The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-11-08

II nadn't joined the great army of tea.
totailers then,) when a neighboring
farmer, came in whose moderation. al
least in whiskey toddies, was not known
to all men. His name was W. He
was quiet sort of man when sober.
lively and chatty under the effects Of
single glass. argumentative and often
4 sively dogmatic after the second toddy,
and downright insulting and quarrel
some after getting beyond that number
of drinks. We liked him and disIiked
him on these accounts.
| On the occasion referred to he passed
through all these changes, and finally
sank off to sleep BY the warm stove
Being in the way. and also in danger of
tumbing upon the floor. some of as re-
moved him to an old settee, where he
slept soundly, entertaining ns with
very unmusical serenade There were
two or three mischieyous fellows about
the place, ami one Of them suggested
it would be capital fun to black VS.
face, and ''make darkey of him.
No sooner said than done. Some lamp
black and oil were mixed together in
an old tin cnp, and coat of this paint
laid over the face Of W. who. all
unconscious of what had been done.
slept on as soundly and snored as loudly
as ever. Full two hours passed away
before he awoke. Staggering up to the
bar, he called for another glass of whis-
key toddy. while we made the old bar
room ring again with our peals of
laughter.
What are you laughing at?" said
he, as he became aware that he was
the subject of merriment. and turning
his black face around upon the COM
pany as he spoke.
''Give Us Zip Coon. old fellow y call
ed ont one of the boys who had
elped him TO bis mask.
+" No! no. Lucy Long! Give US Lucy
Longw cried another.
Can't you dance Jim Crow? Try it.
I'LL sing the wheel about. and turn
about, and do jist so' Now begin."-
And the last speaker commenced sing
ing Jim Crow
W neither understood nor relish
ed all this. But the more angry and
he became. the louder laugh |
ed the company, and the freer became
their Jesis. AT last, in passion, be
swore at US Justify, and leaving the |
baJ-room IN high dudgeon. took his |
horse from the stable and rode off.
1t was past eleven O'Clock the night /
was cold, and a ride oftwo miles made |
W sober enough to understand that
he had been rather drunk and was
still gnnd deal III for it," and that it
wouldn't exactly do for his wife to see
him just as he was. So he role mile
past his house, and then back again. at
A slow trot, concluding that by this
time the good woman was fast asleep.
And so she was. He entered the house.
crept silently up stairs and got quietly
nto bed without his better half being
he wiser
d On the next morning Mrs. W
lwoke first. But what was her surprise
md horror upon rising up to see, instead
IT her lawful husband, what she thought
! strapping negro, as black as charcoal.
ying at her side. Her first impulse
vas to scream, but Ler presence of
mind in this trying position enabled
Ter to keep silence. You may be sure
hat she didn't remain long in such
.lose contact with Sir Darkey. Not
hel For, slipping out of bed quickly,
he glided from the room, and was soon
lown stairs III the kitchen, where a
tout two-tisted Irish girl was at work
breakfast /;
"0h! dear, Kittyw she exclaimed.
'anting for breath, and looking as pale
S ghost ''have you seen anything
f Mr. W this morning?n l.
Och no! But what ails ye2 Ye're
S white as shatet'
"Oh. mercy! Kitty You wouldn't
'elieye it, but there's monstrous negro
n my roomm
"Gracious me! Mrs. W, ma
Ter an
ayes. indeed, Kitty returned Mrs.
v, trembling in every limb {
And worse and worse. he's in my bed
just woke up, and thought it was Mr. j
w. by my side; but when I looked +,
yer and saw. instead of his face. one /
$ black as the stove,-mercy on me l. {
was frightened almost to DEATH. #
Is he aslape 2n asked Kitty. t,
"Yes, sound asleep and snoring. Oh,
ear! what shall we dol Where in the
Eorld is Mr. W? Pm afraid this /
egro has murdered him. - =
5"0ch, the blasted murtherin' thafelp
Kitty; her organ of combat I
ieness, which was very large, becom- /
lg terribly excited "Get into mis- /
'ess's bed. and the Teddy there herself, /
lie omadhonn! The black murtherin' f
lafe of vilain!"
And Kitty, thinking of no danger to 5
erself, and making no calculation of /
seized a stont hickory | [
lothes. pole that stood in one corner of /
10 kitchen, and went up stairs like a d
hirlwind, banging the pole against G
le door, balusters, or whatever came a
! its way. The noise reused W O
ON his sleep, and he raised up in bed j
Ist as Kitty entered the room.
4" Oh! you murtherin' thafe of vii d
in@ shouted Kitty. as she caught I
ght of his black face, and pitching at |;
i'm with her pole, she swept off his Q
lght-cap, at the imminent risk of b
l.