The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-01-21
By FRANK II. SWEET.

WASH no COUNT! ION say Cat
sah,' Uncle Nose was wont to plead
He's jes' projectin'. Boys will pro
jec', yo' know. sab. Dey's 70 all d,
worl' lax calves an colts an kittens
Wen dey's young dey kicks up dert
heels; den dey steadies down an chewS
dere cuds an pulls dere loads an
ketches dere mice jes' lax 'sponsiblc
things mus. Wash he aim nary bad
spot in him, sab. He don't t'ink: OATS
all. Wen his heels git plumb steady
on de groun' he'll pull his load shore
'nough. YOU see. sah."
But in spite of the sanguine expec-
tations of Uncle Nose, who was MOI
Washs uncle ut all. but his GRANDPA
Their, the boy continued to ''projec'." He
was now fourteen, and his chief labor
seemed to consist in devising ways of
Guiding chores and school and just
punishments. His habitual movements
were skulking, and, though his eyes
danced fearlessly ana his mouth
broadened into almost perpetual mer-
riment, he sought rather the solitary
paths Of the pine woods and Suwance
banks than the more populous' lanes
and roads of his native Ellaville.
There he was apt to be reminded OF
unfulfilled contracts, stolen melons.
decorated doors and fences aud Of
many other matters which he prefer
red to let sink into forgetfulness. OF
his own family Uncle Nose was the
only one with whom he condescended
TO fraterniZe. and this concession was
due as much to the fact that he old
man eXcelled him in his own chosen
pursuits of trapping and fishing MS to
his being openly sympathetic.
There were few spots inside radius
of ten miles with which Uncle Nose
was not familiar, and this familiarity
was especially comprehensive in re-
gard to the fishing holes of the Suwa-
nee. Fifty years before he had been 3
slave boy on Il neighboring plantation
stealing off TO the river on every pos
sible occasion. and this love for the
sport had been the one great pleasure
of his life, interrupted only through
the score of years which followed his
during which time he
was working hard to provide himself
with home and to fit his children for
Il future which should be worthy of
them rs free citizens.
But rs they grew up and branched
ont for themselves he returned more
and more to the pleasure Of his child
hood until now there was scarcely an
which was not spent in part
upon The Suwance banks. And with
accommodating years and stiffcning
joints his early wanderings ~ and
down the river had narrowed down to
Il BANK beneath Il wide spreading, moss
grown tree. from which he could cast
i line into water which experience had
taught him was congenial to fish.
Here after the sun had begun to throw
shadows TO the east he could generally
De found either alone or in company
with Wash.
His son Link was Of different ma
-uiC. iiC NdS hlh-. ciii NNt,
more tolerant of faults than of frivol-
ty or carelessness, able to read little
md subscribing for several political pa
Jers. narrow In his politics and party
md voting at every opportunity and
N every possible pretext. He was an
Weighted down by lack of knowl-
,dge Between him and Wash there
'ould be only Misunderstanding
,rehenslon and avoidance on the one
ide. disappointment and upbraiding
IN the other. But before an open |
Is declaration, q call for troops. and |
hen before the family realized what |
vas happening Link had volunteered |
nd been accepted. the first to join the |
nmunes from his county.
The day after Ire left Uncle Nose did |
kuIked down and fished under the |
ig tree for awhile. then wandered off |
lto the woods to look ut his traps. |
he next day he went to the big tree !
gain, but apparently did not like fish
lg alone, for he soon hid his pole and
nee more wandered off into the
woods. And the third day and the
ourth were the same. but after eating
inner on the fifth. instead of hurry
lg out to dig bait. as usual. he looked
and irresolutely at Uncle
lose and when the old man rose and
Tent out followed him to the truck
atch behind the cabin.
Ain yo' gwine fishin' no mo-, gram
app" he asked disconsolately.
Uncle Nose leaned upon his hoe han
lc and looked ut him benignantly.
Not till yo' pap gifts back. honey"
e answered. Oars heaps u wuk
Dun' dis place now. Yo' pap been do
il mawnin's an urter he done git
'om wuk at de sawmill nights. an
ep'D' | TUX his place hii'll shore fall
n yo' nanny. an she hab mo- now
en- she ought. No. no. honey, VOL
after look out TO- de fish an let de ole
ian ben his back ober de taters an
lyuns an things"
The boy dug his heels into the sand.