show, even to the black, that he felt any real
interest in the matter. Preferring, too, to continue the conversation in
any way rather than be left to silent communion with his thoughts, he
turned suddenly, and said:--

"Jeff, wouldn't you like to be free?"

"Free, massa!" exclaimed the negro, rolling up his great eyes at his
questioner, in earnest wonder; "why, what de debil put dat in your head?
No, sah! I wouldn't be free for nuffin. If dares one ting in dis world
more mean dan anudder, I 'spect it's a free nigger. Guy! de Lord deliber
dis chile from anyting ob dat kind."

"You astound me, Jeff. This is all nonsense."

"You'se not de fuss pusson from de Norf, massa, dat's been 'stounded by
what de niggers say in de Souf here. I 'member wunst old Massar hab a
fren cum here from somewhar, State of York, I tink 'twas, an' he taut a
great sight ob him, and took him roun' de city in de big carriage, and
made big dinners for him, and 'vited all his notorious 'quaintances to
meet him at his house, and all dat. Well, all de time dat Master was
makin' so much ob him, dat man was catching ebery chance to try and git
his niggers away from him, and de Master knowin' nuffin 'tall 'bout it,
and treatin' him like a king.

"Well, one day, dis ole debbil cum to me, ('scuse me for calling him so
'fore you, Mister Pratt, but he warn't nuffin else,) an' stood an'
looked at me awhile, as I was workin' away, and he sez, 'Jeffrey'--he
allus called me by my hull name, and wus a kind of pious-lookin' man,
wore a white neck-tie, and alus folded up his hands kinder solemn when
he spoke--'Jeffrey,' sez he, puttin' on a bery long face, 'I do feel so
much pity for you!'

"'Caus why, massa?' sez I.

"'Why, 'cause I see you here sich a fine, strong, young man, with sich
able powers o' your own, and sich excellent caperbilities to make a fine
livin' for yourself, a workin' here, day in and day out, an' a givin'
all your life fur de benefit ob anudder. Oh, I feel so sorry fur you!'
an' he sighed when he sed dat, like a tired mule.

"'Well,' sez I, 'massa, I'se contented where I is. I hab my victuals and
clothes, and a good hum, and for all I can see, dat's all my Master
has. Ob de two I does tink I'm de best off. Sometimes, when I see him
cum in lookin' all pale and flurried like, from his business, I tink to
myself I wouldn't hab all his 'sponsibilities on my back fur de world.
Guy! I'd rather be de slave dan de master, any time; and as fur