Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-07-19
TWO NEGRO STORIES.
They Are Told by Congressman Allen and
Are Both Good.

Are Both Good.
Congressman John Allen. the bubblinc
hunorist from Mississippi, is in great
favor in Washington circles, for he gen.
orally has a bright story at his tongues
end. He was RECALLING crowd of friends
with some southern stories, and among
them was the one which follows, one of
the few stories of Aliens that has not
gotten into print:
Allen had employed ON his place an
old negro servant who in times before
the war was the property of the con-
gressman's father Old Uncle Rufus
suffered frequent and ungovernable at
tacks of kleptomania-attack that
seemed to be beyond all remedy. He
was arrested time and time again for
stealing articles from the place of his
employer. Mr.. Allen finally grew tired
of attempting TO reform his old servant,
and he had him arrested for stealing a
big piece of side meat from the planta-
ton storehouse. 1t was the intention to
have the servant serve out n brief time
in the county Jail for the offense. with
the hope that the imprisonment would
check him in his habit of stealing. The
old man pleaded hard with the young
mahstah" to be released and recalled all
the favors and kindnesscs he had shown
Mr.. Allen when that dignitary was still
boy. Allen began to weaken on the
line of this argument and was about to
release the servant on the strength of
his past services. He turned to Uncle
Rufus with:
Now, Uncle Ruff. if you will bring
back that side meat and promise me on
the Bible that you will never steal an
other thing off this plantation l will let
| you 80. Furthermore. You will have to
sign paper promising ON your solemn
honor never to steal again
Uncle Rufus hesitated for a moment.
"Mahs john" said he, In willin to
glib you back de side meat. Yes, sab.
I'll do dat. I'll do dat; Init now. look
heah, Mains John, you can't spcct me to
sign away my rights"
Aliens generous ways made him very
popular with the old time negroes. and
| frequently he was called upon, without
| expectation of compensation. to defend
them i'll suits for pilfcrinG. On one oc-
casion n colored preacher of the neigh
borhood was ON trial for stealing some
poultry from n ncighbor. The preacher
| protested his innocence. and-Allrn made
very able defense for him.
The evidence, however, was very
strong against the parsnn. and Mr.. Allen
saw that his client would probably bt
convicted. He whispered to him after
the case had gone to the jury and told
him II prepare IL meet the worst. The
preacher was shrcwd old fellow. but
he could not just see how he was going
to get out of the scrapc. The jury wa.
out only few minutes, and the preacher
lost all hope. After the jury had taker
their seats and the foreman was be
ginning to read tho verdict the old
preacher jumped up from the seat and
bawled out:
"Yo honah. Tze"-
sit down. said the court, and turn
ing to the attorney. What does tn,
prisoner mean
"Yo' honah," persisted the prisoner
Il move dat dis cot do adjourn"
Well" replied the court. somewhat
amused. "how do you expect the cour
10 adjourn"
Because" continued the prisoner. -;
motion 10 adjourn is always, i'll ordah
sah."-Indianapolis Journal.