The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-10-12

- o. q Nessel In a storm.
Number one. hastily
leaned out of his window and
called loudly to his neighbour. Come
lack! quick, and help me get this
bar from under my house"
The reply flashed back L can't for
there's a bar under my own house"
Bears were plentiful in that part of
North Carolina, and they found very
delectable retreats in the vicinity of
the large corn fields. The picturesque
sailing craft, styled ''corn-crackers."
brought many delicious farm products
mp Pamlico river to the towns, and.
on one occasion. along with other
rich p~roVender, | secured a negro cook
who bore the hallmark Of excellence
conferred by birth and raining in
Hyde.
Observing a large and handsome
hearskin among her effects. ] said:
II did YOU get that Lacey?"
Down to Hyde county, ma'am /
les' borrered it fer de winter. il
b'Iongs ter Nancy
Who is Nancy?" 7 oueried with y
show of interest.
replied, a look Of plying surprise
coming over her face. She is my
sister, an er whole passel err folks is
'quainted wild herr"
Scarce restraining a laugh I man
aged TO say, Well, how did she get
the bearSkin? ?"
"Jes you be patiable na'am an ]
tells YOU" Placing her arms akimbo
she struck an attitude not devoid OF
grace, and continued, Nancy got mar
ried to a Teller by the name Nv Jim
Brown, an dey he'd one little baby
Jim set SIGH store by dat chile he
lowed 'twan't no use fer him tel
work anymo', case Nancy bleedged ten
cook out, an he got ter tote dat chile
home cherry night de Lord send. Il
bein' impossible fer Nancy ter cyarry
home de While an her askit-de
baskit wuz heavy fer de is high Iivers
up ter lawyer Gibbs's, an de per.
visions is REDUNDANT"
To whet her e~IoQuence l said, Il!
Hyde a pretty place, and are the bear:
plentiful down there?'
"LaWsy, yes ma'am, Hyde county is
er buteful place, most specially In dt
spring, when de flowers is er bloomin'
de birds Ell singin', an de bees e.
hummin'. Folks ies> naturally set!
down ter res an ter Joy deyselves
While dey looks at de corn Err CROWN
wiz de tassels all er BLOWN in d,
breeze" AS though the subject O
her thoughts was heaven itself, in
stead of the quaint old county, sh,
paused for breath, but in a few min
uteS began again in q voice of srea
junction.
Dat dere is a plenty Nv bear
down dere. Jes YOU wait til de corr
gins ter git good an sweet. den d,
bears walks out Nv de woods on de,
hind legs, an gifts dey arms full u
COrn-Same as folks. De dogs j
even skeered Nv dem bears."
Dis day, whut I'm er tellin' yo,
bout, Nancy bin pestered ober d
house cleanin', IN, Nv course, dat WI
de night dat Jim didn't nov in sight
If 0 is ever bin ter Hyde county
You knows dat lawyer Gibbes has d
moest cOrn-an' Nancy inginerally g
home by way Nv de aidge Nv de cor
tieI, til she cum ter de stile. 1t WI
er gittin' late, an no Jim in sight. s
she picked up de little ole baby il
one arm an TUX her baskit in d
uddeT, an went long er quarrellir
Wjd Jim. When she WuZ most u
to &c stile, she thought she seen hin
leanin' on de fence-an' den de hea
riz up in her, case he amt cum befo
She say, Why amt you bin here t
tote dis baby? My arms is fit te1
drap off! You better cum take We
chile, fer hits yo baby ez much ii
mine, an I amt gwine ter cyarry hir
anuder step!'"
1t didn't s'prise Nancy when h
nebber say muffin. case Jim might
apt ter keep his mouf shet when sh
talk dat way. She jes drapped d
baby in de outstretched arms an h
went on SO quiet like, an she couldn
see him good SO that he got out u
sight befO' she fix ter git over de still
wild her baskit. 1t WIZ er grown