Wichita eagle., 1888-04-05

An Old DaSkey Talks About the E2vor1to
Dish That TickIes the Palate of His
Fun Loving Race, and Tells How to
Cook 1t.
A reporter was leaning against popular
stall IN the Washington market recently,
when countryman came along with small
bag swung across his broad shoulders. He
paused before the stall and eyed the bulky
form of the ponderous marketTnan with a
twinkle n his eye which proclaimed that he
was not stranger 10 the man he finally
winked at The huge butcher returned the
silent greeting with the humorous stoicisn
of his tribe, and, after decoro2s pause, re-
marked with a satisfied blandneSs he did not
attempt to conceal:
''Ah! see you've got EN-
"Yas; I've got EN- replied the country
man, AN they's jess tn purtiest critters you
ever lay yr eyes pom"
The countryman slowly shifted the bag
from his shoulder to the floor, and then thrust
his ample right hand into it. but with the
measured slowness which denoted long prac-
tlce IN the art Of subjecting haste TO a science.
Slowly he drew his hand out of the bag and
held up large animal by long, clean,
white tail. The animal looked ike pig, and
1t didn't. 1t had iron gray hair all over it in
thin patches. 1t was remarkably fat. The
countryman repeated the operation unit!
three OF the animals lay upon the STALL The
butcher gazed at them with admiration
Then turned them over ard over. Then held
them up, one at time, by the long tail, and
finally dumped them in the scales. one at
time. When he had finished he went to his
drawer and produced a silver dollar
which he handed to the countrynan, who
took the coin and went his way, only grunt
OF satisfaction disclosing thas he was amply
satisfied
''OpoSsum. eh?" said the reporter.
Eyes, and mighty fine ones they are; plump
as they can be, and first class in every way"
said the butcher
who buys themr'
''Who buys 'em!" exclaimed the butcher.
"Why, my dear fellow. them 'possuns won't
hang on them pegs twenty minits by my
watch. Every colored man what comes
along this way will see them possums the
mint he strikes the entrance, and he'll make
break for my stall There's nothing in this
market in the meat line a colored man ii buy
as long as one of them animals is around"
''Iou make good profits on them"
L
and not all the butchers cares about bother
ing with EN-. They don't ornament a stall
to kill, you know
The reporter could not subscribe to this
sentiment. but before he had time to remark
he caught sight of an aged African bearing
down upon the stall with all the expedition
his years would allow
"How much fur dis, boss?' he said, grab
bling the largest opossum by the tail.
''SOldn' said the butcher, with emphasis.
SOL! Great Scott!n exclaimed the Afri-
can, with lamentation in his voice and con-
sternation in his looks "You dom SOP EN-,
Ell: Too bad, l dom set my heart on dat
'possum. " can't lemme have 'em:'
"No. He's sold; sold him before I got
him.
But you amt dom sol dis one?" said the
customer, Selling the next in size with a look
of defiance.
''No; that ones for sale"
Before the conversation had proceeded fur
Their another ancient representative of Ham
had come upon the scene and was waiting
his turn. He looked upon the second prize
with longing eye, and the reporter could
see that he was anxious to compete for the
possession of it.
''How much does y'r want fur itl' asked
the first customer, cycling the second conner
with volumes of distrust
Il want seventy-five American pennies
with Pocahontas stamped on the back" said
the butcher, with wave of his hand.
''Ill gin yrer dollah, boss" said the Sec
ond conner.
''No, y'r won't do no SIGH, Mr.. Smartie,"
exclaimed the first customer. 'Dats my
'possum, an I'm gwinter have i'm, an y'r
needn't let y'r mouf7 juice up ober de hopes
oh gittin' i'm The man held the opossum
firmly in his strong grasp with his right
hand while he skirmished in all his pockets
for his money. After a while be produced
the required pennies and said with lofty
mien: Oars y'r money, sab, PokeehuntUs
an ALL
The second customer said nothing, but as
certaining that the remaining opossum could
be had for fifty cents, paid down the tariff
and shultled of, casting upon the first Gus
toner, however, glance which looked like
a razor in the sharpness of its direct view
and in the bluntness of it in its sidewise
sweep.
Tell the gentleman here something about
the 'possum, Uncle Jack" said the butcher.
Certify" said Uncle Jack, with q
chuckle. rs been buyin' 'possums from
y'r more,n five year, amt its l guess it am.
An mighty nice possurls dey is, ter be
sho'. But they don't hoI er candle Light ter
'possums in de Ian where l was fotch up. l
GUMS from ole Virginy, were de possums
grow on dc 'simnlon trees"
Il see. Your mind goes back to the good
old days before the war. You can't forget
those days, even here in New York, eh!'
well, l nlout furgit de days, but l can't
furgit de 'possuils,n said Uncle Jack, and
there was a levity in his voice which indi-
Gated that the sly old fox knew thing or
two.
''Well tell us all about it. Tell Us how you
cook the opossUrl,' said the reporter.
How you cook EN-, bosss OATS a fine
quest'n. Depeople up dis way doan know
muffin bout cookin' er 'possum. Dey goes
bout it like deg want de postum ter swim
erway in grease Wv, look at dat 'possum.
Do he look like he want eny mo- grease ter
cook heself in it: An den dey so skin &c
'possum!' And Uncle Jack burst out in a
e. of laughter which was simply indescrlba-
bic
''Lemme tell y'r how y'r do it. n tex de
'possum an hold i'm ober a fire mex of corn
shucks till y'r dun SINCE all &c ha'r off him
Den y'r scrape i'm wild dull case knife; an
den y'r put i'm il hot water, jess like y'r do
er pig. By dat time he be clean an wife
Den y'r clean i'm Jess Ike y'r wo'd pig
But now comes de pint Ye mex y'r stufIin'
in dis way: TEX er loaf ob corn pone an