The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1895-12-28
NEGRO LIFE.
= Word Picture OF tt Delights
ana Diaappointmenta


Uncle Moses ana 0lo wife, Aunt O11Sys
both being very old and afflicted, were
allowed to occupy little old cabin and
use what land they could tend, rent
free.
Uncle Moses requested that he be per-
mitted ''to cut de trees often dat ar lii
branch. what runs from my bac yard,
please, sab.
Permission granted, Uncle Moses
didn't look as If he could fell a sapling.
He was SO afflicted that he couldn't
plow. 1t was Aunt Dilsy that plowed.
But he displayed an ability to cut down
trees that was truly astonishing. Soon
he had long, narrow strip Of rich, low
ground, and Aunt Dilsy plowed it with
the COW. She plowed with the cow be
cause she was of timid nature be-
sides being afflicted. She would have
been afraid OF any other beast, even if
she had had one, which she hadn't. And
now, behold the corn! Such pile of
corn had been raised on ''dat ar iii
branch Lotion" that its fame had
spread abroad over the plantation.
Very proud and boastful was Uncle
Moses, ind great was the crowd at his
corn shucking. Old and young, rent
ers aud hired hands, and even Uncle
Bristol Hunt. who owned seven acres
of land, were all there. AS it was not
slicker corn shucking," bat supper
corn shrcking," the ladies were out in
full force.
Conspicuous among them we're the
Conitchee girls, in red skirts and new
shirt waists, the bellies of the evening.
Running them pretty close, though,
were the Turner girls, who wore only
gingham dresses, but had side combs
in their bangs and their back hair ar
ranged in Psyches. The boys were
numerous and jolly, several from "over
the crick" being present. Jimmie
Coole, the crack banjo player, was also
there.
'You, Jimmie, da1!" cried Uncle
Moses. "Don't you shuck none O. my
corn; you pick dat banjo. so desc mig
gers can wuk fast. Dis amt no one
horse corn pilei"
"All right, Uncle Nose" assented
Jimmie, readily. "Jesso don't hat ter
pick it at supper time,' and the fasci-
mating strains of George Buck" filled
the air.
The shucking went on briskly with
increasing hilarity.
s'Hi, dar, You niggers!" interrupted
Uncle Moses. "Don't you dassent play
baseball wild my years o. corn" and
.You stop dat rasslin', you Sam Jones
en- Kiah Hawkins! Miss Pattie Belle
Conitchee amt lookin' at yer en- yer
amt got her ter study"
The task of preserving order kept
Uncle Moses busy and gave him little
time for telling any of his stories OF
'.de good old time befo' de war"
When the huge pile OF corn was get
ting low, the magic announcement OF
"Supper!!" was made-and such asup-
per! Fav roasted pig, luscious chicken
pie, spicy pumpkin pies, golden potato
custards and the most wonderful cakes
Aunt Dilsy was cook "shore null.
The compliments she received from
the apprcciative consumers were fairly
overwhelming. The crowning feature
was the cutting of the "live bird cake.
It was veritable cake. brown and de-
licious, in the center of which was
bird, alive and futtering. A vote waz
taken to decide which of the young Ia
dies should have the honor of cutting
the cake and liberating the bird.
Excitement ran high. and through
the energetic efforts OF Siah Hawkins
Miss Pattie Belle Conitchee came very
near being elected to that honor. But
Miss Ginky Turner received the most
votes in the end. greatly to the elatior
Of the Turner faction. Miss Ginky Tur
ner was led up to the cake table by Jim
mic Goode, his banjo swung jauntily
over his shoulder, and she sliced the
cake with much grace and dexterity
/ The live bird hoped out, and after fly
ing about the room in bevilderment
perched itself upon q rafter, among
sage and red peppers, from which
height i: seemed to view The proceed
ings with quizzical eye. The banjo
being again called into requ;sition. Jim
nlie Goode played BIRD in q Cage
Love-" all singing with him. This wal
followed by "Dat Yaller Gal. She''
Mine." solo by Kiah Hawkins. Jim
mie then played his inimitable "John
ME, Cya1n't Yer Cum?" but it was T.
the iulcct strain OF Greasy Bread" tina
old Uncle Moses went to sleep undel
the table.-N. 7. Sun.
Pretensioas Of Kins xensiilL
The missionary Flad, German be
longing to Wurtemburg, writing from
Abyssinia, says that one Goban Desta
Who was educated near Basle, and ha'