The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-06-03
JUDGE CEPHAS.

Helen Hunt jackson.
JUDGE CEPHAS.
Happening soon after the close Of the
war to ride along the road past "Old Pop
Castle" / observed large and excited
concourse Of colored people standing un-
der the famous oak at that place. Upon
approaching and making inquiry I
learned that Uncle Cephas-now Squire
Bolden-who, along with some others Of
his race, had recently been appointed
magistrate, was about to hold his first
court.
Elhowing my way through the dense
crowd till reached and mounted one of
the gnarled roots Of the oak, was en-
abled to overlook the sea Of heads and
survey the court. On the safest corner Of
very unsteady shuck frame was perohed
the presiding magistrate, his ebony fore
head, which bowed back without limit
over his ball pate, covered with an ap-
propriate frown. The rest Of the frame
held the six jurymen, who leaned against
or sat upon it according to each ones
confidence in its stability. The prisoner,
yagabondish but harmless looking man,
on whose crow black face fright was inn
printed in an ashy cast, was wrapped up
In ropes and placed in the middle Of the
shuck frame for safe keeping.
I had scarcely gained my position and
taken In the surroundings when the court
opened.
''De court am now adjurned en- will
perceed to bizness," cried Uncle Cephas
in loud voice as he removed his hat
and dropped It on the ground. "Let
whomsomedever gwi' pussycute dis pus
sun hyere in de shdck frame now speak
up er frever hole his peace!' he contin-
ued with solemnity.
A young mulatto, the smartness of
whose dress eliminated in a highly
glazed paper collar, slowly arose from
one Of the oak roots, cleared his throat
in the most approved legal fashion and
announced that he had been engaged to
conduct the prosecution.
"Well den, shoot, Luke, er give up de
gun," exclaimed the court after the coun-
sci had wasted a good while fumbhng
through his pockets in perfunctory
manner.
mister Magistrate en- generinen OBJ de
jury" began the prosecutor after this
warning, "you am dissembled tergedder
hyere dis purity day under dis blue sky
en- desc green leabes to deform one er de
highes' juties er freemuns en- feller citi-
zens."
"De gentermuns better not take quite
sich er big chip, en- chop er II closeter
to de line" put in the court.
"You am dissembled tergedder," con-
tinued the counsel, in no wise abashed,
''hyere TO see dat er pussun dat needs
jestice wessn anybody in de succle er
my whole intelligence gifts hit, en- gifts er
plenny oh it, heaped up, sheken down.
squashed in en- runnin ober. En- ef-ef
de law didn' inquire dat some confusions
must perceed ouGn de mouf er de pussy
cutter, ev'y word dat would be necessary
would be, 'Hyere'5 Nickydemus en- dat's
de linn er grapevine" pointing to a stout
grapevine which lay on the frame near
the magistrate. "Ev'body knows he's
done broke ev'y law dat been made sence
dey fust started to maxim laws, sides all
sights en- stacks un um dat nebber ai'
been made. He's broke um straight way,
en- broke um sideways, en- broke EN- cross
ways, en- broke um sloperdicler, en- broke
um puppendicler, uppendicler, downen-
dicler, en- roun'endicler twel he's nately
wo' um out to er frazzle.
"Butaes de law do inquire some confu-
sions TO perceed FUN de mouf er de pus-
sycuttin lyyer, will perceed. Fustly,
who is dat in de shukk frame? Nicky-
demus Wagstahl What is he excused
oh? Ev'ything in God Ermighty's worl
'oep'n one theng, en- dat is doin right.
Bben de biggis't lier 'twixt Roanoke en-
Tar river never excused him er doin dat.
Who'll come TO yer house en- holler
tull he'll make yer walk two miles from
yen work en- mebbe wade de crick, en-
den des want to borry cents? Who en-
gin er thousin reasons why yer mus len
him er dollar, en- den turn roun en- gin
ten thOusan wy he ca pay itY Who en-
make de biggis' promus en- de littles' ker-
formence in de Nunited States? Who
ON outargyfy Daniel Webster hisself
when he wants to git holt er yer thengs,
en- den outargyfy him ergin when Yer
tries to bre'k dat holt2
'Who is de lazis, lyinist, eatinis', out.
landishis', worryinis' nigger avn dis
side oh de riverf Who aggyvates en-
'sturbs de neighborhood till dey don
know dar heels from dar head1 Ergin
axes yer who owes ev'body In twelt
miles er dis place er furder eff he ranges
furderG Who en- looks into yer min en-
fnIl taV min N,,vf l.. AL
furgit dat las 25 cents he borrid, en- den
step right up en- borry er nudder oneI
Niokydemusl En- now who ken be spar'd
de bes en- missed de lessi Nickydemusr
The magistrate, who for some time
had been extremely busy trimming the
knots from the grapevine with his pock
etknife and twisting it into suppleness
now paused and delivered the following
charge:
"Gentlemuns ob de jury, you's hyeard
epough to hang er whole cuppen (cow.
penn full er niggcrs En- an I'm got tc
say IS dat mill I'-ll.-r . i,tla antIaigh
hyere en- dis is er mighty good chance II
git ridder Niclydemus."
"Gentlemuns oh de jury, Is yer egreedg
demanded Squire Bolden.
1--WE am, sab" came in dignified tone
from the frame.
"What is de worlick?' solemnly de
manded Uncle Cephas.
''De wordiok, sab, am it nebber won
do to let slip dis chance er gittin riddle
Nickydemus,' was the reply.
"Stan up, prisner," was the superfiu
GUS order of the magistrate TO the con
demned, who had been standing up fron
the first. "You's done plenny harm il
diA worP fer one niger; en- sides you
had er far trial TO yer Teller citizens
Now, it's de jelgment er dis court da
yer be hung to dc biggis linn avn Po
Castle oak widder grapevine, Gaze tn
be bad luck TO use er rope after it bee
bout dead folks, en- dat dc jury is del
bytized 10 do dc hGngin"
"Hold onp ] shouted, thorough
aroused by the groans Of the prisone
and the screams of his wife and children
"Do you know that you are about TO d,
prive a human being Of life against La
and justiceY Why, not even a witnei
has appeared against him. Mind whl
you do"
"De genteuman in sto' cloze, replie
the magistrate sternly, will please don
bodder de exscusionments er dis hyel
court. De chacter or Niclzydomus WA
staff is lnowed fer as de train goes,
not VI LII furder De whole yearth G
ev'ytheng in It b'rs witness ergin hin
Gentermuns, do yer juty."
While was struggling desperately
force my way through the throng an
reach the spot, the ropes were strips