The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-11-10
CLIFTON VIRGINIA. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10 1892
"HITCH 20 HOss OUTSIDE
A Story Illustrating Why the Ne.
groes are Voting Democratic.

ance, he sized me up for what I reall,
was-a country editor from the South
I don't know; but he at once plunged
into politics. He piled question upo1
question, which with native courtesy
answered in monosyllables. Finally hi
asked me if could tell him why it wa:
that SO many of his colored brethren ir
the South were voting the Democratic
ticket if knew from personal observa-
ton that this was the case, and how
they had caught on to the fact that the
Republican party was only using the
colored man because he had vote, sup
plementing his questions with the ex-
PLANTATION that he was the president OF
a colored Democratic club in Philadel.
phia.
saw that the only chance to save my
self from being questioned to death was
to do the talking myself; so l answered
his questions by telling him a story
which Randolph Tucker told on General
William Malone, the Republican leader
of Virginia and the colored mans friend.
There was once an old beforesthe-war
negro from Petersburg, Mahone's home,
named Alexander Macedonian Tallia
ferro, called, for short, Rastus Toliver.
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 a mule" The
II \ ~ L I. L L.
day after he came back to earth and
went to his old master to borrow mule.
Astonished, the master asked the old
fellow, "Why, Rastus, what are you do
ing here? What's the matter with you
that you want mule?" This is the old
darkey's story:
"Wel, Marse George, I'll tell you de
trnf, kase Use sho you'll understan' Ras-
tus as you has alwayse; it is dis yer way:
got daid, an walked up the steep
road to the great big gates of heaben,
and aftah rung the bellknob l sat
down, lSase was mighty tiahed. A big
voice from inside said: Whose dat out
dyah?' Says l: 'Marse Peter, pleas, sab,
hits me-
"Whose me?'
''Doan you know me, Marse Peter?
Use Uncle Rastus Toliver, and l hopes
you is we'll and all the angels, an |
wants to get in for to see the place whar
my ole mistus tole me if was good when
| died I'd be made same like she, white
as the driving snow, an hab wings like
aangel. Use come mighty far and hopes
l has been coed nu:E; SO, please Marse
Peter let the old niger inn
"Wharse you from?' seys he.
Petersburg" says l.
den you mus know Billy Mahone,"
says he.
II dose; he's gret fren' of the color
ed people, says l.
well, he died this morning an sup
pose he'll be along soon. P'rhaps he'll
help you to git in.''
"Qb oose he WILL says I.
us you mounted, Rastus?" says he.
"Mounted?'
Eyes, did you ride up on your mule?'
mo, sab, kase havh't got any mule"
well" says he, II guess you can't
come in less you'se mounted, SO good
day, Rastus."
II was powerfully sorry an | picked
up my hickry an stahted down de road,
for was feelin uncommon sad and down
in de mouf. when all of a sudden I come
right up against Marse Billy Malone,
walking wild he haid high up same like
he use to do in wah time, wild his bran
spankin new uniform of sodgers close an
a. solid COLE sword at his side.
"Hello, Rastus,' says he, "whar'se you
gwine?'
"Mornin' Marse Billy, Use bin to heab-
en- and Marse Peter wouldn't lemme in
'dout was mounted, so Use gwine back
to borry mule from Marse George; but
mebbe you kan help me. You'se always
tu'n back yo'self and get one of dem fine
bosses you used to ride roun' Petersburg
an you can tex me in as your sarbent.n
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: L tell you what, Ras-
tus, We'll fool ole Sent Peter; you git
down on you knees an I'll ride you boss
tashun right in, an cnct we'se in we
can't be put out. See?n
well, tho't that was most cunnin',
an downse on my hunckers, and Marse
Billy he got rite on an says: Cir up, ole
boss! tell you, my ole marrow bones
did crack! But we went right up to the
golden gate, an my Heart was going de-
fiunckerty fluncty against my ole ribs,
kase was sho Marse Billy an me was
going right in." sssaA,
Rap! Rapl Rap! ON the gate"
"Whose dar!''
General William Malone, of Furgin-
ia.n
rs you mounted, gin'r'l?"
Yes
well, jes' hitch yo' boss outside an
come right inn
"He jes' walked rite in and nevah said
word. | mite a know dey wouldn't
have no mammals in heaben, an now |
comes to think of it, ]. spec Marse lilly
knowed dat, too. So, Marse George,
you'll lem de ole Niger mule, and You
kin sem one of de boys up after him
when hitch him outside, an when l
git in I'll tell all de nggers wot knows
an dey won't vote for de Publican tick
ct no mo-" ST. ELMO.
! Death Of an oldest sInhabitant.n
Pittsburg's oldest inhabitant, known
as Aunt Peggy" Donaldson, colored,
was buried Monday. Her reputed age
was one hundred and twelve. She new
er wore glasses. Her memory was bright
to the last. Her parents were natives Of
the Congo country, in Africa. She was
born on the Eastern Shore of Maryland
When girl of twelve or thirteen she
was sold to Mrs. Annie Sheldon, of Pitts
burg. One indication of her great age