Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1885 — All Down. [ARTICLE]

All Down.

“Good morning, Johi ny,” said the Methodist preacher, riding up to a small boy sitting on the fence in front of a Kentuckv farm-house and whistling “Wait Till the Clouds Poll By.” “Mornin’,” replied the boy, eyeing the preacher’s scrub horse narrowly. “Are the folks all well £his morning?” “Naw." “Who’s sick?” “Jim, he’s down with the measles; Mary, she’s down with the mumps; Sal,she’s dbwn with the yaller janders; Bam, he’s down with the fever; Mordecai, he’s down with the chills,” and the boy stopped to take breath. “Why, my, Johnny, you must be having a hard time at your house.” “Yes, rather tough for good Methodists.” “Is there any one else sick?” “Yes, mother; she’s down, too.” “No, you don’t say so? What’s she down with?” “'Oh, she’s down with the neighbors in the front room helpin’ lay pap out.” “Ydur father dead?” “Yes, the old man gimme his last lickin’ yistidday morning. ” “This is terrible,” groaned the preacher: “is there anybody else down?” “Yes, Bob and Hezekiah’s down with the dogs m the woods behind the truck patch ketchin’ a coon for dinner. Mother’s expeotin* /er, au’ she told me to set out here an’ wait till you come along.”— Merchant traveler.