e family in those parts)--they's the raal quality--none
on yer shams or mushrooms; but genuwine 'stockracy--blamed if they
haint. What d'ye say ter him?'

'Well, he moight do, p'raps--but I rather reckon ye've done him up sum;
'iled his face, greased his wool, and sech like. It's all right, ye
know--onything's far in trade; but ye karn't come it over me, ole
feller. I'm up ter sech doin's. I _am_, Mr.----,' and I paused for him
to finish the sentence.

'Larkin,' he added quickly and good-humoredly; 'Jake Larkin, and yours,
by----,' and he gave my hand another shake. 'Yer one on 'em, I swar, and
I own up; I _hev_ 'iled em' a trifle--jest a trifle; but ye kin see
through thet; we hev ter do it ter fix the green 'uns, ye knows.'

'Yes, I knows--'iled 'em inside and out, haint ye?'

'No, on my soul--only one glass ter day--true as preachin'.'

'Boy,' I said to the yellow man, 'how much whiskey hev ye drunk ter day?
Now, tell the truth.'

'Nary drop, massa; hed a moufful o' _sperrets_--a berry little
moufful--dat's all.'

'Taint 'nough, Larkin! Come, now, doan't be mean with nigs. Give 'em sum
more--sum o' thet tall brandy o' your'n; a good swig. They karn't stand
it out har in the cold without a little warmin' up.'

'Well, I'm blamed ef I won't. Har, you, Jim,' speaking to a well-dressed
darky standing near. 'Har, go ter thet red-headed woodpecker, thar at
the cabin, and tell him I'll smash his peepers if he doan't send me sum
glasses ter onst--d'ye har? Go.'

The gentlemanly darky went, and soon returned with the glassware; and
meanwhile Larkin directed another well-clad negro man to 'bring the
jugs.' They were strung across the back of a horse which was tied near,
and, uncorking one of them, the trader said: 'I allers carry my own
pizen. 'Taint right to give even nigs sech hell-fire as they sell round
har; it git's a feller's stumac used ter tophet 'fore the rest on him is
'climated.'

'Well, it does,' I replied; 'it's the devil's own warming pan.'

Each negro received a fair quantity of the needed beverage, and seemed
the better for it. A little brandy, 'for the stomach's sake,' is enjoyed
by those dusky denizens of the low latitudes.

When they were all supplied, the trader said to me: 'Now, what d'ye say,
Kirke? What'll ye give fur the boy?'

'Well, I reckon I doan't want no boys jest now; and I doan't know as I
wants ary 'ooman nother; but if ye've got a right likely gal--one
thet'll sew, and nuss good