Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-11-09
STORY OF A LONG SLEEP.
And the Strange Disappearance of
a Watermelon.


noon In the month OF July. The air
had .been hot and sultry, but light,
cool breeze had sprung up and Occa-
aional cirrus clouds overspread the sun,
and for awhile subdued his fierceness
We were all out on the piazza as the
coolest place we could find-my wife,
my sister-in-law and l. The only sounds
that broke the Sabbath stiffness were
the hum Of an occasional vagrant bum
blebee or the fragmentary song Of q
moching bird In . neighboring elm,
who lazily trolled n stave Of melody
now and then rs q sample Of what he
could do In the cool OF the morning or
after . light shower, when the condi-
tions would be favorable TO exertion-
annie" said I, suppose 10 relieve
the deadly dullness Of the afternoon,
that we 20 out and pull the big water
melon and send for Col Pemberton's
folks 70 come over and help us eat It."
'Is IL ripe YETI" she inquired, sleepi-
ly, brushing away troublesome fly
that had impudently settled on her
hair.
"Yes, I think so. / was out yester-
day with julius, and we thumped II
and concluded II would be fully ripe by
tomorrow or next day But think It
Il perfectly safe TO pull II to-day"
"Well, II you're sure, dear, we'll go.
But how can we get II up TO the house2
Its too big TO tote"
"I'll step around TO Julius cabin and
ask him 10 go down with the wheelbar-
row and bring II up" / replied.
Julius was an elderly colored man
who worked on the plantation and
lived In a small house on the place, q
few rods from my own residence. His
daughter was our cook, and other mem
bers Of his family served us In differ
ent capacities.
As turned the corner OF the house I
saw Julius coming up the lane He
had on his Sunday clothes and was
probably returning from the afternoon
meeting at the Sandy Run Baptist
church. of which he was leading men,
Der and deacon.
Julius" ! said, I'VE are going out
TO pull the big watermelon and we
want you 10 take the wheelbarrow and
go with us and bring II up 10 the
house"
"Does yer reckon dat watermillun's
ripe yit, sah2" said Julius Didn't
pear ter me II went quite plunk enuff
yestiddy fer ter be pull befor' ter
morrer."
~ think II is ripe enough, Julius"
"MawninR 'ud be n better time fer
ter pull 1t, sab, wen do night air an
de jews done cool II Off nice"
probably that's true enough, but
wen put It on ice and that will cool II,
and I'm afraid II we leave II too long
some one will steal It."
~ specs dats 80" said the old man
with confirmatory shake of the head
Eyer takes chances wen yer pulls 1t,
en- yer takes chances wen yer dom
Dey's lot or po' white trash round
hcah wat ain none too good fer ter
steal It ] seed some un 'em loufn'
long dc big road on lner way home fun
chu'ch jcs' now. has ter watch mcr
own chicken coop TO keep chickens 'nuff
fer Sunday eatin'. I'll 20 en- git do
w'eelborrow."
As the old man turned TO go away he
began In limp and put his hand 10 his
knee with an exclamation of pain.
Whats the matter, Julius2' asked
my wife.
yes Uncle Julius, what ails youP"
echoed her sweet young sister. "Did
you stump your toe2"
mo, miss, it's dat mis'able rheumatic.
II ketchcs mo now an den In dc lcf
knee so | can't hardly draw my brcf.
Oh, Lawdy," he added between his
clenched teeth, but dat do hurtl Ouchl
It's little better now" he said after u
moment but doan' b'lieve | kin roll
dat w'eelborrow out ter de watermillun
patch eu back. Ell it's all de same ter
yo', sab, III go roun' ter my house en-
SEN Tom ter take my place, w'iles
rubs some linimum on my laig."
"That'll be all right Julius" | said,
and the old man, hobbling, disappeared
around the corner Of the house Tom
was II lubberly, sleepy-loolsing negro
boy Of about fifteen, related 10 julius
wife In some degree and living with
them.
The old man came back In about five
minutes. lie walked slowly and seemed
very careful about bearing his weight
on the afflicted member.
~ sent Liza Jane fer to wake Tom
up" he said. Hes down In do orchard
asleep under u tree somewhar. 1t takes
minute er SO fer ter wake i'm up
Liza Jane knows how ter do IL She
tickles i'm in do nose or der yeah wild a
broomstraw. Hollerin' doan' do no
good Dat boy is one er dc Seben
sleepers, He's wuss'n his gran'daddy
used ter be-"
WAS his grandfather deep sleeper,
W.ala I,.lt
"Oh. yas, Miss Mabel" said Julius,
gravely. "lle wuz monst'us pow'ful
sleeper lie slep' fer mont once"
Dear me, Uncle Julius, you must be
joking" said my sister-in-law, incredu.
lously thought she put 1t mildly.
"oh, no, ma'am, | ain jolSin'. never
jokes on serious subjecs | wuz dere
wen 1t all happen. Hit wuz monstus
quare thing"
"Sit down, Uncle Julius, and tell us
about it," said Mabel, for she dearly
loved a story and spent much of her
time drawing out" the colored people
in the neighborhood
The old man took of his hat and
seated himself on the top step OF the
piazza His movements were some.
what stif, and he was very careful Ia
get his left leg In u comfortable po-
sition.
Toms gran daddy wuz name Slmn.
dus." he began "lle had brudder
name Tushus en- ernuddcr name Cottus
en- ernuddcr name Squinchus." The
old man paused moment and gave
his leg another hitch.
But ez ! was a-snyinP, dis ycrC
Slunlus nroycd 10 bo n mort liy,l, f.,