The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-28
B. Joel Chandler Harris.
Copyright. 1902, by Joel Chandler Harris.

 | sponse. Nan looked at Uncle Plato to see if he was joking but he was solemnity Itself. "E-double- egg! he con | tinued.
 Now spell John A. Murrell.' said Nan. Murrell, the land pirate, was one of her favorite heroes at this time. Uncle Plato pretended to be very much I shocked. Why, honey, dat man wuz rank pizen. En spozen he want how you speck me ter spell sumpn CT some body which 1 ain't never laid eyes cn?' Well. spell goose. then" said Nan, seeing a flock of geese marching stiffly | in single file across a field near the road. Uncle Plato looked at them carefully enough to take their measure, and then | shook his head solemnly. 'Deyer, so many up um, honey. dey'd be monstrus | hard ferNter spell"
 | Well, just spell one of them, then" Nan suggested.
 Which un, honeyT' | Any one you choose" | Uncle Plato studied over the matter l moment, and again shook his head. 'uh- um, honey; eff you speck me fer ter spell goose, you got ter pick out de one you want me ter spell''
 Well. spell the one behind all the rest
 Again Uncle Plato shook his head.
 Dat ar goose got half-grown goslins, | an I ain't never larnt ter spell goose | wid haf-grown goslins."
 Then spell the one next to head" | Nan was memorable.
 Dat ar ain't no goose," replied Uncle Plato, with an air of triumph; she's gander."
 T don't believe you know how to spell goose,' said Nan with something Ike sco:n.
 Don't you fool yose'f, honey re- marked Uncle Plato in tone of conti- dence. You git me great big fat un' not too ol and not too young, an fill CT full CT stuft1n', and bake Ter brown in de big oven, an save all de drippins, an put 'er o1 de table not fur fum whar thought be settin' at, and gt' me pone CT corn bread. an don't have no talkin an laughin' in de game-an' eff don't spell dat goose. I'll come mighty nigh it. I sholy will. If I don't spell Ter, de won't be nun lef' fer de nex man ter spell. You kin pen on dat, honey | Nan suddenly called Uncle Plato's at tention to the carriage horses, which were | hitched to the wagon. She said she knew their names well enough when they were pulling the carriage, but now"
 Haven't you changed the horses, Un- cle Plato?" she asked.
 l HOW l KWlne change uult HoHeyt
 1T mean haven't you changed their places?
 No ma 'am"" he answered with consid- erable emphasis. No. ma am; eff I wuz | ter put dat off horse in de lead you'd see some mighty high kickin'; you sho' would.'
 "oh, let's try it!' cried Nan with real eagerness.
 The old negro had just given his head a preliminary shake, when the rattle or a kettledrum was heard. and above the rattle, fife was shrilling.
 The shrilling fife and the roll and rat tie of drums! These were sounds some what new to Shady Dale in 1860; but pres ently they were to be heard all over the land.
 The drums were beating the signal for Calling together the men of the Shady Dale Scouts, and the meeting was for the purpose of organizing and electing ofti- cers All this was accomplished, and in due time the company was rlgged out in the finest uniforms the children had ever seen. At least twice a week they marched through the streets, and out Into the Bermuda fields, where they had their drilling grounds These were glorious days for the youngsters. Nan was so enthusiastic that she organized com pany of little negroes, and insisted on being captain. Gabriel was the nrst lieu | tenant and 'Cephas was the second. She 1 wore a paper hat of the true Napoleorc cut. and carried in one hand her amous sword-gun, and the colors in the other. The oldest private in Mans company was and the youngest i. The uniforms or these sun-seasoned troops was the regu- lation plantation fatigue dress-a shirt coming to the knees. Two or three of the smaller privates had evidently fallen victims to the pot-lquor and buttermllk | habits for their bellies stuck out black and glistening from rents in their shirts.
 One afternoon as Nan was drilling her troops. she chanced to glance down the road and saw a wagon coming along. | Deploying her company across the hlgh- way she went forward in person to re- connoitre She soon discovered that the wagon was driven by Uncle Plato. Run ming back to her veterans she placed her self in front of them. and calmly awaited events Slowly the fat horses dragged the wagon along, when suddenly Nan cried Halt" whereupon the drummer began to bclabor his tin pan. while Nan leveled her famous sword gun at Uncle Plato. 'i3angl" she exclaimed. and then, Why don't you fall of the wagon? she cried as Uncle Plato remained i'm movable.
 If the tTulu llASt IS A"4Ns NI'Ni- ''N+N had been dozing and when he awoke ne viewed the scene before him with aston ishment.
 Eff I'd a fell out'n de wagon. honey, who gwine ter pick me up?' he asked laughing.
 why, no one is picked up in war;
 "Is dis war, honey?"
 Of course it is" Nan declared.
 Does bofe sides halter take part in de rucus?" asked Uncle Plato making ter rible face at the little negroes.
 Why, of course" said Nan.
 Seeing the scowl, Mans veteran troops began to edge slowly toward the nearest breach in the fence. Uncle Plato seized his whip and pretended to be clambering from the wagon.
 Then and there ensued wild scene of demoralization and anarchy: loud shrieks and screams filled the air; the dogs bark ed. the hens cackled, and the neighbors began to put their heads out of the win dows. Mrs. Absolam. who had charge of the Darlington household, and who had raised Nan from a baby, came to the door, crying, My goodness, gracious! has the yeth caved in?'' Then mistak- ing Mans shrieks of laughter for cries of pain, she bolted from the house with a white face.
 When Nan. somewhat sobered, ran to , her the good woman was shaking. why, Nonny!" cried Nan. hugging her; You're all trembling:''
 ''lSo wonder" said Mrs. Absalom, In a subdued voice; "I saw you under them gon wheels as plain as l ever saw