St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-11-19
GLITCH 70 HOSS OUTSIDE
A STORY ILLUSTRATING WuY THE
NEGROrs ARE VOTING DEMO
CRATIC.

that he was unusually loquacious.
Whether from my hayseed appear
ance he sized me up for what 1
really was-a country editor from
the Soulful don't know but he at
once plunged into politics. He
piled question upon question, which
with native courtesy 1 answered in
monosyllabfes. Finally he asked
me if could tell him why so many
colOred brethren in the South were
voting the Democratic ticket; il l
knew from personal observation
that such was the case, and how they
caught on to the fact that the Re-
publican party was only using the
ccl0red man because he had . vote,
supplementing his question with the
explanation that he was the presi-
dent of cOlored Democratic club
in Philadelphia.
l saw that my only chance TO save
myself from being questioned to
death was to do the talking myself !;
SO / answered his questions by tell
ing him story which Randolph
Tucker told on Gen. William Ma
hone, the Republican leader OF
Virginia and the colored mans
friend.
There was once an old befOre-the-
war negro from Petersburg, Ma
homes home, named Alexander
Macedonian Taliaferro, called for
short Rastus Tolliver. The old man
was a strong believer in Marse Abe
Lincum and swore by Marse Billy
Malone, though he had never re-
ceived his ''forty acres and mule. I"
The old man died and was buried,
but next day he came back to earth
and went to his master to borrow q
mule. AstOnished, the master ask
ed the old fellow, ''Why, Rastus,
what are you doing here! What's
the matter with you that YOU want
a mule:" This is the old darky's
story:
swell, Marse George, I'll tell
you de truf. kose Use sho you'll
understan' Rastus as you has al
wayse; it is dis yer way: 1 got
daid, an l walked up the steep
road to the great big gates oh heab-
en-, an aftah l rung the bell-knob l
set down, kase l was mighty tiahd.
A big voice from inside said: ssWho
is dat out dyah!" Says L: 'Marse
Peter, please, sab, hits me-"
"Whose me!"
''Doan you know me, Marse Pc
ter! Use Uncle Rastus Tolliver.
and l hopes you is well an all the
angels, an i wants to get in for to
see the place whar my ole mistus
tOle me if l was good when l died
I'd be made same like She, white as
the dribing snow, an hab wings
like a angel Pse come mighty fal
an hopes l has been good nuff 50
pleas, Marse Peter, let de ole Mig
ger in.'
"Whar's you from!" says he.
Petersburg" says l.
"Dcn you mus know Billy Ma
hone," says he.
~ dose he's a great fren' OBJ dc
colored people," says 1.
"Wall. he died this morning, an
l suppose he'll be along soon. Per-
haps he'll help you to git in"
sob cose he will," says l.
SIS you mounted, Rastus," say:
he.
'MOunted!"
"Yes; did you ride up on your
mule!"
mo, sah, kase l haven't got any
MULE
"Well." says he, "i guess you
can't come in, less you'se mount
ed, SO good-day, Rastus.'
~ was powerful sorry, an Ipick-
ed up my hick'ry an stahted down
de road, for l was feelin' unc0m.
mon sad an down-iL-de-m0uf, when
all of a sudden / comes right UP
against Marse Billy Malone, walk
ing wild his head high up, same like
he used to do in wah time, wild his
bran spankin' new uniform of so
jer's clothes, an solid COLE swoard
at his side."
"Hello, Rastus," says he, "whaI
is you gwine!''
'Alornin', Marsc Billy. Use
bin to heaben, and Marse Peter
wouldn't femme in 'd0ut l was
mounted, 50 Use gwine back to
borry mule from Marse George ;
but mcbbe you can help me. You
has always bin the niggers' fren' .
an you better turn back yo'self an
get ono OBJ dem fine bosses you use
to ride roun' Petersburg, an you
can tex me in as your sarbent."
''He kinder look thoutful, an ]
know'd he was projectin', kase
Marse Billy has de recognishun Of
bein' awful cute. Den he smiled
an said: Il tell you what, Rastus,
we'll fool ole st. Peter; you gil
down on you knees. an I'll ride
you boss fashion right in, an onct
we'se in we can't be put ont. See! -
swell, thO't that was most
cunnin', an i downs on my hunck-
ers, an Marse Rillv he got rite on
an said: 'Gi' up, ole hOss!' l tell
you. my ole marrow bones did
crack! But we went rite up to the
golden gate, an my heart was goin'