hing to say, of
course, and 'Pollo began rolling a cigarette--an art he had learned from
the man from New Orleans.

Finally he remarked, "Yas, Miss Lily got sev'al mighty nice presents
last night."

At this Pierre turned, laughing, and said, "I s'pose you geeve 'er
somet'ing too, eh?"

"Pity you hadn't a-give her dat silk hankcher. Hit'd become her a heap
better'n it becomes you," Peters said, laughing.

"Yas, I reckon it would," said 'Pollo; "but de fact is _she_ gi' _me_
dis hankcher--an' of co'se I accepted it."

"But why ain't you tellin' us what you give her?" insisted Peters.

'Pollo put the cigarette to his lips, deliberately lit it, puffed
several times, and then, removing it in a leisurely way, he drawled:

"Well, de fact is I heerd Mr. Pier here give her a buggy, an'--an' Mr.
Peters, he up an' handed over a horse,--an' so, quick as I got a
chance, I des balanced my ekalub'ium an' went an' set down beside her
an' ast her ef she wouldn't do me de honor to accep' of a _driver_,
an'--an' _she say yas_.

"You know I'm a coachman by trade.

"An' dat's huccome I come to say she got sev'al presents las' night."

And he took another puff of his cigarette.

NEAREST OF KIN

(ON THE PLANTATION)

When Tamar the laundress was married to the coachman Pompey, there was a
big time on the plantation. Tamar wore white tarlatan and an orange
wreath--although it was her severalth marriage--and she had six
bridemaids and a train-bearer. The last, a slim little black girl of
about ten years, was dressed somewhat after the fashion of the ballet,
in green tarlatan with spangles, and her slender legs were carefully
wrapped with gilt paper that glistened through the clocked stockings
with fine effect. Otherwise the "clockings" in the black stockinet would
have lost their value.

Pompey, as groom, was resplendent in the full glare of a white duck
suit, and he wore a rosette of satin ribbon--"so's to 'stinguish him out
f'om de groomsmen," each of whom was likewise "ducked" out in immaculate
linen; and if there were some suggestive misfits among them, there were
ample laundry compensations in the way of starch and polish--a proud
achievement of the bride.

There was a good deal of marching up and down the aisles of the church
by the entire party before the ceremony, which was, altogether, really
very effective. Pompey was as black as his bride, and his face was as
carefully oiled and polished for the occasion as