The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-13
he SEES THE LEGISLATURE.

HE SEES THE LEGISLATURE.
The Experience Of Jim Goslen, OF Bien-
ville-One Of the "Wool Hst Boys"
PROSPERITY, S. c.. Dec, 4, 1885,
Happening to be in Columbia on the
day of the convening of the Legislature
I strolled down to the State House,
not to fillibuster or to seek Office, but
simply to meet some friends, and to see
that body of Representatives organize
and get to work. While strolling leis-
urely through the capital, before time
for calling, the assembly together, I
met, and formed the acquaintance of q
tall, lank looking man, from Bienville.
He accosted me by saying, Skin you
tell feller in which one of these rooms
the Legislature meets. I voted for Ben
Tillman an hollered like blazes fur
him, but I amt never seen his Legis-
later meet yit, an I jist thought I'd
cum up on the Sou'boun and see Ben
an his boys. My name is Jim Gosslen,
an Pm frum Bienyille." I told Jim
I was glad to make his acquaintance,
and Z pointed out to him the hall of
the House Of Representatives, but told
him he could get much better view
by going up into the gallery. I OBJ
served that jim was watching me with
an eagles eye, and when the time ar
rived for the meeting" to begin [ as
cended the stairway leading to the gall
lery, and took a seat in front Of the
Speakers stand. In few seconds my
friend, hat of, and hair unkempt, took
q seat near me, and beside Mr.. Gazer.
Jim's eyes and mouth were wide open,
drinking in the scene before him, and
when Clerk Gray called the House TO
order, the following conversation took
place between Jim Gosslen and Mr..
Gazer:
Jim-"What on yearth is that feller
doin' there with his gram mammy's
cloak on?"
Gazer-"Th is his ofcian robe"
Jim-"Who is that feller with the
big black whiskers an the wooden
hammer in his han'?"
G-"That, sir, is the Speaker Of the
House-the Hon. Ira B. Jones'.
Jim-"Well, I'll be drat-she speak
of the 'casion. Why he don't holler
an souall an sware like our Ben did at
Bienville when be was AKIN US wool
hat, one gallus boys to vote for him.
Jones, Jones; well, I don't see why his
name might'n'd o bin Brown, or
Smith, for they are all jist as good as
the jones' in Bienyille, an man says
some of them are darned sight better"
When the reading clerk began read
ing the Goyernor's message loud and
distinct, observed that Jim was puz-
zled about something. Finally, he
again appealed to Mr.. Gazer to know
"what in blazes is the feller talking
about with the little book in his han.
Is ne saying his lesson to Mr.. Speaker,
or is he givin out hime or what?"
Mr.. Gazer, willing 20 humor Jim q
little, replied, saying: sThat, sir, is
the reading clerk, and he is now read
ing a long letter that Gov. Tillman has
wrote to his boys here, telling them
how he and his folks have been getting
along since they have last met, and
telling them how the naughty ants
have been treating him so badly, and
telling them what they must do for
him before they 60 home"
Jim was now all attention, with eyes
almost protrud1ng, and tongue loliing
out. At this jurcture I glided out OF
the gallery and went up town. saw
nothing more of my friend Jim Goss-
len until late in the evening, when
standing in front of Wright's Hotel.
Jim spied me across the street and
came over at once to where / was
standing with another gentleman. l
saw from his looks that ne wanted to
say something, and I encouraged him
to proceed. He said he wanted to tell
me about that letter that Ben wrote to
his boys. I told him to 60 ahead, I'd
give him my attention. I shall en-
deavor to give Jim's exposition of the
"letter'' in his own words and language
as nearly as possible. Here it is:
.sWell I'll be drat lifted eff tina,
warn't the darndest maddest letter I
ever hearn red. Ben's madness put
me in mine of dad once. You see,
mister, our steer what was goin to be q
steer, died, and we had nothin to plow
wild, and so dad says to me, Jim, III
be the steer an pull, an you plow me.
1t was orful hot in July. So I hitched
up dad an went to plow the taters the
last time. It was so hot dad didn't
have on eny shirt, an be hadn't worked
eny since oursteer, what was goin to
be steer, died, an he was kinder feelin
his keepin, and was kavortiu around.
When drove dad out to the branch
at the end of the tater rows, dad he
wanted to drink, an I give dad pop
with the line, an hejumped right plum
into an alfred big hornet nes, and dad
he bellered wurs nor steer an run
away, dad an the hornets seein which
could go the fasses, and dad abellerin,
fire, fire, fire an brimstone,' and dad he
never stopped runnin till he got to the
house an fell in the door where mann
an Sal was stringin beans. Dad had
broke loose from the plow directly be
run awa". When got home I foun
dad lyin on the floor without any
breeches or anything on. He was the
orfulest lookin sight you ever saw.
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