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Show BIT OF EVEKY-DAY LIFE. The old negro sniffled a muddy way down the stret.t, bearing in one hand a battered guitar and in the other a string of little catfish that suggested tadpoles. -Catch 'em with j'our banjo. Uncle?" some one asked him. The old negro paused. ' "Suh?" he inquired. "Catch 'em with music?" said the questioner. The old negro held up the tiny string of fish soberly. "No, Suh," he said. "Catfish dey bites at wuhms. Meat. hit's good, too; yassah." . S , - . . "What'll you take for" 'em. Uncle?" The old negro considered. He weighed the fish in his hand," and shifted uneasily un-easily about. "I'm 'bleeged, Sah," he said, "yessuh; but I cayn't sell dem fish. No; Suh. De ol' woman she 'speck dem fish foh suppeh.' - "Well." " said the questioner, "you'll have time to play us something, won't you?" This time a slow, understanding understand-ing grin spread over the old negro's face. He carefully laid down the slimy catfish, cat-fish, and, seating himself on the curb, swung his guitar into position with an ease born of long practice, and began tuning it. "If only dat ar boy o' mine'd cum er-long," er-long," he said sadly, "he'd play de Frainch hahp " Thehe suddenly rose to his feet and made a dive through a tangle of vehicles, returning dragging a grinning young negro by the arm. "I got him," he said, triumphantly: "Play dat Frainch hahp, boy." v The two sat upon the curb and played until the gathering crowd swarmed over into the- gutter and a policeman shouldered shoul-dered his way in. The old negro took the hint, also a half dollar that was handed him. "T'ankee, Sah," he grinned, jerking off his shapeless hat. "T'ankee, Suh." "Ha. she sen me t' tell yuh yuh'd bet-teh bet-teh cum homV said the. boy. "She say she bin waltin' long ernuff." The old negro frowned upon him. "Run on home, boy," he said, sternly; "run on home an' tell dat "ooman des t' wait foh me. I'll be dah when I gits time." Then as the boy moved off he called after him, hurriedly: . "Tell dat ooman I got money. Hrih me?" Galveston News. |