The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-23

II
were prevented from precptating them
selves into the valleys below, merely 10y
| the support OF the trees against wnlch
| they reclined. Deep rsvines, In various
| directions, gave an air Of still sterner
solemnity 70 the scene.
| The natural platform TO which we had
clambered was thlckly oyergrown Win
brambles, through which We soon dis
covered that II would have been impossi-
bic TO force our way but for the scythe'
! and Jupiter. by direction OF his master
| proceeded 20 clear for Us a pain TO the
| foot OF an enormously tall tuiptrce'
which stood with some eight or ten OAKS
upon the level and far surpassed them
all. and all other trees which l had then
| ever seen, in the beauty Of its fohage
and form. In the wide spread OF its
branches, and IA tho general majesty OF
its appearance. When We reached TINS
tree, Desrand turned 70 Jupiter ana
asked him II he thought ne could cllmb
IT.. Tho old man seemed little staggered
by the question, and FOR some moments
made no reply. At length he approached
the huge trunk, walked slowly around IL.
snd examined II with minute attention.
When he had completed his scrutiny ne
merely said:
ayes. massa, Jup climb any tree he
ebber SEQ IN hc life"
Then Up with you as soon as pos
sble, for it will soon be too dark 10 see
what We are about"
How FAR mus 90 up. massa 2 inquired
Jupiter.
"Get up the main trunk frst, and then
I will tell you which way 20 go-and mere
stop. take this beetle with you.
de bug Mssss Wilde goole-bug'
4 UiSrnAK
what FOR mus tote de bug way up de
tree?-d-n II I do"
III you are afraid, Jup. great big
negro Ike you. 10 take hold OF a harmless
littls dead beetle. why you can carry II
up by this string: but n you 90 not take
81 up with you in some way ! snail De
under the necessity Of breaking your
head with this shovel"
What de matter now. massa SAID
Jup. evidently shamed into compliance,
"always want for TO raise fuss Wid o.a
niger. Was only funnn anyhow. Me
feered de bug! what keer for De bug
Here he took cautiously hold or the *
IRENE end OF tho string, and MAINTAIN
ing the insect az far from his person as
circumstances would permit, prepared 10
ascend the tree.
In vonth. the tulip-tree. or Mriodendron
American foresters. has a trunk peculiar
" smooth and often rises 10 great
height without lateral branches but IN
its ripper age. the bark becomes snarled
and uneven while many short limbs
make their appearance on the stem
Thus the difficulty II ascension. In the
present casa Law more IN semblance than
I'm reality Embracing tho huge -lnder.
as closely as possible with his arms and
knees. selling with his hands some pro-
iections. and resting his naked toes upon
Others. Jupiter. after one or two narrow
escapes from falling. AZ length wriggled
himself into mo first great fork. and
seemed 70 consider the whole business as
virtually accomplished The risk OF the
achievement was. I'm fact now over al
though the climber was some sixty or
seventy feet from the ground.
(which way mus 20 now. Massa WIZ"
he asked.
Keep up the largest branch.-the one
on this side" said Legrand. The negro
obeyed him promptly. and apparently
with but little trouble: ascending higher
and higher until no glimpse Of his squat
figure could he obtained through the
dense foliage which enveloped n. Pres
emily his voice was heard in sort OF
halioo.
"How much fiddler Is got FOR go?'
How high up are your asked fe-
grand
"Ebbcr so fIr" replied the negro; "can
see do sky fru De top OBJ de tree"
Never mind tho sky. but attend 10
what / say Look down the trunk and
count the limbs below you on this side.
How many limbs have YOU passed.
cone. two tree. four nbc.-l done pass
hbc big limb. mss-a. pom dis side.
"Thcn 20 one limb higher
In few minutes the voice was heard
again. announcing that the seventh limb
was attained.
NOW. Jup." cried Ic-rand. evidently
much excited. "I want SOU 10 work your
way ont upon that limb as Far as you
can il you see any thing strange, let
me know"
By This time what little doubt 7 might
have entertained o. my poor friends in-
sanity was put finally 90 rest. 1 had no
alternative but 90 conclude him stricken
with unacy. and ] became seriously anx-
Sous about getting him home. While
was bordering upon what was best 10 be
done. Juuiter's voice was again heard.
Mos feerd for 10 ventur pom dis limb
berry fart is dead limb putty much all
de- way"
"pid YOU say - was a dead limb. Jupl-
ter2' cried Lesrand. in quavering voice.
ayes. massa. him dead as de door-nail
done up for sar,ain-d done departed dis
here lie"
What N tho name CT Heaven shall
7 de-" asked Legrand seemingly IN the
greatest distress.
do" said l. glad OF IN opportunity TO
interpose a word. why, come home and
20 10 bed. Come now that's a fine fel-
low lis getting late, ana, besides. you
remember your promise
Jupiter" cried he. without needing me
I'm the least. do YOU hear me?'
yes. h5ssa VIII. hear you ebber so
plain
"Try tho wood well then. with your
knife. and see II you think Il very rot
ten %
Him rotten, msssa, sure nun. replied
the negro I'm a few moments. but not so
berry rotten as mought BE-. MouEht ven
tur out icetle way pom de limb by my
self dat s true
'Ry yourself what do you mean"
"Why I mean De bug. r IS berry hebby
bug. Spose I drop him down fuss. and
den de limb won't break wild just de
weight OBJ one niger"
you Internal scoundrel" cried L.
grand. apparently much relieved, what
do you mean by telling me- such nonsense
as that2 As sure as you drop that beetle
I'll break your neck. Look here. Jupiter.
do you hear me?"
eyes. massa. neel NJ holio At POOR mig
ger dat style