Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1874-04-04
How Sduire Skeggs got Skinned by
the "Paaroah Men,"
r From tie Sarannah NeVs. ]

From tie SdrdRndk Negs
"You see" said the Squire. pitching his
voice to an exege,ical altitude. " It was sorter
this way. Last CbGsed,y WIZ a week ago,
sailed down from Gwinuett to iAtlanty With
seven bags Of cotton. Arter l sold EN-, |
kinder loaicd roun' lOokin' a, thugs in general
an feelin' just as happy as you please. when
who should run asin bat Kurnel BlaSensame.
Ne and the Kurne used to be boys together,
an We wuz As thick as five kittens in rag
basket. We drank outen the same CORD, an
we Got the lint snatched outen us BY the samo
bandy-egged school teacher wuz gliten as
lonesome as 4 raiu-crow, aforel struck up with
the Kurnel, an was glad to see him-dproed
glad. We knocked rouu' town smartually, an'
the Kurnel interjuiced me TO a whole raft OF
fellers-mishiy nice boys they wuz, too. Ar
ter supper the Kurnrl says:
"Shaggs, says he, less 50 TO my room
whar we kin talk over ole times sorter comfor-
table an ondstuybel like
"'Greeable,' says |, an' we walked squar
or so an' turned into a alley an' walked up
narrer par OF stars. The Kuruel gin little
rap at green door, an a slick lookn' merlat-
ter popped out an axed US in. lie wus tho
durndest perlitest niger you ever seen. lie
Jest 60, up au' spun aroun' like tom cat with
her tail aiiro. The room wuz as iine as a I'D
die au' full Of picturs an' sOlys, an the cheers
wuz as soft 40 lambs wool, an' though. 70
mesolf that the kurnel was luxuHent euss.
Thar was a lot Of mishty nice lc!IcTs scattered
rouu' a lallin' an' talkin' quite soshabcl like.
Apefient, the hurnel wuzeut much Sot back.
for lie sorter LATED to himself an' then he says
"Doys. says lie. hey fetched up fren'.
Jedge Hishtower, this is Squire Skagss, Of
Gwiunett. M4jer Briggs, Squire Skagss, al
50 on all roun'. Thcu the KaTne! turns to mo
Gu says;
Freely, | wuzcot expeciin' company.
Skascs, but the members of the Young Mems
ChristuD SJsashuu make my room tier head
quarters. D.
Il ups al says wuz mighty glad to meet
the boys. used to be Prematiye BabIiJ
myself afore got to cussip the Yankees, az
hey always bad y 1ortsr hankeriu arter pious
fy.ks. They all lated and shook hans over
asin, al We sot thar sm0kiu' aud chawih'
iuol is muchuel as you please disremember
how it come up, but presently Major Briggs
gits up au says:
"'Kuruei, what abeu. that new parler game
you got out the other day.
oh. SCI the Kuruel, lookin' sorter sheep
/ ish, that wuz humbug. can't make no
head nor tail outen it.
I'm bet kin manage it. scz Judge High
tower, quite animated like.
IN show you how, Judge with pl- asure.
s.z the Kumcl, an then he went to a table.
unlocked box an tuck out a deck Of kcerjS
an whole lot Of little wbatyoumaycallems.
similar to horn buttons. some white au' some
red.
Squire Skagss paused and supplied bis Tire
less jaws with fresh quid Of tobacco.
1T amt no use to tell you any more
When them leers got done aruin' me tba!
game didn't have money cuoush to take me
down stairs. | say looked a leetle wild, for
when the Jedge closed the box he said
1--WE hov bad pleasant cyenia'. Squire
You'll fnd the Kurnel waitiu' for you on tho
steps, aud he'll give yeur money back"
" amt never laid eyes on the Kuruel sence.
an when do thar's goiu' to bo a case i2r tbe
Kutiuer--you mind Dy words. seed Euie
Lester rext day-you know Rufe; be. 10 tho
Legislature now, but used to give Liai
popcorn wien le wuzeot 50 hish-I seed
Rule an ho sed | wuz tuck .n W tho Pharoah
men. TUCK il amt nc name for it. DeFned
ef didn't 60 to the bottom an sit skinned
alive"