Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-12-22
A Plane" Illustration OF the
Hard Times.

A Plane" ILLUSTRATION OF the
Hard Times.
Fayetteville Express.l
The other day while we were sitting in
our Office, giving way to gloomy reAec.
tons, and trying in vain to fix the time
when Congress shall adopt q generous
system of initiation and line the pockets
Of the INDECENT multitude with green
backs, the door opened and in stalked
an old darkey whose general appearance
was well calculated to excite other dismal
forebodings. He wore on his head q
miserable scsrp Of hat, with ayswning
gap in the crown, through which his
dingy kinks peeped timidly. His coat
was threadbare and badly out at the
elbows; a ragged pair of pantaloons
worn through at the knees and shredded
at the ankles, afforded q poor covering
for his slim and weather beaten limbs,
and a pair Of badly wrecked brogRns,
bursted out at the toes and revealing two
formidable rows Of corns, some of which
were as large as door knobs, encased his
mammoth feet. He walked slowly and
painfully to the stove, and as he drew
the back Of his right hand across his
nose and gave a wet shuttle, we noticed
that d large carpenters plane was fondly
encircled by his left arm. We nodded,
but said not word, for pity, excited by
his woebegone aspect, chained our
tongue Silence reigned supreme for q
few moments, but it was fractured at last
by our venerable colored visitor:
Desc here is powerful hard times
we'se having, boss,
We smiled approvingly, aud observed
that the age was indeed indurated.
"Dat's fax, boss-tis, sho. | never
seed de like. Oars no money in de
country, boss. Cotton's done failed
chickens has gin out, walnuts amt wuff
muffin, de banks has Shet down on us
bizness men, and eff de CoptinentalCo
gress at Washington don't do sufiin,
damf don't believe thar will be gineral
justification"
Here he drew the back of his hand
across his weeping nose, and wiped the
moisture on the seat of his breeches.
We sighed, and be continued
''Dar amt no money out Of de banks,
and tell you what it is, boss, de banks
won'te lend feller cent, if he was to
gib de angel Gabriel as kylatteral. Use
tried it, bos, has. Do you see dis here
planet
We told him that the useful tool to
which be alluded was attracting our gaze.
well, boss, took dis here plane--dis
fust class plane--dis plane dat | hab
nebber trusted in nobody.s hands-I took
dis here plane and tramped into the
Fust Nashlum Bank and offered to let
dem keep it as kylatteral eff dey would
lend me dollar and half. did, boss,
sho, and what do you reckon de bloated
bondholder dat stands behind de desk
said whe. be seed dat planeY
We gave it up.
"Well, boss, he jest histed his nose,
pipted to the door. and said. "Git out
Of here, vil you dam kylatteral." "
well, what did you do then, uncleY'
we inquired.
well, boss, l jest billed oceans high wid
iniquity, widout making any fuss wuff
talking about, and | got. What am de
country eomiu' to, boss, when de banks
turn up dare noses at kylatteral like dat
plane. OATS what ! want to know
Gimme a Ohaw OF plug, boss,
We gave him chew Of tobacco, and
he went on;
Now, boss, I'm agin desc here nash.
lum banks, fust, last and all de time, and
| want you to put in de paper dat has
jined de noble army dst's gwine to weed
EN- up. Jest set dat down, boss, and ef
you don't think desc here bondholders
are running de country, jest look at dis
here plane
We "set down" his remarks, and he de-
parted, leaving Us to ponder over the
wiekedpess of national banks, and their
obstipacy in rejecting frst-class "liylate'
raj REV