Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1886-02-20
an ExiCAN PETER"
How He Defended Himself When Accused
of Turkey Stealing.

How He Defended Himself When Accused
of Turkey Stealing.
mexican Peter" is something of a
celebrity in his native county. He won
his Sobriqaet, If not his laurels, when
serving as body-servant to his young
master, 'Marse John" during the
Mexican war. Now, our hero is not
free from some of the failings of his
race, and the shrines Of pious MeXicans.
with their gold and silver ornaments.
did prove most special pitfall and
temptation to poor Peter. In vain did
"Marse john instill into the African
mind lessons of higher morality, with a
wholesome blending of the terrors of
the law when coming in the garb of
strict military discipline; the fact re.
mained the same: in the time of temp
tation Peter had to be closely watched.
When the war was over "Marse john
went to Washington, and Peter was
sent home to "ole marster." For q few
short hours after his home coming he
stepped hero, with many tales of the
marvellous to tell. Having some sus-
picion of how matters Stood "ole mars
ter, with a sly twinkle, said: Now,
Peter, what did you bring back from
your travels to show us?"
This was touching a tender spot, and
Peters countenancc fell as he said: 81
clare, ole master, Mars John didn't
hab no conseiece bout dat thing at all.
Much as dar wuz to git, all ! could
fetch home wuz wun iii silber CORD
tifspiaying,with mixture of pride and
melancholy q little image of some saint
that might or might not have been of
the precious metal
Time rolled Sn. and the procama-
ton emancipated Peter from MARS
Johns conscience, and at various sun
dry times he profited by his liberty of
action, and finally found himself in
limbo for unlawfully possessing him
self of a neighbor's turkey, and was
tried in the court where "Marse john"
was practicing attorney, and
'Marse Peyton, another men,
Der of the family, the grave and
digniGed Judge. The evidence was
overpowering, and to plead mot
guilty. impossible, so Peter could
only request to be "'lowed to splain
how he got in de trouble" Antici-
pating a treat, the request was granted,
and solemnly the court awaited the de-
fense. Not without IA certain dignity,
the old man arose, and the explanation
began: "Gentmun, | won't say 'aint
got into dis trouble, cause ! sholy is,
and hit troubling me 'nough; but in
jestice | mus tell how it all cum upon
me. Fust, sum blame lay at de door
oh Marse John. He good man, good
as COLE; but he wun contrackted, not
say wun stingy, farmer, He got de
ole thrashin-maehine he had fore de
war, what leave mos OBJ de wheat in
de straw, and dat fack 'tice ole Mis-
Simpkins' tuekeys 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
mor'lly bound to have one, an | got
one. Now dat's de fust reason, but
chiefliest dis trouble come to me cause
ole Mr. Simpkins wa mt no gentmun.
Eff | had been dealing wild gentmun,
things nd a bin diilunt; but he wuz
pore white folks, an ez ] only knowed
de ways of gentmun, want no matcn
for him / does know a gentmun
Didn't me 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 jes dun eat
dat tuckey, an. to sabe de scand'i ob
de thing, had pit all de feathers an
bones in de Dutch oven--my Dutch
oven Mis- Sally glib me--when | hear
somebody knock at de door | went
to de door, an dar stan ole Mr.. Simp-
kins! Now some pore white folks is
wus dan p'ihter dogs, dey so peersome.
Mr., Simpkins come in; he look round,
an walk straight to my Dutch oven
Mis- Sally glib me. He peep in; he
find de feathers anNsbones, pun um. all
out, an ies laff most autlandish! Wuz
dat q gentmun? Now de cote knows
all, an ] couldn't set here quiet tell /
1ey did, 1t il needless to say the |
ruling of the ''cote" was not very
severe. -Rdyper'S Magazine.