"HE WAVED THE STARS AND STRIPES HIGH IN THE AIR""HE WAVED THE STARS AND STRIPES HIGH IN THE AIR."
After a while, though, other steamboats operating low-pressure engines copied the idea, and there were several "walking-beam boys" employed on the rivers, and their flags were remodeled to have some distinctive feature each. It was a perilous situation to be employed in, but I am unable to find the record of any "walking-beam boy" being killed or injured in the machinery. On the other hand, the very hazard of their duty, and the conspicuous position it gave them, made them popular with passengers and shippers, and so they pocketed many fees from Kentuckians, confections from Cincinnati folks, bonbons from New Orleans Creoles, and tips from Pittsburgers.
But at length, in 1844, the steam-whistle was introduced, and the "walking-beam boys" were left without occupation.
"W'en you git a leetle bit older dan w'at you is, honey," said Uncle Remus to the little boy, "you'll know lots mo' dan you does now."
The old man had a pile of white oak splits by his side and these he was weaving into a chair-bottom. He was an expert in the art of "bottoming chairs," and he earned many a silver quarter in this way. The little boy seemed to be much interested in the process.
"Hit 's des like I tell you," the old man went on; "I done had de speunce un it. I done got so now dat I don't b'lieve w'at I see, much less w'at I year. It got ter be whar I kin put my han' on it en fumble wid it. Folks kin fool deyse'f lots wuss dan yuther folks kin fool um, en ef you don't b'lieve w'at I 'm a-tellin' un you, you kin des ax Brer Wolf de nex' time you meet 'im in de big road."
"What about Brother Wolf, Uncle Remus?"the little boy asked, as the old man paused to refill his pipe.
"Well, honey, 't ain't no great long rigamarole; hit's des one er deze yer tales w'at goes in a gallop twel it gits ter de jumpin'-off place.
"One time Brer Wolf wuz gwine 'long de big road feelin' mighty proud en high-strung. He wuz a mighty high-up man in dem days, Brer Wolf wuz, en 'mos' all de yuther creeturs wuz feared un 'im. Well, he wuz gwine 'long lickin' his chops en walkin' sorter stiff-kneed, w'en he happen ter look down 'pon de groun' en dar he seed a track in de san'. Brer Wolf stop, he did, en look at it, en den he 'low:
"'Heyo! w'at kind er creetur dish yer? Brer Dog ain't make dat track, en needer is Brer Fox. Hit's one er deze yer kind er creeturs w'at ain't got no claws. I'll des 'bout foller 'im up, en ef I ketch 'im he'll sholy be my meat.'
"Dat de way Brer Wolf talk. He followed 'long atter de track, he did, en he look at it close, but he ain't see no print er no claw. Bimeby de track tuck 'n tu'n out de road en go up a dreen whar de rain done wash out. De track wuz plain dar in de wet san', but Brer Wolf ain't see no sign er no claws.
"BRER WOLF MAKE LIKE HE GWINE TER HIT DE CREETUR, EN DEN——""BRER WOLF MAKE LIKE HE GWINE TER HIT DE CREETUR, EN DEN——"
"He foller en foller, Brer Wolf did, en de track git fresher en fresher, but still he ain't see no print er no claw. Bimeby he come in sight er de creetur, en Brer Wolf stop, he did, en look at 'im. He stop stock-still and look. De creetur wuz mighty quare-lookin,' en he wuz cuttin' up some mighty quare capers. He had big head, sharp nose, en bob tail; en he wuz walkin' roun' en roun' a big dog-wood tree, rubbin' his sides ag'in it. Brer Wolf watch 'im a right smart while, he act so quare, en den he 'low:
"'Shoo! dat creetur done bin in a fight en los' de bes' part er he tail; en w'at make he scratchhisse'f dat away? I lay I'll let 'im know who he foolin' 'long wid.'
"Atter 'while, Brer Wolf went up a leetle nigher de creetur, en holler out:
"'Heyo, dar! w'at you doin' scratchin' yo' scaly hide on my tree, en tryin' fer ter break hit down?'
"De creetur ain't make no answer. He des walk 'roun' en 'roun' de tree scratchin' he sides en back. Brer Wolf holler out:
"'I lay I'll make you year me ef I hatter come dar whar you is!'
"De creetur des walk roun' en roun' de tree, en ain't make no answer. Den Brer Wolf hail 'im ag'in, en talk like he mighty mad:
"'Ain't you gwine ter min' me, you imperdent scoundul? Ain't you gwine ter mozey outer my woods en let my tree 'lone?'
"Wid dat, Brer Wolf march todes de creetur des like he gwine ter squ'sh 'im in de groun'. De creetur rub hisse'f ag'in de tree en look like he feel mighty good. Brer Wolf keep on gwine todes 'im, en bimeby w'en he git sorter close de creetur tuck 'n sot up on his behime legs des like you see squir'ls do. Den Brer Wolf, he 'low, he did:
"'Ah-yi! you beggin', is you? But 't ain't gwine ter do you no good. I mout er let you off ef you 'd a-minded me w'en I fus holler atter you, but I ain't gwine ter let you off now. I'm a-gwine ter l'arn you a lesson dat 'll stick by you.'
"Den de creetur sorter wrinkle up he face en mouf, en Brer Wolf 'low:
"'Oh, you nee'n'ter swell up en cry, you 'ceitful vilyun. I'm a-gwine ter gi' you a frailin' dat I boun' you won't forgit.'
"WELL, SUH, DAT CREETUR DES FOTCH ONE SWIPE DIS AWAY, EN 'N'ER SWIPE DAT AWAY.""WELL, SUH, DAT CREETUR DES FOTCH ONE SWIPE DIS AWAY, EN 'N'ER SWIPE DAT AWAY."
"Brer Wolf make like he gwine ter hit de creetur, en den——"
Here Uncle Remus paused and looked all around the room and up at the rafters. When he began again his voice was very solemn.
—"Well, suh, dat creetur des fotch one swipe dis away, en 'n'er swipe dat away, en mos' 'fo' you can wink yo' eyeballs, Brer Wolf hide wuz mighty nigh teetotally tor'd off 'n 'im. Atter dat de creetur sa'ntered off in de woods, en 'gun ter rub hisse'f on 'n'er tree."
"What kind of a creature was it, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
"Well, honey," replied the old man in a confidential whisper, "hit want nobody on de topside er de yeth but ole Brer Wildcat."
[1]This story is based upon the personal experience of one who related it to the author.
[1]This story is based upon the personal experience of one who related it to the author.
[2]The volume of rivers is measured by the number of cubic feet of water flowing past a given point every second. The breadth of the river is multiplied by its average depth, and the ascertained speed of the current gives the number of cubic feet of water flowing by the point of measurement each second. This will explain the term second-feet.
[2]The volume of rivers is measured by the number of cubic feet of water flowing past a given point every second. The breadth of the river is multiplied by its average depth, and the ascertained speed of the current gives the number of cubic feet of water flowing by the point of measurement each second. This will explain the term second-feet.
GEOGRAPHICAL STORIESRETOLD FROMST. NICHOLAS MAGAZINEIN SIX VOLUMESA Series of Books of Adventure, Travel and Description,chiefly in the Great Sections of the United StatesWESTERN FRONTIER STORIESStories of the early West, full of adventure.STORIES OF THE GREAT LAKESNiagara and our great chain of Inland Seas.ISLAND STORIESStories of our island dependencies and of many other islands.STORIES OF STRANGE SIGHTSDescriptions of natural wonders, curious places and unusual sights.SEA STORIESTales of shipwreck and adventures at sea.SOUTHERN STORIESPictures, scenes and stories of our Sunny South.Each about 200 pages. 50 illustrations. Full cloth, 12mo.THE CENTURY CO.
A Series of Books of Adventure, Travel and Description,chiefly in the Great Sections of the United States
WESTERN FRONTIER STORIESStories of the early West, full of adventure.STORIES OF THE GREAT LAKESNiagara and our great chain of Inland Seas.ISLAND STORIESStories of our island dependencies and of many other islands.STORIES OF STRANGE SIGHTSDescriptions of natural wonders, curious places and unusual sights.SEA STORIESTales of shipwreck and adventures at sea.SOUTHERN STORIESPictures, scenes and stories of our Sunny South.
Each about 200 pages. 50 illustrations. Full cloth, 12mo.
THE CENTURY CO.