55. TOO SLIM
[The great evil of mixing religion and politics are well set forth in the following incident:]
"Gabe," said the governor to an old colored man, "I understand that you have been ousted from your position of Sunday-school superintendent."
"Yes, sah, da figured aroun' till da got me out. II was all a piece of political work, though; and I doan see why de law of de lan' doan prevent de Sunday-schools an' churches from takin' up political matters!"
"How did politics get you out?"
"Yer see, some time ago, when I was a candidate for justice ob de peace, I gin' a barbecue ter some ob my frien's. De udder day da brung up de fack an' ousted me."
"I don't see why the fact that you gave a barbecue to your friends should have caused any trouble."
"Neider does myse'f, boss; but yer see da said dat I stole de hogs what I barbecued. De proof wa'nt good, an' I think dat da done wrong in ackin' upon sech slim testimony. Da said dat I cotch de hogs in a corn fid'. I know dat wan't true, 'case it was a wheat fid' whar I cotch 'em."