Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-06-08
GlIgrelI0llCous.
4 Lr5sment for Costs.

"a CNN1t4AS4At A"A NNst't
Old Captain Slick was a remarkably precise
gentleman. and conciously just man. lie was,
too, very methodicaI in his habits. one Of which
was TO keep an account in writing of the conducl
Of servants. 1t was a SORT Of an account cur.
rent, and he sauled by il every Saturday after.
noon. No one dreaded this hcbdomiual balan-
cling. more than Tony,the boy Of all work; for
the Captain was generally obliged to write a re-
cept for a considerable amount across his shout
ders.
One settling afternoon, the Captain accompa-
| MED by Tony, was seen 'toddIiDg' down to the
old stable, with little account book in one hand
and small rope in the other. After they had
reached the bar Of jusIce,' and Tony had been
properly STRUNG up the Captain proceeded ,c
state his account as follows:
Tony DR..
Sabbath, 10 not half blacking 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, five
stripes.
Total twenty-five stripes.
Tony CIR.
Monday. by frst-rate days work in the gar.
den, ten stripes.
Balance due, fifteen stripes
The balance being thus struck, the Captain
drew his cowhide and remarked:
Now, Tony, you black scamp. what say you,
you lazy villain, why shouldn't give you ff.
teen lashes across your back, as hard as | can
draw!'
Stop old Massa, said Tony, 'dar de work in
de garden sir-dat ought to tex off some.'
You black dog, said the Captain, 'hav'nt |
given you the proper credit Of ten stripes, for
that. Come, come!'
please old Aassa, said Tony, rolling his eyes
about in an agony of frght-dar s--you forgot
-dar's de scourin' OBJ de loor-oId missus say
nebber been scGur so good before
Soho, you saucy rascal quolh Captain s.,
you're bringing IN mare offsets, are you!-WeIl
now, there'-here the Captain made an entry in
his book-'you have credit for five stripes for
that, and the balance must be paid
'Gor,a.mity ,massa, don't htyt-dar's sump.
en- eso--oh Lord! please dont-aes sir--gotum
now--ketchin' de wife boy and letchin' um to
old missus, wat lrow rock at de young duck
That's a fact said the Capmin,-'lhe oura-
gcous young agabond--thal's a fact, and I'll
give you a credit OF Ten stripes for i'll wish you
had brought him 10 me-now well settle the ba-
lance
Dress De Lord, old massa,' said Tony, daL's
air Tony gruntod extrayagonuy.
The Captain adjusted his tortoise shell spec
taCles with great eXactness, held the book close
to his eyes, and ascerained that the fact was as
stated by Tony. lie was not u little Initiated.
you swear off the account, you internal ras-
cal-you swear Off the account do you"
AL de credit is fair, old massa,' answered
Tony.
Yes. but'-said the disappointed Captain
'but--but' the Captain was sorely puzzled
how to give Tony teD licEs dnybow-'but =
an idea popped into his head--Wtere's my cost,
you incorrigible, abominabIe scoundrel! You
want to swindle me, do you, out of my costs,
you black, deceiiul rascal! And added Cap.
tain Slick, chuckling as well at his own inganu-
ity, as the perfect BUSINESS of the sentence; 4
enter up judgment against you for costs ten
stripes, and forthwith administered the stripes
and satisfied the Judgment
Xxi, niggorr said Tony; Ski, nggorr wot dis
Judgment for coss ole massa talk bout. Done
Egot off bout backin' de booI-got off bout stay.
in long time at de mill-and ebry ting else
but dis judgment for coss GIN me de debbeI.-
Bress God, niger mus KEEP OUT DE OLE STA
BILE, for tell you what, dat judgment for cOSS
make he back feel nifty warm for urue!'