Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-24

The Reeollections and Adven.
lures Of q Famous Tennessee
character.
Harper's EdItOr's Drawer.

01A0aNA was VnI Va NuU.U I
odd characters who become c~onspicu-
GUS for their humor and eceentrieity,
and who are kept in remembrance
long after they are dead by the many
anecdotes related concerning them.
He lived in one Of the counties OF
Middle Tennessee, where for many
years he traded in slaves, a vocation
which was not regarded favorably even
in the South, but which enabled him
to acquire a comfortable estate. He
was widely known not only as q
shrewd trader, but as a genial and
fun loving, though rather self impor>
tant, man, who was always ready to
turn an honest penny, and who could
tell a capital story.
On n occasion he was approached
by Major h one Of the most
prominent citizens Of NJ. who
wished to buy a smart, good looking
negro to do service about his stables
and kitchen. lit may be we'll to re-
mark here that in those ante bellum
days OF militia musters military titles
were nearly as common as at the pres
emit time Major H was one of
the first families" prided himself
upon his high position in society, was
very dainty and delicate in his tastes,
and was scrupulous 10 drawing nice
social distinctions. Colonel W
at an appointed hour, brought up for
inspection a likely mulatto boy, who
vas mentally and physically sound,
but who stammered distressingly. As
the boy was not consulted in the mat.
ter, he had only to quietly submit to
an examination, very like that to
which a horse is subjected when Of.
fered on the market. After some hig,
Cling on the part Of the two men,
Major H-paid a good round sum
for the boy, and took his newly ac-
quired property home.
The next morning, as the Colonel
was seated in front Of the town tav-
ern, his heels elevated against the bal
listers, Major H. advanced toward
him in nc pleasant frame Of miud,and,
without other salutation, exclaimed:
Colonel W--,you have cheated me,
sirlp
Without altering his position, the
Colonel looked up calmly, and said in
his blsndest tones made more provok.
> ing by his tantalizing lisp: Good
morning, Major. You theem to be
t%homewhat perturbed. If your remark
wath addrethed to mel hope you will
ecthcuthe me if | inquire to what you
{ have referenthe."
You know very well, sir" replied
the Major, with growing indignation
You deceived me about that negro ]
! bought yesterday. Why, confound it
he shutters so badly he can hardly
make himself understood. It is alb
sOluteiy painful to talk with him."
My dear thir," responded tn
, Colonel, with al air Of injured limo
. cence, and with a sly glance at tn
bystanders, who we're enjoying tn
scene, you ought not to blame me il
u the matter. | thought you wanted
, thervant to work for you, IL you ha,
. told me you wanted a niger to con
verth with, | would have taken paint
to thelect a better CONGREGATIONAL
E, it'll"
% This reply raised a laugh at tn,
70 Majors expense, and so exasperate,
'e him he turned abruptly on his hee
and LETT the suaye Colonel master o
" the situation.
'1 Colonel W vas not much of
10 church>goer, but he OCCASIONAL,
I dropped into one Of the churches,a and
l taking a back seat, paid marked at
tention to the services. One Sunda,
morning he took his seat in a churci
just as the deaoons we're taking up .
collection. He took from his purse
: halt dollar 10 contribute, but his
good intention was cooled wher
! he saw approaching him a deacon
who had got the better of him in
some sharp trading, and Of whose
plety he had no very exalted opinion.
10 make matters worse, the good
deacon, knowing that the Colonel had
} much OF this worlds goods, endeav
{ ored to stimulate him to liberality By
remarking: You can give severa'
dollars out Of your abundance, Colonel
You will never miss it,"
."What do you propothe to do will
= the money!" asked the Colonel.
( Give it to the Lord" uuctiousl,
responded the deacon.
well, thir," said the Colonel, "atl
think my chantheth Of theeine tn
Lord are about ath good ath yourth,
. prefer to wait and hand it to him il
ID perthon, and he put his half dolla
I, back in his pocket.
n Before the Colonel became comfort
II ably settled in lite he had many up
!. and downs. Once he carried a mum
"a Der Of slaves to New Orleans and mad
n a very successful sale. He under
"A took, however, to increase his suppl.
r Of money by methods which involve,
! more elements Of chance than werI
connected with his regular bu.ines,
twas an unlucky venture, and in
m very short time he found himsel
! with only money enough to pay hi
!, passage on a boat as lar ri
! the river as Natchez. AlthouQI
he had not a dollar in his poke
when he reached Natchez he nut u.
at the best public house. He wore
broadoloth suit and a silk hat. an,
sported a gold headed cane. witt
. which he would not have parted 70
! many times its value. He bore him
: self with an easy dignity, calculated !,
impress all who saw him with the be
llet that he was q capitalist will
/ abundant resources, who might be in
duced to invest some thousands In tn,
= property Of the town. A week haC
nearly passed, and he had not sue.
: ceeded in putting enough money il
! his purse to pay his landlord. One
Sunday afternoon, when he was Sc.
riously thinking OF making a stealthy
I exit at night, he learned that the
roughs and gamblers who at that time
, formed q considerable part Of the DOB
ulation OF Natchez, he'd assembled on
a public road not far from the town to
witness some foot races. He at onee
started thitherward, and reached the
place just as an athletic and fierce
looking fellow, who was exulting over
his victories, offered in a loud voice TO
bet City dollars that he could
beat anybody on the ground in
a rae Of one hundred Yards.
} The Colonel remembered that he had
himself been feet Of foot in his
younger days, and, pressed BY dire
necessity, he resolved to try his luck
on this occasion. So in the pause
which followed the champions cbAl.
lenge, he stepped forward, and making
a stately bow, said quietly, II will
take your bet, thir." The bully looked
at him a few moments in oontemptu
GUS surprise, and said, "Well, put up
your money"
With a courtly wave Of the hand the
Colonel replied. d~eprecatingly, There
18th no need, thir. Of that formality
between gentlemen. 1 am a gentle-
man, aud | take you to be one. II |
lothe rathe | will pay you the fifty
dOllarth: ii Won lOthe IL / do mt douh,