The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1893-08-18
TWO NEGRO STORIES.


----------------- III
xhsr Ar Told ~ ceurreesna1 Aiien ~
Are Hoth Coed.
Congressman John Allen. the bubbliug
humorisf from Mississippi II "a great
favor IN Washingt tom circles, for be gem
orally has . bright story Ct his tongues
end. HeNasrcealing q 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: q
Allen had employed on his place an
old negro servant who IN times before
the war was the property Of the con-
gfessanan's father. Old Uncle Rufus
suffered frequent and ungovernable at
tacks Of kleptcmania attacks that
seemed to be beyond all remedy. He
WIS 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 hshad him arrested for stealing D
big piece Of side meat from the planta-
ton storehouse. Itwas the intention to
have the servant serve ont 3 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
mahstahs to be released and recalled an
the favors end lsindnesses he had shown
Mr.. Allen when that dignitary was still
q boy Allen began toweaken on the
line Of this argument and was about to
release the servant ON the strength Of
bis past services. He turned TO Uncle
Rufus with:
Now, Uncle Ruff, e You viii bring
back that side meat and promise me on
the Bible that you will never steal an
ether thing of this plantation I will'let
you 70. Furthermore, you viii have to
sign o paper promising on your solemn
honor neyert to steal again. =
Uncle Rufus hesitated for q moment.
MANS John" said he, 'Tze willin to
gib you back de side meat. Yes, sab,
m do dat III do dat; but, now, look
heah, MANS John, You can't spect me to
sign away myrights.' =
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 in suits for pilfering. On one 90
casion a co1ored preacher Of the neigh
borhood was on trial for stealing some
poultry from o neighbor. The preacher
protested his innocence, and Allen made
avery able defense for him.
81 Tho ar3 Stanna lax,,s.x,s,r ,,,n, ,,,...-.
strong against the parson, and Mr.. Allen
saw that his client would probably be
convicted. He whispered to him after
the case had gone to the jury and told
himto prepare to meet the worst. The
preacher was q shrewd old fellow, but
he could not just see how he was going
to get ont Of the scrape. The Jury was
ont only q few minutes, and the preacher
lost lhope. After the jury had taken
their seats and the foreman was be-
ginning to read the verdict the old
preacher jumped up from the seat and
bawled out:
70 honah, Ter
sit DOWN." said the court, and turn
ing to the attorney, .sWhat does the
prisoner meanY' :; ~
ssYo' honah, persisted the prisoner.
1moye dat dis cot do adjourn"
Well replied the court, somewhat
amused .show do you expect the court
to adiolrnsr I &
HBecause' z continued the prisoner, "a
motion 70 adjou'n Is always In crdah,
sab. - Indianapolis Journal.