Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-07
HOW TO EAT A 'POsSUM.
a Dialect Story ~ Told by Congressman
Coleman Of LOuisiann.

- OHa4ooe story A. Told by Congressman
Colemaa Of Louisiana.
ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE ENJOYED
Oan acquaintance outside of business rela-
tons with the modest Representative from the
second Louisiana district know that Hon. Ham
hton Dudley Coleman is one Of the best story
teliers ever member of Congress. In dis
tant southern town the writer has heard him
talk, read and sing to applauding groups of
delighted listeners. There are people in
Washington, too who have enjoyed his happy
gifts in way they will long remember. No
member In the Fifty-frst Congress who does
not come back here reelected will be more
missed by the social circles that know him
than Mr.. Coleman. He is particularly happy
in reading or telling stories which are illustra-
tive Of the dialect as well as Of the humor of
the genuine far-south plantation negro, ex-
ceiling quite as much in this manner of inter-
probation Of his genus as does the famous
Joel Chandler Harris in his incompatible folk
lore tales of Uncle Remus to 1.-THE little boy"
A year or two ago it was at club, after
promising meeting Of one Of the American
shipping conventions, that a score or more Of
gentlemen were enjoying lively run Of such
stories "set the table on a roar" Mr.. Cole
man was called upon by a companion and told
what u given below, being twice encored, so
inimitably did he tell it It is the story of an
old plantation negro.
HOW TO EAT 'PossUM.
"K yuh wants to know what's good, des
en-: Yuh look at do postum and smack yer
lips, fer he big, fne fellez. Den yuh take 'em
an 60 rite bac home, an jes' To- yuh git to de
neck an brake de neck by puIlin' Of de tail.
Den yuh take i'm in de house an de ole oman
done lef great big fireplace heep full hick'ry
ashes; yuh takes de shubble an opens er big
hole in dem pile er ashes an draps dat 'possum
in dar; an when yuh takes i'm outer dar de
ha'r dess pull of dess as easy, an yuh put i'm
in some hot water an scrapes i'm wild er case
knife an he Gums dess as clean. Den yuh takes
out der intrals. hang i'm up an wash i'm good
den yuh salts i'm down an puts i'm away twel
Monday mawnin. Monday mawnin' cum. de ole
oman take i'm out an par biles i'm good; den
she gifts bout peck o taters. an den slices dem
taters an piles em all ober i'm, an den she bakes
i'm twel de greese run all fru dem taters. Den
she takes i'm out an puts i'm in de big dish an
sets i'm on de dinner table wild de taters piled
up all ober i'm. Yuh cum ter dinner from der
fer an yuh walks in an sets down to de table,
but yuh doan eat dat 'possum der. Eli! Eli,
Eli Eli!
''No. sab; -doan eat dat 'possum den. AFTER
up in der cubburd- Bimeby yuh Gums home
FUN de days wuk; fer yuh Gums home fer yer
supper. Yure nifty wore out; fer yuh ben
wukin' in de feel hard all day. Yuh 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 oman an de chillun 60 off ter bed-sho
huff Den yuh knocks de ashes out yer pipe
an goes in. Yuh moves de little squar table
front de fire an puts yer char close up dar by
it. Den yuh goes ter de cubburd an gifts de
'possum an de taters. Yuh puts i'm on de table,
Yuh tel de ole oman for to 60 out an lock de do
Den dar yuh is. Yuh an de 'possum all by yer
sefves-togedder. Yuh frows der ole hat on de
flo, takes yer seat in dit char an GIBBS up yer
soul to Gord.'