The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-08-02
HONEST AND TRUTHFUL.
How = Good Coiored Gentleman We
Abused BY White Man.

Abused BY White Man.
The Major was sitting in his libra
ry. smoking fine meerschaum pipe
when old Sylvester, a negro politician,
was announced.
Come in." said the Major, when
Sylvester appeared at the door.
''Yas, sab. l thank you, sab.
thought I'd come in an tell you dat il
amt outen de range O. my erbility
sab, ter git all dem Tenth ward mig
gers ter vote fur you fur mayor"
II am delighted to hear it," the
Major responded, ''but | have no in
tention of running for mayor. Die
you see what the morning paper said
about meP"
NO. sah."
''Tll show you"
When the Major got up to look fol
the paper he put his pipe on the cen.
ter-table; but when he looked for his
pipe after reading the paragraph. he
found that it was gone.
"What did do with that pipe?" he
asked.
''Whut pipe, sab"
"The pipe l was smoking when yor
came in"
You want smokin' no pipe den
dat is, I didn't see you smokin' none.
+ II was smoking it when you came
in. and | put it on this table when
got up to lock for that paper"
you mouter done it, sab, but
didn't see YOU"
But if | put it there, why isn't i
there now?"
''Well, dat amt fur me to say. Vas
sab, dem niggers down dar in de Tenth
ward pays ertention ter cherry wore
dat says. an da allus gwine ter vote
fur de man dat l puts out, tOO-dOar
meek no diffunce eff it's fur mayor Ill
jedge."
The MAJOR saw smoke issuing from
the pocket of Sylvester's linen duster
''Do every thing you say, eh?''
"Dat's whut da does. sab; fur Ell
fack, OATS jest whut da does"
'That's because you are an homes
man."
Oats de cause, has no doubt, sab
Oh. it's jest ez easy fur er man ter be
honest. l hear folks maxim err grea
miration bout er man bein' honest
but amt neber found it no trouble
l jest goes right erlong an tends tel
my own bizness an tells de truth.
neber could see why err man OATS go1
any 'speck fur hisse'f wanter tell 81
lie. Man oughter know dat it's gwine
come home ter him sooner ur later.
The smoke increased in volume.
"Yes." said the Major, cit comes
home to him sooner or later and very
frequently sooner than he expects"
"Dat's true. sab; dat's true. An
allus say ter my boys, ST. Boys, NO
matter what else you is be truthful an
honest an den de white folks gwine
stan by you. No matter eff the truth
pears to work ergin you at de time
tell it, fur it amt gwine ter be long
till you gwine stand up unspotted.'"
The Major saw that Sylvester's coat
tail was on fire. but the old negro, sit
ting screwed around on his chair, was
still unmindful of an approaching ca
lamity.
Eyes, Sylvester. honesty and truth
fulness will always VIM
do it fur err fack, sab, an dat's
jest whut l tells my boys"
'You never told lie, I suppose"
"Well. eff l did, it wuz err mighty
long time ergo. When I wuz err
mussyful hebens, Use burnin' up
Whoop! Use on fire."
He jumped up. and while he was
putting out the fire the pipe dropped
on the floor.
DILL dOan' un' erstan' dis we're, 81
he said as he gave the skirt of the
buster final twist. "HOw dat pipe
cOulder got in dat pocket l don't
know"
II don't think it is at all strange
the Major replied.
'Who doan?"
Il don't"
Look yere, is you cuzen' me right
here in we're own house; you come
fingin' out er sinywation at me? Set
er mans coat er fire an den tromp on
his feelin's by 'cuzen him? You amt
my sorter folks. l amt got s'ciety
wild you. Come 'stroyin' err mans
clothes an den lOOkin' at him wild
s'picion. I'm gwine. "-Arkansaw
Traveller.