The Arizona sentinel., 1886-11-06
A MENTAL CONTEST.
How Black Buck and Yellow Jim Sued for
 tue Hand of Longheel Nance.

tue Hand of Lengheel Nance.
 Black Buck and Yellow Jim were in love with a girl known as Longheel Nance. As Nance was compelled to work in the field she could only receive company on Sundays; and thus, the two rivals were thrown together every week. The negro is not as jealous as the white man, for, having great confidence in his attractiveness and especially having a high opinion of his conversational inn presSiveness, he does not think it possi- ble that the object of his love can place any one above him.
 Last Sunday Buck and Jim met at Nance's house. Arriving at the same time, they found Nance sitting under cottonwood tree. The two men took seats on bench.
 Miss Nance" said Buck, ''yer is lookln' mighty fine dis heah bright mornin'-"
 "Yes," Jim broke in, ''it is CT fine mawnin' but I think dat we'll hab CT shower lore nlGnt.
 Buck, giving him a look of contempt, sad: Look heah, man, ain't yerse't got no better sense an manners den ter talk erbout de wedder when CT genner- man is compermentin' CT lady? Wy, sah, rse ershamed O yerse'f. Eff yer ain't got edycation an elerquence ernuff ter talk ter CT lady O fashion, wy, de bes' plan is fur yer ter keep yer mouf shet. Doan yer think so, Miss Nance?"
 "Law, me, MT. Buck" the girl re- piled, ''I kain't settle sich fine p'nts ez dem an hopes dat yer'I not call on me-"
 "De lady am got too much sense ter be kotch wid sich foolishness,'' said Jim. '.I'se knowed her CT laung time an I has allus zerved dat wheneber she opens dat putty mouf O hearn good sense dressed in the clothes O fine talk walks out
 The girl smiled and Buck, not pleased with the situation. turned to Jim and said:
 "She's CT edycated lady, sah, an kain't hep talkin' sense trimmed on de edges wid de br' ght ribbons O eler- ANONs S'b Cl hUy "iN Neto NA mark an I'll gin yer my hat"
 The girl laughed and Jim, moving uneasily. said: "It takes CT good man ter shock me case whut hain't read I hab lissened ter when de white folks talked it of. rse CT good jedge O sense, specially 'mong de ladies, an l hab noticed dat when Miss Nance wants ter say suthin' she opens her mouf an CT hummin' bird O wisdom, wid his bill full O honey, flies out.
 The girl clapped her hands. Buck took of his hat, put it on again, raked the precipitation from his forehead, and roI,1arisccl.-.I 4 dnn't blebe dat no pus- son hab eber tuck me fur CT fool, fur when I worked on CT fatboat I wus 'soc:ated w:d genermen O high sense an fine un' 'erstan'in'. so fur gained de 'spect O de crew dat when any O de men wanted ter pick out CT wife da allus tuck me CT long ter see ef de lady wuz smart. In dis way had CT chance ter jedge CT heep O ladies, an 1 foun' some O 'em powerful smart, but neber foun' one dat had ez much sense an rarnin' ez Miss Nance, here. Wy when dis lady talks, gold pieces wid fine lanwidge printed on lem falls outen her mouf, an de mockin' bird, hearin' sweeter notes den he ever hearn befo', comes an hops CT roun', hopin' ter ketch some O de soun'."
 The girl shrieked with delight. Jim arose, stretched his legs, sat down again and remained quiet.
 "Come ergin," said Buck.
 Neber mine,'' Jim replied. ''Keep on CT tellin' me ter come, an I'll come arter while wid suthin' dat'l take de bark off'n yer Miss Nance, Pse got suthin' mighty 'portant ter say ter yer, an would like ter say it when nobody but yerse'f could heah it, but ez dis inn perlite generman an scoun'rel won't gin me CT chance, I'll halter say it now. Fur CT laung time Tse been might ly in Tub wid yer, an I now axes yer ter be my wife I ain't CT rich man, but 1 ken work, an yer Il neber want fur muffin"
 "'Cept CT husban'," Buck broke in. "Now. Miss Nance, yer's hearn whut dis yaller nigger hab had ter say, an ii is now time ter lissun ter CT generman. I hab dubbed yer fur CT laung time mer' self, an I doan blebe dat ken lib wid- out yer. Now, whut yer got ter say tel de proposition?"
 "Mr. Buck" the girl replied, q 'spects yer fur yer gre't rarnin'. an knows dat yer 'spects me fur dis fine piece O Ian whut my daddy lef' me, Yer said suthin' jis' now bout golt comin' out O my mouf, an Pse el feered dat eff Iwuz ter marry yer, yer ( 'spect me ter spit gold all de time Jim, heah, is CT ignunt sort O pusson, an ain't able to take care O hisse'f, SC I b'lebe I'll marry him. Good day, MT Buck"
 Jim jumped up and threw his arm around the girl. Buck looked at thu performance, and, turning away, said '.rse seed CT heep CT sick niggers il my time, an I had seed CT few fools but ef desc niggers ain't de biggis' fool I eber seed, wy den ole Nick is vel come ter me at any mint. Nance, Is gwine ter charge yer up wid de tim