The St. Louis Republic., 1901-12-22

said the Old CattleUau Win mucn Qearu.
ness. Which I'm waitn' Tor that black
boy Tom to come back; sends him for
my warbagA No. 1 don't need 'em nona
I've got to give this yers 1mbecile Tom
money. Them SenesambianS is shore Pc
cooliar people. They gets q new religion
same as you-aN gets q new hat, an they
changes their names like some folks does
their shirt Which they're that loose an
Liable about churches an cognomensl
'.As for money: take this boy Tom. He
actooally transacts his life on the theery
that he has prior claims on every splinter
OF my bank-roll. Jest row he desceneds
onto me en- 'laborately states his tito to
ten pesoa. Says he's done fined new
church. an has been made roundup boss
or something to an outfit called The Afro
American Widows Ready Relief S'ciety.'
an that his docs II ten chips OF course
he has to have the dinero. 20 disu1ssss
him for my wallet Ike says
docs them folks change their names!
They changes 'em as readily As a Injun
breaks camp: does It at the drop OF the hat.
This yers Guinea OF mine, his names Tom.
Yet at various times. he informs me OF
them 1nootations he's !pstitooted. Hes been
Jim an Sam an 'w!llyum Henry an all
IN two months. Shore, don't pay no heed
to sech vagaries, but gees on cailin' him
Tom 5est the same. An he keeps comm
when calls. too. or Ia shore burn the
ground around him to q einder. I'd be a
disgrace to old Tennessee to let my boy
Tom go preescribin' what I'm to call him.
But they be curious folks! The last time
this hireiin' Of mine changes his mama
asks tho reason.
Tom.' says: this yere Il the 1eventh
time you cinches on 4 new name. Now.
tell me-, why be you-au attemptin' to shift
to willyum Eenryf
swhy, Marse.' he sayA after thinsin'
hard whole lot. 7 don't know. only my
sister gets married as'in last night. an I
can't think OF nothin' else to do. % sort
q allowa III change my name"
AZ this point, tho exurberant and many
titled Tom appeared with the pocketbook.
ny old friend selected q ten dollar bill and
with an air Of severity gave It to his ex-
pectant servitor.
Thar you be- hs observed sNow. 60
pay them docs. an don't poster round me
for money no more for 4 month. You can't
win from me ag'in before Christmas no
matter how often you changes your name.
or how many new churches you plays IN
with. Fur q Niger. you-an Is . mighty
sight too voYtile. Your sperits L. too tire
less an stays too long on the wing. Which.
onleas you cultivates q placider mood an
studies reeposs q whole lot, III 60 foragiu'
about in my plunder an search forth .
quirt or nnebby some sech stingin' tribe al
. tracs-ohain. an warp you into quietood
an peace. feckons now sech ceremonies
would 60 some ways tow'rds bedc.n' you
down an inculcat.n' lessons Of patience .
heap"
The undaunted Tom listened to his mas.
ters gloomy threats with = cheerful look.
There wss q grin on his face ~ he ao-
cepted tho money and scraped q sThanky.
sahr To leave q religious Impression
which seemed most consistent with the
basis Of Toms appeal. that dusky claimant
Of ten dollars. az he withdrew. hummed
softly Q camp meeting song;
'.run around an tu'n 10 face.
Catos them sweet hills q graca
% poFers of Sin 80 am scornin'n
Look about an look around.
E.,ng 30 ka-pack on q Groun.
GO viii meet wid a Lord In q rornins).-
.Speakin' about this yere vascilatin'
Tom" said the old gentleman. a. he
watched that person disappear. '-shiftin' his
religious grain ground that Away. let
mo tell you These colored folks pulls on
an pulls OF them heliefs as easy as Mex
lean. An their faith never gets In their
way, them tenets never seems TO get be-
tween their hooks an trip 'em up in any-
thing they wants to DO. They goes fangin'
round. draEgin' them religious lariats Of
theirs. an never yet beholds that church
which can drive any picket pin Of doctrine
or prodoocs any hobbies Of creed thatl
hold Q Mexican or . niger. OK keep him
from p'intin. out after the first notion that
mods or beckons to him. Thars no whiM
an. no fancy which can make 30 light .
wagon-track he won't follow It on.
.Spealsin' Of churches that a-wayi This
yere TOMS been with mo yeafA Ono day
about two months ego. he fronts UP to me
an eaysi
"Tve got to be mighty careful what !
does now: I've done fined. gives my soul
to heaven on high last night. an :wrops
myself tight an fast In bonds OF savtn'
grace wid q Presbyterian chu'ch- Yes,
sab. Tn q Christian. an don't want no
ore. incIoodin' myself. to go forgettin'. it.
s"This here news don't weight on mo par
tic'lar, an I makes no comments It's
three weeks later when Tom outs loose an
other commoonication-
"You rec'liects' he says. about me bin
finer an hookin' Up wid d Presbyter'ans?
Well, rse done shook 'ena: I quit that san
| chooary for d Mefodis. D. Presbyterian ID
a heap too gloomy a religion for niggah.
| sah Dey lams loose at me wid foreord' ma
ton an preedest'nation an how d. bad
place is paved wild chirers skulls. an how
go many IS called. an only one in billion