The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-07-02

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Aunt Minervy Ann laughed and shook
her head. at can fly some," she admitted;
"but faint no bird"
"It's a bat" guessed Buster John.
"Dey amt no feathers on it; but faint no
bat"
well, it can't be a flying fish," said Bus
ter john
Again Aunt Minervy Ann shook her head.
"'Taint no flynn fish. Eff you want flynn
fish you'll halter go ter dem what seed UNI
fly"
"Why don't you guess, Druslla?" said
Sweetest Susan.
"Kaze already know what it's replied
Drusilla.
what is it, den?' snapped Aunt Minervy
Ann.
TITS a whipperwil. Oars what it's re-
piled Drusilla.
EFF l had de will I'd whip you here an
now! exclaimed Aunt Minervy Ann
earnestly; "dat's how much whipperwill I
got in dish yer basket"
Don't tell us what it isl said Buster
John. "Just tell us little something about
it. and let us guess"
"Well," replied Aunt Mirnevy Ann, at
kin fly, yit 'tainst got no wings ter flop. 1t
makes a nes' in de tree, and yit faint no
bird"
"Oh know what 1t ISL cried Sweetest
Susan; tits Ats a-what is it, Brother?
You know
I'm glad you think So" said Buster
John. "But if I was going to make a sure
enough guess, I'd say it Is flying squir-
rel"
Oar, nowr' exclaimed Aunt Minervy
Ann. laughing. de mules yone." This
was a current expression among the ne
groes when they surrendered an argument
or settled condition. The one who was
shown to be in the wrong in any matter
would say "De mules yone."
Afx11lx Tod fha
cover of the basket, reached her hand in
and drew forth the cunningest and most
beautiful little creature the children had
ever seen-the daintiest and cutest of all
the tribe of four-footed animals.
AS might have been expected, Sweetest
Susan went into ecstacies over this wonder
full little creature, which can fly without
wings; and which, though 1t is the widest
and most elusive of animals, is tame the
moment 1t is captured. 1t lay cuddled in
Aunt Minervy's hand in apparent content,
and closed its pretty eyes as she gently
stroke 1t.
"Oh. it's mine! it's mine!" cried Sweetest
Susan.
"Well. take It, then" said Buster john
with apparent generosity.
Sweetest Susan held out her hands. and
then drew them back, as her brother knew
she would "Is 1t quite tame?" she asked
Hes tame ter me-" responded Aunt Mi
nervy Ann. 81 cotch him Yesterday.
"Then he's not tame" said Sweetest Su-
san decisively, putting her hands behind
her.
She was sorry the next moment, for Bus
ter John, remembering what he had heard
Old Fountain say about the harmlessness
of flying squirrels, and how sinful 1t was to
kill them. since the act always brought bad
luck lifted the little creature tenderly from
Aunt Minervy AIMS hand and placed 1t in
his own. Then. relenting little, he placed
II in Sweetest Susan's hand.
Aunt Mirnervy Ann nodded her head Wig
orously at this. and drew Buster John to-
ward her, exclaiming. EFF you alters do
dat you'll make fine mana mighty fine
MANI And. strange as 1t may seem
though Buster John forgot most of the fine
spun advices received from his elders, he
never failed to remember this simple state
ment of Aunt Minervy Ann. Perhaps il
was because Aunt Minervy AIMS words
were charged with earnestness. Anyhow
they stuck in the lads mind and stayed
there.
1t was all Sweetest Susan could do
keep from Towing the flying squirrel .
death" NJ she said. It's coat was
smooth and as soft and as fine as silk
~ sAArn.d to enjoy the strolSing and gent.