The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-01-12
AN ASPIRING LAW FIRM.

eN @.S@ &@~@e~~ s<s& W v s&>Sas " Knock-kneed Ben, and old Ste phen's son who cultivated the society of a mule under the nom-de-plume of Dew Pizen," decided that hard work was not in comfortable keeping with that calm and serene contentment aimed at in the emancipation edict- "Dew Pizen," who had once thrown a school teacher in fair fall, was regarded throughout the bottoms as a man of considerable educa- ton, and Knock-kneed " Ben, after talk ing trip as deckhand on a fiat boat, was admitted into the best plantation society. Still, these gentlemen were not contented. They were black enough, heaven knows, and "Pizen 1" had the marks of small pox scattered over his valise-like countenance, yet, they grew weary of their surroundings. Finally they agreed to open law office in Little Rock. They secured several old blank books, picked up lot of papers from under the county clerks window, and hung out their sign.
 Pizen," said Ben, the next day after the office was opened, it doan peer ter me lack dis heah is bery much O a rushin' business. It do seem dat gen'er- men O our 'complishments an multipli- cations aughter recebe noah 'tention rum de public den disn
 Strikes me wid geomelical 6gger- ments bout dat size, myself. We'll halter gin 'em little time, fust. De country ain uster nigger lawyers yit, but when de time comes, dar'll be sorter hallelujah shout O recognizement."
 Oats fack," Ben rejoinea. "Da's pints whut yersef is CT presentin'. But, say: we's got ter hab some sorter title ment in dis business, so jes Jude ter me ez de jedge, ef yer pleases."
 Il will, Ben will, sah, an when a man comes in an l ain heah, jes say dat de chancellor is out on CT inwertation rum de gub'ner O de state"
 Look heah, ain dat dra win 1t mos too fne p'
 Oh, no, dats jes right" added Dew Pizen,' settling himself back on his bench with an air of superior intelli- gence.
 All right" said Ben, "an' when d man comes in an aim heah, jes say dat de Jedge, what am myself, am gone ober ter de state 'ouse ter hep dc s'preme jestice rake de kinks outen a mighty tangled case"
 :" Uh, huh, kain' say dat.' 1 Whur fur kain' yer r
 Case, Ben, dat's tryin' ter make de pot bile too much wid too little fire un Ter 1t. kain' make me blow yer hon wid dat sorter toot. I'se willin' ter beat yer drum, but dinged ef l'se gwine ter blow yer hon. Did yer heah what procla- mated! Does yer ketch de sight of my moul board glisenin' in de sun P
 :" Dat settles dis business ',wixt us, hzen,' right hcah. Frum dis mint subsequently,, dis law firm am desolbed. l rented dis office, so jes take yersef out and lebe me ter de practice O my ekoosed 'fession. Go on. now, an doan hang 'roun, fur yer hab dun showed dat yer wouldn' know dat ar virtue knowd as de squar thing ef yer wuster be inter- duced ter it by de preacher O yer con're- gation. I'se de senior member O dis hrm, an, 'cordin' ter law, has de right ter dribe yer oil"
 knows replied " Pizen," dat as de tuner member ain got nuthin ter say 'cordin' ter law, an leaoes de firm what has tried so hard ter build up, but mine. sah, ef doan gi, coen wid yer yi,. Good day, sah."
 Plzen walked away with an expres- sion of deJection lingering around his able mouth. He meditated revenge Shortly afterwards, meeting negro gro- Ger, he found employment, and was soon delighted to know that the grocer had a bill against |" knock-kneed Ben" He took the bill and presented it to Ben. No money. Mex, day he presented it again. No money. The third day he went into Ben's office, and said
 Here's dat bill, sah."
 "Whose bill .'
 "Io'rn, dat's whose
 "Yer may hab it?'
 But wants de money"
 Yer's got de bill. Dat oughter sat isty yer. Go on erway. l'se les, had wart tuck ofien de back O my neck, an doan feel lack talkin' ter yer'
 ,' Did da take il rum yer, Ben :''
 Vas, da did
 Wall. dat's de only way da could git 1t, ter take it rum yer Doctor mout