Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-12-26
Thrilling Experiences of
An Amateur T rock Farmer

head salesman was told 20 put on his Sunday
clothes next morning. ana when ne sno We.
an old white vest and q hat. The vegetables
had been kept in tubs with ice on top OF them
all night. the next morning they looked as
fresh as ever.
We were all UP at o'clock to see them OF.
They were placed in, the wagon with as much
skill and care as a florist could give to HIS
1how window. And that wagon was one huge
bouquet OF beets and turnips and cabhag
and lettuce and onions and peas. and pota-
toes, and the Lord only knows what all we
gave the negro. driver his last instructions and
then waived him an adieu- We stood on the
porch until we saw him pass safely out Of the
front gate and up the road in the early morn
got to thinking about It afterwards and
II occurred TO me that that Niger seemed
morning. He wasn't exactly sulking. but he
seemed to feel q sort Of conscious superiority.
I thought at the time that it was because he
like It about being walked up early. Or
maybe, again. the strain OF responsibility was
telling on him. However, It didn't matter.
He was instructed to telephone US when he
got there and II he got good position in
that morning and drove by the market house
was going ali right. There 1t was. almost at
the head of the line, the best looking thing
pleased looking customer at the time I drov;
by without stopping / noticed that the
was not surprising, as there was heap in
1t when 1t left home-about SIS worth IN all,
according to an exact count made by my
wife, and she had recently learned the pre-
vailing market price Of everything.
/ drove home later than usual that even
the negro had been toid to 20 straight home
with the money soon as he sold everything,
When reached home my wife met me with
agonized face. and said Henry hadn't come
THAT scoundrel has made on with the pro-
ceeds Of the entire load. and left the horse
and wagon there" said. I'VE might have
Just then the telephone rang. and went in
to answer. 1t was Henry.
Boss l thought ia better ring yer up" ne
yes, 1 guess you had; what in thunder
have you done with. that money! demanded.
II got it; but thought you was, comm by
here befo you went home. so better keep It
show Of calmness. began to feel bit re-
assured.
wife as soon as you had sold OUT" I an
Eyes, sir; but dars it, I amt SOL out yit'
and l thought heard low sarcastic chuckle
you haven't" shouted. What in the
devil have you been doing?'' And then II oc-
CURED to me that maybe the fool thought he
had to wait until he sold the last bunch OF
onions, so 1 queried more calmly, We'll. how
Got most all 'em. spec; but. boss. bin
right hyar," came the fatal words. I couldn' {
ask anything more but merely waited to hear
the worst II sold dollar and seventy cents
wuth in ALL" he went on, land den de boss
en- me hav' to hav' dinner and dat was nifty
cents, so amt got but dollar twenty LET :"
The h you haven't" managed to speak
out coldly and reproachfully in utter defiance
OF all the telephone company's rules.
mo, sir. boss; all desc niggers down here
seem to have dair reg lar customers 'en dey
pass me by. Some womens say dem vegter-
hula 1OoIx ~ An AEad mn rnVra AZ a
somethin' de matter wild EN-"
I was dismayed and couldn't for the life
of me look my wife in the face. notwith-
standing she kept asking, What on earth
is the matter. dear?' determined to make
temporary bluff at any rate.
''Well, take what you haven't sold. Henry, ="
answered in a kindlier tone, and leave at
Mr.. So and Sos home, with my compli-
ments,' directed naming every one OF my
acquaintance in the city whom I thought
could possibly be in need Of vegetables and
wouldn't he afraid Of clean ones.
''All right, sir; but, boss ken I use de
dollar to git me a little SADLY night ticker p
came Henry's appealing voice.
Yes" I replied in an even more kindly
tone than before, though intended to slight
ly tinge 1T with sarcasm, but be sure and