The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-04-03
How the Dron Fell.

VII, Jake! 4eW just go huNt POmp
and bring the plantation wagon round
by the front porch directly, and heah
yew pick a pail of grubs from out O.
that rotten timber by the saw mill"
Jake knew this meant a days fishing,
aud you never saw two boys get ready
in SO short a, time.
Our way was through long reach OF
magnificent pine land that might indeed
seem lonely to a Northerner, but to one
raised among the pines it was always
delight. The great trees, tall and
straight, with their topping of bright
green needles, stirred by passing
breeze, would murmur and sing a plain
tive melody; or pushed or torn by heavy
gales, the tone was like the roar of a
mighty sea. During the spring the fra
GRANGE from the flowing gum made the
air OF this region SO balmy that stran-
gers would come from far off places
to drink it in; for weeks and weeks and
go away strengthened and healed, low
ing the pines almost as we did.
After fishing an hour or so without
bite at the first hole, Pomp declared
the thing wuz powerful wrong" and
continued: "Massa Ned, if we done go
good flshin' up yonder"
Fomp'S advice was followed. for be-
Sides being one of the most valuable old
mouse servants, his knowledge of fish
ing and hunting was respected by ev-
cry one in our parish. The contrariness
seemed to vanish with the new location.
and fine lot of fish was soon packed
away in damp moss for taking home.
All at once, and without any warning
at all, a ''norther" came rolling up that
chilled even the Colonel. Traps were
tu1nbled in the wagon and we made a
rush for the nearest log house. about
a mile back
In the doorway Of one of the ordi-
nary log houses sat a thin, angular
woman in a broken rocking chair.
chewing snuff stick She had the red
dest of red noses, and was evidently
suffering from cold, which caused her
to sniffie between sentences.
She greeted US as we stopped. 'sHow-
dy? Sniff won't yer light?" (Sniffo
After we had shaken hands and the
boys and horses sent round to the ne
gro quarters with a ragged looking
"eEch, we Rugged the fire It'll the blaz-
ing logs took the chill out of our bones.
shortly we strolled out to the weather
slde OF the cabin, just in time to see
the mistress snatch a pan of batter cake
mixture from the shiftless "Ca'line ~
who lodged a cuff.
Heah. yew trifiin' low down niggerr
reckon the ColonePs boys turned Yer
plum crazy"
Visions of hot cakes came over me-
r
the Colonel, Hadn't we better stay on
I'LL It's done baked?"
For him he remained strangely nom
commlttal, answering my question with
the proviso: -
:" Deed I don't know. 1t depends
mlghtlly which way the drop falls" AS
wandered about 1 noticed the Colonel
olon move very far from his position
Vi observation, as he seemed greatly
interested in watching the stirring
suddenly his voice rang out with mark
ed clearness:
Pomp! Yew Jakei" and before anv
objection could be raised. and m,,ch
10 my disappointment, we made orr
good-bys and were rafting homeward
feehng indignant, but withal most
curious, L turned to the Colonel with.
w mats drivin' yew so suddeno What
qua yew signify by the drop fallin' ~
AT this the Colonel lay back in the
wagon seat and yelled with laughter
why, son! Didn't yew see that
cracker woman had drop Of cold-in-
the-head-water on the end of her nose.
WINE she was a-fussin' With the bat
Ter IL fell in! Well jes nachelly eat
our batter cake-home - I thought so
too--Robert Mitchell Floyd, in New
England Grocer.