Thomas County cat., 1886-11-25
UNCLE AeE.s VIEWS.
a Hest lnteresting Opinion On . Peeuitsr
C0lored vseakness.

ONA16 Ao6
A Hest laterestin9 Opinion On . Peeuliaf
Colored Weakness.
Uncle Abe belonged to that class
among the colored people who were
raised in slavery and were seif-instruct-
ed in the principles of moral philoso-
phy. Interest, with that plausible
sorhistry which willing disposition
furnishes the temper. argued tha: two
wrongs make a right; consequently,
stealing from q master was not steal
ing. With his fervent religious nature,
he was greatly interested in the Discus
sion of much-mOOted points OF Chris
tian tenet and doctrine. But the polem-
les of learned doctors. in his hands.
often led to startling conclusions.
After emancipation. realizing the boon
of opportunity, Uncle Abe sent his
children to school; but, like all men,
white and black, while he admitted the
advantage of learning over Ignorance.
he always felt himself an exception to
the rule. He believed it necessary to
educate other people in order to bring
them on level with his mother-wit.
There is no denying his general
shrewdness, although the sincerity of
some of his positions may be doubted
Jacob, his eldest son, soon began to
display an activity of intellect and
evince o disposition to inquire into
first and final causes that gave the old
man some trouble to maintain that
supremacy which lac assumed. and
which had hitherto been unquestiona-
bly, conceded by the family. The oracle
was hard-pressed by the devotee.
Daddy" said Jacob of the nascent
intellect one night as they sat around
the wide-mouthed. mud-daubed, stick
chimney while the pot of chlttlings sus-
pended from the crane bubbled low
and savory song of JOY, ''vou said your
master was a mighty hard man, an
didn't give you all enuff to eat. How
could you work when YOU was hun
gry?''
"Huh! chile. got plenty. j didn't
ax nobody to feed me. use to go to
de smoke house an fare sum't 'tiOus. an
de chickens said dere prairs v'ry night
case dey didn't know which one had
to 60 mex. Eff you wants to ketch a
chicken SO he won't holler, jiS take
him by the make so," illustrating with
the poker. IAN you got 'im."
But, daddy. whose meat and chick
ems was they?' sEd
''Dey war mine when 1 got holt NV
en-" said the oii man, laughing boist-
erously.
'..But whose wos they before you
took emp
Ivy, moster claimed 'em, but l
guess some NV 'em belonged to me,
seems worked fur 'em."
But was it right to take 'em with
out askin' for emp"
''Uv course. cause ef had a-ast.
I'd a-got.a a whippin' an no meat
neither" This ratiOcmation did not
seem conclusive. for Jacob continued:
Would it be right for me to take
some of them big October peaches l
helped you plant?'
NO" said the old man, hastily.
alarmed for his best fruit, IAN you
better not"
"Why wouldn't it be right9' sald
Jacob, acquiescing without question in
the inexpediency of the proposed act.
Cause Use your pa, said Unc.e
APE. cOnciuSlVelE.
.'WOuld it be right to take some of
mammie's preserves?'
NO" sententiously responded the
philosopher.
"Why?''
"'Causc she's your ma" confident
ly.
Would it !e right to take buddic
Jim's hi:k'r 'ry nuts?"
"No!'
"Why?'
cause he's your brcr," Triumph
antly.
.'WOuld it be right to take some of
Mr.. Thompson rOas'in cars9"
mo, an you better not go foolin'
roun' dere neither, fur he Goan' take
no fooiishness."
''When is it right to take something
from somebody" asked the boy, us
ing indefinite terms, finding all specific
cases under the ban.
'''Taint never right fur you to take
nothin' fun nobody" answered Unc'e
Abe in a sentence that was triumph
of jugglery in the use of negatives.
And fearing lest Jacob might still be
inclined to emulate his prowess, he
"You mus try TO do as
duZ, ease circumstances alters cases
yOu'se a little boy an Tsc man: Is
got a family to pervide fur. an you
amt Eff you wus to try to do as /
duz, you'd ct cotched de fust time.
Chilun ain so sharp desc days. Min,'
now. eff you touches dem October
peaches, gwine to skin you live
II. I. Healing, in Century.