The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-18
HUNTING THE POSTUM.
An Old Colored Man Tells How to
Hunt the Tricky Animal.
Eyop, The IVosbf,ofoo St,.

JnS AElCky AulLudls
From the Washington Star.
ooh, what a 'possum night dis hyar am, +"
exclaimed an old darkey on Seventh street
the other night az he clapped his hands
together 70 keep warm. "You kin talk
bout beefsteaks and po'kchaps and chicken
and turkey, but glory hallelujah, dere amt
muffin kin tech a roas' possum wild apple
s S.
A Star man happened along and over
heard the remarks above recorded.
80 you like 'posum, do youN inquired
the scribe, Joining the old man and his
friend.
''Yos, sar, does, frum de bottum OBJ my
appetite. Dere amt muffin kin tech a
'possum whom he am properly sarved, an
knows de way to cook 'em, too" rejoiued
the connoisseur, IAN de way to ketch 'en,"
he added, with a shake Of his head, IAN
faint cherry niger dat knows how to do bof
dem tings togedder. A man KIN study q
'possum an larn his ways, and might be
able fer to ketch one or mo- cherry time he
goes out; but, man, it takes 'sperience for TO
cook de beas'; vas, sir, takes 'sperience.
"Tell me bow to cook them.n
"'Tain't no good fer to tell yer, case you
couldn't do it. Yer see de 'sperience is de
ting you need. l might go long an tell you
dat you must hang the beas' ober a frosty
night and put him In clean pan arter you
done skinned him and let him roas', an den
hRb a clar conscience dat / done tole you
all dere ID. I would hab tole you all fer as
dat goes, but 'twould be well nigh impossi-
BILE fer to 'splain how 70 base him and how
to put de seasonin in. 1t takes sperience
fer to tell dat"
''Can you tell me how to catch them"
asked the reporter. ''since you can't explain
how YOU cook CheInm
"Yas, sir. l kin do dat" was the re-
joinder, as the old man stopped to light his
pipe. "De night you select must be dark,
and eff you kin, widouJ waitn' TOO long, get
one oh desc hyar nights arter light rain,
kase de possum tracks am kept fresher by
the condition of de soil an de dogs kin smell
'em better. Wall, you done select yo' night.
De mex things am de dogs. But Use losin'
time-go on down hyar in Virginia an get
some Of de niggars dere fer to take you out,
dey is & It all de tools handy"
"But want you to tell me all about it,"
"Ef OATS de case, l retinue. Les see,
left off when got to de dogs. Dey mus be
possum dogs. faint no use fer to take a
setter or p'nter, kase deY don't know de
business. Den git ak an, 'bove all, don't
forgit de lantin. Now you'se all ready"
You done forgot sumfin', nigger,n inter
rupted the old mans friend, who up to this
time had been silent Ii steiner.
WHAT'S dat? asked the old man.
"Wy, de Juice OBJ de forbidin' fruit as
de Bible says" answered his partner.
"Glory; man, you'se right; / did forgit
dat, but de Lord knows eff was agwine on
'possum hunt dis hyar berry night bots
tie OBJ corn juice would be de fust ting
would tink bout. Deed it would. You see
boss" continued the old 'possum hunter, "a
bottle of sunni warm is berry ceptable on q
cold night and as necessary on 'possum
hunt as de ak or de lantin. Den you strike
of in de woods. De bes' plan is fer to foIler
a creek, kase old MIR. Postum lubs to hang
round swamp. Effdere is a cornfeld any
whars near dis creek hunt close, kase youse
bound fer to find en dere. Always take a pull
at de bottle de mint you hyar dc dogs on
de TRAIL dat is, eff you wants TO hab good
luck. Keep on walkin' and try and foller
de direction of de dogs. Putty soon you'll
hyar de dog sing aDoder tune. one OBJ desc
hyar quick, short, snapey barks. Honey,
when hyars dat SCUM it pears to me like
de dogs war sayiu' Come long hydaf, IEe
got ole Mr.. Postum up de tree Vas, sir,
seems like kin understand de dogs. Den
is de time you wants to hustle your stumps
Gettin' to de tree wbar you sep. de dogs
tryin' to climb, dgitbeut your dantino and
hist it. Eff de1otree amt ntbery = largo
you can see idaspossllIn ahangiR by hts
tail to one oh de branches. Den atakS
anoder drink fer ter steddy your herbs. In
de case OBJ a small tree, whar dar's room to
climb, go long up and axe de fat rascal
down. De dog, ef he's experienced, will be
a-waltin' fer him to drap, and will grab
him. OF course, eff it is convenient fer ter
grab him by de tail yourself, don't be feared.
In dc case OBJ a large tree don't waste no
time, but chop it down. Dere's one ting |
wants to splain bout possuns and dat is,
don't trus' 'em; dey's berry sharp anil play
dead on you, but you takes my advice an
hump em in a bag. Den take auoder driuk
an go on. Ha, ha, hal OATS all. Good
night" And the old man left.