Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-08-07
1Is YOu de Head Boss ?"


less man and brother TO one of the at
taches Of the Courier journal. He stooC
on one leg in the doorway Just as tn
reporters were settling down to th'
nights work, and he smiled familiarll
upon the crowd of young men IN th'
room.
81 am not the head boss" replied TIT
particular one addressed, g but you'll fine
man in that little room to the left, who
will attend to your business"
"Much obleeged to you, sar," and tht
dark shade hobbled toward the room
indicated. He was lame of a leg, bu
he looked like he could whip many {
bigger man, nevertheless. He had biG
ouid in his mouth, which he shifted from
one side to the other, as he halted again
in the second doorway.
els you de head boss?" he repeated tc
the person sitting at the desk within.
"No; but what do you want?"
"Pse after de head boss, sab"
1t was at a moment when two or three
hours of hard work made q little relax
alton agreeable to the young man adj
dressed, who replied that while not the
head boss, yet he might be depended on
to render any service to his visitor
"What can | do for your" he said.
"Well, boss, Pse got some po'try heah
dat / 'jectured you might put in yer
paper" at the same time extending roll
of manuscript, wrapped in a suspiciously
greasy piece of paper.
Poetry and the newspaper man
wheeled around. whats your name?'
Sam, sab"
"Where do you work"
"At de terbaccer warehouse, sab. !
cooper de barrels"
"And you have found time during
the absorbing duties of your humble
but honorable occupation to write po'
etry?"
"Well, not 'dzackly, boss; you see
found dat paper, and some o de genie
men down at de house said it was love
po'ty, and tolc me to bring it up hcah.
"Sam, are you in love"
Sam sat down. turned his quid and
settled himself for a talk. Meanwhile
the boys began to gather from the other
room. sam addressed each of them IA
miliarly, and then smiled on the qufs
toner.
"Not now, sab; was once in dat very
fix, sab, but Pse quit dat now."
"What could have thus driven the
tender sentiment from your heart, SAM
"Well, sab, you see, when | was boy,
down in Green county, | belonged to
Henry Smith-yer didn't know him, did
yer, boss? No, 1 didn't 'spect you
knowed him. Well, as tole you, | was
a bov, like bout seventeen. and | loved a
pal namen Susan and she had Il brother,
and he didn't like me-"
"That was unfortunate for you, but II
only proves that true love never does run
smooth"
"Dar wasn't nothin' about to run, sab,
but blood" returned the dark man and
brother.
"Blood in love match, Sam? You
surprise me. How was it?
II killed dat niger, sab"
"The devil YOU did. What for?'
a juss killed him, boss, else he d killed
me-"
Sam spit on the floor, gave his tobacco
another turn, and quietly gazed on the
ceiling, as his audience stopped to take
breath.
"Killed YOUR sweetheart's brother,
Sam :" after a while said the managing
man; "wasn't that a curious way of con-
Quoting a courtship|
"Sah|'
"Wasn't that rather a strange way to
get wifc?'
"May look dat way to you, boss, but |
felt called on to do somethin' to dat mig
ger very sudden, and done it. You see
i was a courtin' Susan like, and | was
settin' down by her OH log out in de
yard wild my arm restin' round her waist
sorter lovin like, as de white folks do,
when dat nigger cum out dar, and begin
to cuss and 'rar round and skeering Su-
san, which | thought | orter take keer OF
her, bein' as / was sorter protectln her
like, when he cum out"
"That was commendable in you aud
highly rcprehensible in the brother"
"Sah Y'
"You were right, Sam, and her brother
was wrong"
ooh, yas, sir, dat's what you mean.
Well, he KEEP on swearln and cuttin up
around dar, and Susan she got pale and
shaky like, and | got mad then and to!e
dat niger to go long way from dar and
let me alone, else / gwine To injure him.
Den he cussed and tore, and pulled out
q bip butcber-knife an started to me,
and said he gwine to give my insides
some air."
"Did you retreat, Sam, in the very
presence of your adorableW
"Who's datW
"NVhy Susan, your sweetheart; did
YOU run away and thus depreciate your
standing for courage in her eyes%'
"Oh, yes, now / know what you mean.
Run away? Boss, wish you'd a'been
dar."
"Why so, Sam ?"
"Well, sab, dat niger cum at me wild
dat knife, and | knowed dat my time
was come if | didn't do somethin' power
full quick, so jest drap my han down
in de pocket of my coat, and dat niger
stopped right whar he was"
Il suppose he had some apprehension
that YOU meant to draw a pistol"
Weepin'! Oar wasn't no use to draw
no weepin', for dat niger was as dead as
if Hghtnin' had struck him. When !
drapped my hand down in dat pocket il
fell right on pistol, and de pistol
'sploded, and dar wasn't no more tarin'
round dun by dat young niger"
"You astound me. Can it be possible
that you thus forever destroyed all hope
of your future felicity in the society ol
your beloved by thus ruthlessly Staying
her brotherw
"What did you say, boss"
"You certainly were not rash enough
to become the murderer of your sweet
heart and your own hopes at one mo-
ment~
"Well, boss, if you'd seen dis niggel
lay in jail for nigh on to a year, and
,,,,,;,j mighty niob helm hung and If II