Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-01

now" exclaimed Aunt Minervy Ann, earn
estly: 'dat's how much wh.pperwiil got
in dish yer basket
"Don't tell US what it is said Buster
John. Just tell US little something
about it. and let guess
We'll" replied Aunt Minervy Ann. cit
kin fly. yit faint got no wings ter Hop. II
makes a mes in de tree, and yit faint no
bird"
"Oh. know what 1t is" cried Sweetest
Susan; its ats a-what is il, brother?
I'm glad you think So" said huster
John. Blu; if / was going To make sure
enough guess. Ia say it is flying SPUR
Oar. now exclaimed Aunt Minervy
Ann Laughing. DE mules yone-" This
was a current expression among the ne
groes when they surrendered an argument
or settled a contention. The one who was
shown 10 be in the wrong in any matter
would say DE mules yone.'
So Aunt M.nervy Ann carefully lifted the
cover Of the basket, reached her hand in,
and drew forth the cunningest and most
beautiful little creature the children had
ever seeu-the dain,iest and cutest of all
the tribe Of four-footed animals.
As might have been expected, Sweetest
Susan went into ecstacies over the wonder
ful little creature, which can fly with
out wings and which, though it is the
widest and most elusive Of animals. is tame
the moment it is captured II lay cudd!ed
in Aunt Minervy's hand in apparent con-
tent. and closed its pretty eyes as she
gently strOked II.
"Oh. It's mine, it's mime" 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 rs it quite tame?" she asked
Hes tame ter me- responded Aunt
Mirervy Ann. II cotch him yistiddy."
Then he's not tame said Sweetest
Susan, declSively. 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 II was
to XII hem. since the act always brought
bad luck lifted the little creature tenderly
from Aunt NJ .nerVy Ann hand and placed
II In his own. Then. relentiHg little. he
placed it in Sweetest Susan's hand.
Auu: Mincrvy Ann nodded her head Wig
o~ouS,y at this. and drew Buster John to-
ward her. eXC.aiming: Ell you alters do
dat y1u'u make a fine mana mighty fine
mani And. strange as II may seem,
though Buster John forgot most Of the fine
spun advires rec we'd from his elders. he
never failed 70 remember this simple state
ment Of Aunt Minervy Ann. Perhaps il
was because Aunt Mtnervy AIMS words
were charged with earnes;ness. Anyhow.
they stuck In the lads mind and stayed
there
u was all Sweetest Susan could do 10
keep from lowing the living squirrel 70
death" as she said. lis coat was smooth
and a. soft and fire silk and il
seemed To sniny the strukjng and gentle
Caresses to which Sweetest Susan subjected
IT, Even Drusilla was delighted with the
flying squirrel. and wanted - hold Il in her
apron. being afraid To toI-h il with her
hands.
"Ha'S mighty purity" she said; hut tell
yo' now he got long tHSIas in dem little
Jaws. IF you don't b'lieve me, you kin des
look an see
Buster John and Sweetest Susan We're too
much interested in the beauties of :he little
creature to expose any of It's ugly features,
even II il had any. They had never seen
This species on the place but they were so
shv and elusive that the children caught
only fleeing glimrses Of hem between sun
set and dark. They could see some thing
dark fit before their eyes. sXoopiEg from
some tall tree nearly 10 thu ground then
cfrcling upward To another tree; they could
hear a chirping CuriouSly like that Of a
sparrow. and the flying squirrel would be
gcne-if IL could be said TO have come.
Therefore the little fellow in hand was
twice preciOus-onCe for the sake of its
beauty, and once for the sake of its rarity.
II don't see how anybody ever cotch one
un UNI remarked Drusilla. You see EN-
dipi-an' dsyer goneF'
How did you catch him. Aunt Mineryy
Ann2" asked Sweetest Susan.
Il amt got time ter tell YOU right dis
minnit." replied Aunt Minervy Ann. I'M
go tell de niggers on de place goodbye. an
den I'll come back, an ef you amt .in' out
O heap er talk 'mong my color how A on
done Iarnt YOU all how ter talk wild de cree
turs. Amt never b'hevsd IL myse'f; but II