Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-07-09
I'm cOun' 'um Ober agIn'." said the old

Il SOuu uln oDer agln, SAID the ola
man, kindly.
Sister Calhne wiped away her tears.
You am so kind, mistah, l knawed you
was a good man when Brer Martin tole
me ter keep long er you on der train"
An l krowed you was a good woman
when Brer Martin tole me You take good !
ca o Sister Calline, says ne. Now I'll
coun' 'um agin."
One, two, thee" and so on. They went
over and over this, but by no legerdemain
Of counting could ten be made eleven.
Sister Callire grew more and more dis
tressed and was just breaking into hys-
terical sobs when the train whlstled at the
next station below.
They both sprang up and Calline scream
ed to the children. who came flying across
the track like flock of blackbirds.
When the train drew up and the con-
ductor stepped off. there was Calline TO
meet him.
Please, mistah; has you brung back my
chile?" she tearfully pleaded.
Bonner -und bitten! What do you
mean. woman?"
Use got 'leben chiren." groaned Sister
Calline. and dis genelman has counded
| 'um cher an o0er. un' dere amt only ten"
The conductor ran his eye over the group.
A score of heads were thrust out of the
! coach. and a murmur of amused sympathy
stirred along the line.
HIM"
| He pulled forth his book hurriedly an.
turned over the pages.
pass Calline Jackson and eleven chill
dren."
He glanced over the black, bobbing
heads and back at the woman.
His eye fell on the bundle in her arms.
Great Jove! What's the matter with
the baby making eleven?"
There were roars of laughter and much
waving of hats and handkerchiefs as the
train moved out
you done counded UNI wrong. Mistah."
said Sister CaNine, looking up reproach-
fully at the old man.
els dey all hyar?" he asked with dignity,
"Co'se dey's all hyar"
Den don't dat pintedly show dat I
counded UNI right?"
Sister Calhue's dark countenance wore
a troubled expression, hut as they went
: along the piney woods road toward Kent
Vile it gradually cleared up, and when they
came in sight Of Kent Hall it was beaming,
"Dere's de cunnelr said uncle, pointing
10 a gentleman dressed in a white duck
suit, who sat comfortably in a big arm
chair on the gallery.
"Fe's oHe o. de ars You jes' wait here
a spell ontel l so an tell him.
''Weil?" said Colonel Kent. good ma
turedly, laying down his newspaper. What
is it, Uncle Dick?"
sT'ea - .oo,,,ta trr +erI Won. Il
Use foun' a good woman dat | laks the beS'
in the world, an ives fixed cur Minis dat
Wei marry fore long. We reckons ter
night is de bes' time"
Marry! Good Lord" said the colonel,
astonished. such an old fellow as you
arew
Il is ole. for fac. Mas'r, but Use lived
alone nine years, an it's mighty lone
some"
That's so" said the colonel kindly
AN pears ike l can't stan 1t no longer.
An Sister Jackson needs a husband ter
help her raise her chiHen. Dere's lebsn
chiren an none Oh EN- missin', coundln'
UNI right"
Eleven! How in the name Of General
Jackson are you going 10 take care of
eleven children?"
".Dey's gwire ter take care G. me, Mas'r."
said the old man eagerly. "Deys mighty
peart chiren, mighty peart, an dey en-
pick a heap co cotton an hoe CON an
taters an weed in de gyarden an do a
power 90 oder turns"
The curiously wizened old face shone as
if he had just come into a fortune.
AN, cunnel." he went on, Use gittin
too ole ter wuk much, an l links my meet
! in up wild Sister Ca,line is special prov
| erGence. l wants ter git de grafton rour
soon dat dere's gwine ter be a weddin
down ter my Ill house ter-night."
60 ahead then" laughed the colonel
THE missis viii fave cake baked for You
and, 10y George, it'll have to be a big one TO
20 round"
The cake was baked in the big iron bake
kettle Of antebellum associations. and
there was a festival in the cabin down by
! the creek which lasted into the small hours.