The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-02-12
"MExIcAN PETER"
How ne Defended Himself When Accuse
of Turkey Stealing.


of Turkey Stealing.
Mexican Peter is something of a
celebrity in his native county. He won
his sobTTqset, if not his Iaurels, when
serving as a 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 instilI 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-
manned 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 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 sly twinkle, said: ''Now,
Peter, what did you bring back from
your travels to show usP''
This was touching q tender spot, and
Peters countenance 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 Ill silber CORD"
displaying with a mixture of pride and
melancholy a little image of some saint
that might or might not have been of
the precious metal.
tiOn emancipated Peter from "Mars
Johns" conscience, and atvarious 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 mem
Der of the family, the grave and
dignifed Judge. The evidence was
overpowering, and to plead "not
guilty" impossible, so Peter could
only request to be Flowed 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 certain dignity,
the old man arose, and the explanation
began: ''Gentmun, won't say amt
got into dis trouble, cause l sholy is,
and hit troubling me 'nough; but in
iestice mus tell how it all cum upon
me. Fust, sum blame lay at de door
OBJ Marse John. He good man, good
as COLE; but he wun contrackted, not
say wun stingy, farmer, He got de
ole thrashin- machine he had fore de
war, what leave mos oh de wheat in
de straw, and dat fack 'tice ole Mis-
tn
scratch in de straw an eat. Now dey
come dar an do dat so long tell dey
les shine, and, gentmun, when a tuckey
shine, he fat, an / look at dem shining
tuckeys so long tell / gin to feel
mor'l1y bound to have one, an got
one. Now dat's de fust reason, but
chiefiiest dis troublesome to me cause
ole Mr.. Simpkins want no gentmun.
Eff / had been dealing wild a gentmun,
things I'D a bin diffunt; but he wuz
pore white folks, an ez / only knowed
de ways of gentmun, / INT no match
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 deg
want gentmunP Well, me an de ole
oman an de chillun had jes dun eat
dat tuckey, an, to sabe 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 hear
somebody knock at de door. / went
to de door, an dar stan ole Mr.. Simp-
kinsi Now some pore white folks is
wus dan p'inter 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 an bones, pull um all
out, an jes laff most outlandish! Wuz
dat a gentmunP Now de cote knows
all, an l couldn't set here quiet teg
dey did" 1t is needless to say the
ruling of the "cote' was not very
severe -Harper's Margarine.