A very respectable fowl was presently mantled in
brown paper and laid beside the other bundles, along with sundry bags
of cranberries and apples, oranges and nuts, celery and raisins, cigars
for the Colonel, a box of candy for Mrs. Fairfax, huge bunches of holly
and mistletoe, Christmas wreaths for the windows, and a great bag of
cracked corn for the reprieved tyrant gloomily roosting in the ruined
hut.
As Uncle Noah carefully counted out the money required to purchase this
astonishing outlay the bulky proprietor tasked pleasantly: "Uncle Noah,
do you happen to know where I can get a good woman to scrub up my store
every morning?"
Uncle Noah fingered his scarfpin uncertainly. "How much do yoh pay foh
de work?" he queried.
"Fifty cents a day."
The negro leaned forward in tense expectancy. "Do yoh 'spect I could
do it?" he demanded excitedly.
The proprietor, secretly astonished by the old man's manner, nodded
assuringly. "Why, yes, you could easily; it's nothing much; but the
Colonel--"
"Colonel doan have foh to know," exclaimed Uncle Noah.
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