UNCLE PETE.
His Anxious Wait for Blohes Thati
Never Oamo.
NCLE PETE
w a s ruminat
ing1. However ,
this was nothing - /
ing new , as he
had done but
little else since
the time he was
u mite of a
clavky , watch
ing1 the sparks
fly up from the
burning' log-
heaps scat
tered over
"old ' "
master's"
new g r o u n d
and die away
in the dusky
spring evening
ingHe would
lit upon a stump with the dark , freshly-
plowed ground about him giving forth-
odors of earth and torn green roots ,
while the frogs in the shallow , shining
branch , marked with willows , sang a
happy , monotonous refrain.
His kinks were .turning from black
to gray and many a problem as knotty
as his wool and just as powerless to be
straightened had passed through his
brain. His great passion was wealth
'twas the only thing he cared for. He
had dreamed of it in boyhood it
seemed a pity those log-heap sparks
were not real gold had striven for it
in his way in manhood , and now that
old age had begun to pay court to him
in a sly and wholly unaccountable man
ner , he still dreamed of and strove for
wealth. When a boy , he would grasp
every peculiar-looking rock lying in his
path , with the hope that it might bring
him a fortune. The sun glancing on a
piece of glass would cause his lazy legs
to move faster than was customary ,
for perhaps it might be a nugget of
gold lying there especially for him.
But he found to his disappointment
many times that "all was not gold that
glittered. " -J
Uncle Peter had never been taught to
read , and was too lazy to work hard.
In fact , he shirked dreadfully. Like
"ole brer rabbit" in those wondrous
days when animals were gifted with
speech the recital of which fills every
childish heart with the pleasantest
emotions he did all of the grunting
and comparatively no work. He lived
with old master's grandson. Marse Bob ,
as a cropper , and invariably came out
in debt to him on an average of forty
uouars a year , uacn unsimas juarse
Bob would storm at him , and threaten
to send him away , but Uncle Peter was
sly and would " 'lay low" until Marse
Bob's sweet little wife drove all angry
thoughts from his mind , and then he
began to put in his host work , usually
making sundry suggestions ' 'bout de
fattening horgs , " and ashes , salt , sul
phur and copperas for the hort.es. mules
and colts , until Mars ? Deb finally fin
ished a contract with him almost before
the thought of beginning had entered
his mind. It would bun > t upon him
each time like a thunderbolt , and with
an internal groan , began the turning of
new leaves. But those leaves became
dog-eared with too little turning and
much fingering. So Uncle Peter lived
on at his kind benefactor's , with his
progeny of grandchildren and one un
married daughter , the idol of his heart.
Uncle Peter was ruminating on this
warm , damp January day. The prospect
from his cabin door did net iilvite very
pleasant thoughts , but he was paying
no attention to the gloom.
The clouds hung wet and gray over
the fields , road and pine grove , which
was the only green spot in sight. A
maul lay before the fire hardening for
the next day's work splitting rails.
That was nothing to Uncle Peter , either ,
for he knew very well , the sinner , he
would get out of half his work by sharp-
Iin SCAXXED IT CLOSELY.
cning wedges for the other hands , mak
ing himself uselessly useful.
"Xow , if I eould dig into chit gully
and fine a gole mine , wouldn't I be
rich ? " ' he mused. ' 'Gret big peeses , big
as my fists , den I could set up at the
big 'ouse like folks , and not work my
poor ole soft' to dcth , " .sighing , as he getup
up to turn his maul. "I5ut den dat's
Alarse Bob's land , s'pose 'twould be his
gole. Is or clat ain't right neither. What
I fine is mine. Ef I was to fine a quar
ter out yonder , I reckin it would be my
quarter , and dat gole mine would , too , "
so soared his thoughts to a realm where
roads were lined with gold instead of
red mud , and palaces in the places of
pine trees faced them , and he was rich
est of all in tha' trantry. He was
awakened from those yellow-toned rev
eries by some one hollowing : "Peter ;
you Pctcr-r , why don't you answer
me ? "
"Sir ? " rousing himself and standing
in his doorway to see Marse Bob on the
fenc some distance away.
"What are you doing ? "
"Burning my maul for to-morrow. "
"Well , you can do that to-night. You
always get mighty smart at the wrong
time anyway. Go on to tne house and
help the other boys shuck corn. "
Uncle Peter got up and crossed the
field with reluctant footsteps , while
Marse Bob growled to himself on the
laziness of the "colored race" in gbn-
eral.
Sunday morning came , and with it
guests at the big house , as usual. Uncle
Peter went up to black boots and build
fires , as was his custom one he adopt
ed himself and one he invariably kept.
Alarse Bob's wife's brother was there
and , as Peter came in , he asked :
"What kind of weather , Peter ? "
"Lubly , sir , lubly , " was the reply he
always gave , no matter what the
weather might be. Hot or cold , wet or
dry , Sunday morning was always "lub
ly" to Uncle Peter.
, "Where did you get that shirt , Peter ? "
came Frank's lazy tones from the depth
of a feather bed , from where he could
just sec Peter , whose shoes were shining -
. ing brighter than his ebony face , sitting
on the wood-box rubbing away with
brush and blacking for all he was
worth.
"Bought it ! " with a proud glance.
"You ought to be a good citizen with
such a shirt : is that on. Let me see !
Stars all over and a striped sailor col
lar. Stars and stripes , pretty good ! "
Uncle Peter gave a complacent smile as
Frank spoke in a half sleepy , half mis
chievous tone.
"How's crops ? Going to get rich this
fall , aren't you ? "
"Well , mebbe so , " brightening up.
"Do you think so ? I can't say , but I
Iniow one thing , you would like to have
a smile , " as Peter placed both shoes
side by side , and shut up the blacking-
box.
box.Uncle
Uncle Peter's black features lit up
in quite a marvelous manner , as Frank
offered him what he loved next to
money.
"Yes , sar , deed I would , sar , " bowing
and rubbing his hands gleefully.
"Hand me that flask on the table.
Now , here is your smile , " detaching
the silver drinking cup from the bottom
tom of the-flask and pouring the clear
red liquid into it , which ran out with a
jolly gurgle from the mouth of the bet
tle.
"You drink fust , Marse Frank. "
" 0 , no , Peter , J never drink. I carry
it about in case of an accident. "
"Well , " smacking his black lips , and
wrenching the cup from the pitcher of
water , ' 'if I'owned clat dream accidents
would be forebberhapp'ning , " grinning
and bowing himself out. He turned his
steps towards the kitchen after leaving
Frank's room. There he sat himself
down to wait for the coffee pot. This
coffee pot was a great consolation to
Uncle Peter ; he never went to his work
without first draining it , even eating
the grounds. It was too good to waste.
He was a grsat deal more likely to been
on hand when breakfast was over than
most of the family when it was ready.
It was raining and not only raining ,
but pouring and had been for an hour.
Uncle Peter sat in front of his huge
fire-place , which was filled with burn
ing logs , and nodded , while mammy
pieced up a quilt with colors so start
ling , such as pink an' ! .yellow , side by
side , or green and blue with each other
vied. Their pride ind delight , a piece
of ebony impudence done up in checked
homespun , sat by the little window ,
reading. Laboriously she spelled out
the words , more laboriously absorbed
their meanings. Nov. * and then mammy
would give a grunt , or "dat's so , "
sometimes coming in at the most absurd
tunes , for she never understood what
Angeline was reading there was such
an interval between each word , the one
had escaped her memory before the
other was called out.
Uncle Peter still nodded and bobbed
his head around dangerously at times ,
for it did seem that it would pop off. He
was thoroughly awake all at once.
What was that ?
"How to get r-i-c-h rich , " drawled
Angeline. Uncle Peter was all ex
citement in a moment and exclaimed
feverishly : ' 'Read on , nigger ! " Angy
looked up astonished : sh was not ac
customed to being addressed that way
by her admiring father.
"Write J-a-m-e-s Harl-
to - - - - H-a-r-1-i-n-g , -
ing , C-o-u-r-t-l-a-n-d Courtlend street ,
New York ; I dunne what dat street
means after dat word. It can't spell
nuthin' cordin to my notion. I reckin
it must mean ah , I dunno. Hit was jist
got thar by mistake , dat's it. Dat type
writer got jess a little too much onto
dat. "
"Ugh , humph ! " assented Uncle Peter
indifferently ; but his little black eyes
were sparkling , and after awhile he getup
up , stretched , and looked at the ele
ments. They were clearing up a little ,
so putting on his great coat , which
struck his "dumpity" little figure about
the heels , he sallied forth to the
preacher's , his dearest friend and closest
ally. lie found him at home making
foot-mats , as he usually did in wet
weather.
"Howdy does'being-over , Uncle Peter
set forth in a most cautious manner to
feel around and learn Avhat the preacher
thought of the scheme he had hidden in
the back part of his head.
"Brother Ilarnbleton , dees you reckin
you will ebbcr get .rich workin' 'mongst
dem shucks5
"Whut ! git rich ? I aint a working
fur riches. I am workin' fur de Lord.
Ef He wants me to get rich He will
make me , I reckin. And anudder
thing , I never thought about it , * ' replied
the unworldly old fellow.
"Well , ef yoii will juss read here in
dis newspaper , you 'ell see sumpin , "
pulling it out of his pocket.
' ' ' ' '
What's it 'bout ?
"Gittin"rich. . ' ' dropping his voice to a
whisper. Brother Hambleton pulled
out his brtiss-rimmed glasses , put them
on his nose , and grasped the paper. D He
scanned it closelj * for awhile , and then
said : "Hit must be this here. Riches
air very desirable things , but there is
something mere desirable yet , and that
is health. Now , this can be obtained
by taking Green Leaf tonic"
"Hole on , Brer Uambleton , you ain't
readin' the right one ; leastwise it don't
sound like dat whut Angeline read , "
exclaimed Uncle Peter in some alarm.
Was the fortune , which seemed in his
grasp , to run through his fingers like so
much water , only leaving them damp as
a sign it had been there ?
"Well , how did it start , Brother
Peter ? " asked Rev. Benjamin Hamble
ton , looking over his glasses in a grave
manner , as much as to say : "Brother
Peter , I'se afraid you'se had a very large
smile dis day , and you dreamed dat
thing. "
"Oh , I don't 'zactly mermemble , but
hit wusn't dat , and I heerd her read it
sho' , " with some excitement. "Look
again , Brer Uambleton. " Benjamin
Hambleton once again looked over the
paper , and then was about to give it up
in despair , when a little advertisement
in the ten-cent column caught his eye.
He read it out , aud Uncle Peter almost
wept for joy as he heard the sentence
he thought he should never hear again.
"Now , what do you propose to do ? "
inquired Benjamin Uambleton.
"I says fer you to write to dat man ,
and see whut he says. We'll share
profits. Of course you kin have mos'
haff , " generously.
"Mos1 haff , " indignantly. "Mos' haff ,
when I does all de writin' and reading ?
/ /
HOW TO GET KICII.
No , sir ! I gits whole haff or not write. "
"All right , all right , " hurriedly , as
visions of a lost fortune again float be
fore him. Amiability being restored ,
they worked and plotted together like
old cronies shoiild. The letter was
written and posted ; they had only to
wait a week or two before they could
dress up and live like folks in the big
'ouse. Uncle Peter began to wear "the
biggest' ' air imaginable. He became
lazier than ever , and plagued Marse Bob
almost out of his wits. The negroes all
wondered what had got into Uncle
Peter. lie usually bade them good
morning in the pleasantest manner , but
now it was with the condescension of a
monarch. Angerline was no longer the
"apple of his eye. " She found herself
not noticed at all , and thereby became
sulky and switched about more than
ever wniie sne wanted , mvo IT , au was
lost iipon Uncle Peter. lie was going
Lo get rich in his old age , and that was
all he wanted. He dreamed of it at
night , and went a-day dreaming over it
too.
too.Uncle
Uncle Peter was too talkative , how
ever , to let his secret remain one longer
than a few days. He had no idea he
had "let the cat out of the bag. " but
before one week had expired all the
negroes on the plantation knew he
had discovered a method for getting
rich , and all were on the qui vive for
discovery , biit they did not let Uncle
Peter have an inkling of their inten
tions.
One Saturday afternoon as- the clouds
in the west began to lose some of their
exquisite coloring , for night was creep
ing on , all of the hands , Uncle Peter
included , had gathered about the back
door of the big house. All eyes were
centered upon Marse Bob , who stood on
the stone steps with a stone jug in one
hand and a cup in the other. Every
face was wreathed in smiles at the
thought of a dram. As Marse Bob
poured out the liquid which ran with
such a good old sound : ' 'So good , good ,
good , good. " it seemed to say : he talked
and gave much good , good , good , good
advice while he distributed it around.
The durkies had just wiped their
mouths on their coat sleeves , preparato
ry to leaving , when a little negro boy
came up with the mail , Marse Bob
glanced over it hastily , and called out :
"Holloa , here , Peter a postal for
you. "
"Yas , sir , " responded Uncle Peter ,
stepping up with happy expectation in
his tones and movements.
"Shall I read it for you ? " with a twin
kle in his eyes , for he had read it while
speaking , and had heard something of
Peter's boasting lately.
"Yas , sir , s'pose you do , " responded
Peter , who was feeling generous after
his smile. He didn't care just then if
all the darkies in Christendom knew
how to get rich.
Marse Bob cleared his throat , while
all the hands turned "around to hear
what Uncle Peter's correspondent had
to say.
"How to get rich. Eat nothing , wear
nothing and work like old nick. "
There was a shout of laughter from
every pair of lips save Uncle Peter's.
He was dumb with disappointment and
rage. He said not a word , but turned
away and walked of ? "a sadder and a
wiser man. "
It is a month later. Riches arc never
mentioned by Peter now. He is cured.
His fellow-workmen plagued his poor
old life almost out of him , until one
morning he turned like a wounded lion
at bay and made them all lly. Since
that time he has lived in peace. A
curious coolness grew up between him
and the preacher at one time , but the
genial nature of both old darkies liar
thawed that out and they are the s = ame old
cronies , only they never speak of wealth
to each ether. Mrs. F. M. Stewart , in
Atlanta Constitution.
Stanley's I/ily.
In connection with the explorer Stan
ley's visit to the United States , a story
is told of the discovery by him in the
interior of Africa of a beautiful , large ,
yellow lily , emitting a wonderfully de
lightful perfume. It is said that he
presented a jar of the dried lilies to his
bride-elect , Miss Tennant , and that an
enterprising New York pharmacist has
obtained some of the same variety of
flower , from which he is making a new
and rare perfume called "The Lily of
the Nile. " Thus the practical American
mind hopes to extract lucre from the re
sults of the darinjf explorer's work.
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper.
ALL HOME PKIXT.
The Nebraska Legislature.
No\v that the legislature ol'j
this state is in sesionall those
desirous of complete and un
prejudiced reports of proceed
ings of that body should at
once subscribe for that giv.ul
newspaper , "The Nebraska
State Journal. Being located
at the state capital none of its
would-be rivals are able to
compete with it in handling
legislative proceedings , or in
ga thering other important ca p-
ital happenings. A compari
son of legislative reports of
different Nebraska dailies will
establish this claim. Daily
will be sent to any address for
$10 a year. Weekly for $1 a
year.
THE McCooK TRIBUNE makes
a bid for your patronage on |
the high business ground of j
merit. Look it over and seeif j
we dent deser.ve your support' '
during 1891.
SSFllEMEMBERthat C/HENKRY' '
at the CITY DRUG STORK makes
a specialty of compounding
prescriptions.
Irrigation Convention , Me-
Cook , Nebraska- February 28.
GOOD : BYEl !
How nliL'ii tints terra of parting JMC-I IH our
ems. iiiul piuns our Iieurls ; hut > nu cnti huy
at Tin : TUIUUNK STATIONKKY DKVAKTMKNT
the iniric-iiiuiiiB to Keep iin-inory BU-UII IIMII !
you meet nuaiii.
'
STATIONERY.
I
pr"VCK ro BTJ1T !
THE TRIBUNE.
Children Cry for Pitcher's Castoria.
HERE ARE MANY
USES FORTe
To clean tombstones. To renew oil-cloth. To renovate paint. To brighten metals.
To polish knives. To scrub floors. To wash out sinks. To scour bath-tubs.
To clean dishes. Towhiten marble. To remove rust. To scour kettles.
EVERYBODY USES IT.
Den tilts to clean false teeth. Engineers to clean parts of mKclilnts. noniemalds to scrub marble floors.
Burgeons to pollih thelrlnitruments. Ministers to renorat * old chapels. Chemists to rcroore soma stains.
Confoctlnneri to scour their pani. Sextons to clean tba tombstones. Carrers to sharpen their knlres.
Vecbulcs to brighten their tools. Iloitlers on brasses and wblto horses. Shrewd ones to scour old straw hat *
Cooks to clean the kitchen sink. Artists to clean their palattes. BoMlers to brighten their arms.
Painters to clean off surfaces. Wheelman to clean bicycles. Renovators to clean carpets.
EVERY ONE FINDS A NEW USE.
JACK DWYER'S
' TJ ATW
i A
V. jLvn. i.
A FIVE CENT CIGAR.
Try this popular brand. It is one 'of the finest nickel cigars
ever placed on sale in McCook.
A. KALiSTRDT , THR TAILOR.
2"Cariie.s the late.st and most fashionable goods of tliu fall and winter season , in
suitings , jointings , and HUM routingHe imaranters satisfactory , stylish work , aiid rens-
onahlijnicis. . In icarol the-Fh.sl National I.anlc Uiiilding , McCoolc , Xubi : iski.
The White Line Transfer
,
Wm. M. ANDERSON , Prop.
AUTHORIZED CAPITAL. CAPITAL AND SURPLUS.
GEORGE HOCKNELL , President. B. tt. FREES , Vies President. W.F. LAWSON , Cashier.
A. CAMPBELL , Director. S. L. GREEfJ , Director.
Incorporated under State Laws.
aid Up Capital , $5OOOO.
DOES A
mm mm
Collections made mi all accessible points. Drafts drawn
directly mi principal citie ? in Europe. Taxes paid
! ' < > r iion-roMdiMitf. Money to loan on fanning
Kinds , city aiiil per.-nnnl property.
Tickets For Sale to and from Europe
OFFICERS :
V. FJiANKLIX , Pro-cU > nt. .JOHN H. CLAJtK , Vice I'res.
A. C. EI5EIIT , Cashier. THUS. I. GLASSl'OTT , ASS. Oasii.
CORRESPONDENTS :
' -5 The Fii t National H.tnk , Lincoln Nebrska.
The Chemical National B.tnk , New Yoik City.
Paid Up Capita , ! . S5G,000.
General Banking Business
Interest pni < l on uepn-u < liy special agreement.
Money loaned on per.-ona ! pr.-j'-rry. 00d .signatures
or satisfactory collateral.
Drafts drawn on the principal < -iies of the United
States and Europe.
OFFICERS :
C. E. SHAW , Piesident. H. O. WAIT , Vice President.
P. A. WELLS , Cashier.
