The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-07-18
AN ADMINISTRATORS.
How Old Jeff oglesby Took Care of a
 Widows Business

When Martin Hillim died, old Jeff Oglesby, whose complexion has gained for him the name of Tar Face Oglesby, went to the widow Hillim and said:
 Madam, sorter hates ter 'proach yer so soon arter the death O CT mighty good man, but CT it am my business hopes dat yer woan' blame me"
 "How is it yer bus ness, Mir, Oglesby P
 "W'y, madam, hab been 'p'inted de 'ministrator O yer husban's state. Dis, lady, am ter keep raskils rum cheatin' yer outen yer rights. Halter look mighty sharp arter raskils at de present. Da's powerful pizen dis yeah. Wy, yer ~ouldn' b'lebe it, lady, but de yuther day widow pusson whut libs Der heah in de bottoms los eberthing she had on de ercount O one o' desc pizen raskils."
 wy, law bless yer, Brudder Oglesby, doan wanter lose whut little stuff I'se got"
 "Cose yer doan, honey cose yer doan. Now femme see. How much property hez yer got on ham at de present. ?"
 The widow stated that she had three COWS, two mules, a wagon and a lot of farming implements.
 "Uh, huh," Oglesby grunted when she had concluded, "my duty am now mighty cl'ar. De law, acted by de legisla'ur' 1, says dat mus come heah an raise CT crap. Doan like ter Feet my udder bus'- ness, hnt de law is awful stric' erbout widow pussons. 'Pells CT man ter turn loose all udder business. Dis am de las' year dat is gwine ter be 1ected minis trator, for I 'clar' ter goodness da mighty nigh works me ter death. Say, Sister Hillim, ack like CT sweet chile now an doan tell no pusson dat l'se doin' dis business fur yer, fur Pse pushed so dat l haint hardly got time ter sneeze."
 The widow, touched by the thought of the sacrifices old Oglesby vas making, promised to say nothing about his neg lect of other business. The old man lost no time in planting cotton and corn. He displayed an industry which won the ad- miration of the widow; but one day when he sold one of her COWS, she went 10 him and said:
 Look heah, Brudder 'Ministrator, whut make yer sell dat cow3"
 "On ercount O dat daim law, hsney."
 Whut law9"
 "Dat dar furnal law whut charges so much fur de signin' up O de back pa- pers."
 "Whut back papers ?"
 "W'y, daim it, honey, de signin' up O de back papers whut de legislatur' lef at de las session. Wy, if ye' hadenter been CT widder da woul' CT charged yer fur two COWS. It am bad, honey, dat de white folks makes de laws fur de niggers an widder wimmen, but it aim no fault O mine, bless yer soul it ain't."
 "Wall, Brudder Oglesby, ain't got much an wants yer ter 'dnct dis bus ness jes' CT caesp ez yer possible ken." "Dat's ~hut I'se gwine ter do. Fl da ietches up any mo e de.e Aesh back papers rse gwine ter gi, mad, dats whut is"
 A few days afterwards, old Oglesby in great distress sought the widow and said {:
 "I feels like takin' stick an killin' somebody, dat's whut feels like doin'."
 "Whut's de master7"
 wy one O dsm blame members O de law makers come erlong an tuck de spotted COW outen de paster. mon ssrated wid him awful bot he said dat da had jes' foun' CT big bunch O back papers dat had ter be signed up. sxed him ef he wanted ter rob CT wider pusson an he said dat he had ter do whut de law tole him. am now de spotted COW am done gone, boo hoo;" and the old man gave vay to his feelings. The widow pitied him, for she knew that he had done his be<t.
 "Doan' cry, Bruder 'Ministrator. Yer ken m ske me ernuf on de crap ter buy some more cows
 "No, Pm gwineter fling up dis busi- mesa Ain' gvine ter hab nuthin' ter do wid 1t lease kno~s dat m be blamed fur all dese heah bad transacksnuns."
 sOA, se. Mister 'Minisssasur, doan' ieabe me ia de lurch dis way"