AN ARKANSAW LEGISLATOR. A Healthy Appetite for Presents, Which He was Proud of.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 201, 30 April 1887, Page 10

AN ARKANSAW LEGISLATOR. A Healthy Appetite for Presents, Which He was Proud of.

I 4»d Arkansaw Legislature i Member from &*ttdstone~Mr Speaker, I hope, sir, that you' flrtll let me have a few ttrinutes' time in w>'i'eh to place myself square' on the record. Y^terclay evening- Mr Buckley Brown, from <?kim Bottoms, said that I? had accepted the f.^bseiit of a new hat fr©rti'» railroad sxiperw'tendent, and hinted m' a 1 way inclined to 1 sting a sensitive man«* that I had praelScalfy sold myself. $- should like to Ithiow if there is any--thing in our constitution that prevents a man fiom accepting presents. I say there is not, sm'd, sir, when our constitution arises and sarpte that I shan't take everything that is given- to* me, then will 1 say, lf "Mr Constitutions-attend to your own affairs. " Mr Speaker,,- I ana a presenttaker, sand as an encouragement to those wHo-may contemplate giving me something, Ut me say that my capacity for taking presents; although well developed, has not been- overtaxed. I may ?,lso- say that the man 'who won't take a hat atfdi thereby save the expense* ©f buying one, il^i 1^ composed of a nritfturo oiffool, liar and thief. I'd be afraii' to 1 meet such a maK< away out in tile wood I*.1 *. I would ie&i wire that he would knock me down aftd' rob me. I know of am affair in my cetmty that strongly illustrates the dishonesty of men who -are afraid to accept presents. A red-bearded fellow named Watson went to work for okV Clark, and made Ivimself so useful that/- Clark, who well knew* how to appreciate merit, went to him and Wiid : " ' Watson, 1 never had a man 1 * that I think more 1 of than I do you.' I" ' Much obleeged to you,' replied-Wat-son. " ' And I fc&vc-decided,' Clark continued, I •' to give you my daughter, Lorena.' ! "'Much obl^egeclto you,' said Watson, , ff bnt I ain't aeoeptin' any presents.' "Well, Mr Speaker, that man wp« so (I'toi ( 1'toi lest that Ko would not accept "' the j daughter as a present, but the next dty ho [I ran iiwuy with Clarks wife. Since then I iliavo been extre-vrtfoly suspicious of men Who jaa-e too high-tomd' to accept presents, and }i& keep other faiVmintled men from stisj|! pecting me, I hr.tfe- determined to i-efase i aathing."— " Arta-nsaw Traveller.'"