Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1886 — “Mexican Peter’s” Defense. [ARTICLE]

“Mexican Peter’s” Defense.

“Mexican Peter” is something of a celebrity in his native county. He worj his sobriquet, if not his laurels, when serving as body-servant to liis young master, “Marse John,” during the Mexican war. Now our hero is not free from some of the failings of his race, and theshrines of pious Mexicans, with their .gold and silver ornaments, did prove a special.pitfall and temptation to poor Peter. In vain did “Marsfe John” instill into the African mind lessons of higher morality, with a wholesome blending of the terrors of tlie law when coming in the garb of strict military discipline; the fact remained the same; in the time of teniptatio-n Peter liad to be closely watched. . When tlie war was over. “Marse John” went to Washington, and Peter was sent home to “ole niarster. ” For a few short hours after hi) home-coming lie stepped a hero, witfl many tales of the marvelous to tell. Having some suspicion of how matter .stood, “ole marster,” with a sly twinkle, said, “Now, Pete, what did yoq bring back from vou travels to show us?” ,V ■'

This was touching a tender spot, and Peter's countenance fell as lie said: “I ’dare, ole marster, Marse John didn’t liap no conscience ’bout dat thing at all. Much as dar wuz to git, all I could fotch home wuz wun lil sillier gord”—• displaying with a mixture of pride and melancholy a litfle image of some saint that might or might not have been of 1 the precious metal. Time rolled on, and the proclamation em&ncipated Peter from “Mai’se John’s” conscience (or want of conscience), and at various or sundry times he profited bv his liberty of action, and finally 'found himself in limbo for unlawfully possessing himself of his neighbor’s torkey, and was tried in the court where “Marse John” was a practicing attorney, and “Marse Payton,” another member of the family, the grave anil dignified judge. The evidence was overpowering, and to plead “not guilty” impossible, so Peter could only request to be “ ’lowed to splain how he got in da trouble. ” Anticipating a treat, the request was granted, aud solemnly the Court awaited the defense. Not without a certain dignity the old man arose, and the explanation began: “Getrnun, I won’t say I ’aint got into dis trouble, • ’cause I sholy is, and hit troubling me ’nougli; but in jestice I mus’ tell how it all cum upon me. Past, some blame lay at the door of Marse John. He good man. good as gole; but he wun contrackted, not say wun stingy, farmer. He got de ole threshin-machine he had 'fore de war, what leave mos’ of de wheat, iu de straw, and dat sack ’tice ole Mis’ Simpkin’s turkeys to cum dar and scratch in de straw an’ eat. Now, dey come dar an’ do dat so long tell dev jes shine, and. gentmun, when atoekey shine, he fat, an’ I look at dem shining tockeys so long tell I'gin to feel mof’lly Round to have one, an* J got one. Now" fiat's de fust reason, but cfiiefliest dis trouble come to me ’cause old Mr. Simpkins wa’n’t no gentmun. Es I had been dealing wid a gentmun, things ud 'a bin diff’unt; but he wuz pore white folks, an’ ez I'only kpowed de ways of gentmun, I wa’n’t no match liim. I does know a gentmun. Didn tme an’ Marse John here and Mai’se Peyton dar all come out de same estate, and who ever fetch de word deg wa’n’t no gentmun ? Well, me an’ de ole ’ornan an’ de Chilian had jes dun eat dat tuckey, an’, to sabe de scand’l ob de thing, I had put all fie feathers an' bones in de Dutch oven—my Dutch oven Mis’ Sally gib me—when I hear somebody knock at fie door. I went to* de door, au' fiar stan’ ole Mr. Simpkins! Now spine pore white folks is wus fian p’inter dogs, dey so peersome. Mr. Simpkins come in; he look round, an’ walk straight to my Dutch oven Mis' Sally gjnb me. He peep in; lie find de feathers an’ de bones, pull um all out, an’ jes lass mos’ outlandish! Wuz dat a gentmun? Now de Cote knows all, an’ I couldn’t set here quiot tell dey did. ” It is needless to say the ruling of the “Cote” was not very severe. — Editor's Drawer, Harper's Magazine.