The age-herald., 1899-07-09

over they waited patiently for Aunt Mi nery Ann, who was having her dinner in the Kitchen, where she paid Jemimy the hishest Of compliments by eating a great deal Of everything that came to hand.
 Ialnt de yappetite, child; it's de cook ln used ter b'lieve dat I could do sump'n wid de pots an ovens myself bu. you young folks done got clean ahead CT We of ones. l hate ter say 1t, but de trufe thought ez well be tol', speshually when it can't be hid!
 This was the sort of fattery Jenima ap- preciated, and she piled Aunt Mnervy Ann's plate high with the best the kitchen afforded. Then when the guest had finish cd Jemimy pressed her to have something else, and declared that Aunt Minervy Ann had been ''mincn' an not eatin"
 Finally, Aunt Mnervy Ann having swa- lowed as much as she could, announced her intention of hunting for the children, but she didn't have to hunt at all, for they were outside the kitchen door, They would have been inside but for the fact that they had been warned that they must not watch other people while they were eating, neith- CT at the table in the dining room nor anywhere else.
 Aunt Minervy Ann wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and laughed when she saw them.
 "You-all is de outdoinest white chillun l ever laid eyes on. You des grab holt CT
  wiring chicken heads off How you know l got any tale ter tell? boun' you'd be sorry fer yose'f eff I wuz ter start in an make up tale.''
 Nevertheless, in spite of these protests, Aunt Minervy Ann went around to the front veranda, saying, '1l be dat fur on my way home, anyhow" and the children followed her. Once there, she seated her self on the steps, and Buster John, Sweet est Susan and Drusilla grouped themselves about hor. There was so much formality in this that Aunt Minervy Ann laughed and protested once more.
 II declar' ter gracious!" she cried, You all look so solemn an pious dat 1t make my head feel empty. You set up here so starehified, des like dey does in church fo' de fust song, dat ef my head had been full CT tales dey wouldn't be na'er one in 1t now. Why, you make me feel like l did de day Brer John Henry Jerding call on me at de speunce meetin'. He say, Sister Puddew'-Aunt Minervy Ann was won- derful mimic, and she rolled her eyes and closed them slowly and flung her head back-'Sister Puddew, what is de state CT yo' soul? Is you still walkin' in de er-de er-narrer paff?' Dey wuz CT whole passul CT niggers dar, men an wimmin, an some CT dc wimmin had up an spoke, an one un um spoke so loud dat she fell down an had ter be toted out. Not ter be outdone by um, I rig an try ter say stump n nlce,
  ter shake, an my tongue got up in de roof CT my mouf clean out'n my reach. Well, CT you<all had been Twin close ter we-all you'd know or Aunt Minervy Ann lots bet tern you does. When I foun l can't say what I wanter say, my dander rig l say, Sister Puddew, ez you call CT, Is walkin right whar she wanter walk an noWhar else an she's doin' lots better'n some CT dem what come yer speshually fer ter have fits"
 'Brer John Henry drawed in his breff an fetch'd a long groan. low, eff youer fetchin' dat groan at me, des walk outer dat door dar, an I'll gf you sumpn ter groan fer, an you won't stop groanin mud der twel long alter de doctor git holt CT you Elf you wanter show off, I'll hep you. I'm mighty han at he'pin' folks, an I'll fix you so folks can see you ez you is
 The truth is Aunt Minervy Ann was talk ing to get rid of the embarrassment which had seized her, And when they laughed heartily at her description of the "exper- fence meeting" she felt better.
 Now, den," she said. "I sorter feel like I wuz at home You all sot down here and look at me so hard dat 1t tuck my bref way. An right now I dunno what come 'roun' here fer"
 ''Why, you were to tell us tale, Aunt Minervy Ann" Sweetest Susan declared
 What I wanter know" remarked Aunt