The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-23

with proper reserve Of seif-admir alton
for his generosity.
-Gwan. man., she said ducking her head
and twisting her feet about in the gravel
Il don wan no money. Sides, never
see money like dis yer"
That's right" interrupted Letcher, the
compartment car porter, who had watched
the interview with keen interest. He is
very black and big and the people here
abouts have more faith in him than In the
smooth. easy-spoken "yaller men, who come
with the train. That's right, lady. That
amt no dollar That amt MATCHED money
or no kind. That's nothn' bit a stifrcat
TO a dollar You likely to get yo'self in
trouble with that. You better gimme il,
an I'll look out TO It,"
The black girl promptly handed 1t over
Now said Letcher TO owen with great
dignity, give the lady good dollar
Owen scurried around and found silver
dollar which the lady accepted with great
gratitude and an invitation to call Letcher
gave her the other dollar. too, telling her
that he was Joking. and that it was per-
fectly good.
When she was gone, owen turned to
Letchcr.
Now, you. Ietch.- he said I done
owe you dollar TO a week. You cost me
dollar extra with your ill-time foolin'
twix' me an the lady. l now an hyer de-
clare that dollar checked OF twix' US
Letchar leaped from the car step and
swept through the cotton fields in cloud
OF dust TO intercept the girl. who was re-
turning home along the main road.
Deed" he declared to her fervently,
deed | done you wrong Have you got
that stifrcat dollar YETI Cause it likely
to get you in no end Of trouble. They's
six or seven Separate Service mon over
yonder at the train who amt got nothin'
eles TO do. when the President IL away
from EN- like he is now, but to put folks
foun' with stifcats on em in Jail for life
You runnin' gainst the 'Nited States when
you have them things. You give it to me
an let ma 'stroy it,"
The girl opened her palm and held 1t
out to him with voluble thanks. Letcher
came back with a calm smile.
L low yo' claim, Mr.. owen Brown he
said, that the dollar tween US be consider
scratch Of"
Nited States" means something very
nearly supernatural TO the black folks Of
Smedes. One Of them. Big Ben, was the
first man to shake President McKinley's
hand when he visited Vicksburg, three
years ago.
He has been hanging around Smedes for
week To get a chance to shake the hand
Of President Roosevelt The other day Mr.
Mangum, who was short Of trustworthy
guards on the camp trail. approached Big
Ben with this Offer
I'm let you shake the Presidents hand,
said Mr.. Mangum. IF youll get down TO
watch that trail every morning at $ o'clock
and stay there until 5 O'Clock in the
afternoon"
Big Ben at once accepted the terms and
| has repealed Unauthorized visitors to the
camp with great sternness Yesterday
the man referred to by Mr. Mangum as
"the swamp DOCTOR who is really a rather
skilful physician, rode out to see Ben.
| Ben" he said. come out with bad news
for you. Your boy Jim got to trifiing with
a woman at that dance at kelso and she
cut him with razor.
| lis he gwine die?' asked Big Ben
! Il don't think 40. Ben replied the doctor
| That's good replied the father, cheer
fully, cause | reckon IL he was a-goin
to die l wouldn't go in. You mus know
I'm out yer watchin' the 'Nited States
The 'Nited States is mo impo tant than
any boy, live or daid.'
The Smedes division Of the Presidential
party hired Uncle Wes' William. a mar
of four-score years, to take them coor
hunting the other night The old mar
was bent and crippled with rheumatism
until he got into the dark woods with hi
tin lamp reflector on his head and his dog.
Blum and Rip. and dat ar fool dog
scurrying through the briers and tangle
Then he WAS sprier than any Of I'll,
young men in the party.
One possum was the entire result OF thu
hunt The dogs had been on thu trail 70
an hour. OF a sudden, Uncle Wes' threw
up his arm and yelled:
-Heish. YOU all, an lis'en to nah Bllum!
He dropped his hand and bent double
in his wild dash through the underbush
screaming wild injunctions to the dog
| and making explanatory comments to hi
patrons as he went along:
-Hor him, Billuml" he shouted In voic
that made the drops fall from the trees
Keep him, chile, ontil I get dar! Gle
freed, dat dogs sure done treedD Rip
why don you go on help Billum? lis'l
dat no count fool dog meddlin whar h
amt no good (An' nothin In Gods worl
but a possum. an Bilum got him in hole
log) Keep him dar, dogs' Hol' him
Bium Rip, you let dat possum get ava
from Billum, I'm gwine, scarfy yo' wuthles
| hide!"
SO shouting, he ran for quarter Of mil
through the woods, with painting mo
following His instinct had told him true
Billum had a 'possum In hollow log.
is 1t good to eat?" asked one Of the com
pany az Uncle WVs' held it up by the tail
Centuries OF black mems tradition ros
ND in indignant wrath and contemI
in Uncle West Williams reply.
Good to eat?" he repeated In crescend
tones "'POSSUM! Go on. boy
He turned in his tracks and led the crow
back to the train.
, After all, there would seem To be som
reason in the remark Of the cotton picl
ing hand who amused the bored member
of the Smedes division OF the PRESIDENT,
party by remarking.
"'Deed. an | amt gwine to wuk agai
ontil this yer element is over
Mr. CannOn's Quick Count.
From the Woshin gton Ercnino Star.
Now that the Speakership seems to
heading toward Chairman Cannon man
stories are being told about Uncle Joe" ,
illustrate his quaint humor.
Last winter speaker Henderson ga lie
, | Mr. Cannon to the chair on one occasio
| x.bo AZ wa N he "a m