Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-02-22
"a PERFECT GENTLEMAN"
BY REV. WILLIAM NJ. BAKER, DID,.

"Here are the documents for GAO acres
Of best bottom lands, Mr.. Morgan;
would it be wholly convenient for you to
let me have one Of your very best super
fine suits for that?"
Mr.. Morgan was not merely the keeper
of ready-made clothing store, but
vast deal more. He had opened his
warehouse near the mouth of that one
of our Southwestern rivers which poured
its muddy waters through the richest
cotton and sugar lands on the continent,
and there was little known to men in
which he did not deal, from a paper of
needles, brand of cattle, drove Of
horses, a cargo of corn, river steamer,
up to a plantation with all its negroes
and other machinery for the making of
either sugar or tobacco. Never as yet
had he declined q trade, whatever its
nature.
Certainly, Gen. Mcpherson, he re-
piled, and proceeded to heap his counter
with broadcloth suits. He would have
done the same if his customer had not,
as was usually the case. picayune to
offer him. For the General was power
in all that region, and yet no man could
say wherein that power lay. He was of
commanding presence, but the reverse
of handsome. That he had been thor
oughly educated, and had seen much Of
the world, was as evident as that his
clothes were invariably Of the shabbiest
description. People knew that he was
the best lawyer, the most interesting Of
takers, seated upon the goods box OF
mounted upon the stump, in the State.
For him to to go before jury was to
win the case, however desperate but il
consoled the parties on the other side
to know that his fees, large as they
we're, would be loaned or given away il
advance. 1t may be that the alcohol ii
which he saturated himself was as the
chemicals to battery, for there was 6
species Of almost galvanic magnetism
about the man. He had but to speak Il
you in his courtly fashion, but to cal
you by your name, but to lay his hant
upon your shoulder in his frank ant
loving way, and you were his for life
Although in wholly different way, yol
could no more come in contact with Gen
Mcpherson and resist his fascination
than If he had been, instead, an electri
eel. "The General is perfect gentle
man," vas the invariable summing u
Of even his manifold Weaknesses.
In an hour after entering Mr.. MOI
gan's store he was clothed from head t
foot, hat, new handkerchief, linen neck
tie, boots and all. "Do not mentio.
+ it," he said, with deprecatlng hands
i when the store-keeper suggested tina
! the acres he had paid were considernbl.
more than the outfit was worth. 81
) you knew what 1 intend, you woul
} agree with me" he added, as he witt
| drew, and Mr.. Morgan, following him
the door, saw him mount his horse an
disappear up the river and into the peca
}. forest.
at wouldn't be surprised" Mr.. Mo
gan exclaimed, "ifl"-and he slappe
t himself upon tho thigh, tho s'.rprii
increasing the admiration with which /
continued to gaze up the miry roa'
land, poor girl, she con no more refui
than if she were cat-bird and he ra
tlesnake |" Plunging both hands In
n his trousers pockets, Mr.. Morgan r
= manned standing in his doorway, shakir
his head from time to time in sorrowf
reflection, until it was time to close q
/ store for the night.
Mr.. Morgan was exceedingly clef
re headed in this as in many another ms
>. ter, for Gen. Mcpherson, after ridil
,st six miles along its banks, deliberate
iei.a5 bis horse whare a road ran dos