The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-11-21
OLD MIDDLETON.
An Old Negro Whose Affections Did
 Not Teach Truthfulness.

Old Middleton walked slowly along the street. It had been some time since his last visit to the city, and he looked, with an air of interest, at every little improve ment that had been made since the last time he had honored the capital of Ark ansaw by mingling with its inhabitants. Occasionally, though, the old man would cease his inspection of improve ments, scratch his head and surrender himself to a meditation which seemed to be fruitful of great perplexity.
 "Why, how are you, Middleton 2' said the secretary of state.
 The old man started, as though he had been suddenly aroused from a sound sleep, and said:
 "Howdy, Mars 'Lias; bowdy, sah."
 "Where do you keep yoarself2 l haven seen you for some time"
 "l stays mighty close, now, Mars 'Lias. kain' walk like uster could. Some time ergo broke de spring bone in one O my heels"
 "You did what2"
 "I says dat broke de spring-bone in one O my heels, sab. Whut yer laughin' atp Ain yer got no mo- feelin' den ter laugh at CT pusson's 'fiickshun9 Is dat de way de Dimmercrats gwineter do jes' ease da's in de power?'
 "I was not laughing at your affliction, Uncle Middleton"
 "Den whut yer laughin' ata'
 At the idea of man having spring bone in his heel"
 "Mebbe yer doan blebe it."
 "Of course don't"
 "Wall dat's whar yer shows yer ignunce, Mars 'Lias, an now ter be plain wid yer 1 doan see wharto' da 'lected yer ter sich CT 'portant office. Yer oughter know better den ter talk dat way. Er deer an CT man bof hab got spring-bones in der hss;s."
 "What Is the shape of the spring-bone in a mans heel?"
 Wall, it's sorler like de back-spriug O CT knife. It's de fines metal O any bone in de human 'natomy, sah, an ef it want fur dem springs, folks woup walk jes like da had wooden laigs; da woul' :, sab, fur CT fack."
 How did you break one of your springs" ?"
 "Wall, sah, wuz chasin' de haugs outer de 6el', an in jumpin' ober CT fencel struck my heel ergin CT stump. Snap 1 went de spring an I gunter turn roun' an roun' like CT steamboat wid one wheel smashed. knowd den dat my bes' days wuz dun ober."
 "Couldn't you have another spring made?'
 "l thought l could an 'ployed CT cullud gennermsn whut wuz CT mighty fine 'zishun. He said dat he had made one outen steel fur CT white man, but ar- ter tinkerin' roun' fur CT while an charg- in me ten dollars he gin up de jaub an quit"
 "How did your cotton turn ou., Uacle Middleton ?"
 It didn' turn out, sah."
 CT am sorry"
 "Yer ain haf CT sorry e is."
 "I rode along by your place some time ago and saw that your crop looked bad"
 "Yas, an arter dat it got so bad dat it didn' look CT tall. Got down SO low it want aoie ter took"
 "You had but little rain in your neigh borhoodT
 "Didn' hab none, sah. Wy, sah, it wuz so dry dat we had ter water de fish in de bayou. DAr wuz water in de place but it wuz sich dry water dat de fish wouldn' drink it."
 "Well, you must have had drouth."
 "Yas, sAh, reckoas ~e did. One time CT rain set in an blame ef de draps O water didn dry up fore da .sched de groun'. It wuz de dryes' season eber seed, but ken 'count far it."
 What vas the cause?"
 "De cibil sarvics form, sah."
 How did that have such an effect p
 "Yer see lbs in CT pos'ful Dimegcrat neighborhood an de cibil sarvice druv de rain way fum de Dimercrats."
 "You don't believe in civil service re-