The Opelousas courier., 1896-03-28
Searching the Family Records.

But to come on down from crop IieWs
to politics-that reminds me of the
news I heard the other day from over
i'll the hill country to the extent that
GVs Crittenden is out as a candidate for
tile office Of county judge.
It has come to pass in these days that
if it want for burnin issues and joint
discussin and campaign orators this
would be a monstrous dull world to
live in. A man that stays at home and
tends to his own business and keeps
cool and sober and honest and virtuous
mought, maybe, live a long and peaceful
life and then die happy. But at the
same time b. would miss a whole passle
of fun.
The woods are now full of candidates.
They r putin up and comm out SO
thick till by gracious you couldn't stir
EN- with a stick. And thfst reminds
me of a good story they use,to tell on
old man Josiah Jernigan.
Now, a better man than Josiah Jerni-
gan never lived and moved and had his
washing done in the Rocky Cfeek set
Element. He stood way urrin the
church, and was sober ASA Judge and
straight as q shinglc for common. But
one time the boys took and put the
old man on the reglar ticket for county
coroner And at the convention that
day-in the general rally and confu-
sionment-the old man stood treats
with the boys considerable and changed
ms own breath most too frequent like.
Consequentially when he got home that
night he was as happy MS a sun flower,
and as mellow as a maypop. He driv
up to the front gate and sorter turned
loose and fell out left his mules to
take out and do their own feedin-and
rtaggered around to the kitchen, where
his good wife, Aunt Matilda Ann, was
fixin supper-lopped down in a chair
and opened up the meetin:
"Tildan, unstan me, now" says he,
did your father, or your granfather,
OR your greet granfather, Or your greet,
greet grandfather, or your greet, greet,
greet, greet granfather-or any OF
his kinnery-so fur as you know
ever take anything that didn't belong
to 'em?-or break into the county jail
or run away with another mans
faInily-or-or-or-
"Josiah Jernigan!" says Aunt Ma
tilda Ann, "what in all this world do all
you tonight"
"Unstan me, Tildan," says he, "did
your mother or your granmother, or
your greet granmother, or your greet,
greet granmother, or your greet, greet,
greet, greet granmother-or any OF
her kinney as fur as you know-ever
fly high or carry on any fiirtationments
and scandalations with the neighbors
and bring the gray hairs of the family
down in sackcloth and ashes to the
grave, SO help you God?"
"Sakes alive, Josiah Jernigani are
you crazy as well as drunk tonight?
"Not If the court knows herself"
says old man Josiah, land she ruther
think she do. But-unstan me now,
Tildan, I am runnin for office on the
democratic ticket, and If there is any
cat in the meal tub-unstan me, Til
dan-if there il any cat in the meal
tub, the fur 10 bound to fy!"
Now, in spite of all his faults and his
failings and shortcomings, Josiah Jern-
igan had q head on his shoulders
which was as long Us q -four barrel and
as level as q squash. He was right about
It. You can git out your little note
book and set it down thatwhensomever
q man starts out in politics to serve
the people and save the country-if
there is any cat in the meal tub. the fur
is bound to fly.