Judge — July 4, 1885 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ett eae is nd foot. neatly-planed boards at the head On the h for cotton-bales: A goodly company of negroes stood near the foot, as quiet and serious as if one of their number was to be—as they say— funalized.” ‘As soon as Mr. Royal and his famil laid his hat ou the ground, took h and n with earnest seriousn My belobed frien’ on dis solemn an’ ‘mpo’tant ’casion to pay de las’ “tection an’ respec’ to de departed an’ disseased, an’ to pe'fo'm de funer'l obsequiouses uv our frien’ an’ serbant, Parke His life hab bin useful an’ honoredable, an’ ef we ‘dorns our station li he did de persition whar Proverdence ’signed him to lib, mobe hab his bein’, our life an ’zistance will be as wuthy uv praise imitationment. Ilis death ‘were peaceful and solemnfied were ready an’ willin’ ter go. He hab pass’ to dat ’tarnal am no mo’ cuttin’ open uv chists, an’ no breakin’ uy ents nor troubles, an’ whar all sighin’ an’ sorrow We hab lay him in de cole an’ silent ’bracem heavens an’ de yearth pass away an uv internity, nt ter perlong dese sad an’ ictin’ ceremonies fer too long a gth, we will sho’ten de survices by singin’ de follerin’ Der congergation pecfully axed to jine in de took their places, Sam at the head of the grave tributaries uv nts uv de ce fel Accustomed as Mr. and Royal were to the negro dialect and the aptness with whic atch and use 7 ndiloquently, they surprised at the fluency with w am, in his * preachment peated and applied the substance of what he had heard at more pre- tentious funerals; but they could not keep their countenauces dur- ing the singing. Mr. Royal hid his mouth with his hat, and his wife smothered a laugh with her ‘ handkerchief, as Sam deaconed off, two lines at a time, the stanzas Richard had prepared for the oc: cs eR “nation nd all the neg’ g any incongruity in either words or tune: e children ing, not noticin Parker, he hab died an’ lef" us, And’ we mou'n Cruel death hat ur Lieaby loss; ‘ore beret’ us Uv a good an’ faithful ho’se. He wuz alluz strong an’ willin’® Wid a kine an gentle Neber shirkin’ at a feed-time, dy at de plow an’ cart Cole an’ silent he am restin’ Wil Twel de ¢ May he srabe we weep; urrectin’, et sleep.” After the singing Sam unrolled a package and handed Mr. Loyal an envelope on which was written: “+ Parker's Last Will and Testament,” and which contained not only the Will, buta Hy ament. "Lhe mischievous authors of the Wil!—having Capt. Cuttle in mind—had made Sam believe that the book was absolutely neces- sary to the validity of the document. “+e Will yo” please read de Will, M 3 cationary ’vantages is bofe better’n mine,” said Sam with an im- portant air. With surprise, then vaguely recalling some old pranks and do- ings of his wife’s brothers, Mr: Royal opened the paper and read aloud:— «In the name of Goodne « Know all men by th —So mote it be! n’brederen’, we has ’sembled tergedder | THE JUDGE. tree under which Parker’s grave was nicely rounded up, with | Lassiter, of C | ship, ad-board Richard had printed, with the brush used | Parker, of the Creek, Plantation, ‘Township, County and State an’ all Uings is “zolved | Mrs. Royal’s brothers, Eugene and Oliver Anthony. pes joined with spirit in the sing- | e John, yore eyes an’ eddi- | iter, of Congo Creck, Royal’ Plantation, Cape Fear ‘Town- ow Hanover County, and SI ate of North Carolina, that I, aforesaid, lately owned by John Royal, Esq., of said Creek, Planta- tion, Township, County and State, but this day granted my free- dom, and though sorely crippled in body, being of lawful age, and disposing mind and memory (praised be’ a good constitution for the same) and being desirous to settle my wordly affairs whilst I have strength and capacity so to do, do make ‘ind pablish, this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time heretofore made. «« Xnd first and principally I commit my spirit to the One who it, and my body to the dust from whence it came. ** And as to such wordly estate as has been intrusted to me, both real and personal, and of every nature and kind, I give, devise, and bequeath the same to my friend Sam Lassiter, abovenamed, of the Creek, Plantation, Township, County and State aforesaid, and to his heirs and assigns forever. “And furthermore, in consideration that the said Sam Lassiter has me decently buried when my mortal life is ended, and has obsequies performed in a suitable manner, 1 bestow on him my hide in payment therefor. In testimony whereof I, the said Parker, have to thismy Will set my hoof and seal.” gav ‘Then followed the print of Parker’s hoof, duly witnessed by ‘This Will was dated about ten GZ years befure Parker's death, at a ime when he bad met with an ac- —the cutting of agreat gash in his chest—which every one but Sam thought, must, at his age, surely prove fatal. “Goand knock him in the head,” al had said after exauin- he gaping wound. No, Mar John, lemme nuss few days fust, fer [tinks he nit ober hit,” begged Sam, you please, I give him his freedom so far as I’m con- cerned.” ts *T wish I may hab all de wo’k A oS 8): x, bim Ve Parker has got in him, an? kin come outen him ‘fore he dies,” suid Bt) Sam. Wi “You are welcome to it, but ' you won't fall heir to much if you expect it of Parker.” * Fall heir!” soliloquised Sam, Dat means suthin’ lef’ yo" wid a Will. all heir!” and while he working over Parker, his mind was running on the words and | how they could be turned to his account. Ile obtained a strong sheet from Mrs. Royal, tore it into strips and wound them around Parker till the gash was drawn firmly to- gether, fastened them securely, did several little things for Parker's comfort and then sought Mr. Roy “Wuan’t yo’ ole Mass’r Chal “Yes; the principal one.” ‘An’ wuzn't dere a will an’ testament read at de funer’l?” “Tt was read after the funcral, but what of that?” “W’y den, ef I is Parker's heir, dere mus’ be a will and tester- ment drawn fer me.” Mr. Royal laughed Anthony, seated on the Royal's heir, Marse John?” nd walked off, but Eugene and Oliver > within earshot, determined to have some fun out of Sam a) turn it to their profit. o, in conside tion of sundry little jobs, they wrote the will and a comical quit- im deed, which, from the novelty of the thing, and his belief that it was valueless, Mr, Royal was induced to sign. Sam cared for [ eras tenderly as if he was a child, and was well rewarded for his pains. Parker not only got well, but did all of Sam’s carting and plowing till a few days before his death. Ile conld not stand hard driving, but after ‘a week’s plowing S: would mount him of a Sunday morning, let him take his own pac nd jog along to ** big-meetin’,” and neither man nor horse thought he was over-worked, When Parker would have died of shcer old age it is hard to tell, | for after the tree fell on him, which hurt his side and broke two of his legs, he lingered for hours before yielding up the ghost and de- parting to his fathers ‘The circumstances under which the will had been written came back to Mr. Royal’s mind while he was reading it, but he did not see how it could profit Sum, so, handing it to him, he said: comicbooks.com