man
like me to speak of himself.'

'Ye can speak of what ye d---- please, but ye can't talk ab'lish'n har,
by G----,' he said, again applying his hand to the table, till the
plates and saucers jumped up, performed several jigs, then several
reels, and then rolled over in graceful somersaults to the floor.

At this juncture, the Colonel and Madam P---- entered.

Observing the fall in his crockery, and the general confusion of things,
the Colonel quietly asked, 'What's to pay?'

I said nothing, but burst into a fit of laughter at the awkward fix the
Overseer was in. That gentleman also said nothing, but looked as if he
would like to find vent through a rat-hole or a window-pane. Jim,
however, who stood at the back of my chair, gave _his_ eloquent thoughts
utterance, very much as follows:--

'Moye hab 'sulted Massa K----, Cunnel, awful bad. He hab swore a blue
streak at him, and called him a d---- ab'lishener, jess 'cause Massa
K---- wudn't get mad and sass him back. He hab disgrace your hosspital,
Cunnel, wuss dan a nigga.'

The Colonel turned white with rage, and, striding up to the Overseer,
seized him by the throat, yelling, rather than speaking, these words:
'You d---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----, have you dared to insult a
guest in my house?'

'I didn't mean to 'sult him,' faltered out the Overseer, his voice
running through an entire octave, and changing with the varying pressure
of the Colonel's fingers on his throat; 'but he said he war an
ab'lishener.'

'No matter what he said,' replied the Colonel; 'he is my guest, and in
my house he shall say what he pleases, by G----. Apologize to him, or
I'll send you to h---- in a second.'

The fellow turned cringingly to me, and ground out something like this,
every word seeming to give him the toothache:--

'I meant no offence, sar; I hope ye'll excuse me.'

This satisfied me, but, before I could make a reply, the Colonel again
seized him by the throat, and yelled,--

'None of your sulkiness; get on your knees, you d---- white-livered
hound, and ask the gentleman's pardon like a man.'

The fellow then fell on his knees, and got out, with less effort than
before,--

'I 'umbly ax yer pardon, sar, very 'umbly, indeed.'

'I am satisfied, sir,' I replied. 'I bear you no ill-will.'

'Now go,' said the Colonel; 'and in future, take your meals in the
kitchen. I have none but gentlemen at my table.'

The fellow went. As soon as he had closed the door, the C