The National tribune., 1900-07-05

t@O
LOOKS LIKE A SATUI
We supplied my place, an pinted out tel
| you the way ter heaven? Think any o
these young pinfeather preachers they're
turnin' out from the colleges could've done
| hit with all their rippin' with Euripioes
an sockin' with Socrates? No, sir-rr-r
e-e. They'uns stole my hoss-the hoss
| which totes me on my mission O. dispens
| ing the Gospel an bringin' the Word tel
yo. They'uns stole you: neighbors
bosses, on which they ride ter hear me ex
pound the Scriptures. They broke the
Lords day by hoss,,steaiin', an disturbed
a congregation in the act o. worship, an
stove up and spawned till they war nc
airthly good as fine a passel o hosses as
thar is i'll Nawth Jawgy, partickerly yer
minister's, an bein' further instigated by
the devil, an not havin' the fear o God
afOre their eyes, they done shot at your
| minister, with malice prepense an afore-
thought, with intent ter kill him an take
his life. I'm not moved by passion or an.
ger, my beloved brethren an feller-citi-
Zens, but am reasonin' calmly with yo',
when | say that sich imps O Satan orteI
be hung as soon as yo' kin lay hands onteI
| they uns."
Hi, Vi, that's the doctrine" yelled Tite
Brown, brandishing moose. "Yo' fel-
all o yo'."
Deacon Hornblower," said the Sheriff,
firmly, with all respect ter yer cloth, y're
wrong, an y're wrong in y're advice ter
these people. These e'er men air soljers,
andye done orly what any soljers would
do tryin' ter git away. They'uns have a
right ter escape, if they kin. We'uns We
got no sort o right ter kill they'un fer
hit, onless while they'uns is runninf. I'd a
done the same if I'd the chanst when
wuz prisoner in the hands O. the Yam
KEGS. Some of our fellers done much the
same thing. Besides, the people hyah
hain't got nothin' ter do with they 'uns, no
how. They'uns s not hyah as County
prisoners, but as army prisoners / done
tux 'em from an officer of the army, an
I'm an officer of the army myself, an I'll
turn they'uns over ter another officer, an
ter nobody else"
you'll never turn 'em over ter nobody.
but the grave-digger, Scott Clay" said
Tim Scads, starting with his crowd for
the Jail. tYo' can't lord hit over us free
an Independent citizens, eff yo' air Sheriff.
Yo' didn't git much of majority, nohow.
Them Yanks belong ter we'uns, they air
in our County jail, they 'uns've bin mally-
muxin' our own people, an hits our busi-
ness ter settle with they ans. Hits clean
outside the army, an none o. the army s
bizniss."
81 reckon yo'll done have ter bow ter
the will O the free citizens o this County,
Mr.. Sheriff." said the Deacon, with a
sneer of overbearing triumph.
Don't reckon [ will" said the Sheriff,
resolutely, as he drew his heavy revolver.
I'm Sheriff O. this County, an charged
with the duty o enforcin' the law. and
presaryin' the peace. I'm a Majah in the
Confedrit army, sworn ter do my duty
thar. By varchue O the authority vested
in me as Sheriff l command all o. yo', in
the name o the law, ter assist me in per-
tectin' these hyah prisoners. AS a Ma
jah in the Confederit army, order all yo'
who air in the sarvice ter aid me in sup
pressin' mob violence. AS a man an SOL
jer, I'll shoot the fust man o yo' that at
tempts ter lay hands on defenseless p1is-
oners."
. Tite Brown, Tim Seads, and their
The Deacon advanced, as if he would
either quiet the Sheriff or take his revol-
yer away. The Sheriff stepped back a
little to give his pistol free range. His
firm words made a division in the crowd.
Those who had been wounded or otherwise
disabled in the rebel service showed dis
position to range themselves along with
the Sheriff, az did the soberer ones, who
needed his command in the name Of the
law.
There was a pause, and still another
voice was heard. 1t came from black
WHlSkereu. nedSy-5et man, Will Y ISU uOSet
who was in Tim Scad's crowd.
II say, gentlemen, what's the hurry
hangin' these hyah Yanks ternight? Is
that a-gwine ter be far ter the rest of our
people who'd like ter see hit? Won't they
blame we'uns fer hoggin' all the fun ter
ourselves, an givin' them no chanst?
Hits a big thing ter see hangin', spe-
cially Yankee hangin', more specially
eight Yankees ter-wunst. Never bin sich
a thing in our County afore. Mebbe never
will be agin. Well make all our folks
mad an jealous eff they don't git chanst
ter see hit. My wife'n be so mad she
won't speak ter me fer a coon's age.
What's the objection ter putin this frolic
off until termorror, SOS we kin send word
round the country, an bring the folks in?
All o. we'uns want ter have our families
hyah. Any O. them'd be glad ter go so
miles on foot ter see sich 4 shivaree."
That's correck. | want my family ter
be hyah. Les put off the hangin' till ter
morrer, an do hit up in style. The pris-
oners'll keep" said another man, and this
sentiment rapidly pervaded the crowd.
But. brethren and feller-citizens," ey
postulated the Deacon, ''ter-morrors the
holy Sabbath Day. Hit'll never 60 tG
hang 'em ON Sunday"
That's so," yelled Tite Brown. Let's
go ahead now. The sooner the better"
But l wuz raised Seyen-Day Bah