The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1895-12-08

II no dldnt pun out plug OF lhe JUL
list store-bought stun l have Topped a
lip on in many a day, and cut me of a
full square. Inside Of three minits l
had come to my senses, and we shook
hands and parted friends.
"But remember what tell you. Rufe.
Don't you never start of to take no
long trips on a blamed old mule by the
name Of Beck without plenty Of tobacco
in your breeches."
Some News From Panther Creek.
Aunt Nancy Newton driv by ono day
last week on her return back home from
Bunk Weatherford's. She tarried and
remained over long enough to take a
social family smoke with me, and when
she went away she left big bundle Of
news from down on Panther Creek.
"The folks in our settlement are
mostly God-fearin people, Rufus" says
the dear delightful old soul between
the puffs Of blue smoke from her pipe,
"and they are multiplyin and replen-
ishin the earth accordin. Right along
in durin Of the last three weeks thirteen
new babies have come into our midst to
face the trials and troubles and tribu-
lations Of this vain and feetin world, as
il we're. Misses Strickland-Dunk's wife
she was the first one to show down,
and as you and Blew and Andy would
say, she helt pair Of jacks, which is to
say, two boys. Next come John An
drew Newton's wife-Sallie Stringer as
she use to be-aud she likewise also
laid down a pair, but they was queens,
you understand, two girls. That's four.
| Then win Tom Pickense's wife-Rose-
bud Buckalew that use to be-and she
Jest naturally took the rag and pulled
up the bush by comm across with three
at one trip-twO boys and girl. That's
seven. Well, then, first one of the
neighbors and then another had log
rollins at their house till there was FIVE
more babies in the settlement. Aud
that's thirteen.
'aThey are all mighty poor down there
Rufus, in regards to this worlds goods
But they don't mean no harm by that
and they walk upright and blameless
in tho commandments as best they can
If it want fo- the children all the good
ness in the human race would soon wash
out anyhow, and whilst amt in thai
branch Of the business, it makes my old
heart glad to see the earth multiplied
and replenished regular and frequent.
whats past helpin should be pas
weepin, as the old sayin runs, but l dc
wish in my soul the whole thirteen wal
mine and l could live long enough K
see 'em all grown and married and set
tied of in thirteen different homes"
The "Happlest and Most Luokiest."
Old man Shade Walton is now Abou
the happlest as we'll as the ugliest ant
most luckiest man in our settlement,
Aunt Nancy went on presently.
"The old man went up to the COUNTY
fair the other day and when he conn
back home he lad five dollar bill in golf
hid away in his sock. Henceforwards at
ter that he amt done blessed thing bu
trapse around the settlement showii
everybody his new money and tellii
how he got it. He never win it and b
didn't find it, but whilst up there seeii
of the sights he metup with a man iron
somewheres over in Georgy, which b
was rank blank stranger to old ma
Shade.
"My friend, says the man fror
Georgy soon as eyer he clapped hi
ewes on Shade Walton, have got hv
dollars in gold which belongs to YOU
It was guy to me forty years ago b
my grandfather, and he told me if
ever met up with man that was uglie
than me / must pass it on down tn
line. The money is yours. Here it il
Take it and be happy.
well, naturally of course, old ma
Shade he took the money. He cOuldn
do nothin else convenient. And reckO
by rights it belongs to him, cause he
the sorriest lookin man have ever saw
and bless gracious he is ugly enough
wean a mule colt"
When Thanksgivin comes / will hay
heap Of things TO be thankful TO
But l will return partiolar thanks to th
: good Lord that my Aunt Nancy Newto
amt gone nowheres.
RUFUS SANDERS