Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-03-04
On SPECTATOR AND. GENERAL ADVERTISER

~ An Il " IN ~ Il IL
disposition he would make of the contents.
He went out under tree in the public
square, deliberately sat down with his pre-
cious bottle, uncorked it, and in the gravest
and most dignified manner imaginable ate
every pickle it contained and then drank
every drop of the vinegar.
Hurt him? Why, certainly not! 1t had
no more effect on him than glass of whis-
key would have on a professional drlnker,
and expect he is in Leon county now,
ready at any time to vote for ode good ole
publican party
Sometimes two old lady friends would
meet unexpectedly and the following con-
versation would ensue:
With an elaborate bow, ''Why, Miss Will
liams Cool mOrnin', ma'am; how is yer
health dis morning. ma'am?'
"R.ght poorly, Mis- Brown, tank you,
mi. am. Use doue got sort of misery in
my back. but | don't COMPLAIN much, please
God How is you and Elder Brown and de
chilIen. ma amp
"Tollable; only tollable. Miss Williams;
Mr. Brown has a sorter risiu' on his hand,
but the doctor he put anarchy on hit,
.
81 s'spose you heerd my darter Liza gwine
get married mex month";
''Why, no, Miss Brown, YOU 'sprise me !!
VIII" she gwine to marry, Miss Brown?''
why, q gentleman who works on Mai.
G-'s plantation. He's class leader,
ton, an kin beat 'eln all holleru' in prayer.
knows de Lord must hear him Good bye,
ma am, you must come an SEE us.'
THANK you. feel proud to do so, Miss
brown, ma'am." And SO they separate,
each to their little world.
| What judged to be favorite amusement
among them was TO catch a rat, s.turate it
with kerosene, set fire to it and then turn it
loose.
once saw the walters at one of the hotels
have large rat, regular veteran, which
they tried by the ordeal of the fire in the
rear of the hotel After soaking him thor
Oughly in kerosene they set fire to him, and
started him OH run down the path. Bar
ring the cruelty of it, the rat ddn't make a
bad looking comet, and probably enjoyed it
himself after he got used to it. l noticed
one old gray haired negro so thoroughly
amused that he rolled over on the ground in
a perfect parhxysm. of delight.
i About 8 o'clock one night was strolling
along one of tho back streets, when heard
the sound of music both vocal aud instrrl-
mental.
On turning the corner / saw an ancient
n"gro in Company with small boy sittin 2
on the edge of the walk. The man was
playing on a banjo with only two strings,
and singing a song which ran as near as
r can remember:
De sbbit am ennnin' ting,
He hide self Ia the briar
An he never know when trouble come
Till de broom-grass catch on fire!
!, Chorus, expressive Of CONSERVATION Oh
the part of the lepus cuniculas:
Bis-eyed rabbit, BIO,
Bis-eyed RABBIT boo, ete
The negro very early in freedom develop
ed surprising enthusiasm over paten
medicines, especially in the shape of pills
and his faith in them rose to the sublime
No matter what allied him-old- fashioned
universal "misery,' cut tiuger, sore toe. o.
any thing elsa dose Of pills was the frs
thought, a refuge in every storm. The ne
gro vas always imp ltient of results, ant
preferred cathartic pills to any other kline
of medicine, and as most his ills either
arose from overt feeding or were imaginary
Guc pins answered. all purposes.
Martial music was the glory of the negro
2 and never failed to touch his heart. Or
Z: Saturdays, when the town WIS full of coun
q try negroes, with their wives and sweet
hearts, cou-ins, uncles and aunts, let som,
dusky warrior produce a dunn, take hi
position in the middle OF the road, STRIKE
up tune, and a pr, cession woslld soon b.
formed, marching steadily for hours. will
no object in view save to be behind the rDu
sic. And as the drum rolled out its stir. Ing
music upon the air, men, women aud chill
. dren would form in ranks and follow where
I it led. Happy in the supreme idea Of lib
erty, giving no thought to the morrow
D trusting the future with Il blind, unreason
ing faith, no happier race ever gave more
picturesque outline to history.
uoLLER UNDER THE SKIN.-A rough
: fellow got into swell restaurant by mis-
take, and was much at loss how to con
duct himself. Finally the waiter said tt
q him.
: ''Will YOU dine Ia carte, sir %
whats that, you grinnin' ape?''
viii you take your dinner "a Ia carte p
ono, Stree. Prices is too blamed altitu
dinous to take it in them quantities. jest
, you bring mine in wheelbarrow.
guess thal'll be enough for me to sample
he vittles by, and then if want more, yo,
: kin trot out your cart. Nov get around
peart. for Pm mighty holler under .the
skin.'