The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1898-02-17
THE LITTLE PICKaNINNY.
The Judge Knew How 1t Was and Re
leased Jake.

THE LITTLE PICkaNiNNrs
The Judge Knew How 1t Was and Re-
leased Jake.
There was an unusual scene in the
Recorders court the other day. A Ne
gro man was before its bar on charge
of drunkenness. Judge Calhoun, who
has a wonderful memory in such mat
ters, recognized an old offender in the
darkey.
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 thG
other.
''Yasser, dat's so; it sh' is. But dem
ar yuther times is done gone by, and
dish yere time-well, sub, dish yere
time is bran new"
Well. you were drunk each time"
remarked the. Judge, frowning.
''Yasser, sho' wHz. / speck had de
same OF wabbfe, but de- casion wuz
bran new"
Its always some excuse" said the
judge, "but l want you to understand
that I'm tired of seeing you here on a
charge of drunkeness.'
well, Suh-''
"No. l don't want to hear your ex-
cuses. 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 L got now
amt so mighty big, but it look like
ter me dat it's a mighty good one"
We'll, out with it,
Hits des q baby, Jedge."
"a what?'
"Des q little baby, Suh.'
well. what has that got to do with
ing no little curiosity.
Hits at my house, sub. Yesser,
hits dar right now, an 1 bet you ef
'taint sleep it's a-hollerin'." Uncertain
as his position was. the negro chuckled-
The Judge regarded the darkey with
a relenting eye, playing with a slip
of paper on his desk.
We'll, what of it?' His judicial in
dignation had disappeared.
We'll, sub, hit was dis away: De
las time l went out er dish yer place,
l say ter myself L amt gwfne tetch
no more dram, 'kase / done foun' out
dat 'tain't mon a half hour frum lie
mouf er de bottle ter de rock pile. 1
made up my min ON dat. an / helt it
dar 'twel las night. Well, sub, when
/ got home fun work, dey wuZ n mig
ger oman dar, hustlin' round. Hello,
here! what kinder doin's is dis? I
amt no mon got de words Out'n my
mouf fo' L hear sunp'n blatin' I'M de
kivver like teeny nanny goat. An
de niger oman she up an low. you
got 4 baby, if you but know'd it
We'll, sub, dey sorter tu'n down de
counterpin', an dar he wuz, des ez
natchul ez you please. He Wunk at
me time er two, an den he gun Aer
blate. / start ter pick i'm up, sub,
bein' ez he wuz de fust an de Onliest,
but dar ar niger oman, she des shove
my business
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 smile
on his face as he asked:
"And what did you do then. Jake"
The negro scratched his head an2
laughed sheepishly. We'll, sub. dar /
wuz, a grown man wild baby and
can't put his hans on it. had mighty
quare ffeelin's. l want to go in dar.
an der 1 skeered her. 1 know'd
wanted ter do sumpin' but L dunner.
know what. l feel so good, / say III
des take one dram in cOmmenbuTce er
dc baby. Well, sub, / tuck it. an ef
you don't know de res, de pleecemln
1ar kin tell you
The Judge cleared his throat and
tried to frown, but the frown was a
failure.
Jake" lie said, you can go this
time. Your excuse is not q good one,
Dut / think L know how you felt. I
nave a boy at my house-a fine one"
Il boun' It's. subj exclaimed Jake.
''The finest boy on my side Of town;
t is admitted by everybody. 1 know
what your temptations were. | resist
ID, and you didn't. Go and behave
Call the next caser'-At-
anita Constitution.