The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1906-04-21
+f++t++f+++++ s'F'rs 1''''s
A Plantation Story.
Being Aunt Jinsey's Tale Of the Bird
That Bought Bargains.
BY GRACE MACGowAN COOKE,
in St. Nicholas.
IT. + 1s''.' 70
3t+%$ !. + i r. 81 I

On his seventh birthday little Pate
received silver quarter for one OF his
gifts; and he was allowed to go down
to the small country store with Uncle
Bergen, the coachman, that he might
spend it. He returned with-of all
things, on a plantation where fat poul-
try were plenty-a lean and protesting
old speckled hen!
His mother was upstairs in her own
room; Aunt Jinsey, his colored mani
my" received him on the front gal
lery.
What you got dar, honey boy?" she
asked, curiously. What you do with
dat OF hen?"
Il bought it with my silver quarter"
returned Pate, stoutly. His own belief
in the suitability of the purchase was
beginning to weaken.
Aunt Jinsey threw up her hands and
laughed. ooh, yah-yah-yah!" she
shouted "Ain't we all got chickens
'nough on dis Broadlands plantation,
widout you 60 to de sto' an buy dat
OF hen what look like she belong to
quired.
Patricia and Isabel here joined the
court of inquiry. Perhaps they had
hoped for some small treat when their
brother returned.
'But she was so cheap murmured
the little boy, disconsoiately, as he
seated himself on the gallery steps and
nursed his purchase.
'Nothin' amt cheap what you don't
want" said Aunt Jinsey, conclusive
ly. "Suttinly not sorry Of hen like
dat, when VEAL got de finest chickens
in Miss-sippy, an mo- dan we-all kin
eat"
The gloom deepened on Pate's coun-
tenance. The old nurse saw it, and to
relieve the situation offered one Of the
ready tales with which she was wont to
instruct and admonish her little brood.
"You minds me O. young Miz. Song
Sparrer. Dat lady wuz what you might
call a bargain seeker. She amt think
bout much else. She amt talk bout
much else. All she kin say dest,
Cheap! Cheap! Cheap
This sounded promising, and all
three children settled themselves to lis
ten. "Mr. Song-Sparrer talk to her
dest like l been talk to you, little
Marse He beg her look at sumpin'
sides de cheapness when she go to mar
ket
"De lady amt listen. She fortch
home string in place O worms, an
when Mr.. Song-Sparrer ak how he
gwine eat SIGH truck, she say, oh, but
you must mind how cheap dey wuz. A
body got to scratch for worms; but |
dest pick up des'-hyer string for
song-yes, sir, an sung dat song my
self Dey amt cost me muffin
9" An dey amt with SO much as
totin home said poor Mr. Song Spar
rer, as he peck at de string, and try to
make a snack on en-
Pate let his bargain slide from his
knees to the steps. Somehow, there
was a likeness to string in the hens
scrawny neck and legs, the latter tied
with big Of Bingham rag.
Matters rock along with de Srar-
rer family tell after de eggs been laid
in de sparrer's nest, an NIiz. Sparrer
settin' on 'em all de day long, so she
can't go out an seek no bargains, an
Mr. Sparrer feedin' her SO she have her
time for to do so. Hit come to de
fourth day o July-date late for
sparer to be hatchin' out a brood, even
when hit de second brood in de year.
Miz Sparrer felt dat she ort to make
dem eggs hurry up; an she wonder
heap O. times is dey any cheap truck