The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-02-25
MEXICAN PETER.

Mexican Peter is something of a
celebrity in his native county He won
his sObfiqucf. if not his laurrlS, when
serving as body-Scrvant To his youn.
master. ''Marse John. during the Mex
lean war. Now our hero is not free
from some of the failingS of his race.
and the shrines OF pious Nexicans. with
their gold and silver ornaments. did
prove most special pitfall and rrmpta-
ton to poor Peter. In vain did "Marse
John inStill into the African mind
/ lessons OF higher morality. with a
wholesome blending of the tcrrors of the
law when coming in the oarb of strict
military discipline: ihr fact remained
the same: in The time of temptation
Peter had Ia he CLOSELY watched. When
/ the war was over. '-MarSt. john went
on 10 Washington. and Peter was sent
home 10 ''Ole niarS1er. For a few
short hours after his homecoming he
stepped Il hero. with many tales of the
marvellous Io tell. Having some sus-
plcion oi how matters stood, "ole mars
ter. with a Sly twinkle. said, 'tNow,
Peter. what did vna bring back from
yonr travels Ia show us9'
This was touching tender spot. and
Peters countenance fell as he said, Il
clare, ole marster, Mars John didn't
hab no conscience bout dat thing at
all. Much as dar waz to git, all could
fetch home wuz wun Ill silber gord''-
displaying with a mixture of pride and
melancholy little image OF some saint
that might or might not have been of
the precious metal.
Time rolled on. and the proclamation
emancipated Peter from "Nlarse Johns
conscience tor want of conscienee)- and
at various and srlndry times he profited
by his liberty of action, and finally
found himself in limbo for unlawfully
possessing himself of a neighbor's tur-
key. and was tried in the court where
''Marse John" was a practicing attor-
ney, and 'Marse PeytOn.' another
member of the family, the grave and
dignified Judge. The evidence was
OVerpowering. and to plead mot guilty.
impossible. so Peter could only request
to be flowed Ia splain how he got in
de trouble" Anticipating 4 treat. the
request was granted, and solemnly the
Court awaited the defense. Not with
ont q certain dignity. the old man
arose, and the explanation began:
'Gentmun, | won't say 'aint got into
dis trouble. cause | sholv is. aud hit
troubling me 'nOugh: but in ieslice |
mus tell how it all cum upon me. FuSt.
sum blame lay ut de door oh Marse
John. He good man. good as @olc: but
lie wm contrackted, not say.wun siingy.
farmer. He got de ole thrashin-machine
he had fore de war, what leave mos oh
de wheat i'll tie straw, and dal fack
'tice ole Mis- Simpkins's tuckevS To cum
dar, an scratch in de straw an eat
Now dey come dar an do dat SO long
tell dey ies shine, and, gentmun, when
tuckey shine. he fat. an | look at
dem shining tuckeys so long tell | gin
TO feel NOR lily bound to have one. an |
got one. Now dat'S de fust reason. but
chiefliest dis trouble come TO me cause
ole Mr., SimpkinS want no gentmun
Eff | had been dealing wild gentmun
things nd a hin difnnt; but he wuz
pore white folks, an eZ | only knowed
de ways of genImun, L want no match
for him. | docs know gentmun.
Didn't NE an Marse John here an
Marse Peyton dar all come out de same
| estate. and who ever fetch de word dey
wa mt gentmun? Well, me an de ole
oman an de chillun had jcs dun eat
dat tuckey. an, to s;ube de scand'l oh
de thing, | had pit all de feathers an
bones in de Dutch oven-my Dutch
oven Mis- Sally glib me-when L hear
somebody knock at de door. went to
de door, an dar stan ole Mr. Simp-
kins! Now some poor white folks is
wus dan p'inter dogs, dey so peersome
Mr.. Simpkins come in; he look round.
an walk straight 10 my Dutch oven
Mis- Sally glib me. He peep in: he find
de feathers an bones, pull UNI all out,
an jes latl' most outlandish, Wuz dat 4
gentmun? Now de Cote knows all, an
! couldn't set here quiet tell dey did" :"
1t is needless TO say the ruling of the
Cote was not very severe Editor s
Drd~er, Ha,per'S Magazine for Feb
T'Hd7g.