San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-06-24
JUDGE CEPHAS.
The prince is dead.
Helen Hunt Jacks

Happening soon after the close of the
war to ride along the road past ''Old Pop
Castle" observed a large and excited
concourse of colored people standing I'M
der the famous oak at that place. Upon
approaching and making inquiry
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.
Elbowing my way through the dense
crowd till l reached and mounted one of
the gnaried roots of the oak, l was en-
abled to overlook the sea of heads and
survey the court. On the safest corner of
a very unsteady shuck frame was perched
the presiding magistrate, his ebony fore
head, which bowed back without limit
over his ball pate, covered with an APP
5ropriate frown. Tho 80 Of the frame
held the six jurymen, W. ,~aned against
OF sat upon it according to each ones
confidence in its stability The prisoner.
a vagabondish but harmless looking
on whose crow black face fright was i'm
printed in an ashy cast, was wrapped up
in ropes and placed IL the middle of the
shuCk frame for safe keeping.
l had scarcely gained my position and
taken in the surroundings when the court
opened.
DE court am now adjourned 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 shuck 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 fumbling
through his pockets in perfunctory
manner.
Mister Magistrate en- genermen 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- Teller Cit
zens."
de gentermuns better not take quite
SIGH 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 wess'n anybody in de succle er
my whole intelligence gifts hit, en- gifts er
plenny ob it, heaped up, sheken down,
squashed in en- runnin ODER. En- EFF
de law didn' inquire dat some COMMISSIONS
must perceed out'n de mouf er de pussy
cutter, ev'y word dat would be necessary
would be, 'Hyere's NiCkydemus en- dat s
de linn er grapevine, >" pointing to a stout
grapevine which lay on the frame near
the magistrate "Ev'bOdy knows hes
done broke ev'y law dat been made sence
dey fust started to maxim laws, sides all
sights en- stacks I'm um dat nebber al
been made. He's broke UNI 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 FRAGILE
But es 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? Nickv-
demus Wagstaff! What is he excused
Dob? Ev'ything in God Ermighty's wOrl
7cepn one theng, en- dat is doin right.
Eben de biggis't lier 'twixt Roanoke en-
Tar river never excused him er dom dat.
Who'll come to yer house en- hole:
tull he'll make yer walk two miles from
yer work en- mebbe wade de crick, en-
den des want to borry cents? Who en-
gin er thousin reasons why yer mus ler
him er dollar, en- den turn roun en- cir
ten thousan wy he ca pay it? Who CT
make de biggis' promus en- de Titles ker
SOrmence in de Nunited States? Who
en- outargyfy Daniel Webster hisseli
when he wants to git holt er yer thengs
en- den outargyfy him ergin when vel
tries to bre'k dat holt?
''Who is de lazis', lyinist, eatinis, out
landishis, wOrryinis niger avn dis
side OBJ de river? Who aggyvates Ell