Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-12-17
said Cameron. as he turned away.

somethin' wrong hyah, suah, an 1t
ain no medicine sickness, nohow. Dat
Mist Cam'ron am a mighty smaht
man, but he am sholy fool pussen {
be zasperated wild dat lobely Miss
Willoughby, an she so nice an pretty,
too"
Merry Christmas, Midnight" ex-
claimed a musical voice at the boys ell
bow, and the lad almost fell backward
as he turned and looked into the smil-
ing face of a young girl, fair-haired,
blue-gray eyed and dainty.
"Why-why-good ebenin', Miss
Willoughby Merry Christmas. Skuse
me TO not seein' you, but ah done
fo'got my mammals, Ah guess, fo' de
time bein'. All was JUS thinkin' bout
de folks OBJ nah family.
Why, Midnight, you never told us
about your folks as long as you have
been serving papers at our house. Are
your folks alive?"
Jus nah ole gran'mammy, an she
lib wild some ole fr'ens OBJ de family,
an All sens her de money dat she
need t. lib on. All ain had no daddy
an no nanny fo' de longes' time,
cause dey bofe froze t. def in de blLz-
zard what come long bout six year
ago."
How did you ever happen to come
here?"
Mist Cam'ron done brought me
hyar. You see, nah nanny been a
cook an nah mammy's sister a nurse
in Mist Cam'ron's family TO near 30
year, an when Mist Cam'ron come
hyar nanny ak him T. git me a job
some day an den he SEN fo' me. He
try me fo' a cook, but All guess Ah'm
pretty bad cook-ennyway Mist
Cam'ron he say one day why not staht
a news-stan an he give me de money
an dat's all de hist'ry what is bout
me-but, Miss Willoughby, Ah'm glad
you come long tonight, cause Ah got
| Chrismus present TO you-some
mistletoe, fine big branch what nah
granmammy sens up from Marylan'-
| git it often de trees right in de
swamp back O. de shanty. All vans
t. ak you eff yo' will please be so good
an kin as t. come 'roun' in nde
mawnin' an buy de frs paper, cause
1t means good luck, you know"
why, it will be a pleasure. Mid
night, not only to bring good luck to
you, but to get the mistletoe."
Hardly had the Christmas horns
blown their first greetings Of the day
when Midnight saw two figures com.
ing down the street from different d.
rections. One was Cameron, walking
slowly along the main thoroughfare
and the other was Miss Willoughby
Merry Chrismus!" called Midnight
even before the young lawyer had
reached the stand. "Ah hopes you is
feelin' bettah dis mawnin'"
Thank you, Midnight; l feel al
right. Pere, hurry up with that mis-
tletoe and give me that first papel
you wanted me to buy" he added
quickly, as he glanced up the stree
and saw Miss Willoughby approach
ing briskly.
"Ah-Ah-Ah-doan know jes' wha
Ah did wid dat mistlemtoe-ain' Ah on
fool niggah? All put it right hyar, un
der dis shelf jes two minutes ago
but Ah can't find it," he replied, rum
maging nervously among a pile of pa
pers underneath the top shelf.
Merry Christmas" called anothe
voice, and Midnight raised his hea
and smiled into the face of Miss VIII
loughby, who stood at the other en-,
of the stand, taking great pains not t.
see Cameron, who was striving equal,
to avoid her
Where is that mistletoe you want
ed me to have, Midnight? You see,
got up very early to be the first on
here, and you know you promised /
to me-
"Well, eff dat ain de funnies' thing,
replied Midnight, laughing mischiey
ously. 'Ah sholy had two fine piece
OBJ dat mislemtoe right hyar, but Al
can't fin 'em t save nah soul Al
done promise dis t you, Mis-
Willoughby, an deed All done promis
it t. you, Mist Carn'ron, TO- yo' motha
an All sholy doan know what t. d
bout it. All can't bus it in two.
Half unconsciously the two youn
persons reached for the bough, the
hesitated.
why, of course, let Mr.. Camera
have it for him mother" spoke u
Miss Willoughby.
Give it to Miss Willoughby," sal
Cameron. Perhaps you will find tn
other piece after awhile"
"AhIl give it t. Miss Willoughby G
Mist Cam'ron'll tote it home fo' d
lady"
, The girl glanced at Cameron, and |
another moment the young coupl
were walking away from the stan
| carrying the bunch of mistletoe b.
tween them. Midnight grinned as b
! leaned against his stand and con
, mented:
"Ah guess Ahll take dis otha piec
, right straight up t Mrs. Camron ma
self, cause All know dat piece OBJ mi