Beadle's Dime Novels No. 126: Old Jupe — page 96: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

98 OLD JUPE. “ Dear auntie!” | “ But you hasn’t tol’ me whar’ my husban’ is, Massa Bryant.” “He will arrive in the stage to-night. I left him behind, at Jefferson city, because I did not wish my wife to know who was keeping guard over her, during her long stage-ride, But Jupe will be here this evening, and. you must fly around, Clare, and prepare a suitable reception for him. You must kill the fatted calf, auntie.” “ Laws, massa, Jupe ain’t de profligate son, and I hain’t got no faulted calf at dis season ob de year. But I got a twenty- poun’ turkey, w’ich is killed and stuffed in honor o’ Miss Bryant’s comin’ home las’ night; and I reckon itll answer fer all on us to rejoice wid. Ef I could ’a foreseen de future, I'd a-put more raisins in de mince-pies, but, such as dey are, you’s welcome. I mus’ fly roun’, sure ’nough. You hain’t tol’ me bout Jupe’s findin’ you out in dat wild Californy, yit.” “Tadn’t you rather wait and hear the whole story from his own lips, auntie? I don’t wish to rob Jupe of the glory of relating his own adventures.” “ Dar’s somefin’ in dat, sure ’nough. An’ I mus’ make dat poun’-cake in less’n no time. Well,well! Ireckon I kin wait till night. I’s waited a good long time ’fore dis.” The Christmas dinner which Auntie Clare served to the fumily was worthy of the occasion, which is saying much for the dinner. How the good soul did so much, and so well, in the midst of the joyful “ flustration” of which she complain- ed, must remain a part of tne wonder which we feel, that for months and years she had borne the toils and troubles of others to this triumphant termination. The news of Mrs. Bryant’s arrival home, simultaneously with that of Luke Bryant, flew through the settlement like light. With every turkey which was carved that day,-their story, as known or guessed at, was also carved and sent round, an appetizing addition to the feast, But we will give the people credit for a delicacy of feeling which prevented them from intruding upon the family on the day of its retinion ; it enjoyed its dinner unmolested by curiosity. Only one old woman toiled up the slippery road, opened the door of the cot- tage, poked in her head and stared at its inmates for a moment, Without giving them the greeting of the day. Comiclboooks.com we