Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-02-15
Potter's Philosophy.


stes large plantation, stopped an
old negro in the road and thus ad.
dressed him:
Potter, you are letting all the other
men beat YOU. Your cotton Is In the
grass and can hardly sec your corn"
"Yas, sah," the old negro replied as
he took off his hat and. with crook
ed finger, raked the perspration from
his brow. lit do sorter look like Genl
Green (meaning weeds and grass has
tuck er notion ter spread de pa ms o
his hans on me.
1t is your own fault Potter. You
must remember that in the matter Of
farming especially. the Lord helps
those who helps themselves
'Yas, sab, pear like Ho do"
"rll tell you whats the trouble
with you. Potter"
'Whut's dat, sahp'
you are a drunkard.
'Sorter pears like | is, sah."
You ought TO be ashamed OF your.
self"
"Ireckon you's right frum yO'
stan pint, sab"
why from my standpoint"
Gaze you doan un' erstan'. dat all.
Is sober now. an is thankin' de Lawd
fur it. You's sober too, but you amt
thankin' de Lawd fur it. Whyp Gaze
you neber wuz drunk Er man DAT
neber wuz drunk doan know how ter
thank de Lawd, nohow. When er man
gifts up o er mawnin' wild his mouf
tastin' like somebody dun flung or dead
rat in it, an wild his stomic sorter
churnin' tse'f cher now an den, wy
dat man is de mos penitum sinner in
de worP, an he knows dat it wouldn'
be nuthin' mon right eff lie Lawd
waster strike him right ter de groun'.
De laughin' o de chillun ez da play in
de yard is Ell 'proach ter de wretch Ell
he STAINS out by de well-bouse wild err
sort o horrible grin on his face an
wonderin' whit gwine happen mex.
lie lays down after w lie, and de col
SWEET gins ter bile outen him. He
looks roun' IN or mighty he pless: way,
an putey soon, wild al 'bar-r-r' he
makes er brake fur de back o. de house.
What er pra'r he do put up; how do
call on de Lawd! Err few mawI aim 8
after dis he feels like some body lone
put or rosebud in his mouf. He yoes
out ter do well an takes err drin K o.
water an lie chillun chase him 'roun'
de yard. His heart is fell o. thank full.
ness an love when he hears his wife
singn' in de- kitchen. lie eats lire ak.
tus. an when he goes ter work h e is
happy. He feels like Ne's been er,vay
somewhat, an de birds, pear ter ave
er new song put in dar moufs, an de
rogenerated man lif' up his heart in
thankfulness ter de Ruler O. de worl'."
THAT'S all very well, Potter. if the
man does not get drunk again"
"4as. sab, dat's so. but after he's
been sober er while he gifts ter be err
sort o Farisee. He gifts too proud an
am got no patience wild or drunk
man. Lemme tell you. when or man
dat has been in de habit o. drnkin'
gins ter dem folks fur gittin' drunk.
W Y look out, fur he gwineter z t drunk
hsse 70 you know it an TO he
knows it, too. He gwine ter take er
drink 'caze he feels sorter disc1'p' inted
erbout su'hin' an den good -oye. fur
he's Como. Now. sab, bet you feel
sorter bad this mawnin' ?"
Yes, ] do feel rather rnd or tn q
wea thor"
"Ah, b all. but eff you'd er got DRUM;
las week like | did you'd be fcelh,' so
good now dat you wantcr hug suit him.
See dat 'aoe ober darP I'm gwine lake
dat hoe an GIN ole Gen'l Green Ell
fight datll make him beg fur MISSY.
Oar ain nobody in dis coun try feels nc
better dan l does. Huhl viii flowers
an er honeysucElc vine CROWN al.
roam in my mouf ''-Arha'as 80
IraUsLer.