The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-17

A Dialect Story rs Told by Congressman Cole
man, of Louisiana.

Only those who have enjoyed an acquain-
lance outside Of business relations with the
modest representative from the second Lou
isiana district know that Hon. Hamilton Dud-
lev Coleman IL one OF the best story tellers
ever n member of Congress. In distant
Southern town the writer has heard nm
talk read. and sing 10 applauding groups OF
DELIGHTED listeners There are people III
Washington. too. who have enjoyed his happy
gifts in a way they will long remember. No
member in the FIfty-trst Congress VINO does
not come back here reelected Will be more
missed bv the social circles that know nm
than Mr. Coleman. He Is particularly happy
in reading or telling stories which are iiustra.
tive If the dialect as well as of the humor OF
the genuine far-south plantation negro. eN-
ceiling quite as much in this manner OF inter
pretaiion OF his genus as does the famous
Joel Chandler Harris IN his mcomparaole iolH
lore tales Of Uncle Remus TO the lttle boy.
A wear OF two ago. il was az club. after
promisinp meeting Of one Of the American
shipping conventions. TINT score or more OF
gentlemen were enjoying a lively run OF snch
stories rs set the table on roar Nir. Oole,
man was called upon by a companion ana
told what is given below being twice encored,
so inimtably did he tell 1t. 1t IS the story Oh
an old plantation negro.
HOW TO Eat 'PossUM.
IF yuh wants to know what's good des
lis'en. luh look at de 'possum and smack ytI
lips. fer he a big fine Teller. Den yum taho
'em an 20 rite bac homo. an les' 10 yum gu
To Do do' vuh take 70 axe-helve an put ON
across dc neck an brake de neck by puliln
Of de tail Den yuh take i'm III de house an
dc ole oman done lef' great big hrepiaco
hecp full hick'ry ashes yuh takes de shuDol,
an opens or big hole IN dem pile er ashes al
draps dat possum in dar: an when yuh, ,aAe =
i'm outer dar de ha'r dess pun ON
| dess rs easy, an yuh put I'm IN SOM
| hot water an scrapes i'm wld er case-Knie
an he Gums dess rs clean Den yam taxes
| out der intrals hang i'm up an WASH lHi
] good; den yuh salts i'm down an puts ll
away twcl Monday mawnin. Monoay
mawnin' cum. de ole oman take I'm out az,
par biles i'm good: den she gts about peck
I % taters. an den slices dem taters an PIE,
'cm all ober i'm an den she bakeS I'm t~el
de greese run all fru dem taters. Den She
/ takes i'm ont an puts i'm IN de big dish an
sets i'm on he dinner table wild do taters piled
up all obcr i'm. Yuh cum ter dinner from
der feel an yuh walks IN al sets down 70 9e
table. but yuh doan eat dat possum der. III.
/ Eh. Eh. Eh.
NO. sab: doan cat dat 'possum den. AFTER
/ dinner yuh takes i'm an de taters an sets I'm
| ND i'm der cubburd. Blmeby yuh Gums home
| fums de days wuk. feryuh Gums home Ter yer
supper Yure nifty Wore out, fer yuh uen
wukin in de ficl hard all day. luh sets down
| outside de cabin do an takes Yer pipe an
| smokes. Fore long Ephrem say Daddy,
daddy. thupper's ready" But yuh dess sets
dar yer doan go in at all. Yer wait twel de
ole woman an de chillun 20 Of ter bed sho
nuh Den yuh knocks de ashes out yer pipe,
an goes in. Yuh move. de little squar table
front de fire an puts Yer char close up dar Dy
| II Den yuh goes ter de cubburd an gifts de
'possuln an de taters. Yoh puts i'm on De
table. Yuh tel de ole'omsn for to 60 ont an
| lock de do. Den dar yuh is. Yuh an de
'possum all by yer selves togedder Yum
frows der ole hat on de flo. takes yer seat IN
dat char an gibbs up yer soul.