flow of that interior jollity with which he seemed to
be always full. The African in New England was a curious contrast to
everybody around him in the joy and satisfaction that he seemed to feel
in the mere fact of being alive. Every white person was glad or sorry
for some appreciable cause in the past, present, or future, which was
capable of being definitely stated; but black Caesar was in an eternal
giggle and frizzle and simmer of enjoyment for which he could give no
earthly reason: he was an "embodied joy," like Shelley's skylark.

"Jest hear him," said Sam Lawson, looking pensively over the hay-mow,
and strewing hayseed down on his wool. "How that 'are critter seems to
tickle and laugh all the while 'bout nothin'. Lordy massy! he don't seem
never to consider that 'this life's a dream, an empty show.'"

"Look here, Sam," we broke in, anxious to cut short a threatened stream
of morality, "you promised to tell us about Capt. Kidd, and how you dug
for his money."

"Did I, now? Wal, boys, that 'are history o' Kidd's is a warnin' to
fellers. Why, Kidd had pious parents and Bible and sanctuary privileges
when he was a boy, and yet come to be hanged. It's all in this 'ere
song I'm a goin' to sing ye. Lordy massy! I wish I had my bass-viol
now.--Caesar," he said, calling down from his perch, "can't you strike
the pitch o' 'Cap'n Kidd,' on your fiddle?"

Caesar's fiddle was never far from him. It was, in fact, tucked away in
a nice little nook just over the manger; and he often caught an interval
from his work to scrape a dancing-tune on it, keeping time with his
heels, to our great delight.

A most wailing minor-keyed tune was doled forth, which seemed quite
refreshing to Sam's pathetic vein, as he sang in his most lugubrious
tones,--

"'My name was Robert Kidd
As I sailed, as I sailed,
My name was Robert Kidd;
God's laws I did forbid,
And so wickedly I did,
As I sailed, as I sailed.'

"Now ye see, boys, he's a goin' to tell how he abused his religious
privileges; just hear now:--

"'My father taught me well,
As I sailed, as I sailed;
My father taught me well
To shun the gates of hell,
But yet I did rebel,
As I sailed, as I sailed.

"'He put a Bible in my hand,
As I sailed, as I sailed;
He put a Bible in my hand,
And I sunk it in the sand
Before I left the strand,
As I sailed, as I sailed.'