Mower County transcript., 1904-07-06
well their Instant furious jollity. II

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well their Instant furious jollitys II
the people thus stood heavily at rest,
there would be neither hunger nor
thirst, and nobody would buy anything.
Instead Of taking Lee, to the circus, he
would miss it himself, besides owing
Marse Joe more than weeks wages.
It made him sick to think of it, so
much so indeed there was no healing
in the knowledge that the less he sold
the more he must eat.
If only anybody would start the
marching, some big man-Blacksmith
Ike, for instance, whose singing could
easily be heard for half mile.
AS if. impelled by Buds thought OF
him, the big darky lounged up in
! front Of the counter, peered thirstily
into the lemonade bucket. stuck both
hands into his pockets that gave out
a faint Jingle Of small coin and said
pretending to frown:
''Huh, niger! Does you reckon you
git red er all dat stuff wild circus an
Fo'th er July bofe er comin'?''
| Prophet Isaiah nodded an emphatic
yes and whispered eagerly into the
blacksmith's ear, mouoning as he did
so to the corner back Of him. Ike
! listened, a broad grin overspreading
his face, and at the end said: "Er
whole half er side? Golly, Bud, I'll hab
desc niggers twis'in' lex de harrycane
was 'hine 'um!'
Next minute he stood between the
crouds, shouting "Looky yere! What
de marter wild you all? Come yer tn
Aun' Viney's Buds festibul whar ye
see all he done gin fer to take lis ill
sister tn de Fo'th er July. an den yer
stannin' yere wild yo' fingers in yo'
moufs, sayin' nothin', doin' nothin',
buyin' nothin'? Come on yere! Who
wants tn march wild me? My lady
gwine to git de fus' dipperful er dat
good cool leminade."
A dozen partners crowded instantly
upon him. He caught the nearest, a
fat auntie weighing nearly 200 pounds.
Behind him the other women fell in
two and two as slow and heavy he
marched around and around droning
out the weird, wordless chant.
Quicker, quicker grew the motion;
here and there man srrang into the
circle, drew a marchers arm within
his own, or else chose partner not yet
in motion and joined the ranks. The
chant got louder, livelier, more insp1r-
ing, the strong forms rocked and sway
ed, the heavy feet fell thunderously in
time; all but the merest fringe of folk
were in the wild whirl.
Now and then a couple dropped out
! to eat or drink to Buds success. But
the marching went on without pause
or break until O. the clock: Then Ike
called out, wiping his dripping brow,
Counter clear, Bud?"
Gall but the reasons an'"- Bud said
with grin.
"Fetch on Mistah Fatman den-he'l II
las us 'twell mornin'," Ike said, sc
planting his big body as to fend off q
rush. Slowly, with trembling hands
Bud heaved up the big melon and laid
it before the crowds astonished gaze.
"Bredern. sistern," said Ike, ''dal
you sees de prophets proft-he's done
cleared 'spances an gut dat lef' ober
Walk up gentlemen, treat yo' ladies'
walk up, ladies, treat yosefs-dime OF
slice, an wuth er dollar. 1 takes {
quarter. Who speaks TO- de resp
"Me.w "Mew "Mew came from al
sides, with an under chorus of ''why'n nj
you tole us fo' de money wus all gone?
EFF des had er dime"
knife, then sunk it deep in the greer
cracking rind of the very king Of n!
Florida WatermelOns.
AS the halves fell apart, showing the
red heart ripe and luscious, the crowd
surged so violently forward as to upse1
one of the center barrels In spite OF
. Ike, Of the prophet, "Mistah Fatman'
crashed to the floor, broke into twenty
. pieces, was trampled to red blue un
der the crowding feet.
Ike looked at it minute with trag
ically folded arms, as if to say, mig
ger what done dat better lay low e1
he dom wanter git 'quainted wild my
two fis'es."
Lee was sobbing outright, the proph
ct swallowing hard. His Fourth O.
July air castles had all toppled down
i, Not for long, however. Marse Joe hat
q been for two hours locker on. Nov
q he came in to say dropping dollar il
the tin cup treasury: ''That was ba'
!, break, Bud, but the damage shall no
y 60 further. Charge it all to me, and
Lee, be sure he spends half the none,
:. for you"
- II will dat" said Lee, wiping he
eyes, lease he couldn't er had n
!, festibul eff hit hadn't been fer me an
y you'-New York World.
n The Night Watch1nan's Fourth.
y eff there's any day hate said th