The Lime-kiln Club

"I would like to spoke a few words to Telescope Perkins, iL he am in de hall to-night," said the President as the meeting openeil, The brother wiped off his mouth and advanced to the platform, and Brother Gardner continued: "Brudder Perkins, I met you at 8 o'olock in de evenin' on 'leckshun night." "Yes, sah." "You war' what de white folks cali slewed." 'Tze niighty sorry, sah." "You were full of glory. You feit dat you had saved the kentry. Your clothes war' all mud. Your breaf smelt of skunks, an' you had to jump up an' down an' whoop to keep from bustin' yer biler." "Lots o' white folks was doin' de same, sah." "Sartin'- sartin'. Youan old exslave, unable to read or writo, was ony followin' in de footsteps of intelligent, eddecated white men. Brudder r'erkins, I war' walkin' 'round on leckshun day, and' I saw some curus things. I saw citizens who would not swallow en drops of whisky if Ufe depended jb t wote f ur men who hev sold the pizened stuff ober de bar fur y'ars. An' lat was savin' de kentry. Post-offloe Clerk. 'Here! your letter s overweight.' Pat. -Over what weight?' P. O. G. 'It's too heavy; put another tauip on t.' Pat. 'Och, git out wid yer foolin' ! ure if I put another stamp on, won't it be heavier still ?' "I saw men who would turn a servant gal out doors on a winter's night, f dey heard a scandal 'bout her, walk up to de polls an' wote fur men who ent from two to a half a dozen houses o women of bad character. Dat was wine it straight! "I saw men whose wives am breakin' deir hearts ober de wayward Mirse of beloved sons, walk to de winder and stick in ballots fur candidatea who ara in cahoots wid black legs and de steady patrons of gambling houses. Dat waa de glory of politics! "I saw Christian men, who pray agin vice and shed tears ober de wickedness of society, wote fur candidates whose private lives am one long night of deoauchery and corruption. Dat was itandin' by de party! "I saw miuiaterö of de gospel cast .votes fur drunkards, libertines m' outlaws of society. Dat was supportin' de principie! 'I saw de honest, decent men of Detroit arrayed on one side, an' de thugs, inieves an' loafers on de odder, an' de honest, decent men war' ewept away like chaff befo' a gale. Dat was an illustrashunof de beauties of do 'lectiva franchise!" "But 1 won't do it again, sah," pleaded Brother Perkins. "You kin sot down," quietly remarked the President. "Dat samé night I neard Aldermen bawlin' like mules bekase some favorite candidate had pulled frew wi'd de aid of money an' whisky. Citizens who wouldn't let you in at de front doah rolled in de mud dat night like hogs. Men who hev sons to bring up met and shook hands an' rejoiced ober de 'leckshun of candidates who know de way into ebery saloon an' poker-room in Detroit. Blame you, Brudder Perkins - blame you furfollern' de example of leadin' white folksl No, sah! Go an' sot down an' fecl proud dat you come so nigh bein' an' eminent