The news & observer., 1905-12-24

low-A big lankey boy ridin' the
mail into Rhamkatte every day. But
when 1 think how he bristled up
and call old Dave a liar when he
said something dirty about Squire
Gilmore. as got Dick his job, an then
it all over the road till old Dave fell
nto the ditch, an nobody thar but
man and boy, / says, says I, thar
something in Dick!"
Jim. you are right, says I. The
meanest trait in human nature Is re-
sentiment towards the man who some
time lifted you down and drunk. 1t
is the ear-mark of po white trash
resentment at fate in general and you
N particular, that ever you were in
superior position to do him favor.
Il have remark" Jim continued.
that man is swine. am goin' over
n the pastur' lot an pay my respects
TO that pig!" And forthwith Jim
tramped across and when the sheep
raised their mild inquiring eyes and
the pig his black nose, doffed his hat
and gravely bowed.
Meanwhile old Unc' Lish had come
hobblng up on his crooked cane.
"Aint seed ye for some time Unc'
Lish! Whar you been?"
"Yassir! / been down to de State
far to see de Presidents an my neffy
Moses what is stayin' out at de pene-
ten'ye."
"Was Nose that right black one?"
Somebody inquired?
"Yassir! Nose he de dark COM
plexion one, sir. Yassir! Nose he
right dark complexion!"
"Unc' Lish, thought Nose was the
one you educated and sold that lit
tie piece of land SO you could send
him off to the big SCHOOL,
"Yassir; But all de good edication
do Nose was to git his name sign
to one of desc little slips what you
take to de bank when yo' sell yO' cot
ton! l ak Nose how he gittin' on
an he say l jes havin' a fine time,
'ceptin' don't git no whiskey!"
ST says to Nose, says I, seems like
you'd be shamed!"
"An' Nose says to me, says Nose.
What l got to be shamed on! / didn't
git de money!"
"Boss, you wife folkes is spen'in'
lots o. money on his niger schoolin,'
but you puts me in mind o a man
| herred tell on onct what bought a
mule. An dat mule was a mule!
Sometimes when de man wanted to go
dis way de mule wanted to go dat.
An if de man was in mighty big hur-
mule didn't kick all de time but you
never know'd when de notion gwien
to fetch him! An it gently fetch him
when he been good a long time an
you want specptin' nothin'.
,"Jes think" says de man, what
a fin beast I'd have if dis twelve
bundled pound mule was a horse!
"As | done said, dat man never
was rails on a farm, an he lowed he
Gio oh "a haan
plowin' mules all dey lives! An he
up an say | gWine ter make a horse
outen dat mule
So he trimmed his years down
small and sharp, ne did. Den he let
de little nib of a tail grow out long
an bushy! Den he comb out de
stiff crop name till it fall all fiowin'
an wavy on de neck Den he up
an change de name from old Jack to
Dexter! Whatten de reason / amt
got a horse now! says he.
"Well now, Sunday come, he put
de saddle on Dexter an start 20
meetin.' When he git to de fork
road Dexter mind de corn trout what
he knowd was at town an didn't give
a dad-lm bout gwien to church. Man,
he headin' dis way; Dexter, he head
in dat way. Suppen de matter wild
dis saddle gear! says de man, make
dis horse act dat kinder way Den
he clomb down for to fix de saddle.
While he was lossen' de strops old
Dexter rolled his eyes till he see
back ards, an Den-Ge-blip!
''Well sir! De man what clomb out
en- dat ditch knowd mo- bout mules
dan de man what got kicked in dat
ditch!
dis ole niger is a-tellin' you boss
men suppen you gwien to fin out;
you cant whitewash a niger an
make whiteman outen him no moern
you can trim mules years and make
him a horse!'
Rhamkatte, n. c.