Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-03-07
yeaIs to come.

why, Vile, so you have - but
wealth's a thing person can't have
too much Of"
I'll not have my daughter wed 6
money-bag that she does not love and
live life Of torture. Let her marry
man, when she does wed, and I'll pro.
vide the dover to set them both. afloat II
| life"
well said, my wife,"
Don't be afraid, mother, dear. YOU
will not get rid of me for many days tc
come"
ANY mail to-day, Abner?"
eyes, letter from Tom"
"Why do you say Tom when Thomas
is his name? Tom is the name of q
negro or cat. I'll not have my boy
called Tom. But what said he, Abner p
"T-h-o-m-a-s is we'll, and will be home
the first Of June on three months leave
But here's the letter, wife"
There's John Corbett on the lawn
I'm bound he wants something. Where
is Clarence?"
He said 1t was good day for fish tc
bite and he took his gun and rod and
went off toward the creek with Uncle
Jobe."
Squire Hill passed out on the lawn
where the overseer was standing.
well, Corbett, anything amiss2"
NO, squire, not much but Uncle
Tobe's drowned"
What! No! and nothing amiss?
should say there was. Jobe will be
missed sure. Not for plantation work
| know, for he's too old for that. Why
lobe was over seventy. He belonged tc
my father-trottedm me on his knee when
| was boy--and now he's drowned
Well! Well! Nothing amiss! 1guese
If you go and tell his sister, Aunt Dinah
about it, you'll think there's something
amiss."
Mr. Clarence has gone up to tell her.
I'D sooner him than me, Corbett
Anything else?"
Angus Brice sent word that he'd
be here with the schooner next Wednes-
day for the turpentine."
That's good. Bruce is as reliable as
the sum-"
There's nothing else, squire. I've got
forty of the hands worlin' on the di-
vision banks and the main deck, repair
in'-ten's blowing on uplands, and Bill
Links got fifteen at the sawmill; there's
ten in the woods splittin' rails; the bal
nnce is all workin' here and there.
Everything's all right"
What are you going to do. Corbett,
about Uncle Jobe?"
why, Clarence says that where he
got drownded it's three miles up the
creek, nearly to the pond; it's too Late
10 go up tonight, but your son said he'd
take some of the hands and go up in the
morning and drag for him."
That's all right, Corbett, If the alli-
gators don't eat him before that time /;
but, as you say, by the time they could
get there tonight it would be so dark
among those cypress and pines that
they could see nothing. Well, pre-
sumo you've got things moving all
right, Corbett, SO good night"
Good night, squire"
Squire Hill entered the house, and
with his wife and daughter was seated
Mt the supper table when Clarence came
in. His hunting suit presented very
disorderly appearance, and his slouched
hat was more slouched than usual.
where in heavens name have you
been, son?" asked his mother.
Eat the bottom of Orion creek, moth.
er, where old Uncle Jobe lies now-but
will change my clothes and tell you al
about it,
Uncle Jobe in the bottom Of Ortor
oreekl" exclaimed Mrs. Hill and Clara
Poor SOUL" and tears came to thei,
/ eyes.
I'll never fish in Orion creek again,
said Clara. "I'll have no one to take the
fish from the hook; poor faithful Uncle
Jobe."
Clarence was soon seated at the table
How did 1t happen, son?"'
well, we took bateau from ths
mill, and f1shed along up the creek
Uncle Jobe was sitting in the stern pad
dling-we kept moving further and fur
Their up, and had some fine fish in the
lotion Of the boat, and was just think
ing of turning back for home, when, q,
we rounded bend in the creek, saw
just ahead Of me lying on the bank n
alligator larger one I have never
seen in the creek-and was surprised
10 see him there in February, but hav
ing had no cold weather this winter,
guess they've stayed out Of their holes
1 raised my gun instanter and fred
the gator slumped off into the creek
and raised under the bow Of the bateau
giving his powerful tail swing, tha
splintered its side and overturned it.
II heard ons yell from Uncle Job,
as we both fell into the creek, it Is very
deep just there, with a mud bottom; bu'
gun in hand managed to paddle to tn,
lank, get hold of cypress root, ans
pull myself out. I dropped my gun
and turned back to attempt to saw
Uncle Jobe. The cypress are very dens
there, their limbs overhanging ant
meeting from the opposite banks o
the stream, and they hanging festoones
with moss; could scarcely see acros
the stream. 7 called aloud severa
tunes
"'Jobel Jobel' but there was no an
swer; could neither hear nor SEQ an,
sign of him, nor could I see anythin,
of the bateau; stood there waiting
wringing wet for some time, and thel
concluded that Uncle Jobe had foun,
a watery grave-and through the Cy
prus swamp, stumbling over knees ant
fallen trees, for three miles, struggle,
to reach home-minus fish, minus fish
Ing tackle. minus poor old Uncle Jobe
When got home my clothes were dry.
Poor Dinah," said his mother, "hav
you told herr"
Eyes, went there first of all, an,
when told her, she said. 4 tell da
boy fer de pas forty years, "Lool
out, Brer' Jobel gator git you," ar
now gator dun got him. suah nuff.'
az will take men and go drag for hi
body in the morning said.
"'No use, chile, no use. Gators du
got pore Brer' Jobe now"
Poor old lobe" said Mrs. Hill. "Aft
er toiling faithfully all his life. to b
eaten by alligators. IT'S too much"
eyes," said the squire, II guess ther
would be rather too much Of him TO