The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-06-11
EXECUTIVE.

do as we'll as any.
Yesterday was rather dull day,
with somewhat of blush cast, and
the reporter made his first raid on the
executive department, just to have q
laugh with Levy and get good-natured
with the balance of the world.
Levy is the Governors private sec
rotary and they call him Colonel"
He is man past the prime of life and
his hair and his gallant side whiskers
are tinged with gray, yet he is as jolly
as a boy, and one almost feels like
clapping him on the back and calling
him dad" there is such friendly
good natured look in his sparkling
spectacles when he aims them at q
fellow. Believe I'd know those spec
tacles if / was to meet them up in a
balloon or in Houston, or any other
funny place.
But speaking of Col. Levy makes
me think OF a case that 1 have heard
related about just such another col
onel as he Is, a gentleman of tine good
old school, and the executive ability
he displayed was of just such char
acter as Col. Levy would have dis
played under similar circumstances.
1t was in the ante bellum days
that have been so much talk
ed about, the Colonel fell
heir to one of those grand old south
| o,n ,oIootot;oDs xyh;oh ora on ofton
read of, so seldom seen.
The former master had been very
easily imposed upon and having been
considerable of an invalid and disposed
withal to take his uncertain lease OF
life as easily as possible, it therefore
came to pass that when the colonel
took possession he found things ter
ribly dilapidated and frightfully
whopper-jawed. At first he was
somewhat discouraged, but at length
he determined to have dress parade,
see what he had to deal with and de-
eide on the character Of campaign he
should pursue,
Accordingly all the wagons and i'm
plements, all the live stock and all tn,
slaves were mustered up for inspec
! ton. With but few exceptions the
wagons and implements were worn out
and broken down. Many of the ami
mails were lame, halt and blind,
diseased and worthless. Among the
slaves rheumatism and kindred miser-
les were heralded as excuses why an
appalling per cent of the broad shout
dered. slick skinned black rascals were
unable to work.
The colon, marched about among
his possessions with black frown
upon his brow and his kindly mouth
hidden by his, fiercely bristling
whiskers. f...
Having carefully looked over the
tools, he ordered all the rickety,
broken down traps piled together and
the lew good ones taken back to the
sheds Then, in the presence OF every
body, the useless rubbish was burned,
the overeeer was ordered to buy an en-
tire new outfit and the hands were
dismissed to talk together over the
proceedings.
Next morning another parade Of
forces. The colonel marched up and
down.with a black frown upon his
brow, his whiskers bristlipg fiercely.
The stock was surveyed. A dozen or
two able bodied mules were ordered
back to the lots and the balance, a
pitiful drove OF knock -kneed, gamble
jointed skeletons, were ordered shot
and their carcasses hauled off and
barred. 1t was done and the overseer
was ordered to get new horses
and new mules. The hands had
witnessed and taken part in the
slaughter, and when the colonel,
in tones Of thunder, ordered
that every man woman and child on
the place report for inspection In the
morning, on the same blood stained
ground, they departed with rolling
eyes and beating hearts.
The next morning they were there.
The colonel marched up and down
with black frown upon his brow, his
whiskers bristling fiercely.
And what remarkable sight met
his gaze. Every man, woman and
child seemed set on springs. The
children were jumping about, the
women and men were running here
and there, and the most helpless Grip
Piles Of yesterday were as nimble as
kittens. Old Jake, who hadn't struck
lick of work in ten years, appeared
with a hoe on his shoulder Uncle
Ham walked without his stick. and
even challenged Kinky-headed Bill to
foot race, while Zeke, who ha! been
in bed a month with ''mizery OBJ de
laigs." was doing breakdown while
white haired cid Peter patted for him
loudly with pair OF brawny paws
which were too badly crippled with
rheumatism yesterday, almost to fee
himself.
A few moments inspection and the
olonel ordered all the able bodied
hands collected on one side. 1t was
done. The able bodied hands were
then ordered out in the fields, and the
balance-the colonel smiled grimly as
he looked around for the balance, and
retiring hastily to the mansion he
threw himself on q sofa and shrieked
with laughter. .ts. ..e.s,s
Within six months that place was
the pride of the country round. It
was well kept, well worked and attrac