turned toward Sally Johnson, who was seated
near Sam.

"I 'specs I see somebody blush at dat remark," said Alfred.

"Pass dem pancakes an' 'lasses up dis way, Mr. Alf, and none ob your
sinuwashuns here," rejoined Sam.

"Dat reminds me," said-Agnes, "dat Dorcas Simpson is gwine to git
married."

"Who to, I want to know?" inquired Peter.

"To one of Mr. Darby's field-hands," answered Agnes.

"I should tink dat gal wouldn't frow herseff away in dat ar way," said
Sally; "She's good lookin' 'nough to git a house-servant, and not hab
to put up wid a field-nigger."

"Yes," said Sam, "dat's a werry unsensible remark ob yourn, Miss Sally.
I admires your judgment werry much, I 'sures you. Dar's plenty ob
susceptible an' well-dressed house-serbants dat a gal ob her looks can
git widout takin' up wid dem common darkies."

The evening's entertainment concluded by Sam relating a little of his
own experience while with his first master, in old Kentucky. This
master was a doctor, and had a large practice among his neighbors,
doctoring both masters and slaves. When Sam was about fifteen years
old, his master set him to grinding up ointment and making pills. As
the young student grew older and became more practised in his
profession, his services were of more importance to the doctor. The
physician having a good business, and a large number of his patients
being slaves,--the most of whom had to call on the doctor when ill,--he
put Sam to bleeding, pulling teeth, and administering medicine to the
slaves. Sam soon acquired the name among the slaves of the "Black
Doctor." With this appellation he was delighted; and no regular
physician could have put on more airs than did the black doctor when
his services were required. In bleeding, he must have more bandages,
and would rub and smack the arm more than the doctor would have thought
of.

Sam was once seen taking out a tooth for one of his patients, and
nothing appeared more amusing. He got the poor fellow down on his back,
and then getting astride of his chest, he applied the turnkeys and
pulled away for dear life. Unfortunately, he had got hold of the wrong
tooth, and the poor man screamed as loud as he could; but it was to no
purpose, for Sam had him fast, and after a pretty severe tussle out
came the sound grinder. The young doctor now saw his mistake, but
consoled himself with the thought that as the wrong tooth was out of
the way, there was more room to get at the right one