Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-11-25
TAIL OF A LOST 'P0ssUM.
A COlOred Porter Would Like Very
Much to See It-An Excite
ing Hunt. --------

Ing Hunt.
This is the tale of The Lost Postum
! or. How Three of a Kind Became a Pair. -
Nah's dat 'possum?'
Joe Garner, the colored porter for Pres
ident Washburn. of the Kansas City, Fort
Scott &: Memphis railroad. wants to know.
Superintendent Sanford, of the Kansas
City Union Depot Company. wants to
know. The employees in the baggage de-
partment want to know. But Garner's in
terest in the 'possum exceeds that of the
others. The 'pOssum was one of three in
tended for his Thanksgiving "suppah.'
Even now dat 'possum' may be simmer
ing and sputtering in some oven along the
Bluff. its delicious odors permeating every
nook and Granny in an humble dwelling.
Ever and anon that oven door may be
opening and some black visage may peer
into the pan to see .ef it's dun yet Some
body may be saying:
.Lise. spos'n de man what owns dis
possum wuz to smell hit and tell de ossi-
ferS dat hit wuz Stole?"
"Yuh doan know muffin. chile: dat pos
sum wuznt stole: de good Lawd dun sent
dat 'possum fur you an me. 'Clar to good
| ness, yuh nebber is satisfied wifi a streak
Eff
looks mighty real to the owner of the lost
possum. This is the story of the pos
sums:
Way down in Southern Missouri where
| full. Last spring there were two 'possums
in tree. -Prettry soon two little pos
sums were added to the family and a hap
py family it WIS. The two little 'possums
WaXed fat and strong on haZelnuts and
acorns and they were soon TO go out into
| the world to shift for themselves. Then
something happened.
One day a boy from the village discov-
cred the happy family of four and he told
| the villagers. A 'possum hunt was organ
| lied and way late one night not long ago
the 'possums were frightened out of their
wits by the baying of hounds and the cries
of men and boys.
It's 'possum hunt said Mr. 'Possum
anxiousiy; lie still. little ones. so they
And they did lie still But the dogs had
| smelled them out and here they were
boys. men and dogs at the very tree in
| which the 'possuuls made their home.
quver as the axes were applied
Mrs. 'Possum," said Mr. 'Possum. 'the
which the little ones while 1 go down and
fight them off,
Mrs. Possum demonstrated, but Mr.. Pos
sum would have his way. And that was
the last of Mr.. 'Possum.
He was torn to pieces by the dogs. What
happened next neither of the three remem-
bers- A long time afterward they found
| themselves in wooded prison house on
board a Memphis train speeding away
prison told that they now belonged to
Joseph Garner. They, landed in Kansas
City in the night and were stored away
| with lot of trunks in the baggage room.
Here the two little 'possums discovered
that they could squeeze out between the
| wooden bars. and they did.
Wen go and find the governor" they
said as they scampered away.
Morning came. but Mrs. Postum was
still alone. A man looked into the cage
and discovered that two of the prisoners
| had escaped. He gave the alarm. and this
| is why there was 'possum hunt at the
| Union depot yesterday morning-the frs:
once since "befo' de wah-" One 'possum
| only was caught. If the other is in the
| oven the happy possessor came by him
| honestly.
And this is why Superintendent Sanford
| is conducting an official inquiry as to the
present whereabouts of the lost 'possunf.
| And this also is why Joe Garner will have
| to be content with a pair instead of three
| Of kind. If he has to slight some of his
| friends when the invitations to his Thanks
giving "'pnssum suppah'' are sent out. he
is not to blame. Ard if. when the story
of the lost 'Dossum becomes noised about
| in Darktowns polite circles. another NOS
! sum hunt is organized. and every plank in
| the Union depot platform is torn up in the
dead of night. nobody will be to blame. will