Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-10-21
BABE.

slsslppL Very few garments served
TO render these little darkies decent
in the eyes OF their widowed nanny.
who now aud again looked out OF the
cabin door. Three boys had laid of
II game and with hickory nuts for
marbles, they shot and shouted. turn.
ing somersaults or walking on their
hands with heels high in the air when
q point was scored while one little
fellow too small to participate, stood
idly by watching the game
A fifth boy had just skinned down
from locust tree. and with smoth-
cred groans he sought to extract
with a crooked pin II thorn from his
bare foot assisted by one OF the girls.
The othcr two girls were trying to
clean two iron pots in anticipation of
breakfast All were happy. merry
and noisy. Every little while the gay
spirits of some one were proclaimed
by snatch of song. such as:
Bow ter de buzzid, an len ter de crow;
An ev'y time hop up, hop jes so;
Fuss on my heel-tap, an dan on my toe,
An ev'y Tina jump up, jump jim Grow
"Ain't none err yer seen Babe yit?"
the mother called from the interior
Of the cabin.
NO. ma'am US ain done smell
her y came the response.
'Wondy what do keep Babe dis
lopg she muttered while her fingers
picked over the heap of ow-foot
greens beside her Use powerful
hungry myself. It's high time for
her ter be here viii de meat sho."
The game OF marbles came to an
abrupt close with angry cries and
blows. Out of the cabin door the
mother DATED with stout stick and
fell upon the gamesters deal
ing her telling strokes inds-
criminately right and left de-
spite imploring protestations of
'Twant me- nanny" Nanny. hit
wus Bill" Nanny, Tom 'gunde
'spute. Nanny he flung my mar
bes in de I've hopper Nanny
dden do no SIGH err thing etc.
Without needing the cries or asking Il
question she piled the rod impartially
until wearied and breathless. When
peace had been restored and four
whimpering, smiling boys were roll
ing their big eyes at each other and
their mother she espied the couple
under the locust tree working at the
thorn.
'Whuts de matter wild you. Ike"
she asked,
Got er thorn in my b g toe. nam.
my"
'Whar we g hit sab? Bin up dat
lokiss tree ergin arter dat squinch
owl ness Amt yer? | boun yer is.
Gimme dat here pin Starry. an lem
me dig out dat thorn" With no
gentle hand she proceeded to perform
the operation, assn ing her victim that
he should have one good beat ng. as
soon as the thorn was out: .Ca3e
amt | done tole you free hundud
tunes bout lett dat squinch owl ness
erlone sah?"
Vas um."
AN amt done tole yer s1uinch
owls wore kin ter spirits. an fotch
err sight er trouble on folks whut stu b
ump' giving a vicious dig W tn the
crooked pin.
'Ias um, vas UNI :" Ike howled
'Oh, Lord er massy yer mos k Hin
me nanny"
.4er zerve ter be kilt sab, pok n
yer black nose bout squlnch owls lik e
us did en- hev nough troubil now. Dat
owl sho to fetch mo- trubil TO dis
here year out an etfen her do right
her sen dat strucshin on yo' head
whit NEEDLE her sho. Oar. De thorn
out Git down now sab. and took
yer beatin'.
But just here much to the satisfac.
ton OF Ike. there arose from the tall :
est girl a prolonged cry echoed by
the entire group of 'Yon cum Babe.
yon cum Babe. nanny and Ike was
released. With hungry. expectant
eyes all turned in the direction indi.
Gated while one child called out
Oar Babe an hers got er gret big
rabbit sho -
Into the midst of the waiting group
trotted small hound bearing in her
mouth a large rabbit which she
placed at the feet OF her mistress.
The hound was sparely built and vel
low hided. with long dropping ears.
and scarcely enough of stump be.
hind to bear the name OF tail. That
had met with serious accident In her
early youth. Ike had been instructed
to clip the tip end of Babes ia ii to
make her sharp. Not understanding
the directions he had tied the dog
down. and. after several Intellectual
whacks with u dull ave. bereft her oil
the tail. except about two inches.
Despite her forlorn appearance.
Babe was by far the most important
member of this family; for lid she not
market daily for them in the thick
wood and canebrak es and did she not
many time. allay the pangs of hun.
ger with game. when nanny had not
even crumb of bread in the cabin
She was an earnest faithful and tire.
less worker for the black pickanin-
MES.
Before the sun arose Babe began
her labors and generally returned
from successful hunt in time for
breakfast. The search for game was
renewed after short rest and by
nightfall often much earlier the
afternoon marketing was slowed away
in the cabin.
On this particular morning, after
laying the rabbit down. the hound
stood on one side OF the group. await
ing as usual some word of commenda
ton.
Babe whar yer binp Whut done
keep yer dis long no how2" inquired
the woman. as she picked up the
rabbit
Evidently the dog comprehended