The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-08-05
Two of John Aliens Stories.
From The Indianapolis Journat

From the indianapolis Journal.
Congressman John Allen, the bubbling
humorist from Mississippi, is in great favor
in Washington circles, for he generally has
Il bright story at his tongues end. He
was RECALLING a 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 Congressmans
father Old Uncle Rufus suffered frequent
and ungovernable attacks of kleptomauia,
attacks that seemed to be beyond all rem
edy. 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 ser
want, and he had him arrested for stealing
. big piece of side meat from the planta-
ton siorehouse 1t was the intention to
have the servant serve out brief time in
the county jail for the offence, with the
hope that the imprisonment wonld check
him in his habit of stealing. The old
man pleaded hard with the ''young Mahs-
tab" to be released, and recalled all the
favors and kindnesses he had shown Mr..
Allen when that dignitary was still boy.
Allen began to weaken on the line of this
argument, and was about ready 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 another
thing off this plantation, | will let you go.
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, "I'se willin' to
Glib you back de side meat Yes, sab, Eli
do dat. I'll do dat-but now, look yeah.
Mahs' John-you can't 'spect me to sign
away my rights.
Allen 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 occa-
SlOu Il cOlOFeu pTedCiieE Vi 1hc uelSuuoihoou
was on trial for stealing some poultry
from neighbor. The preacher protested
his innocence, and Allen made very able
defence for him. The evidence, however,
was very strong against the parson, and
Mr.. Allen saw that his client would prob
ably be convicted. He whispered to him
after the case had gone to the jury and
told him to prepare to meet the worst.
The preacher was a shrewd old fellow, but
he could not just see how he was going to
get out of the scrape. The jury was out
only few minutes and the preacher lost
all hope. After the jury had taken their
seats and the foreman was beginning to
read the verdict the old preacher jumped
up from his seat and bawled out:
''Yo' Honah, Use"
'Sit down." said the Court, and, turn
ing to the attorney, said "What does the
prisoner mean p
"Yo' Honor" persisted the prisoner, L
move dat dis cot do adjou' n"
"Well," replied the Court, somewhat
amused, ''how do you expect the Court TO
adjourn ?"
''Because," continued the prisoner, "a
motion to adjou is always in ordah, sab. "