The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-04-04
MEAsLY'S MANSION
Alex. E. Sweet. in Texas siftings.l

1 mCSSAy DO6Io1uk mouse WSfS uOt as com piete and elaborate as those at frst-class hotel. There were wash basins and fau- cets, but they were made to match the hot air registers through which draft oi air, colder than Texas mortimer, was ad- mitted into the room. On being turned the faucets failed to contribute drop oi water. The effort to obtain water re- minded me of Galveston's efforts in that direction. Possibly Colonel Mansfield, or some other United States engineer had been tampering with the faucet, for when l got tired turning the faucet there was no more water there than there was when I began. The bar had not been re- moved.
 "What's the reason there is no water in these faucets Is it against the rules oi the house for boarders to wash their hands and faces2 What is the cause oi the drouth ?" I asked of the colored wo- man who answered the bell.
 Bekase de man what pumps up de water inter de tank on de top ob de house has done quit de b,ness."
 "Why did he quit2'
 "Bekase Mrs. Measly didn't pay what she owed him 2'
 "Why didn't she pay him what she owed him"
 Bekase hits cheaper ter make dis pore ole colored lady tote de water up de four par ob stairs den it am ter pay de man ter pump hit up."
 Then why don't you bring up some water and to wells can't wash my face on the faucet, and dry it with the empty wash basin. Why don't you hurry upr
 :" Bekase Mrs. Measly said dar was no hurry. She said dat gemmen from Texas named Tom Axletree tole her dat in Texas folks nebber washed themselves oftener den once a year. Mrs. Measly lowed you all wouldn't need any water befoah April or May"
 "Well, if she thinks am going to wait three months before l wash my hands and face, 10 save her towels and water, she is mistaken. You bring some water and towels up here quick, and I'll give you a quarter"
 My efforts to procure water by offering subsidy were more successful than those of Galveston to Captain Eads, for in few minutes had secured more than foot of water in pitcher.
 Who is this man Axletree who has been telling such improbable stories about Texas people ?" asked my wife.
 Who else could it be but Tom Ochil- tree? No wonder the people here look at us as if we had hoofs and horns. He never tells the truth about anything"
 "So he is an editor, too?" she re- marked
 made no reply to this uncalled Tor in- | sinu ation.
 "Ole Mrs. Measly is having a peck ob trubble wid de boarder on de floor below, bekase he didn't pay his board. l'se so sorry" said the colored woman, giggling the 6ona .Ifae Measly gggle. "Why didn't he pay his board ?" Bekase hits cheaper not ter. De boarder jess tole Missus Measly dis morn- ing dat he ncbber used money ter pay board wid. He am one ob desc Colum- bia college studeats. Dey am full ob fun, dem boys am."
 Why don't she turn him out ?"
 Bekase hits cheaper for her not ter He says eff she turns him out he will report that she is keepin' a boardin' house."
 "Don't everybody know that Mrs Measly is keeping boatding house 2'
 "No, sah, de police don't know hit. Mrs. Measly ain't got no license. She tells everybody dat de boarders am friends and kin from de country, who am payin' her visit. specs she tells eberybody, dat you am some ob her pore kin-folks, and dat she boards you bekase you am pore. You bet she don't let on you pays fifty dollars week."
 "That is outrageous. We will move right out"
 Don't dis heah pore ole niggah wish as she could move out, too," said the old woman with sigh.
 "Why can't you move out if you want top
 "Bekase ef I moves out, l loses all de back wages Mrs. Measly owes me. What dis Virginia lady hab suffered sence de war l hasn't had enough ter eat more den once or twict. 1 has bin cheated outer my wages more den a dozen times by desc New York boarding house marms. has been called black niggah and consulted most ebery day. nebes knowed what bondage was till de Yankees set us free, put ] has hopes, press de La~d, has hopes'
 What off"
 "I has hopes dat de dimmycrats am gwine ter Feet de mex president. Iprays ter de Lawd ebery night dat de dimmy- crats may Feet dar president, bekase when dat MT. Axletree was heah, he says dat If de dimmycrats 'lects dar president, den de cullud folks will be put back inter slabery. De day ob jubilee am CT comin'," and the poor old creature al- most danced about the room.
 Great Julius K. Cesar! It cost the American people two million lives, and four thousand million dollars to free that woman, and twenty years afterward her only hope of release from bondage in the city of New York is Tom Ochiltree's promise that democratic president would put her back into slavery.
 It was now almost dianer time, and l proceeded to impart some instructions to those of the children who needed it most. One of them, Aleck, warned impres- sively az ainst the sinfulness of gluttony, and not to send uy, h;S p1ota &h n va~~,,.i l