Evening star., 1931-12-20

barn, and faint "Whooo-uh? Old Nom
amt MIXED" came from behind a stack
OF baled hay. Half dozen men stimuli
taneously began scaling the high stack.
But before they reached the top, Uncle
Henrys voice was heard once more-this
time from the opposite side of the barn:
"Whooo-uh! My darlin' Dora Dane, she
can't ride cause old Nom amt milked!"
Others started in the new direction,
but before they got there Uncle Henrys
voice came from still another direction.
Dat niger is pitching his voice." de-
c1ared Grant, who was present with his
entire family.
"Or else" stated Charlie, "he de
natchal wool er de wuss!"
"Whoooo-uuuuhl Hyar hit is Christ
mas and y'all niggers can't see Dora's
underskirt!"
HE in de seed house now," Giles de-
clared with finality. See? He got de
lantern in dar. And bet he better not
set nothin' a-tire, too"
Everybody went to the seed house. The
floor, where tons of cotton seed had been
handled was slick. And only the seed
held for planting remained. Uncle
Henry was standing under the gasoline
lantern suspended from a crossbeam.
BY him stood Betsy, the wife of the
foreman. And surrounding the two
were baskets and washtubs piled high
with food.
So 1t was all joke! A joke and
trick! Worked by the lotman and the
foreman's wife!
"Hit's jest about right for a dance"
declared Sock. Come hyar, Buldickie,
and second me some wild dat guitar"
well, clean up de floor, den," COM
manded Giles. Joe Boody, grab dat
scantlin-you, Johnny! Hep him! How
come dem pumpkins in hyar? Grab
'em-"
wait minute" warned Uncle Henry.
Don't fetch dem pumpkins!' There
was alcohol on his breath, whether it was
all a joke or not
Jaw, hysh up, you old fool" Ti-uldy
told him. Who kin dance around dem
pumpkins. And dis is Hally-wees, any
how. And dis is Christmas"
But Uncle Henry was adamant. "Dem
pumpkins" he said seriously, "is smack
full er Christmas, and y'all better leave
'em be-" He looked defiantIy about him
a minute, and then turned to BETSY.
Hand me de dipper," he said "De goud
dipper, cause don't know what might
happen to a tin one"
While everybody looked on, Uncle
Henry stopped with considerable dignity,
fingered about the top of one of the
pumpkins and presently drew out large
plug OF it, leaving hole about inches
in diameter
He held the plug up for inspection.
L plugged dis pumpkin way last FALL"
he said. "And den I Client out de seeds
and filled her up wild syr'p and plugged
her up again" He dipped the gourd in
and drew out nearly pint of the LIQUID.
"Hyar, Sook,' he said, passing her the
gourd. you swallow some er dis truck
and see kin you mash a reel outn dat
box you got. Hyar hit is Christmas and
us amt started yit. Hyar hit Is: drink
hit. got fourteen pumpkins plum full
er dat stuff"
Sook swallowed, gagged and swallowed
again. "Whoosh?" she gasped. And then
when she got her breath, she added, "IIit
tastes purity good"
well, don't stand dar argyin," roared
Uncle Henry. Mash a reel outn dat
box"
Old Ida Red, she 1oont do right.
Won't do nothin' but quart and fight
Oats hit! Now, pitch in wild dat
guitar, Buldickie! I swear, you niggers
Is so slow Christmas'll be plum gone be-
fore y'all git started! Whooo-uh"
Buldickie struck a chord and fell into
an accompaniment of Socks music.
Sonneh0dy hepan nattino time with, l,ic