Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1897-12-24
JERRY'S CHOICE.
ny WILL s. aaiDLEY.


cause old Podgers hez offered we Il
dollar month more'n I'm payin' We.
/ reckon I've got about az much
money an kin afford to pay We about
ez much ez Podgers kin or mebbe a
little more.
yer fust.class worker, Jerry,
I'll admit that, an don't want We to
be gcttin' dissatisfied or thinkin of
diggin' ont, so I'll make bargain with
we right now before we go any fur
Their. If We stick to me an work ez
well ez ye've bin workin' right along
fer the next two years, Al pay we the
same as Podgers offered We, an at the
end of the two years I'll give we the
best critter on the place. Yes, stree,
Jerry, we kin take yer pick of airy
critter on the hull place, from n sheep
up to horse, or even agi-ratie or ele-
plant, if / happen to have one of 'em
on hand when it comes time to take
yer choice.
what dye say to that, Jerry? Is
it bargain?"
"I'll do it, answered Jerry Brant,
quietly, "and there's my hand to bind
the bargain"
That's the way to talk; that's jest
what | wanted to hear" exclaimed
Farmer Johnson, grasping Jerry's ex-
tended palm and giving it a hearty
shake. "Now that biz'ness is settled
satisfactory to all hands an we kin
pitch into the work with clear con-
sciences.
No further mention was made of the
bargain between Jerry and his en-
plyer until they were seated at the
dinner table, later in the day, and
Johnson, with merry
twinkle in his eyes, glanced across the
table at his better fraction and said:
"Well, mother, | had to discharge
Jerry an hire him over agin today"
''You seem to be in very good
humor about it, so | judge the differ
ence couldn't have been very seri-
ous," commented Mrs. Johnson, who
used to he schoomaam before she
married, and therefore did not handle
the United States dialect with the off
hand familiarity of her husband.
Serious? Ye kin bet it isl" ejacu.
lated Mr.. johnson. "Why, I've got
to pay him 81 month more'n did
before, an at the end Of two years, if
he stays right along, he's to have his
pick out Of the critters on the place
to take along with him and keep fer
his own. expect he'll take q horse,
but can't help it. | wasn't goin'ter
let old Podgers hire him away from
me, an then go around chucklin' over
il behind my back for the next six
months"
"Mr. Podgers made an attempt to
hire him, did hep"
Eyes, an purity nervy attempt at
that. Offered him 81 more month,
but | settled the matter in n hurry by
pilin' the best critter on the place on
top of that. But if he stays the
hull two years ! reckon he'll earn it
ell, Jerry?"
Jerry blushed, and answered that
he would do his best
Didn't you exempt my pony, papa?
/ really can't think of allowing Mr..
Brant to run off with that, even il he
does earn it!"exclaimed Farmer John
son'spretty lS.year-old daughter, May,
with sidelong glance of admiration
at Jerry's broad shoulders and manly
features.
"Oh, Jerry wouldn't be mean
enough TO take the pony, 1 guess,
interposed her father.
"No," said Jerry, ~ don't want
the pony-unless the rider goes with
it," he added, soto voce.
"Eh, what's that?" demanded Mr..
johnson. UNLESS what? l didn't
ketch the tail end OF that remark, ex-
sctly."
Jerry's face turned crimson, and he
was about to repeat his remark, when
the quick-witted young lady came to
the rescue.
"Mr. Brant"--she always called him
by that title. because she considered
it more becoming and dignified than
Jerry-"Mr Brant says he doesn't
want the pony unless the bride goes
with it, / believe" she explained in
genuously
"Huhl / reckon halter is all he'll
get with her il he takes that pony.
There want anything in the writin's
about THROWN in bridle," said Far.
mer johnson.
"You needn't worry, father. Think