The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-12-27
tunity of testing the elastic qualities of


field half day for fifty cents, but
would carry bucket of water mile
for drink of whisky. 1t was the diff
ference between labor pure and simple
and spasmodic industry with social en-
ioyment as the prospective reward.
The latter always won.
A DRUM WITHOUT POLITICS.
One of the famous characters of Tai
lahasse was Tom Mason. Tom was the
bass drummer of the district, and there
by very important individual bo,t
socially and politically. He led the
right on all military displays, and a
political meeting without his presence
would have been very tame affair.
Tom was of a miscellaneous color,
something like a compound of bilge
water. road dust and molasses. His
right leg was on a strike, presenting the
appearance of an inverted V, making
his gait that of craft laboring under a
heavy sea. You will judge from this
that his appearance was not very pre-
possessing, but when he coupled him.
self to the huge bass drum and struck
up Home, Sweet Home" one forgot
the man in the artist, and-wanted to
kill him. Tom always voted the straight
Democratic ticket, and made no secret
of his Democratic principles. which
made him very unpopular among the
people of his own race and color.
Some amusing discussions were held
between Tom and the white carpet
baggers, who tried in vain to make him
see the errors of his ways.
sSJOD1 ~ SaIH ono sshor1 ic II fb OF ro,,
play the drum at Republican political
Democrat? 1t shows lack Of consist
ency."
"Don know muffin bout 'sistency,
boss" said the old fellow, scratching
his head, ''but the drum amt got no
politics. When l drums fer de white
men dey pays me, an when l drums
fer de 'publicans dey pays me too-in
advance"
One of the best negroes / ever met
bore the doctrinal name of Calvin, and
originated in the pleasant little village
of Lake City, Fla. He was the facto-
tum, friend, counselor and servant of
State Treasurer Conover, and perfectly
devoted to all that gentleman inter-
ests. He was six feet in hight, slightly
round-shouldered, and as strong as Her
cules. He was honest and reliable to a
surprising degree; his language was
choice and entirely devoid of the usual
idioms. His integrity was perfect, and
he could be trusted with. uncounted
gold. Whatever was placed in his care
was perfectly safe. No one could have
got it from him while he was alive.
The great ambition of Calvin was to be
a scholar, and in the intervals of his
labor he could always be found, book in
hand, poring over the intricacies of the
three Rs. We all used to encourage
him in every way possible. When
Conover was elected to the United
States senate he took Calvin to Wash
ington with him and got him place
in the government printing office. Here
his vast strength made him valuable,
and he received good wages, or salary,
as he preferred to call it. Now he be-
gan to blossom out, the natural vanity
of the negro leading him to dress far
better than any other member of the
Florida colony. He made the acquain-
tance of several members of Howard
University, and, melted by them, began
the study of Greek before he had mas
tered even the rudiments of the En-
glish language. He explained to me his
reason for so doing, that, as the Greek
was the hardest to learn, if he once
mastered that the English would come
easy to him. The colored students
were excessively fond of Calvin, he was
so very convenient to borrow money
from. When the election time rolled
around Calvin returned to Tallahassee
to exercise that blessed privilege. He
wore a $50 suit of clothes and his bear
ing was erect, naughty and proud. As
he was walking down Monroe street
one day Aunt Jenny was on the other
side and spied him. '.Hey! 0! Uncle
Calvin" was her cordial and enthusias-
tic salutation. Now, if our friend Cal
vim despised any one thing it was to be
called "Uncle," so he paid no attention
to her.
This was mortal affront to Aunt
Jenny, who was one of the old-time
negroes and prided herself accordingly,
SO she sang out at the top of her voice,
calvin, you is holdin' yer head mighty
high, honey, but de good Lord gwine
to bend hit down"
A DARKEY WHO FOLLOWED THE BAND.
An odd character was old Uncle
Balaam, who did chores for Colonel S.
He was over 20 years old, thin and
bent over, with snow-white wool, and
that peculiar intellectual expression
that one sees in the profile of mullet.
The popularity of Uncle Balaam was
that he could not withstand the charms
of music. No matter what he was
doing or what errand he was on, the
moment band struck up he had eyes
and ears for nothing else. He would
be going home with a huge basket of
provisions, trotting along mumbling to
himself, when around the corner
parade would come, drums beating and
horns footing, and Uncle Balaam would
fall in and march all over town, for
getting the irate cook waiting for the
market basket
However, when it only delayed din
ner an hour or so, it was of but little
moment The easy temperament of
the southerner would not become un-
duly excited. But when the leg of
mutton came home covered with mud
from an unlucky spill, he would be
greeted with torrent of angry invec-
tive and threats of condign punish
ment, to which his only reply would
be, Cant help hit. Mars John; was
comm home, sab, when de company
came long an jess jined 'em, sah.'
But where did you go?' said the
Colonel
''No whar' 'tickler, sab; we was jess
marchin', sab, jess marchin'"
He had most exasperating indiffer-
enee to scolding. One day he stole
favorite Muscovy drake belonging to
the Colonel and traded it to one of the
merchants for cheap bonnet and
some plug tobacco.
To all the scolding and threats he
calmly replied:
Now. Kunnel, l don't call dat steal
m. You see we is all one family and
is obleeged to have some tobacco,
sab; can't do my wu'k widout it
''Well, said the discounted Colo
mel, what on earth did you want with
that bonnet?i
Old Ra1aav,, ,huaE1o5 bosbf,,llx- lo