The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-10-22
THE CoLORED MAN.
Mis- Passionate Alteration for the Watermelon,
and His Ways Of Securing the Fruit.

As the 'possum is the negro's favor
tie bird, so is the watermelon his fa-
vorite vegetable. 1t is to him the Mec-
ca of epicurean philosophy and he re-
turns to it each year with undimmed
rapture. It's glossy green holds his
eye captive and it's carmine ~intestines
and black studs magnetic not only
the obese lips that r his glory, but
carryin their victor train, cuspid bis
cuspid, molar, and incisor. The cry
of watermelon! Watermelon can
arouse him from the deepest slumber.
Sugar-Cane may tempt in it's season,
the peanut draw on his hoard of
wealth at times, but his all.absorbing
passion is for the watermelon. He
dreams of it all the year, and when
the harvest-time draws near he will
even work to win 1T. Can self-sacri-
fee 90 further than that?
In the matter of Sambo VS.. water
melon the latter might as we'll plead
non vult c~ontendere at once, for Sam
BIO is an eater from Eaterville county
way back. He can put himself out
side Of q fo~rty-pound melon in half as
MANY minutes and leave nothing but
a very thin green shell as a relic of The
battle.
1t is fun to watch him when the first
melons Of the season arrive-at river
towns especially, where the fruit is
brought by boat. He can scent the
coming vessel affair off, and is the first
at the landing to greet the captain
with all the honors. How his eyes
glisten as he sees the green beauties
in the vessels holdl His lips work
convulsively, his voice is husky with
suppressed emotion. Now comes the
dicker.
cap, wha' yo' ~gwineter gimme to
help unload dem millyunsP"
"Ten cents an hour"
"Golly, on'y er dime to tote all desc
yere miliyuns?"
No answer.
"Well, l specs / mout as well do
hit. amt gwinter be very busy dish
mawnin'" for a brilliant idea has
struck him, and down into thehold he
goes. He has carried out twenty-five
fine fellows, and carefully placed them
in the appointed corner. Watch HIM
now. He is slowly coming up the
plank with a magnificent melon in his
arms. Isn't it a beauty. l. must
weigh over fifty pounds. As he steps
upon the warf his foot slips, and down
goes the melon. 1t splits half in two.
The wrath of the Captain is extreme,
as he shouts to luckless Sambo who is
gazing in impossible contrition at the
fallen luxury: "You black, blank
pot-liquor niger, I've a good mind to
break your blank head, blank, blank
you. Now git. You kin take that
melon, and don't let me ketch you
around here again." Negro and mel
on disappear behind a pile of shingles.
Now Sambo would not exchange with
the King on his throne. He cuts of
great long slices and runs them
through his lips as if he were playing
upon the mouth-organ. He stops not
for seeds; life is too short for
that. | little while sufices. It
is all gone. The Tapping of
the waves against the docks is like
Eolian music TO his ears. A vagrant
dog snuffs at HIM curiously; he merely
remarks, "G'way fom der" but does
not move. His eyes gradually close,
and soon a we'll authenticated snoring
tells that he is in the land of dreams.
The melon OF his heart is not the
boughten melon, however, nor yet the
one that is given to him. 1t is the
melon that has not yet been plucked
from the vine. So he proceeds togath-
er his share OF it in. He selects about
10 to IL p. M. as the time, and gener-
ally goes alone. He cautiously skirts
the field first, to see if any one is in
the skirmishing line. Finding nc pick
cts out in the shape of specimens of
the canine race he lightly Chambers
over the fence and is in the Garden of
Eden. He can tell the ripe from the
unrlpe with an almost certainty of
touch. III he does make a mistake he
cares nothing for it,. There is nothing
small about Sambo, and to obtain
n perfect one he will break twenty
Others without q pang, Sambo rare
y, eats the melon in the field
where he obtains it. He gen.
orally ~retires and devours it along the
roadside, ito hab de law on his
SIDE. as he sagely remarks. He rare
y takes a melon home. Cause why?
lie amt ''gwine ter cou'age de chill
len in the stealen'." He is very
thoughtful in his paternal and family
relations. AS he very truly remark.
III de ole oman want one, she knows
whar ter git hit"
Somewhere In the white sand by the
solemn sea there grows q melon called
the plnemelon. 1t is harder than the
way OF the t-ransgressor and unfit for
any purpose that know OF. Al friend
81 mine who keeps q place where the
worm that never dieth is given a To-
cal habitation and a name had one
gwen unto HIM and he placed it at