The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-02
"WHUH DAI 'POSS UH?"
Done Gone Let Him Get Away After All
TaImon's Holding Him Down.

.Raked 'possum an taters" was one OF
the choicest of dishes among the Coioreu
people of Pasquotank county, y. - anu
iralmond Bright was greatly upset over
the loss of a big, juicy animal that ne
had been fattening for the approaching
marriage reaSt OF MS daughter LIZ
Nothing saved lis neghbor, Ephun
CARING, from a good licking, except the
confirmatcry evidence Of his part III the
theft -, TO- md
wide as a most thrifty darky. ana ms
raputatian as a good provider on state oc-
casions was likely 10 suffer unless ne
could procure another "Varmit Tor the
coming event. He had "tetches er Theu
matiz" as he expressed Il, that Tehuereu
locomotiOn some what dlfflcuiIi out ds
buVing a 'pCssum was contrary 10 the
traditions Of his race, he deemed IL neces-
sary TO make a supreme eIlort loI oiIg
successful N mt. His dog Jesse, a NANCY
cur had grown old and somewhat DE-
crepit like his master. but he hdd Deeh
a notable hunter of all manner or bedsts
in other days. and ''peaIted up WONDER
fullv as he and his owner entered Dig
peIsimmon grove and the latter star'eu
him out in quest of fresh scent.
The neeros eyes were good II rs legs
were weak and the moon being at us
full he looked anXiously into every tree
top at the same time listening eagerly
fG1, n warming bark from Jesse. lie
prowled around for an hour or two VIII
out any reward for his faithful search,
and when the tired and disguised uOs
came in with dropping, head ! aiih n,in,l
muttered more bitter things than ever
against "Ephum" as he turned 10 go
home The way he was taking led aJohs
the edge of big swamp which ne was
about to leave for a now opening heLd,
when a slight rustling overhead caught
his quickened ear. and looking upward
he saw an enormous possum In Dig
black gum tree. ,
Filled with enthusiasm, ne Whoopeu AZ
hot
quick husky barSs, which he malntaihed
through subsequent proceedings uhtii lie
was tired. ,..
Talmons ardor dampened somewhat
as he thought of the bigness OF the tree
and then considered the state OF MS rheu-
matte shoulders in the crisp, frosty ar
of the November night. He was undeclueu
what to DO now sRi o his Hgoa axe ms despe
ately, and then with a groan, letting
the blade fall heavily to the ground.
Pre- sently he gave a grunt OF minnie
satisfaction ae he saw that long ana
slender maple tree had partly fallen and
was lodged against the gum tree IN
close proximity TO the 'possum: lie hao
been an expert climber in his youtl.
and despite his infirmities, IT was Dut
lie work Of a few moments for him 10
reach the height to which he aspired.
Then he discovered tlat the creature
had disappeared in the trunk CT the
tree. which apparently was hollow TO
its base. Standing over the large aper-
ture he gratefully shifted the delicious
aroma that the little beast distilled, ana
then turned half about 10 devise some
scheme for reaching Il, when ms teet
slipped and he too, dlsappedrtu H|iIi
sight.
Jesse was a very patient brute. and
having barked until his throat gave out,
settled himself foT the night without
making any inquiry as TO the cause OF the
detention of his master. He was dog
that attended strictly TO his own busl-
ness and did not worry himc@H ABOUT
other leople's troubles. After GOOD
nigbt's resi- he arose, looked about him in
some surprise, and then ambied Slowly
home.
Aunt Chany, Talmons wife. who was
getting breakfast when Jesse arrived,
returned alone. as her ejaculation,
"Whrh dat lazy nigger" would appear
TO indicate; still she did not press the
inquiry when the dog maintained silence.
Chany was so engrosed in making sim
mon beer and "tryin' out fat" that she
completely overlooked the absence Of her
liege lord until the morning OF the third
day of his disappearance, when needing
his services badly for some imminent
duty she made fuss enough 10 make up
for her delay.
Neighbors were informed, and a num-
Der OF them came together TO search
for the missing man. Jesse, after much
coaxing and appeals TO his gratitude,
finally consented 10 accompany party
OF negroes TO the woods, and, probably
concluding that a direct leading TO the
spot would save him much undesired ex-
ercise, he brought them straight TO the
gum tree. Then, apparently deciding
that he was expected 10 lodge there an
other night, he lay down.. closed his
eyes. and was soon fast asleep.
The negroes regarded each other fool
ishly for a moment. and then were scared
half out of their wits by a feeble voice
which seemed TO proceed from the open
space:
"Doncher chop inter me-"
They were inclined to run, but stimu-
lated by daylight and numbers. they
stood their ground timorously, and in
vestigation led 10 knowledge. One OF the
negroes climbed into the tree with a
rope, which some member OF the party
had brought along In vague notion that
hanging bee was on. and this he let
down into the hollow. This mode Of