The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-05-26
PorTER's PHILOSOPHY.

The Rev. John Dickson. who opcr. atea large plantation, stopped an old negro iii tho ross. sss. thus addressed him
 "potter, you are letting all tho other men bcat you. Your cotton Is in the grass and l can hardly sec your corn"
 "Ias, sah." the old negro repllci as he took of hIs hat and, with crooked finger. rAked tho precipitation from hIs brow, "Il do sortcr look like Gen'l Green (mcaning weeds and grassl has tuck CT notion fer spread dc palms o' his hans on me-
 "It is your own fault, Potter. You must rmembcr that in tho matter of farming especially, tho i.ord helps those who hclp themselves"
 "YAs, sah, pear like He do."
 "l'll toll you what's the trouble with you, Potter"
 "Whut's dat, sahI"
 "fou are ' drunkard."
 "sorter pears like ia, aAh."
 "You ought to Dc ashamed of your- self"
 "I reckon you's right rum yo' stan'p'int, sah.''
 "Why from my standpoIntf"
 "Ca.c you doan un'erstan', dAi's all. Is sober now, an i's thankin' de Lawd fur it. Yours sober, too, but you aln't thapkln de Lswd fur 1t. Whyf Gaze you ncber wux drunk. Er man dat nebcr wu, drunk doan know how ter thank de Lawd, nohow. When CT man gits up O CT mawnin' wid his mouf tastin' like somebody dun flung CT dead rat In it, an wid his stomic sortcr churDin' itse'f cbcr now an den, wy, dat man Is de mos pepitum sim ner in dc worP, an he knows dat It wouldn' Ike nuthln' mon right ef de Lawd wustcr strike him right ter dc groun'. De lnughin' O de chiliun ez da play in de yard Is CT 'proach ter do wretch ez he stan's out by de well. house wid CT sort . horrible grin on his face an woBdcrin' whut gwiDe happen nex'. He lays down alter vile, and dc col swe't gins ter 'biIe outen him. He looks roun' in CT mighty helpless way, an putty soon, wid CT 'bar-r-r' he makes CT break fur de back O de house. What CT pra'r he do put up; how he do call on tie Lawd. Er few mawnin's alter dis he feels like somebody done put CT rose. bud in his mouf. He goes out ter de well an takes CT drink o' water ar de chIIlun chass him 'roun' dc yard. His heart Is full Q thankiulness an love when he hears his wife singiD' in de kitchen. He eats breakfns, an when he goes ter work he is happy. He feels like he's been erway somewhar, an de birds pear ter have CT new song put In dar moufs, an de regenerated man iifs up his heart in thankfulgess ter dc Ruler Q de wOrP"
 "Thats all very well, Potter, if the man does not get drunk again."
 "Yas, s=h, siai's 50, bat stter he's been sober CT while he gifts fer be CT sort O Farisee. He gifts too proud aY ain' got no patience wd CT drunk msn. Lemne tell you, when CT man dat has been in de habit O drinkin gins ter dem folks fur gittiR drunk, wy look out, fur he gwineter git drunk hisssf 'f0 you know if an' 'fo' he knows 1t, too. He gwins ter take CT drink 'esxe he feels soYter diserp'ipted erbout sufhin' an den d-bye, fur he's gone. Now, sai, 1 bet you feel sorter lad this mawnin'?1
 AYes, I do feel rather under the westhes.S
 "Ah, hAh, but ef you'd CT got drunk las' week like I did you'd be fsslir' % good now dst you wanter hug suthtH. Eco dat hoe ober dar7 Pm irvine tsA1 dst hoe sn' efn ole Genl Greon CT Awht dat'lf make him bag fur muasy. LIT aim nobody in diS country feels n bettsr den I does. Huhl wiIt AOw6rs an CT honsynckIs vins ErowfI III