Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1887 — k Great Judge. [ARTICLE]

k Great Judge.

Old Nod Wilson, blacker than the stripes on the mules he drov*> during the war, and young Nsth Potts, who was once the dark property of a Southern Coldnel, decided, after failing ih polities and becoming bankrupt in religion, to open an office aud begin the practice of medicine. They rented a small shanty, advantageously situated on the main street of a settlement Vnnwn <ia “RirnAf TTnma • anrl nounoed to the pnb’io that they were able to cure all diseases from dull* to the most aggravated attack of “dew ptxen," an aflfietion which seem* to have a peculiar fondnese for the colored gentleman. They had not Long engaged in th* practice of the healing art, when they were both arrested and arraigned before a negro justice of the peace. “What’* de charge agin dese h«ah ’fessional gen’armen?” asked the Jtetice, turningio the prosecuting witees*. “Chu«W ash, ter sen’ ’em whar de dogs doan’ set under de ash hopper an’ bark at de new moon. Da pisened my wife, sah." ’’’Splain yerse’fs,” said the magistrate, inclining his head toward the college of physicians and surgeons. ‘.‘Didn’do it,” replied Dr. Wilson. “Neber pizened de ’oman,” acquiesced Dr. Nath Potts. “But da did do it Jedge,” declared the prosecuting witness. “My wife was sick wid de chills, an’ I sent fur dese gen’ermens. Da said dat da’d hafter hoi’ a ’sultation ober de ’oman’s flution, an’ arter da talked ’ronn’ ’er ’while, da gin’er some sorter tea an’ de fust thing I knowed de po’ creetur was dead as a las’ year’s buckeye. Dis is de charge, Jedgs, an’ es dars any law in dis country fur a po’ man, da’ll meet wid a punisment what’ll sorter correct dar idees o’ de practice ’o med’eine.” “Dese sacks is mightely agin -dC larned geri’ermen,” said the Justice with an air of deep decision. “In all my creer az a jurist o’ dis lari’, it ain’t been my painful duty ter fling de light o’ my knowledge on a wus case. Doctor Wilson, whut has yer got ter say.’’ “Jedge, I’se so full o’ laugh dat I can’t hardly say nutten. De ignunc o’ dis man would tickle an Injin. When we got ter de house, de ’oman was dun dead, but in respeck ter our medecal skill, sor, she commenced to breathe agin jes ez soon as we went in. Es we hadnter went in, she neber would have breathed no mo’. ‘Doctor,’ ses ‘l’se mighty glad yo’s come, for it gins me a chance ter say what I wanted ter sav. De man what I married was a good citezen, but he wan’t my idee o’ a puffick gen’erman. Es I had my life ter lib ober agin, I would marry a man like de Jestice o’ de Peace. Oh, he’s sd smart, an’ now, while I lays heah, wid bof feet in de grabe an’ wid only one han’ out, suthin tells me dat man is gwine ter be a spreme jedge one o’ dese days. Good by ter all, I’se gwine/ “Dat’s zackly whut she said,” agreed Dr. Nath Potts. “8h» said dem words while we was makin de tea, but fore we could gin it ter her, she was dun dead agin. Now, jedge, dese are de sacks.” The Justice reflected for a moment, and then, turning to the prosecuting witness, said: ■'l’se ashamed o’ ver, sor, ter hab dese edycated zichions fotch up heah. Anybody ken see dat da un’erstan’s dar business. I flings yer in de cas’, fur yer ignunce. Gen’ermens o’ de medecal school yer discharged.”—Texas Siftings.