Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-11-14
no HONESTY.
a Cotton Planters Complaint OF the
Lack OF Honor Since the War,


Lack of Honor Since the War
A gaunt old man with sandy hair and
streaks of tobacco juice on his whiskers
came down a sandy lane driving a yoke
of lean steers attached to a screaking
wagon loaded with a shabby bale of
cotton. A nicely dressed man overlook
the old fellow, and pleasantly asked
which way he was going.
"Goin' thi er way now (pointing);
but viii go thater way (again pointing)
when git down yam.
"You are going to sell your cotton, 1
suppose.
"Yas, amt got but little dab, but |
lowed I'd go an sell it ter get few
yards of calico an some stuff for mar
an the gals. an little modikin of fiat
tobacco fur me an the boys Takes a
mighty heap of scratchin' fur honest
man to git along these days; but it want
thater way befo' the wah. Then a
honest man got pay fur what lie done,
but you don't now, kinstell you
~Yes; poor man has hard time Of
it
Especially eff he's honest, the old
fellow reioined "Ef want no honester
than the majority of folks could make
money hand over fist, an my wife an
the gals could have all the calico an
snuff they want, an me an the boys
could chaw fat tobacco all day an set
back, as the feller says, an spit over
the sash board But as it is l jest
have to grind along with mighty little
snuff an calico, an with chaw of fiat
tobacco now and then. Want thater
wav befo' the wah.
How much do you expect to get for
your bale of cotton?"
Jest as much as the raskils air a
mind to give me. They don't give much
in these here dishonest days, but it want
thater way hefo' the wah. Then an
honest man mout expect to get what
his stuff was wuth But the sun has
furever set on them days Whar have
you been to
Have been out to see if could catch
few fish.
"Wall. some men can afford to fling
away their time thater way, an could
do it befo' the wall, but an honest man
amt got no show now.
"How many bales did you raiser
"Only two--feller tuck one of 'em fur
what he lowed was a debt, but didn't
rally owe him cent. but an honest man
kain't expect nothin' these here days
Had son to go away frum home some
time ago-went to a town, but the folks
was 50 dishonest he couldn't make a
livin', so he come back home to his dad
what he knows won't cheat him."
@You should not be so cast down.
Doubtless better day win come after
while.
"No, not for an honest man. Thar
was once bright day, but it was long
time ago befo' the wah.
"How far do you go to sell your cot
tonsv
a'Taint fur frum here, now-right
over yander.
~As l have had some experience in
buying cotton, will go over and see
that they don't cheat you.
@Wush you would. All, laws a massy
you don't know how much good it do
me to meet an honest man, an when ]
git back home I'll tell mar an the girls
an the boys that not quite all the honest
men amt dead, even if it is dun after
the wah
They soon came to a sort Of ware
house, on the bank Of a bayou where
there were several men engaged in
weighing cotton. One Of them, turning
to the old fellow, asked him If he wanted
to sell
AYas, lowed did, ef / could git any
thing like far price. but I don't hardly
expect 1t these days.
aAll right. of with your bale and let's
weigh it.
@Humphl" exclaimed one of the buy
srs, this Is the heaviest bale for the looks
Of it ever saw.
Vas. low ground cotton, said the
old fellow. 1T don't look 50 mighty
heavy, but it's powerful to weigh. They
tell me that it's the best cotton thar Is. !"
Yes, that's all right, but wen just cut
this bale open and see
aNo, it amt wuth while. I'll take
your word fur It
@Thafs all right, but l won't take
yours
The bale was torn open and IN It was
found sycamore log.
Wall, decIarl" the old fellow ex-
claimed, 81 don't see how that got thar.
But it's just like some folks ter slip
around an try to iijure mans char
acter. It has been thater way ever
since the wahL