Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-07-13
GRG6&ce JJ@M9.
A JUDGMENT FOR COSTS.

Old Captain Slick was remarkably pre-
else gentleman, and concisely just man.
| He was, too, very methodical in his habits.
one of which was to keep an account in wrl-
ting Of the conduct of his servants. 1t was
a sort of an account current, and he settled 1t
every Saturday afternoon. No one dreaded
this hebdomadary balancing. more than Tony,
the boy of all work-for the Captain was
generally obliged to write receipt OF consid-
cradle amount across his shoulders.
One settling afternoon, the Captain accom-
panied by Tony, was seen 'toddling' down to
the old stable, with little account book In
che hand, and a small rope in the other. At
ter they had reached the bar of JUSTICE and
Tony had been properly strung up, the Cap
tain proceeded to state his account as follows ::
'Tony DR..
Sabbath, To not half backing my boots
&C., five stripes.
Tuesday, To staying four hours at mill
longer than necessary, ten stripes.
Wednesday, To not locking the hall door,
at night, five stripes.
Friday, To letting horse go without water,
Total, twenty-five stripes.
Tony Or.
Monday, BY frst-rate days work in the
garden, ten stripes.
Balance due fifteen stripes.
The balance being thus struck, the Captain
drew his cow hide and remarked-'Now To-
ny, you black scamp, what say you, you lazy
villain, why shouldn't / give you fifteen LASH
es across your back, as hard as / can draw 2
Stop old Massa,' said Tony, 'dar's de
work in de garden sir-dat ought to take off
some.
You black dog said the Captain, 'havn't
given you the proper credit of ten stripes,
for that Come, comet
please old Massa, said Tony, rolling his
eyes about in agony of fright-'dar s.
YOU fogot-dar's de scourin' OBJ de floor-old
Missus say he neber been scour so good afore.'
soho, you saucy rascal quoth Captain s.,
'you're bringing an more offsets, are you2 Well
now. there'-here the Captain made an entry
on his book-'you have credit of five stripes,
and the balance must be paid
'Gor-a-mity, Massa, don't hit yet-dar's
sumpen else-oh Lord please don't-yes
sir-got um now-ketchin' de white boy and
fetchn' UNI to old Missus, what trow rock at
de young duck
That's a fact said the Captain-'the out
rageous young vagabond-that's a fact, and
III give you credit of ten stripes for i'll
wish you had brought him to me-now We'll
settle the balance
Dress de Lord, old Massa,' said Tony,
.dqt's aH.' Tony grunted extravagantly.
The Captain adjusted his tortoise shell
spectacles with great eXactness, held the book
close to his eyes, and ascertained that the fact
was as stated by Tony. He was not little
irritated.
You swear off the account, you internal
rascal-you swear of the account do your
sAll de credit is fair, old NIassa,' answered
Tony.
Yes, but'-said the disappointed Captain
-'but-but,' still the Captain was sorely
puzzled how to give Tony a fer fcks anyho1o
-but'-an idea popped into his head-1chere's
my cost, you incorrigible, abominabe scoun-
drel Y GU want to swindle me do you, out
of my costs, you black deceitful scoundrel I
And added Captain Slick, chuckling as well
at his own ingenuity as at the perfect business
Of the sentence; 'enter up judgment against
you for costs, ten-stripes forthwith
Administered the stripes and satisfied the judg-
ment.
Xxi, nigger!' said Tony, Ski, niger =
what dis Judgment for coss, old Massa talk
bout. Done get off bout blackin' de boot
get off bout stayin' long time at de mill-and
ebry ting else-but dis judgment for coss
GIN me de debbil. Dress God, niger mus
keep ont Oh de old stable, for | tell you what,
dat judgment for coss make he back feel mighty
warm, for true!'