Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 October 1883 — A Considerate Man. [ARTICLE]

A Considerate Man.

“Charged wid habin’ two wives, is I?” asked an old negro of the Magistrate before whom he had been arranged. “Yes,” replied the Judge. “Are you guilty or not guilty ?” “Wall, we’ll sorter hafter study ’bout dem facts ap’ ’vestigate ’em a leetle. It’s owin’ ter what sorter man yer leabs it ter wfcuder ur not I’se ’siderei. guilty.” “Have you two living wives?” “Whut does yer ’spose I wants wid a dead wife, Judge. Doan draw me in dis cou’t-house ’spectin’ ter fine me a fool. Doan ’sinuate dat de time what I hab spent at a night-school hab been flung away.” “Well, old man, if you have two living wives you have violated the law and merit a term in the penitentiary.” “Doan git fracshus an’ dem'n a man ’fore yer knows all de sacks. Some time ago I married Tildy Smith, a mighty likely ’oman. She was a mighty faithful wife, a good pusson as I eber seed, but somehow she finally tuck a dislikement ter me. She was a good ’oman, as I tells yer, but one mawnin’ she cussed me. I can stan’ anything but bein’ cussed. Es yerse’f wuster set up dar an’ cuss me, I doan keer how yer is, I’d hit yer, sho’. Wall, when de ’oman cussed me, I sorter slapped her down. Airter dis, she didn’t seem ter lub me quite so well, ’cause when I felt bad an’ wanted ter chunk her ’roun’ fur ’musement, she got outer my way. Dat wasn’t no way ter do, but she was still a good ’oman. One day she tuck sick an’ sont fur her sister ’Liza. She kep’ er gittin’ wus an’ ’gunter talk ’bout dyin’‘ One ebenin’ she called me an’ sez, sez she, ‘Jasper, I’se mighty nighty nigh gone, an’ kain’t lib till mawnin’. I knows dat yer kain’t git along widout a good wife, an’ jis as I’se dyin’, when I’se jis alive, I wants ter see yer married. I knows dat yer’s al’ers lubed sister ’Liza, and now I axes yer ter marry her.’ I agreed ter dis, merely ter gratify de dyin’ ’oman, an’ ’sides dat, ’Liza was a mighty likely gal. Wife she kep er gittin wus, an’ airter a while 1 sont fur de preacher an’ de license. Da got dar jis as Tildy seemed ter be drawin’ her las’ brtef. Me and ’Liza stood by de bed, an’ when Tildy gaped fur de las’ time de preacher married me and ’Liza. Jes’ as de ceremony was ’formed, Tildy she hopped outen de bed an’ says, * Oh, yes, I’se got yer now! Hit me de udder day, did yer? Now I’se got yer, an’ is a gwine ter sen’ yer ter dmpenitentiary fur habin’ twQ wives.’ Dat’s de way it was, Jedge, an’ I’d like ter know at dis present writin’ whut de law is gwine ter do about it?” “You have violated the law, old man, and must suffer the consequences.” “Dat look's mighty hard. It do seem dat de law ain’t got no respeck fur a man’s private affairs. Stan’s aside an’ lets two wimun git away wid a man an’ den, ’stead ob showin’ sympathy, jumps on ter de man. Now, Jedge, doan yerse’f believe dat any two wimun can git away wid one po’ man ?” “That’s a fact,” the Judge replied. “One woman is bad enough; but two, ah, Lord! You may go, old man.”— Arkcinsaw Traveler.