The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-05
MEXICAN PETER.


Mexican Peter Is something of 8
celebrity in his native county. He won
. his S0bri4pst. if not his laurels. when
serving IS body-serTaat 10 his youne
master, "Marse John. during the Mex
lean war Now cur Zero is not free
from some of the faiings Of his race.
and the shrines OF pious Mexicans. with
their gold and silver ornaments. did
prove a most special pitfall and tempta-
ton to poor Peter. ia vain did s.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 remained
the same; in the time Of temptation
Peter had to be closely watched. When
the war was over. '*Marse john went
on to Washington, and Peter was sent
home to "ole nlarstrr For a few
slIort hours after his Homecoming he
stepped hero. with many tales Of the
marvellous to tell. Having some sus-
pici0n of how matters stood. 'sole mars
ter, with slv twinkle, said, Now,
Peter, what id Won bring back from
your travels 20 show us2'
This was touching teuder spot. aud
Peters countcnance fell he said. IL
clare, ole marster Mars John didn' I
hab no conscience bout dat thing at
all Much as dar syaz TO git. all could
fetch home wUz wun III 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
enancipated Peter from "Narse John 81
conscience (or want of conscience), and
at various and sundrY times be profited
by his liberty OF action, and finally
found himself in limbo for unlawfully
possessing himself OF neighbor's tur-
key, and was tried in the court where
''Slarse john was a practicing attor-
ney, and 'Marse Peyton, another
member Of the family. the grave and
digniiet. judge. The evidence was
oyerPowering, and 10 plead mot guilty.
impossible, so Peter could only request
TO be Flowed to SPAIN how he got in
de trouble" " Anticipating 4 treat, the
request was granted, and solemnly the
Court awaited the defense. Not with
out a certain dignity the old man
arose, and the explanation began:
dis trouble. cause ] sholy is, and hit
troubling me 'nough; bur in jestice ]
mus tell how il all cum upon me. Fust,
sum blame lay 1t de door ob Marse
John Ire good man, good as gole; but
he wun contrac i,ted. not say wun stingy.
farmer. He got dc ole hrashin-machine
he had fore de war, what leave mos OBJ
de wheat in dc straw. and dat fack
tee ole Mis- Simpkins's tuokeys TO cum
dar, an scratch in de straw an cat.
Now dey come dar an do dat SO long
tell dey jes ShiHe, and eentmun, when
a tuckey shine. he fat. an | look at
dem shining tuckeys so long tell ! gin
to feel NOR 'lly bound 10 have one. an ]
got one. Now dat's de fust reason, but
chicfliest dis trouble come to me cause
ole Mr., Simpkins want Do gentmun.
Ef | had been dealing wild q gentmun,
things ud a bin diilunt: but he wuz
pore white folks, an cz / only know ed
de ways of gcntmun, / wa'n't no match
for him. / docs 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 deq
wa nit gentmun9 Well. me an de ole
oman an de chiliun had les dun eat
dat tuckey. an, to si,be de scandl ob
de thing, bad pit all d. feathers an
bones in dc Dutch oven my Dutch
oven Mis- Sally Glib me when hear
somebody knock at do door went to
de door, an dar stan ole Mr.. Simp-
klns' Now some poor white folks is
wus dan p'inter DOGS. dey so peersome.
Mr.. Simpl1ins come in; he look round.
an walk straight TO my Dutch oven
Ms Sally glib me lie peep iD; be End
de feathers an bones, pull un al out.
an ies laA' most outlandish' Wuz dat a
gentmun2 Now De Cot kno. = all. an
l couldn't sci here 9uie. Il dey did"
1t Is needless TO say the ruling of the
Got" was not very severe. Editors
Drawer, Harper's Naga@iae for Feb
rudry.