Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1910-01-13
(Copyright. by Short Stories Co, Ltd.)

Alright, buoy, i will tank you, for
the jackass more dan me. Shove him
benin vile haul him by de rope.
| Custos buggy comm an de road dat
narrer I 'fraid de banana dem goin'
to mash up"
At that the old woman ran to the
donkeys head and made as much
haste up the steep bank as her with
cred limbs would allow, coaxing the
stubborn animal with a sharp, smack
ing noise from her lips, while Son-son
pushed valiantly from behind. The
donkey, yielding to double persuasion.
ran up the bank, and Son-son deftly
snatched from the topmost bunch two
of the largest and ripest bananas.
When the passing carriage had van
ished round bend in the road, the
old woman led her beast down again
and would have proceeded on her
way, but Son-son. touching his cap,
said meekly:
Den, grannie. you not goin' to give
me one $3.50 banana for me trouble?
De jackass did well heavy, you know,
mann"
You pickney nebber want to do
noting widouten pay" grumbled gran
ME. Then she searched among her
bananas for the smallest and greenest
of them, and, discovering the theft,
turned upon the boy with the end of
the rope and a shower of abuse. He
darted down the road and at a safe
I:ztn - xuo I'M o.
the fruit at the irate old woman, who,
knowing pursuit to be useless, gave
to the donkey the blows she had
meant for the boy and disappeared
with her beast round the corner after
the Custos buggy.
Son-son peeled a banana and his
mouth was just opening for the first
bite when voice from behind said:
Where you get dem?"
The boy turned his head. to see a
handsome black girl about 20 Dalanc-
ing on her head round basket OF
yams. AK me no question an | won't
tell you no lie" he replied snubbingly
and continued on his way.
She followed him. 81 Just ak for
fun, me buoy, for I we'll know were
dem come from"
Were, den, since you is obeah wo-
man an know wat nobody tell yeu?"
"Out of Grannie Maria creel. Me
JUS pass her on de road an she
strong pom cussin' you for t'ief!"
Son.son threw back his head and
laughed.
Laugh. me buoy, laugh! You neb-
Der hear dem say, wen chicken mer-
ry hawk is near'?"
wat you mean?" he asked. sharp
ly, and the girl answered. We'll! /
know dem people dat got de spirit is
tip-top pom de tamarin' switch, for
my fader did have it one time, an /
see Missa Methuselah at de las re-
vival humpin' up himself like puss
swaller fish bone. an groanin, an
dem say is the spirit him got"
"Wilse Methuselah don't for me ia
der wat me care how much spirit
him got? You too fool, Becky"
But me tell you say him goin' be
you fader-in-law,* and dat worse agen!
Me see him dis berry marnin' 'pon him
mule, wild him burn pant pom him
head. an him long-tail coat, an him
wouldn' wear dat week day il him
didn't courtin'! Dem say is you mud
der him gone see. An min you. Son
son, big tamarin' tree grow at him
door mouth"
Becky watched with delight the
cloud which gathered on the boys
face and she laughed aloud when he
shook his fist and said: Lard! II !
ever catch him courtin my mudder
beat him till he mash up fine!"
Son-son fairly boiled with indigna-
ton and Becky, feeling that her mis-
sion had been accomplished. said gay
ly: "Good-by, me BUOY I'm sorry for
you from me heart" and turned up a
narrow pathway.
He deigned no answer, but walked
on, switching viciously at the wild
flowers along his path. At his moth
ers gate Francella met him. her face
wreathed in smiles and trimming over
with news. A mule was hitched TO a
tree in the yard and before the little
girl had time to speak her brother de-
handed sternly. who for dat muller"
rs Missa Metuuselah mule. Him
inside the house with ma. Dem court
in, Son-son!" she added. excitedly.
"Courtin'! Dat ole lightnin' fool
something, t'ink say ma going married
him?"
Yes! she JUS finish tell him so
now! Look here. Son-son, you ought
to see de gran flourishin bow him
meek to ma wen him come in fus'.
Den him say. Mistress Rachel, come |
to meek a superstition to you. mann.
Ma, she says, Wat is dat. Mistah Me. |
thuselah?' jes' like she didn't know.
Den him knock him hand pom him
shirt front. bram an say, Mistress |
Rachel dis heart is underneath you |
foot VIII you teck me for better an |
for worse, mann Ma, she begin TO |
laugh, an twis' her neck like chicken
got staggers. den Missa Methuselah
meek to come up to her, an him dat |
hurry him nebber see Maria till him