The Red Cloud chief., 1886-04-02
The RED CLOUD CHIEr
D APRIL 2, 1856.
MExICANPETEI..


-
Mexican Peter Is something Ut q
celebrity in his native county. He won
his sobriquet. if not his ~laurcls. when
serving as body-seryant 10 his young
master, ..Marse John" during the Mex
lean war. Now our hero is not free
from some Of the falling, Of his race.
and the shrines Of pious Mexicsns, with
their gold and silver ornaments, did
prove a most special pitfall and fempta-
ton TO poor Peter, In vain did 'Marse
John instili into the African NINA
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 10 be closely watched When
the war was over. ..Afarse John went
on TO Washington, and Peter was sent
home to ..ole marster." For a few
short hours after his Homecoming he
stepped "a 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 10 show us?'
This was touching a tender spot. and
Peters countenance fell "a he said, Il
clare, ole marster. Mars John didn't
hab no conscience bout dat thing at
all. Much as dar waZ to git, all / could
fetch home WIZ wun Ill silber CORD
displaying with Il mixture of pride and
melancholy a little image Of some saint
that might or might not have been Of
the precious metal.
Time rolled on, and the proclamation
~emancipaied Peter from ..Marse Johns"
conscience Tor want Of conscience), and
at various and sundry times he profited
by his liberty Of action, and finally
found himself in limbo for unlawfully
possessing himself Of a neighbours tur-
KEY, and was tried in the court where
'.Marse John" was a practicing attor-
ney. and ..Marse Peyton." another
member Of the family, the grave and
dignified judge. The evidence wa
soverpowering. and to plead mot guilty"
impossible, so Peter could only request
TO be ''lowed TO splain how he got in
de trouble" Anticipating a treat, the
II quest was granted. and solemnly the
Court awaited the defense. Not with
out a certain dignity. the old man
arose. and the explanation began:
''Gcntmun, l won't say / 'aint got into
dis trouble, cause ! sholy is, and hit
troubling me 'nough; but in jestice ]
mus tel how it all cum upon me. Fust,
sum blame lay ut de door OBJ Marse
John. tie good man. good al COLE; but
he wun ~contrackted, not say wun stingy,
farmer. He got de ole fhrashin-machine
he had for. de war. what lesye mos oh
de wheat IN de straw, and dat TACK
'tice ole Mis- S~impkins's tuckeys to cum
dar, an scratch in de straw an eat.
Now dey come dar an do dat SO long
tell dey jes shine. and. centrum. when
a tuckey shine. he fat, an ! look at
dem shining tuckeys 30 long tell ! gin
10 feel morlly bound to have one, an !
got one. Now dat's de fust reason, but
chiefliest dis trouble come TO me cause
ole Mr.. Simpkins want no gentmun.
III ! had been dealing wild a gentmun.
things ud "a bin ditlunt: but he wuz
pore white felix's, an cz l only knowed
de ways of centrum, ] want no match
for him. / docs know a centrum.
Didn't me an Marse John here an
Miarse Peyton dar all come cut de same
estate. and who ever fetch dc word deg
want gentmun? Wei, me an de ole
oman an de chillun had jes dun eat
dat iuckey. an, to sabc lie scandl OBJ
de thing. / had pit all lie feathers an
bones in de Dutch cgen-my Dutch
oven Mis- Sa.,y glib rlo-when / hear
somebody knock at de door. went to
tie door, an dar stan ole Mr.. Simp-
kins. Now some poor white folks is
WIS dan p'inier dogs. dey so peersome.
Mr.. SimpAins come in; he look round,
an walk straight to my Dutch over
Mis- Sally glib he. Ike peep in: he find
de feathers IN bones. pull UNI all out,
an les laif most o~utlandish. Wuz dat a
gcntmun?: Now de Cote knows all, an
1 couldn't Sc; here quiet tell dey did"
II is needless 10 say the ruling of the
''Co:e" was not very seyerc--Ediior's
DraUer, Aaspas Magazine for Feb
sSary.