Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1894-10-19

ing off q log.
She put on her
very finest to MAKE a call upon her
young mistress. She was gay indeed
;in'a very broadly striped homcspun
gown, short and scant in the skirt,
displaying pair of large fat feet,
fencased in pair of red and white
sstriped stockings and pair of I'M
mated brogan shoes Aired bandana
tbound about her snowy wool and a
slarge white apron Numbered with eX-
!. guisite skill completed er outfit.
She came in at the side gate and
seated herself with affectionate
familiarity upon the topmost step of
the piazza, waiting for the young
lady to appear. Miss Eta saw her
through the open door and came out,
smiling kindly.
Well, Aunty Tempe, how are you
to-day9"
'Poo'iy. chile, poo'ly, an ! done
walked ali dissher way ter git yuh to
do eomefn' fur de OF CONAN. Will
yer, honey?'
Surely, Aunty Tempe, if cam
! well, yuh kin, honey. Ise a homes
CONAN, an I'll pay yer back
Miss Eta thought of many baskets
of provisions conveyed by Tempe to
dc chillun'' from her pantry when
''de white folks were supposed to be
unaware OF the fact, bud she said
nothing.
''Yuh know, honey, mex week is
cote week, an dey'll be heaps er folks
bout de cote house, an dem folks is
;sllns hongry, n low eff Miss Etta'd
femme have do -four an stuff | gwine
cook plenty bread, an eff yuh could
spare a ham, I'd cook hit, too, an sell
de vittles to de hongry country folks.
You's gwine hen meh, aint yer, chile?"
But suppose the country folks don't
buy the things, Aunty Tempe Miss
Eta asked.
well, hits nuthin but a little bit
er Nittles if dee dosn't. De chillun kin
eat en-, reckon.
The next day was a big one for
for Tempe, who spent it turning out
such loaves, pies and cakes as were
good to see Miss Eta added the ham
and when the cost OF the material was
counted it reached several dollars, u
great deal more than the old woman
had thought possible for few wit
ties
You know, honey, / gwyne sell de
bread an ham in slices an de cakes
an al by de dozen, SOS yuh see,
dey'll be right smart"
Tempe packed her basket and early
morning found her ensconced behind
a neat white covered table, her wares
spread temptingly about her and a
pot of Kissing coffee close at hand.
1t was some hours before a custo-
mer appeared. Little Elihu Walsing-
ham Laml1in, more Familiarity known
as Smut Miss Etta's own yard
boy noting the innovation, came up
to reconnoitre the situation, but was
promptly warned off by the vigilant
Tempe.
Time wore on until noon, and still
the supply of tempting food was un-
diminished. Tempe was getting tired
able customer came in sight. The
old woman waved the crowd of rag
ged, little darlSies aside, standing at
attention before the probable pur-
chaser
Here some mighty nice brade an
meat sab, wild cakes ter top off on.
Hab some, sah?"
''How yer sell em?"
81 done sole yer dozen fer ten
cents
Huh His eyes wandered over
the supply of food and he hesitated
moment.
"What yer goin' ter AK fer what I
kin eat, brade, meat an alp"
This sort of proposition had not en-
tered into Temples calculations of
profit and loss, and for moment She
gazed at the prospective customer
with dropped jaw and round. twink
Ling eyes.
''Wha' dat yuh 'low?" she asked
saoubtfully, and Pete repeated his or
iginal question.
"Wha' yer gwyne Ak fer all de
bread, meat an cake / kin eat?''
How much yuh gwyne eat, any
how?"
''Hwel amt hungry no mo-
Tempe considered a moment, taking
in Pete's points with calcula ting
eye. lie was big, burly negro, and
it was his boast that he wore more
h..