Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-10-09
Lowland I Folks.


The mill was quaint affair, rest
ing over creek. 1t was built in
1915, and had done duty as mill ever
since. The waters Of creek came
down on the buckets of a great over
shot wheel, the wood work hidden by
moss, and the wheel turned one run
of stone inside. The capacity might
have been 500 pounds of meal per
day, and it was very coarse quality
at that. 1t was the most primitive
machinery known to millers, and not
one single Improvement had been
made in over seventy years.
"How's business 7" | queried of
Mr.. Patton, after looking around for
q while.
"Pushin' on me right smart" he
replied, as he pointed to three bags Of
shelled corn yet to be ground.
"Why don't you put in another run
of stone ?"
"The wheel might gin out"
"Why not have better wheel 2"
"The water might gin out"
"But you might take some risks to
increase business" ! urged.
81 have took 'em, and that was
what busted me-" he replied. l went
and paid $15 for a corn shelter and
had it attached to the shaft, and l
never got to shell a dod gasted BUSH
el."
what was the trouble ?"
"Niggers."
"How ?"
"They hired to shell cheaper'n |
could, and 1 cum mighty nigh Dustin
up. BE you'un representa- northern
capital 2"
"Only what have in my pocket"
That's peart. Bill Drummond
was a-saying that you represented a
million dollars, and that you was look
in along the creek for mill Sites
Thar's heaps of them, | reckon. Don't
know but I'd sell out myself, though
business is pushing .iist now. I'm a
Citing II leetle old, and I've been
thinking of moving away. doan'
exactly like the way things is going"
"How ?"
"Too many loose niggers around,
and they is too sassy. Niggers is
bound to run this kentry if suthin'
amt dun. He's onery all the way
through. I've seed how it was going
fur the last ten years, and l hain'thad
much heart"
After dinner the township tax col
lector made his appearance, as per
notice that he would, and several
white and colored men also appeared.
Most of them brought small grists,
but the main object was to see about
their taxes.
Now, then," said the collector, as
he got out his papers, "I'm Already to
do bizness. Jim Kelsey, you'un hung
off and hung off, but this yere is the
last call. If you'un doan pay I'll re-
turn on ye."
"How much 2" sulkily queried the
man.
"Just risin' of fo dollars"
"Fo' dollar?" howled Jim. Great
snakes, but what did you dun put
that much on me fur ?"
"'Cause it's cordin to law and val
cation. Your patch up thar is inn
proving right along, but we hain't
boosted vaeatim for the last five
years
"But what am | taxed for ?"
Fur being the owner of "A piece of
land which you'un would never had
but fur the old man leaving it in his
will. This yere kentry has got to be
supported, and it can't be unless taxes
is paid"
"But I'm as pore as skinned skunks
is" protested Jim.
"Jim Kelsey" replied the tax man
as he looked at him over his specta-
cles, "you ought to be ashamed to say
that. You'un's the only man in the
huddle (settlemenD up thar who kin
hev white bread every day in the
week and kill sheep when yer hank
er fur mutton. You is a nabob, you
is"
That tickled jim and he paid up
without another word. The next man
called on was named Dayton, and the
collector observed:
Got them two dollars for me, ST.
las Z"
1.-TWO dollars Great lands, has
youuns dun gone and put me down
for two dollars That's wuss nor
highway ROBBERY !"
"Silas Dayton, ye orter be ashamed
to speechify that way! Heah ye ar,
living under the best guv'ment the
sun ever sbone on, purtected in all yer
rights, lowed forty-'leven kinds of
privileges, and yer kerhoot (kick) on
two dollars. This guv'ment runs on
tho TO- ,.ooo.. To -. L.. -. Al. :.