Evening star., 1902-08-21
AT THE WRONG BOX
AUNT DINAH, THE LETTER AND
MUCH TROUBLE.
She Came From Virginia and Was
Startled by What Happened
One Evening.

A family living up In the northwest re-
turned from the mountains OF Virginia the
other day. bringing with them portly old
colored woman who had been engaged to
nurse and make herself useful about the
house. 1t WAS the first time in her life that
oman had ever been to a large city, and
consequently her troubles came in groups.
Ihe most serious OF these occurred the
other day, and in the following manner:
The lady of the house had a letter she
wanted mailed. and, calling Dinah. she
said: You take this letter down the street
two blocks and you will see little iron
box on the corner You put the letter in
side this box"
But how de letter gwine to go OF, II
leaves 1t in de box?" inquired Dinah.
why, after you put IL in the box" laugh
ingly explained her mistress "a man will
post office"
Oar now" grunted Dinah. as she took
the letter. mumbling to herself about the
cur Gus dotngs in dis hyar wash'ton city"
she started out to do her mistress bidding.
When about block and half from her
service place Dinah's wondering eyes es-
pled nre alarm box attached to a tele-
graph pole. and she instantly halted ana
nxed her gaze upon the object in question
at the same time rubbing her head I'm great
perplexity. Just at that unlucky moment a
a
cycle, and Dinah hailed him. The boy
looked at Dinah. made a couple Of fancy
turns with his wheel and then riding ND 20
the curb dismounted. at the same instant
affecting great surprise as he exclaimed:
We'll. I'll be hanged IL faint Gladys
How's everything down. TO Spotts'vania
Cot House old girl? An how in the world
did you recognize me? Amt I grown since
you saw me last. Gladys inquired the
boy. grinning broadly.
Look a hyar. white boy" said Dinah,
don't you go peskeratin' bout dis chile
wild yo' SPOTS vania Cot Houses an de
res oh yo' foolish talk, case Use a Sc fire.
spectin' cullud pusson, l is. an l didn't
come all de way FUN Car'line county TO be
nsulted by no white mans chile" added
Aunt Dinah as she looked savagely at the
smiling youngster.
That's So" replied the boy: ITS Car'line
county, Gladys. where you was raised.
amt It? How is Abe. an Jake an Ham.
an Mandy Ann, an old Aunt Betsy? 1
Gladys, old girl? But how you've grown
yourself, Glad j swear | didn't know
you until you called me. Gee, but won't
mother be glad to see you. as she's all the
time talking bout you" added the boy.
still grinning as he the look Of aston
ishment gradually overspreading the dusky
face of Aunt Dnah.
Aunt Dinah in Trouble.
boy" said Aunt Dlnah. solemnly. "ain't
yo shamed oh yose'f. sab; aln't yo' jes'
de'gusted wild yo' se'f at yo scan'lous con-
duct. an de way yo been runnin' on wild
yo fool talk, an yo pos'sel oh monstrus
lies?"
My dear, dear old nurse" sighed the boy.
'the sight of your honest face. Gladys. brings
back to my mind those dear old days you
and / spent on grandpa's plantation
I'm de name Oh de good Lord, white boy,
shet yo' lyin mouf," almost shrieked Aunt
Dinah: ITO stan dere an tole me dat
ebber nussed sech ar brazen young debbil
as yo' sho'ly am Is anuff to mex de mos
Spectacle cullud lady ebber libbed
swar." she added. as. with arms akimbo
and moving her woody head from side to
side, she glared down at the lad. who
was leaning comfortably against his wheel
and regarding Dinahs angry countenance
with every indication Of enjoying himself
hugely.
Whose the billetdoux going to. Gladys?"
inquired the boy, catching sight Of the
letter in her hand, and now motioning to It..
''Be careful, old girl" he cautioned. 'for
IL Nose catches you writing them love let
ters to MarSe Tom MOnroe's, 'yaller' Jim
he'll make Jim look like a pewter penny in
a July sun, he surely WILL added the boy,
grinning.
white boy" replied Aunt Dinah. in a
resigned tone, ." faint no use OBJ me
argi'fyln' wild yo'. as de debbII hab sho'ly
gotten yo' in his grasp. 'cose yo pesteratln
ways, an talk done tole me so. an all I
gwine axe yo'. am to tole me whar Use to
Aunt Dinah. 'as L was to put ii in box
an de man'ud come along in ar wagon an
git it,
his eyes dancing with mischief. you see
that red boX?" he asked, pointing 10 the
ffre-alarm box 'well." he continued, "you
just break the glass and press down that
hook"
An will de man come right 1ong?" asked
Aunt Dinah, growing interested.
Sure" cried the boy. Whenever you
mail a letter at this box they send whole
lot of men after IL: just you take this stone
and break the glass;" he went on, then
pull down that little hook, and when the
letter men come up and ask you where 1t
is. you say, Here 1t Is. and then the men
will have a little conversation with YOU"
added the boy. trying with all his might to
preserve a solemn visage.
Aunt Dinah took the stone, smashed the
bit of glass, pulled down the lever, and
then, with the letter in her hand. she calm
ly waited. In a few minutes a hose car
riage, fire engine, a hook and ladder truck
and the police patrol came tearing up tho
street. with their gongs ringing loudly.
Here they come. Gladys" shouted the
boy, gleefully, as he mounted his bicycle. II
guess I'll go meet 'em and tell EN- you re in
a hurry" and waving his hand to her he
rode away, leaving Aunt Dinah In a very
much astonished state, at the rather rapid
and exciting manner in which they come
after the mail in Washington.
With a slash bang and the ringing OF
several gongs, the whole cavalcade of fire.
men and police came to an abrupt halt in
front of the alarm box, and Aunt Dnah,
with outstretched letter, was shouting az
the topmost pitch of her voice. "Hyar Il
am gentlemen; hyar am de mistss' letter"
Hundreds of people came from every d.
rection. After many vain Inquiries about
the location of the fire Aunt Dinah was
questioned and admitted turning in the
alarm. She was placed under arrest after
quite a stiff fight, and it took all the 'ir-
fuence" her employers could command to
secure her release on personal bonds.
Meantime Dinah is on the lookout for that
boy"