The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1926-12-02
SMILIN' THU
BY GORDON COOPER
forbidden by permission Of the author)
BY GORDON COOPER
MAIN sREN'TH AN AwKERDNEss"

"Hot dggity-dog!" chortled Tige Brown he slap
ped down three the make-shft card table at
which he and another of Ham were engaged IN
playing poker. "Thee All got an de pot is mne!
Whereupon he started to rake in the pile of coins
The other negro fixed him with a menacng eye
"Jes' hoP yo bosses mint ngger Yo' is been takin
de pots long huff. Hits my time ter prowl an Abs
hyah ter tell 20" dat Abs gwine prowl an Abs gwine
prow1 hard an heavyW
Tige stopped in the act of rakng in the money.
There was something sinister in the other Negroes
look and voice. "How yo' take dis pot? Whut yo
got in yo' ham,"
"Ahs got two mines in han, an razor in de
odder ham" replied the other negro in deadly voice
Tige laughed nervously. "Den yo' takes de pot
brudder," he replied. "Lawdy, how lucky yo isl"
Later Tige was confding the transaction to Doc
Bloom venerable negro preacher who worked week
days as gardener Mercer University campus. In q
doefu he finished the recounta, "Dey amt use
a-buckin Niger like dat!" he mourned "Ah likes de-
money, but All doan like in nah gizzardl
How niggers git erway wild dat stuff 2!
Oats whut 20" calls mais stren'th an awkerd-
7ess'" replied Doc. "Some folks does things dpermat
cally, an some folks does things snetfck But dem
whut does things by main stren'th an awkerdness is
bad eggs, an yo' gotta watch out fer EN-! Yassuh!
"Doan All know hit? mourned Tige, remembering
the S17.30 he had just lost.
"Yassuh!" resumed Doc, " Minds O. de niger
whose mule got baky an wouldn't Dere e stood
in de middle O. de road wild all fo feet spradded out
an all de beatin in de wor wouldn't make i'm All
come long an see de mule an All say ter de niger
| Dat mule doan ter be hittin on all six!
can de niggers say back ter me- Nawsuh e amt
httn' all six but e sho am wukkn' on all TO
brakesp OATS whut yo' calls main srenth an awkerd
| ness!"
Tige grinned reluctantly. "Aint yo' tootin?" he
sand And typical of the negro forget his troubles
Tige went to tell story of which he reminded
"Dey wuz two nggers rown' in boat One o. de
nggers say, Sam, effen yo' rown' in boat vic
yo' nav an yo' wife, de boat struck an sunk
which would yo' save-yo nav yo wife?'
"De odder niger say, Aid nah maw Al
could git me anudder wife, but All amt got chance
ter git anudder good oil nav like All got!'
"An' den de odder niger say We'll, s'posn' 70
wuz rowin in boat wild yo wife an yo' maw-n-law
an de boat struck an sink Den which would
yo' save-yo wife yo' maw-n-law?'
- can dat niger laf like ev'ything. Aid d.
snag, OATS whut Aid savel All could git anudde
wife, an mebbe anudder maw-n-law, but All CANT
ah git mo- snags whut's handy datr "
Doc joined Tige in laugh. "Yo' is right, Tige
OATS whut Aid call anudder case o. main srenth an
awkerdness" And then he remembered that he WASH
supposed to be friendly with Tige since that happ
go-lucky individual had tried to beat him out of two
dollar loan His grin faded and he regarded Tge stern
ly he continued But All reckons yo' is de bes
O. main strenth an awkerdness dey is, Tige Brown W
amt done a homes days wuk in yo' lfe"
Tige's eyes grew large "Whut d
mattah wild yo' Doc? Amt All been frien1y wild yc
for de las few munts?"
Oats jes' de trubbe," replied Doc, and he unex
pectedly leaned and clapped hand
Tigs hip pockets "Jes whut All thought" he roare
he wrestled Tge about if he had been chile
"Settin dere nnercent-like an steal nah lkker RICH
outta nah coat!" And he wrenched pint flask fror
that worthy's pocket "Ah thought dey wuz somep'
funny bout yo' sttin' down de grass right by ma
coat, an keepn' edgin 'roun hit like yo' is got
itch an CANT set still"
He planted swift kick in the seat of Tige's pant:
and called after the culprt he made hasty ext
thru the hedge Oats good zample O. main strent
an awkerdness!"