Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-12-08
An Unsophisticated Legislator.

Bill Adams OF Barnet, Is one OF the
original characters of that town. Be-
ing a cattle buyer, and general spec
ulator, he is well known by all his
townsmen, and is regarded as a first
class good fellow. Bill loves good
joke, and gives and takes with equal
good feeling. He is a thorough going
radical, and is so thoroughly African
lied in his political sentiments that
his complexion borders strongly on
the negro tint. A year or two since,
Adams and few other drovers, stop
ped together at a hotel in Plymouth,
N. Fl. His companions inclined to
play joke on him, informed the land
lord while Adams was at dinner, that
he was an escaped slave making hls
way into Canada, and suggested to the
landlord, who was a violent radical
| hiuooIf, to give him such assistance as
he might deem fit. When Adams re-
turned from the dining table, he STEP
ped up to the bar, when the following
conversation took place:
A" How much is my bill, sir ?"
Misunderstanding at all. sir ?"
Avery much surprised.)" Why,
how is that, sir 2"
Landlord.-"I have kept hotel here
a good many years, am a strong anti
slavery man, and when any of your
race have stopped with me, have al
ways given them their bill"
Adams began to see the joke, and
made a hasty retreat for out doors,
where his companions were holding
their breath with suppressed laughter.
The joke cost Adams somewhat more
than an ordinary hotel bill.
Some years ago Adams was called
on to attend funeral as one of the
bearers. When lowering the coffin
into the grave, portion of the earth
gave way and let Adams in on to the
coffin. He extricated himself from
his awkward predicament as speedily
as possible. One of his fellow bear
ers, forgetting the solemnity OF the oc-
casion, remarked that Adams emer-
ging from that grave had settled a
, point in religion, about which he had
! been in doubt for many years--lt con-
; vinced him that there was resurrec-
7 tion for the blacks.
: Adams formerly lived in Waterford,
: and a good many years ago was hon
| ored by the people as their represen-
tative to Montpelier. This was In the
e early days before the thousand conve-
: nierces of modern times were In gen.
e eral use. In those days the people Ill
: Adams neighborhood used to wash
: themselves in wooden dish called a
! skillet. and Adams, not having travel
|. eu mucn, supposed this was the only
u dish used for that purpose. When he
n got to Montpelier, he was given a room
s in which water fixtures were placed
l. Adams studied the fixtures for several
days. but kept his hands off lest he
: might break something. He wonder,
ed that there were no washing conven
fences In the room. He stood it for
q three or four days without washing
and finally summoning up courage, he
e hailed the landlord as follows:
,e Halo, landlord. if you have cot q
e wooden skillet in the house, send it to
o my room, with dish of water, for III
it be ID if I'll stay in hotel where
r | can't wash myself once week.
;e The new fashioned wash bow and
o faucet were then explained to Adams
" who gave himself a thorough washing
N and was afterwards cleaner aud wi
r ser man.-Lyndon Union.