Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-02

arm she had small basket, and this, she
declared. contained a small present for Bus
ter John and Sweetest Susan.
"Ef you had ter guess what 'twuz TO
you got it, I'd halter tote dis basket back
home widout takin' de led off," So much
she said by way Of preface.
It's a bird" Sweetest Susan guessed
Aunt Minervy Ann laughed and shook her
head. at can fly some,' she admitted; ;
''but taint no bird
IT'S a bat" guessed Buster John.
"Dey amt no feathers on it; but faint
90 bat
We'll, it can't be a flying Ash" said Bus
ter John.
Again Aunt Minervy Ann shook her head
'''Taint no flying fish. Eff you want iyin'
fish you'll halter go ter dem what seed um
fly"
Why don't you guess. Drusilla9" said
Sweetest Susan.
"Kaze 1 already know what 'tis," replied
Drusilla.
What is it den?" snapped Aunt Minervy
Ann.
Its a whipperwill. OATS what 'tis," re-
piled Drusila.
''Ef had de will I'd whip you here an
now" exclaimed Aunt Minervy Ann, ear
Mostly; "dat's how much whipperwill / got
in dish yer basket"
Don't tell us what It is," said Buster
John Just tell us a little something about
1t and let us guess
We'll" replied Aunt Minervy Ann, "it
kin fly, yit taint got no wings ter flop. It
makes a nes' in de tree, and yit 'taint no
bird"
"Oh, know what it is" cried Sweetest
Susan; 'it's Ats a-what is it, brother +?
You know"
I'm glad you think so" said Buster John
but II was going to make a sure-enough
guess. I'd say it is flying squirrel"
Oar, now!" exclaimed Aunt Minervy Ann,
laughing DE mules yone." This was a
current expression among the negroes when
they surrendered an argument or settled a
contention. The one who was shown to be
in the wrong in any matter would say, "De
mules yone."
80 Aunt Minervy 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 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
ful little creature, which can fly without
wings; and which, though 1t is the widest
and most elusive OF animals. is tame the
moment IL is captured. II lay cuddled in
Aunt Mineryy's hand in apparent content.
and closed its pretty eyes as she gently
stroked IT,
"oh, it's mine! it's mine" cried Sweetest
Susan.
well, take II, then" said Buster John,
with apparent generosity.
Sweetest Susan held ont her hands. and
then drew them back, as her brother knew
she would. "ls 1t quite tame?" she asked.
He's tame ter me-" responded Aunt Mi
nervy Ann, II cotch him yistiddy."
'Then's he's not tame" said Sweetest
Susan decisively, putting her hands behind
her.
She was sorry the next moment for Buster
John, remembering what he had heard Old
Fountain say about the harmlessness OF
iiying squirrels, and how sinful it was TO
kill them, since the act always brought bad
luck, lifted the little creature tenderly from
Aunt Minervy AIMS hand and placed it in
his own. Then. relenting a little, he placed
in Sweetest Susan's hand.
Aunt Minervy Ann nodded her head vigor-
ously at this and drew Buster John toward
her, eXclaimng; "Ef you alters do dat
you'll make a fine mana mighty fine mani"
And, strange as IL may seem, though Buster
John forgot most OF the fine-spun advices
Teceiyed from his elders, he never failed 10
remember this simple statement OF Aunt
Mnervy Ann. Perhaps It was because Aunt
Minervy AIMS words were charged with