The Savannah morning news., 1903-02-17
UNCLE MlNG0 AND
THE DEAD BEAT.
BY Vim. T. Williams.


Uncle Mingo and the waiter vert
walking along the street when the!
were Joined by an acquaintance o.
the waiter The latter introduced thu
stranger to Uncle Mingo as my frlen'
Mr.. Johnson
Proud to meet you, sah," said Uncle
Mingo, AN as We is about to steI
cen dis establishment for d little re-
freshment, we shill be please to hat
you jine us"
Mr.. johnson graciously accepted, and
the trio entered the saloon.
AS they got in the door, Uncle Mingo
nshed in his pockets.
Use VERY sorry, he said to the
others. dat fin has only but fifteen
cents about me. so dat we has to con-
foun' ourselves to beer"
Mr.. Johnson gave his hand lordly
waye. and they approached the bar.
''Wotll you take. Mr.. Johnson ask
ed Uncle Mingo.
Gimme a little OBJ your fifteen cent
liquor" said Mr.. johnson calmly to
the barkeeper.
Fifteen cent liquor? All right, sab, '
said the barkeeper, producing the de-
canter and glass. An wot's your'n,
sah?" he asked the waiter.
"A little ice water, please" said the
waiter SOFTLY.
Yes. sah," said the barkeeper; AN
wot'n you take, sah?" he asked Uncle
Minso.
Gimme a toothpick," said Uncle
Mingo.
When Uncle Mingo and the waiter
were alone again, the latter remarked.
Dat Teller consider dat a smart trick
an a good joke but ne needn't to feel
TOO fresh. I'll git chen wild him one o
desc days"
Your frien was a little cool" said
Uncle Mingo, but l has seen wuss den
dat.
"Fibe or six years ago a Teller come
TO Possum Holler. wot claim to be a
Yankee niger from Washington, l be-
lieve. He bring a letter to me from
R minister IN de state somew'eres wot
know, so cose treat him hospital, an
AK him to stop to supper an spen' de
night.
He was a big slick strappin' Teller.
an git up cen great shape; sto' close,
sping shoes. high hat an big oryide
watch chain. He was workin' up some
kin wheat scheme bout gittin' a
O. money to de niggers; an he was
eengage cen de profitable pastime OBJ
Colectin' contribution from de cullud
people quarter here, half-dollar dere an
so on.
We'll sab. Std o stayin' one night,
de feller stay more dan week, an you
nebber see sieh a big eater cen all your
life. He eat UP all de chickens cen de
yard, an jis' bout ebbleting cen de
house. He was a mighty sweet-mout'
talker bout de church an de rights OBJ
de cullud people an all dat, an he clean
git roun de ole oman. who tink dere
wasn't nobody else like him.
IAN day he'd work on he niggers
bout de Village, an wen he done wild
dim, he start on dem cen de country.
For dat, cose l mus stop my mule an
Vaughn from work. so he kin dribe
roun'. Ebble night dat Teller would
hab pile O money, an he would be
cen de creates good humor talkin'
bout a good day business. An now
he say after SIGH a hard day work,
one o. Sister Chloe's chickens fried
would sho go all right so cose de ole
oman go an kill a chicken.
"Cose, l feel l mus treat de Teller
hospital. so we would go out for a lit
tie stroll aroun an cose we would
happen to pass by de sto', an dat mean
go cen for a drink an a seegar. Edible
time, beein' as he was comp'ny, it was
me who was doin' de honors; beer,
wsky an seegars-none o. your cheap
seegars, neider, but fine nickle see
gars. Nebber one time did | see de
color O. dat Teller money 'cep' at night
wen he would be talkin' bout how
much he take cen dat day, an count
up.
AT las one night after he had been
dere bout ten days an edible ting was
all eat up, he remark at supper dat he
guess he got to go tomorrer, an he
spose kin let my boy Pete dribe him
to de railroad. Cose l say yes.
Zen de mornin' after breakfas vile
Pete was hitchin' up, de Teller tell
Chloe good bye, an we start to walk
tosedder ontell Pete catch up.
Brudder Mingo,' he say, 1 has fire.
quent hear tell O. suddern hospitality
but he say. I nebber know befo' wot
it was. But now, he say, L does
know. cause you has sho did de pro-
per ting by me, an l is not ongrateful.
/ appreciates it, he says, very high.
An a farewell seegar togedder won't
go wrong he say as we was passin'
de sto'.
we go cen, an de sto' keeper han
out de seegars.
help yourself prudder Mlngo, say
de Teller l take one, an de Teller ak
II dey was six for a quarter. De sto'
keeper say yes. Well den,' say de fell
Ter, I'll take fibe, so as to hab sumpin
TO smoke on dc train Den he turn
on. De sto'keeper look at me like he
say who's PAYNE
Hof on de Teller say, turnin'
back. 'Brudder Mingo, you has been
settin' EN- up all de time, an 1 wants
to do de right ting So tell you wot's
less do he say, less match a quarter
to see who pays for de seegars!"