Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-09-22
OLD WESLEY.
why He Didn't Have Confidence
in Women.

Little Rock Gazette.l
1t seems that this year great many
colored people are adopting the free
love idea. Nearly every day grief
stricken husbands, who have been left
in the matrimonial lurch, come to the
city and publicly wall on the streets
Yesterday old Wesley Hay came to
town in great distress. Going to the
statehouse, he asked to see the gov
ernor.
"Yer can't see him" said the col
ored man who stands guard in the re.
ception room.
but | must see de gubner. Use
one OBJ de free voters OBJ de state"
"De gubner is busy. Ifyer hab i'm
portant Jacks, spread EN- out before
me. Ny 'pinion is way 'bove par,
When de gubner is busy | sometimes
git FIVE dollars for my advice"
just then the governor entered.
"Isyer de gubner2" asked Wesley.
"Yes; what can | do for you, old
MANI"
"Yer can hep me ter lif a great
t~riberlation from my mine. Seberal
days ago a young niger commenced
ter hang aroun' my house. Yistidy
mornin' he run away wild my wife.
Now lso widout a oman. What can
| do bout hit, gubnerP"
"Our law does not make any spe-
eial provisions in such cases. If you
can fnd the parties you can have
them arrested"
But dat amt de pint. Won't de
law furnish me wild annuder oman in
case / can't find herr"
DE %ignerence OBJ dis world couldn't
be counterfeited by a show man" said
the reception room darby, as he
turned to the window.
Den | don't understan' de law an
de Bible tuck in congintly," remarked
Wesley. Don't de laws OBJ Arkan-
saw claim ter be in de eongint situa-
tion wild de laws OBJ de Bible?"
What do you meau?" asked the
governor, becoming amused. IF you
mean that our laws are consistent as
nearly as possible with those of the
Bible, yes
Dots hit, gubner; but yer needn't
git off so much grammar, if | is a mig
ger. If yerll let me say a word afore
| perceeds wild my argument, I'll Jest
state dat Use nebber seed hit fail dat
when a man has grammer, he'd ruther
fling hit at a niger dan to eat de
sweetest pic he cher seed. Well, ez
ter de argument. De law is 10 de sit.
uation wild de law OBJ de Bible. De
Bible says dat hit amt good for q
man to lib by himself. Cvrdin' ter
dis, when a man loses his wife, hits
de states place ter furnish him wild
annudder- An say, gubner, if yer
does 'clude ter han me out one, fur
de Lords sake doan' han me a yaIler
oman. Gimmy a ole fashion guinea
Niger"
"Why did your wife leave your
asked the governor, anxious to stop
the argument.
Hit wuz dis way. l run away wild
a oman who libed on de same planta-
ton, an widout sayin' a word ter me
bout It. my wife she run away wild de
young niger what | tells you bout.
Yes, sab, she jest lef widout sayin' oh
a word. Me an my oman an de young
niger an my wife crossed the ribber
at the same time, Den | seed dat de
oman warnt true ter me. Den | seed
dat | couldn't put no confidence in de
human family"
Did you try TO stop your wife2"
asked the governor.
No, sab; | gist let her 90 ahead"
Well, why do you want her back
now2'
Case, yer see, de husban' OBJ de
oman what | got followed an tuck
her away from me. Den / seed dc
wickedness OBJ dis worl' and de oncer-
tainty Oh women"
1t was not within the executive
power to aid old Wesley, and the dis.
consulate old man returned to his
womanlacu honea