The evening times., 1896-11-26
THANKSGIVING DAY 'POssUM
This ToothsOme Menu Brought
Barber and Belt Into Court.
WAS AN OVERRIPE BARGAIN
Alexander Had Planned a Glorious
Feast When Belt Came Along and
Tempted Him-Nyas Bad Judge
of the Notwithstanding Day In
the Police Court.

| Not the traditional weather of biting
''inds and scurrying gusts of snow, but a
day OF spring, with languorous warmth,
from n sun burning in the vaulted blue, and
| throwing it's bright light generously over
| the thirteen prisoners in the dock, the
greater number OF whom will observe
the year OF our Lord 1896.
Thanksgiving Day in the police court in
the Thanksgiving proclamation OF his ex-
ccliency, Grover Cleveland, in the gaunt
yellow building along the Eastern marshes,
where hope is frowned away by iron bars
and despair swelis its hydra head from
dawn to dawn every day of the 365.
In the corridor the Honorable Michael
Joseph Flynn, arrayed In his bravest and
best attire, with saucy scarlet pink in
his buttonhole, passed gay word and
marry pip with all who passed him,
giving his celebrated military. salute to
Prosecutor Pugh, who was half hour late.
II don't think. your HONOR remarked
Clerk Lum Harper, that anybody on
earth could keep Mr.. Pugh awake"
ovERRIPE 'PoSSUM.
Just then that gentleman. fresh as the
morning, dressed faultleSsly in a blue
cutaway suit. entered court, with bunch
of informations in his hands.
Jim, as he is afiectionatrly known by
his friends, wished his honor and the
newspaper men many glad returns OF the
day, and said TO the court: Your honor,
our first case is that in which the gas
tronomic susceptihilities OF Alexander Bar
Der have been trifled with by Thomas
Belt, who sold Alexander two rotten
'possums.'
At the last word Moss, OF Hillsdale,
awoke from quiet little nap he was TAX
ing in his own special chair, and he hitched
himself nearer to the plaintiff, who was
pf Ia tt-pn Of In,
thoroughbred, complexioncd a greasy black,
with white, scintiilating. even teeth
Now, Alexander" said Mr.. Pugh. who
has, in-liis own native Alabama, in the
mellow moonlight, hunted 'possum, .'teL
US all about it,
You sees, Mist er Jimm mic," replied
Alexander, lit wuZ list like dis" smack
ing a thick forefinger on the open palm
OF his broad hand.
Il haid laid out In my min how tended
to have baked 'possum, wild sweet per-
taters, fer rhansgibin dinner. when dis
heah man, Belt, he coined right i'll de do
OF de sto' whcreI works wild tw o 'posSuns,
fat as dis rgger's face" and Alexander
patted his plump cheeks. while Moss had
Il contOrtiou OF laughter.
DIDN'T NEED sCALDING.
He sez to me, You kin have 'e,a fer
80 cents and two drinks but 1 jewed
him down." continued Barber, an got
'em widout the drinks. AL the time was
workin' | couldn't get dem 'possums out
my head, but | wuz woke up. decd wuz l.
wen Nose Harper coined to me an sez,
Flick, You won't hab to scald dem 'possums
ter git de hair off, cause 1t is slowly
droppin' off now"
Barber stopped, and a look of intense sor-
row crept over his honest face.
What WAS the matter with them. Par
ber?' asked Mr.. Pugh, as Moss doubled
up his fists at Belt and then thrust them
savagely into his pocket to prevent himself
from inficting corporal punishment then
and there.
what wIz de matter? Boss, Judge,
Mister Jimmie and gennemen ALL cried
Barber, why dey wuz SO bad de smell
nearly looked my breaf away
The judge laughed as he asked Barber
II he had called Belts attention to the |
OF the 'possuIns.
BELT WOULDN'T REFUND.
Barber said he did and asked him TO re- |
fund the money.
what did he say?" inquired Mr. Pugh. /
''sez l won't glib you cent answered |
Barber.
where did you get those possums, |
Belt?' said the court, sharply.
Fought 'em from a huckster, - said Belt, |
sullenly. Il didn't know they was rotten.''
1t was your business to know said his
''oHI' i'if' i'u Sdh pay d ilLt Oh Sl'.
Boss, where do my 80 cents come in?'
said Barber
lit can't come in smiled Mr.. Pucb,
because it has gone out"
Here, bcy,'' said Moss. of HiIlslaIe.
jumping up and handing Barber some sill
yer; heres your 30 cents. and the next
time you buy 'poSSum smell him before
you pay your money
Alexander, awed by Moss commanding |
mien, promised meekly, and departed to
buy, as lie said, some ''chitlings."
John Henry Davis, a black bird of prey,
an old offender. just two days out of the
Albany Pcnitentiary, where he served Il Tif-