Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-16
NOT SO "BEFO' THE wAH.~
An Honest Man Regrets the Degeneracy
Of the Age.

From the Chicago Herald
gaunt old follow with sandy hair and with
ssreaks Of tobacco Juice" on his whiskers
camo down q sandy lane driving . yoke of
lean steers attached to q creaking wagon
loaded with n shabby bale Of cotton. A nicely
dressed man overlook the old fellow and pleas
antly asked which way he was going
''Goin' thiser way (pointng), but will 60
thater way (again pointing) when git down
yam"
you are going to sell your cotton, sup
poser"
''Yas, I amt got but little dab, but lowed
I'd go an sell 1t to git q few yards Of calko and
some snuff fur muir an the gals an little
modikiu of Fat tobacco for ma an the boys.
Takes mighty heap o scratching fur a honest
man to GIT along these days, but it want thater
way befo' the wah. Then a honest man got
pay fur what he done, but he don't now. kin
tell you"
Yes poor man has a hard time of it,"
Especially eff he's honest" the old fellow
rejoined. "Ef l want no honester than the
majority Of folks l could make money hand
over fist an my wife an the gals could have
all the caliko an snuff they wantsehf me an
the boys could chaw Hat tobacco all day an
set bsck, as the Teller says, and spit over the
slash board. But as it is jest have TO grind
along with mighty little snuff an cgliko an
with a chaw of fiat tobacco now and then.
Want thater way befo' the wah.'
bale of cotton?''
Jest as much as the raskils are a mind to
give me. They don't give much in these yere
dishonest DAYS, but it want thater way befo'
the wah. Then a honest man mout expect to
GIT what his stuff was wuth, but the sun has
furever set on them thar days. Whar have
you been tor
Have been out to see If 1 could catch few
fish,"
Wall, some men can afford to fling away
their time thater way, an could do il beio'
the wah, but an honest man amt got no show
now"
How many bales did you raiser"
Only two-feller tuck one Of EN- fur what
he lowed was debt, but didn't rally owe him
a cent. but honest man kaint expect nothin'
these here days. He had a son to 90 way from
home some time ago-went to a town, but the
folks was SO dishonest he couldn't make a
Twin. SO he came back home to his dad. what
he knows won't cheat him."
You should not be SO cast down. Doubtless
q better day will come after awhile"
NO. not for a honest man. Thar was once
bright day, but it was long time ago befo'
the wah.
How far do you go to sell your cotton?"
"'Taint fur frum here, now-right over yam
der"
.'As have had some experience in buying
cotton will go over and see that they don {
cheat you"
"Wush you would. All, laws massy. Won
don't know how much good it do me to meet a
honest man. an when git back home I'll tell
mar an the gals an the boys that not quite all
the honest men amt dead even eff 1t is dun
after the wah."
They soon came to a sort of ware house on
the bank OF 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.
Vas, lowed / did eff 1 could git anything
like far price, but don't hardly expect il in
these days"
IAN right; of with your bale and let's weigh
"Humphi" exclaimed one Of the BUYERS.
''this liz the heaviest bale for the looks OF it |
ever saw"
"Yas. low ground cotton" said the old fell
low. 1T don't look SO mighty heavy, but it Is
powerful to weigh. They tell me that it is the
best cotton thar is"
Yes, that's all right, but well just cut this
bale open and see.''
NO, 1t amt wuth while: I'll take yo' word
for it,
That's all right but won't take yours"
Inc bale was torn open and in it was found
sycamore log. 'Wall, declsr" the old fell
low exclaimed. Il don't see how that got in
thar But il is jest like some folks ter slip
around an try to iniure mans character. II
mas been thater way ever sense the wah."