Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-06-02
GAIT. STICK AND TONEY.
A Judgement for Costs.
BY j. ]. HOOPER, ESQ.

Il J..
precise old gentlemen, and conscientious
ly Just man. He was, too, very methodi-
cal in his habits, one of which was to keep
an account in writing of the conduct of his
servants, from day to day. 1t was sort Of
account current, and he settled by II every
Saturday afternoon. No one dreaded the
heb dominal balancings, more than Tony,
the boy of all work, for the Captain was
generally obliged to write receipt for
considerable amount across his shoulders.
On settling afternoon, the Captain, ac-
companicd by Tony, was s'toddling" down
to the old stable, with his little account
book in one hand, and small rope in the
other. After they had reached the "bar Of
Justice" and Tony had been properly
'"strung up," the Captain proceeded to state
his account as follows:
''Tonv DR..
Sabbath, to not half backing my boots,
Sc, five stripes. f
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 the horse 60 without
water five stri pes.
Total, twenty-five stripes.
Tony CIR. 'a f a.'
Monday, by first rate days work in the
garden ten stripes. ..rt ''o 7
Balance due, fifteen stripes. r.s.-f
The balance being thus struck, the Cap
tain drew his cow-hide and remarked
"Now Tony, vou black scamp what say
you, you lazy william why shoulnt give
You fifteen lashes across your back, as hard
as I can draw?n
0Stop old Mass" said Tony; dar's de
work in the garden, sir-dat ought 10 tex
off some"
"You black dog" said the Captain,
'hav'nt given you the proper credit often
stripes, for that. Come, come"
s'plcase old massa," said Tony, rolling
his eyes about in agony of ffight--"lar's--
you forgot--lar's de scourin' of dc floor
old missus say nebber scour as good be-
FORE"
ssSoho, you saucy rascal" quoth Captain
Stick; "you'rc bringing in more offsets, are
YOU? Well now, there !"-here the Cap.
tain made an entry upon his book-"you
have credit of five stripes, and the balance
must be paid"
"Gor nifty, massa don't yet-dar's
sumpen rlse-oh Lord! please don't-yes
sir-got um now-kethchn' de white boy
and fctchin' um TO ole missus, what throw
rock at de young duck"
"That's fact" said the Captain-"the
outrageous young vagabond-that's fact,
and Fll give you credit of ten stripes for
it-I wish you had brought him to nc
now We'll settle the balance"
"Brcss de Lord, ole masSa," said Tony,
dat's all. Tony grinned extravagantly.
The Captain adjusted his spectacles, with
great exactncss, held the book close to his
eyes, and ascertained that the fact was as
stated by Tony. He was not little irrita-
ted.
"You swear off the account, you internal
rascal--you swear off the account, do
you~
"All dc credit is fair, old massa," answer
ed Tony.
eyes but'-said the disappointed Cap
ain--7but-but-stil the Captain was sore
ly puzzled how TO give Tony fen hicks
any ''but"-an idea popped into his
head--"wbcrc's my costs-you incorrigible,
abominable scoundrel! You want TO swim
die me, do you, out of my costs, you black
dcceitiul rascal! And" added Capt. Stick,
chucklng as well at his own ingenuity as
the perfect justice of the sentence; II en-
ter Judgment against you for costs--ten
stripes'-and forthwith administered the
stripes and satisfied the Judgment.
''Ki niggcr" said Tony ski niger
what dis iudgmen for coss, ole massa talk
bout. Done git off bout not blackin de
boot-git off 'bout Stayin' long time at the
mill--and cbry ting clse---but dis iudgmen
for coss GIN me de debbil--Bress God, mig
ger must keep out oh de ole stable, or Pll
tell you what dat iudgmen for coss make c
back feel mighty warm, Tor true"