The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-12-25

! polite. ~, II d nIsIi 4ls.L W NIL u nog
then he did it il an easy and gentleman
ly way. a spirit Of etiquette seemed to
pervade the atmosphere.
'Bnt now | warrant that if you should
get into quarrel with snne IIan on
! board this boat he would be brutal
enough 10 haul of and knock you down
with his fist. There mustcome change.
| though, sooner or Gyer. Society can't
stand the uncouthnes:i of the present era
! The customs that cane in after the war
robbed us of our good breeding. When
every man cnrriel IL pistol for the pur-
pose Of inducing his .eighbor to be po-
lite every gentleman was genial. Rude
ness, that unsightly fungus growth on
the trunk of careless society, meant
crude correction OF polished death. Am
boring you, sr;h;
Far from it" ! answered.
"Ah, | like you. for | see in you a
remnant. though somewhat removed
one, of the old days You would rather
| tell smooth lie than IL rough truth
| Stick to that idea. sub. Truth, except
as it relates TO history and the sciences
is a brrltalizar of mankind The hog
that v-allows in the mire has truth; the
artist that paints ii great picture has de-
ception.'
The boat landed This is well re-
membered spot with me-" said the
planter "One night in the spring of
1859 seated myself in u poker game
Just as the boat LETT this landing. From
the very start luck WAS in my favor, and
it didn't seem that could lose. First
one and then another Ct or party drop
ped out, until at last sat facing old
Mai Pelton. soon had him broke
Look Lere. said he, I'm not going to
Jump this game I'll put up my body
servant. BE- CAD. suh. Come here, Bill
| Bill came Lp, and Il husky fellow he was
too. We'll, won him, and the old ma
jor went to bed swearing. Eli, said l.
who's your master nowY You is, sab,
said he. Correct you are, Bill Black
my boots.
"Wen, sun" the planter continued,
Il kept Bill right with me, although |
do believe be was one Of the biggest ras-
calls ever saw. One day, just about
the time Grant was marching into Vicks-
burg, and while was marching in an
opposite direction about as fast as |
could, Bill came M to me and said:
"'Mars JOAN, I've dun got enoughr
Enough of WHAT asked.
Enough o dis we're wah'
al cad, so have |: but whit are we
going to DO about it,
81 doun' know what yOu gwine do
bout it, sab, but knows nat ! gwine
do-rm gw!ne ter de Yankees.
Il didn't offer him any advice sim
ply struck him over the head with
handy carbine and lett him lying near
the roadside"
The old fellow was sil2nt for few
moments II have but Little farther to
60" he said, after gazing down the
river. II have been down to see about
some land rot into Il SORT of squabble
with the government, and was told to
| go down to Kpp5port to see the United
States land commissioner. | had had
some correspondence with the Office
and. from the tone Cf lie letters re-
ceiyed, id not expect that my treat
ment would btuny too courteous. When
got there | was shown into room
and told to await the pleasure of the
commissioner Presently a voice said
This is the commissioner. sub looked
up and there stood Bill-ny Bill
didn't know what to say
"'Good mawnln', said he.
"'LooA here, Bill, said |. are you the
| United States land commissioner?
"Dats whut de president says he
answered with q grin
"'Well. if that's the case, Bill,
reckon | might rs well go back home.
suppose you remember how we parted
ooh. yas. sab, | ricolleck er little
argument we had bout de war. an yere
sah,' he added. as he touched a lump ON
his head, is er part o dat argument yet
Takes it longer ter go down den any ar
gyment cher seed. Sorry ter see you in
trouble, Mars John. but femme tell you
dar amt no Use in worryin' Yer. Mr.
Sanderson, fix up dis genrinan's papers
ter dat Ian 1t amt gwine cost you er
cent, sab.
A look Of tenderness shone in the old
mans eyes. Yes. sub, he added, bill,
the rascal, fixed up everything all right
and wouldn't charge anything This is
a curious world. Well, get Off here"
-Opie p Read in New York World.
California In 1880.