The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-16
s.HITsS DIES A RABY."
But 1t Saves Jake" from the Penalty
of His BibuIOus Folly.
Atlanta Constitution.

Atlanta Constitution.
There was an unusual scene in the record
er'S office the other day. A negro was
hauled before it's bar on a charge of drunk
enness. Judge Calhoun, who has a Won
derful memory in such matters, recognized
an old offender in the darby.
Jake" said he, this is the third time
you've been here this year"
The negro scratched his head and shifted
his hat from one hand to the other.
"Yasser; OATS so; it sho is. But dem ar
yuther times is done gone by, an dish yer
time-well, sub, dish yer time is bran
well, you were drunk each time" re-
marked the judge, frowning.
"Yasser; l sho wuz. / speck 1 had de same
OF Wobble dis time, but de casiOn Wuz
It's always some excuse" said the
judge, but want you to understand that
I'm tired of seeing you here on a charge of
Drunkenness"
We'll, suh'-
NO; l don't want to hear your excuses.
It's drunk, drunk, drunk, until even the
stockade is tired of you"
But, jedge," protested the negro. looking
around uneasily and lowering his voice, de
'scuse what | got now amt SO mighty big,
but it look like ter me it's a mighty good
one"
''WelI, out with it."
Hits des a baby, jedge."
"a what?"
'Des a little baby, sub"
well what has that got to do with it,"
asked the judge, his manner showing no
little curiosity.
Hits at my house, sub. Yasser! hits
dar right now, en- | bet yo' eff faint sleep
it's a-hollerin',.' Uncertain as his position
was, the negro chuckled.
The judge regarded the darby with a re-
lenting eye, playing with a slip of paper on
Wen, what of it?" His judicial indigna-
ton had disappeared.
'Well sub, if was dis away. De las
time l went out er dish yer place l say ter
myself ] amt gwine tech no more dram,
'kase l done foun' out dat faint mon half
an hour fun de mOuf er de bottle ter de
| helt it dar 'twel las night. Well, sub,
when l got home fun wuk. dey wuz a mig,
oman wuZ In bed, / low. Hello, here!
what kinder doin's is dis?' / amt no mon
got de words out,'n my mouf 70 hear
sump'n blatin' un' de kiyver like a teeny
nanny goat. An de Niger oman, she up
an low, 'Yo' got a baby, if yo' but
wei, sub, dey sorter tu'n down de coun-
terpin, an dar he Wuz, des ez natchul ez
you please. He wunk at me a time or two,
an den he gun ter blate. l start to pick
i'm up, sub, bein' ez he wuz de fust an
de onliest; but dat ar niggar oman, she des
shove me round ,a9R, say better go on
Here the judge took off his glasses and
rubbed them carefully, leaned his elbow on
the code, and rested his head on his hand.
There was almost a smile on his face as he
asked:
And what did you do then, Jake2"
The negro scratched his head and laughed
SIleoPlSHly. eli, sun, .udA L NuS' SIONLi
man wild a baby an can't put his han on it.
l had mighty quare %feelin's. l want ter go
in dar, en- den l skeered ter. L know'd l
want ter do sump'n, but l dunner what. 1
in commenbunoe er de baby. Well, SUN, /
tuck it. an eff you don't know de res de
pleeceman dar kin tell you"
The judge cleared his throat and tried to
frown, but the frown was a failure.
Jake" he said. you can go this time.
Your excuse is not a good ones but l think
1 know how you felt. / have a boy at my
house-a very fine one
Il boun' It's, subj exclaimed Jake.
The finest on my side of town; It is adj
mitted by everybody. | know what your
temptations We're. l resisted, and you
didn't, Go and behave yourself. Call the
next CASE"