The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-12-24
AUNT D0SHY.
Story of a Talking Turtle in Negro
Settlement.

School was out and two boys were Stroll
ing aimlessly along when they caught sight
of Aunt Doshy out under the back shed OF
her cabin, staring iutentiy into barrei.
Spurred on by curiosity Charley and Neo
mended their pace, and made haste to JOIN
her.
"Where did you get him, Aunt Doshy ?"
queried Charlie, peering over the womans
shoulder.
"Kotch him down in de creek" responded
Aunt Do.hy, her black face beamIng with
satisfaction.
81 tell you what, he is big one!" said
Ned
"How long have You had him?"
"Fo' munt an better" came the reply.
Hes done growed powerful since den.
Gwineter eat him shortly"
8" wonder if he will be good" yentured
one of the boys.
Good :" echoed Aunt Doshy," in tragic
attitude SIS turtle good! Jest listen at
dat! Why, honey, ev'y part tas'e diffunt
FUN de udder, an ev'y moufful is better 'an
de one you done tuck las'."
She caught up one corner of her blue
checked apron, and passed il across her lips
to remove the moisture gathering there.
Aunt Doshy lived within stones throw
of the little village, and earned comfort
able subsistence by taking IN washing for
the young men about town. In the absence
of a laundry or Chinese ''washee-washee"
house the old woman gave the linen gloss
THAI few could equal, and none excel.
Since her widowhood, five years before,
she had been the recipient OF several latter
ing offers for her heart and hand, but her
preference leaned Enthusiastically to her neigh
Dor, Uncle Crockett, until an unfortunate
occurrence caused rupture between them.
The cid mans cabin was some hundred
wards back of hers in the margin OF woods
which separated the town and country. Here
he titled his little truck patch, and with
whte-oak spiints wove- cotton baskets, and
new seats for superannuated chairs. lie was
thrifty. but penurions.
"He's monst'ous sot in his ways" Aunt
Doshy was wont to say.
Bat when he insisted that she must buy
the license, after c0psenting to be his br!ue,
her righteous anger burst all bonnds. she
ordered him never again 10 darken her door,
and kept her broad back oistinateiy turned
towards him whenever lie passed her by.
She was hard at work rinsing tub OF
clothes and singing sliriliy when the boys
took their departure.
Let's have Joke with the turtle" said
Charlie as they reached the little front gate;
but it's got to he kept to ourselves, or there
won't be any fun in it."
Uncle Crockett's cabin was favorite rem
/ devious for the town boys, especially IN cold
weather when they ranged themselves upon
the old hair trunk, the three-legged stool, an
inverted washtub, or whatever else was
| handy, about the big, open fireplace and lIs-
tened to wondrous tales and ihe cracking
wood fire. Sometimes their host was un-
| 1,,,f MI of fot n a
pound of coffee generally lOOsened his
| tongue.
Come here, Uncle Crockett" called Ned,
pushing open the door and 'beckoning mys-
| teriously TO the old darky vino sat inside,
weaving a new bottom for chair.
"You-all come hyar. Yon-alPs younger
IAN whut is," he answered gruffiy, scarcely
looking up from his work.
Ned and Charley entered cautiously, peer
| ing into each of the dark corners 10 make
| sure that no ebon-hued visitor was lurking
there, and then, with all the secrecy Of arch
conspirators, they unfolded their plan. Uncle
| Crockett's mouth broadened visibly while he
| listened, and now and again he chuckled
softly.
"Whar do she keep him?" he demanded
at last.
"In the barrel. at the back of her
/ house." came the answer.
| The old man smiled Understandings, and
| sat for a moment rubbing his gnarled hands.
well, speck / kin manage it" he -
serted with decision. Lemme see. De
moon riz 'twix' .eben an eight o'clock las
| night, didn't it?"
The boys thought that was the time, aud
after exchanging few ccmmonplaces with
their host, they bade him goodbye.
/ d h otil1 wi i{f1,.
| ing with suppressed merriment, though he
was again busy weaving his splints, but sud-
denly his risibles seemed to get the better OF
him, and throwing back his grizzled head
he laughed long and loud.
81 owes Dcshy dat much he exclaimed
between guffams Ito pay her back iur dc
| way she done me-"
So far all had gone well, but the snccess OF
failure Of the entire escapade still depended
upOn the ventriloQuist whose Punch and
Judy show had stranded in the village a
day or 90 before. The boys divuiged theil
secret 10 him with fear and trembling but
much to their joy he entered into the full
spirit of ii, and consented to accompany
them without demur.
Thus it happened that as the moon wa:
peering above the western horizon that night
three shadowy figures secIeted themselves
behind clump Of shrnbbcry in Aun,
Doshy's back yard. For como moment,
they waited there. breathless and impatient
hut were at last rewarded by the sight O
Uncle Crockett (his stalwart figure bent ant
crouching), making his way stealfhiiy in th'
direction Of the rear shed.
Aunt Doshy had company, and was laugh
| ing and chatting boisterously, or else sh'
might have heard with what splash ant
splutter-as though trying desperately t
warn her Of its danger-the turtle left it
barrel. Evidently several efforts were nee
essa,y before the capture was accomplished
1 but Uncle Crockett proved himself equal L
the emergency, and finally bore it of in tri
umph by the tail
|, Not until the old man, together with hi
: grotesque shadow creeping after him, ha
: reached the bend in the road was the wid0,
4 apprised of her loss The ventriioauist, dis
. | guisiug his voice 80 as to initiate that OF on
Q Of her colored neighbors, announced, after
q sounding knock at the door:
"Look outdar! Unk' Crockett done stol
t yo' turkle, an t0tin' him off home"
3 Then in a twinkling he was again hidde
a from view.
r No second summons was needed, and d,
\. spite her years and rotundity, Aunt Dosh
q sprang with much agility out of the fror
le door. rushing headlong through the gat
and into the road, in hot pursuit of tn
thief, shouting Justify the while. She gait
cred not only momentum but stout site
as well, as she sped along, and when I'll