The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-05-09
GOOD PARTNERS.
Two Gentlemen Who Had Implicit
 Confiden in Bach Other.

Old Sassafras Bill and Hangjaw Ben. two of the most uncompromisingly black men who ever held citizenship in the great cot ton belt, having become tired of farming, desired to move to to~n and establish a grocery store. Sassafras Bill had made quite a reputation as a preacher. and at one time 1t seemed likely that his star, brilliant and oi the first magnitude. would dazrle the eyes of all rivals, but alasl On an evil day, at an evil hour, the constable pulled shoat from unde, SAssafras Bills bed. Of course he knew not how the shoat got into the house, and of course his devoted congregation was willing to excuse him, but the constable said mo-" He said that the grand jury, composed of excellent men, wanted to sec Sassafras Bill. They saw him and recommended him to the consideration of the cosrt, which Americas institution suggested the proprieiy of sending Sas. safras Wilhelmj to the penitcntiary. During one year, Sassafras remained in the penitentiary. When he came out and attempted to preach again--wheu he ascended the pulpit and raised his pom derous fist, old Hangjaw Ben, a devout member, arose and said:
 Hole on dar. Doan yer hit dat bi- ble. We doesu't want a pennytenshy nigger ter come roun' heah lammin' de daylights outen our scripturs. Gi, down rum berhine dat box. Yer aint 6lten ter preach ter sich christians and holy pussons ez we Is. Cline down, tell yer, CT dis house will shake wid suthin' whut'n drap an de flo. Dat suthin' will be CT pennytenshy nigger."
 Jus, then a constable entered and ar. rested HanRjaw Ben, warrant having been sworn out, charging him with steal ing sheep. He was tried and presented with one years term in the pcnisen,iary. After regaining his liberty he hurried back to the neighborhood of his down. fall. Sassasfras Bill, whose voice of warning and italicized hallclujah had long been hushed, met the wanderer and took him into agricultural copartnership. Alter a season of successful operations, they desired, as above stated, to open grocery store in town. They rented shanty and began business.
 Ben," said Bill, |" does yer know whut we'se gwine ter do heah p
 "Yes, we'se gwine ter make money"
 "G vine ter git rich, Ben, dats whut we'se gwinter do. When two hones' pussons like we is puts dar heads ter gedder, somethin' gwine ter happen Heah me2"
 '" heahs yer, an haIks ter yer voice"
 Ben, dar ain't many hones men in dis heah worl'."
 Dat da ain't, Bill. It do peer like folks is CT gestin' wus ebery day. Want dat way in our rasin', Bill"
 No it want tell yer. No it want. Den folks wuz 'spected ter be hones'. Tell yer whut done when wuz CT young man: went inter CT orchard an wuz % hones' dat stead O stealth CT ripe apple | tuck CT green peach"
 "Das puts me in mine O myself" re- joined Hangjaw Ben. "I sen. down in !! de swamp one day an stead O takin' de l 1 tuck up CT simple case O de | rramp. Rheumatiz wuz ies. as handy, i but t didn't long ter men
 Trade was very good, but somehow he stock went down surprisingly fast. | When one of the partners was not look ing, the other one had his fingers in tn. cash drawer, bu. as they had implicit in each others hons ssy, nosh- ng vas said. The stock vas repien- shed, but soon began to diminish. Trade eli of, still the stock continued to 20 down.
 Ben" Bill one day remarked, whut's ie matter wid dis sso', nohow 2"
 "IT be dinged ef know, BILL Peers CT me like it's gwine down powerful fas'. Ef yessef want sich CT hones' pusson, an 4 yer didn't hab sich CT reperation fur ,prightness an holiness O de faith, vcul sorter 'spicion yer" Il
 wus thinkia' bout dat myself Ben. Ef we want sich hopes' men, woup ,lebc dat dar wuz suthin' wrong" f
 At IaSt the stock dwindled d0wu unfil l1