOdding
lsmifloweis. his mother gazed foEdly
after the tall lanlS form and said,
solicitously: Ps aleard dat po chile
am \ wn'kin' too hard. ole man. Hes
done hoed 't1ters all de mawnin'. an
now he's gwinc to chop wood all de
AFTERNOON. He amt strong 'nuff foh
Co me. rs mighty oneasy bout dat
boy. deed is"
DOaii yo' hab 10 consarn ON dat
subiec' ole coman,'' replied her htls-
band, sagciy. "Dat boy amt nebber
gwine to hurt hiself hy wu'kin' too
hard. Yo' kin res insured oh dat.
Pears like he's started rudder early
dough-" he added. glancing Mt the
clock. It's on'y twcn'y-fi' minutes
arter twer.-
Having voiced his sentiments re-
garding his son, Uncle Ephriam took
his pine and repaired to the bench out
side the door for his MONDAY smoke.
where the monotoDOus humming of u
deta ,hment of co,pu,ent bees, lowering
over the purple disks oil the sunfiowers.
CombiRed 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 tho bosom of his
checked shirt.
But he had scarcely lapsed into slum-
ber. when he was aroused by the loud
barking of his little dog, Absoaom, that
was vigilance pefsonificd. Half-open-
ing his eyes, he muttered, angrily.
:" What am q troublin' oh yo'. Abs'lum
Nebber seed sich n ornery little cur in
all nv bon days. Pears like KANT
git minutes res widout yO' wallin'
oh me up" But his canine auditor,
secure in the consciousness that he was
doing his duty, was unabashed by the
rebuke, and wagging his tail, barked
more fiercely than before.
As Uncle Ephriam raised his head,
he espied the object of Absolom's dis
trust. meek looking round shouldered
little darlzey who was slowly approach
| ing tho house, and advanced to meet
him. extending a huge, hobby black
hand in token of welcome, while Aunt
Dinah. who ON hearing the tumult had
hastened 10 doff her apron and don \
CAV tt +, 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
p'alsantly. "Y6 l,ol<in' right peart
to-day. Sistah Jonsing. It's reely re-
freshin' to see yo'. l hopes / did MT
'stub Brudder Jonsine. He 'peared
to be sleepin' when / come fru de
fence.n
"Dats from settiR in de sun,
Deacon,n replied his host. 1t made
me dat drowsy dat / jes' dOZed off. an
eff it hadn't ben foh Abs'lum. i reckon
wouldn't aheerd yo'. Oar amt muffin
| low bout dat dog. He's one oh de
ssepiia. ia Oriental trappings, -ct his
| gaze.
Sy,phs in gaiuy attire hovered over
gailv caparisoned steeds. knights of
4 ~
| the backs of fiery chargers, clowns
Lcstrode active little donkeys, while
monkeys in red jackets and peaked
{ aps brought up the rear. cracking tiny
whips to stimulate the dogs on which
| .hev rode.
The temptation was great. Uncle
| Ephriam hesitated-and staid-and
during the remainder of the afternoon
father and son laughed and applauded
amicably together. nor did the old man
have one prick OF conscience till the
last horse had passed from view and
they stood in the open air.
Then, indeed, did the full extent of
his iniquity dawn upon him. Laws
a-massy what POI weak. blaczslidin'
lie sinner is.- he groaned. The gaud
| and glitter that had lured him from
duty were things of the past, while
before MIN stretched out the long ROAD,
at the end of which Aunt Dinah was
impatiently waiting his arrival.
He brooded over his unfortunate
situation for some moments, becoming
more disheartened as the distance be-
tween himself and the cabin lessened.
Andy. in order to guard against any
hostile demonstrations, walked in the
rear, keeping well out of reach of the
instrument of home influence which
hung idly by his fathers side.
The silence was at last broken by
Uncle Ephriam, who said, slowly and
uneasily. hopes yo' NANNY hain't
done got Harmed bout us.''
The note of anxiety in his voice was
not lost upon his SON, who, concealing
his exultation. asked gravely, Is yo'
gwine to tell nanny dat yo stayed to
the show?''
Uncle Ephriam turned upon him
angrily. Does yo' want the wust
licldn yo' ebber had ?''
The boy shook his head vigorously.
"De Deacon tol' me dat de wise son
make de glad fader. / is dat son.
he asserted.
Mutually relieved from further ap-
prehensions by this Implied compact,
they quickened their steps and soon
came in sight of the cabin, outside of
which stood Aunt Dinah, shading her
eyes with her hand as she looked down