Part 44

"Mr. Noah Bills," said the little man.

"Nan?" said Ned, raising his hand to his ear in token of deafness, and bending his head to the speaker.

"Mr. Noah Bills," repeated the little man, loud enough to disturb the two couples immediately before him.

"Mrs. Noel's Bill!" said Ned with mortification and astonishment. "Do the white persons pay such respect to niggers in Savannah? I sha'n't do it." So saying, he left the procession.

The little man was at first considerably nettled; but upon being left to his own reflections, he got into an uncontrollable fit of laughter, as did the couple immediately in advance of him, who overheard Ned's remark. The procession now exhibited a most mortifying spectacle--the head of it in mourning and in tears, and the foot of it convulsed with laughter.

A SAGE CONVERSATION.

(From Georgia Scenes, first edition, 1835.)

Mrs. Shad.--The old man likes a joke yet right well, the old man does; but he's a mighty good man, and I think he prays with greater libity, than most any one of his age I most ever seed,--don't you think he does, Mis' Reed?

Mrs. Reed.--Powerful.

Mrs. Barney..--Who did he marry?

Mrs. Shad.--Why, he married--stop, I'll tell you directly--Why, what does make my old head forget so?

Mrs. Barney.--Well, it seems to me I don't remember like I used to. Didn't he marry a Ramsbottom?

Mrs. Reed.--No. Stay, I'll tell you who he married presently. Oh, stay! Why I'll tell you who he married! He married old daddy Johnny Hooer's da'ter, Mournin'.

Mrs. Shad.--Why, la! messy on me, so he did!

Mrs. Barney.--Why, did he marry a Hooer?

Mrs. Shad.--Why, to be sure he did.--You knew Mournin'.

Mrs. Barney.--Oh, mighty well; but I'd forgot that brother Smith married her. I really thought he married a Ramsbottom.

Mrs. Reed.--Oh no, bless your soul, honey, he married Mournin'.

Mrs. Barney.--Well, the law me, I'm clear beat!

Mrs. Shad.--Oh, it's so, you may be sure it is.

Mrs. Barney.--Emph, emph, emph, emph! And brother Smith married Mournin' Hooer! Well, I'm clear put out! Seems to me I'm gettin' mighty forgetful somehow.

Mrs. Shad.--Oh yes, he married Mournin', and I saw her when she joined society.

Mrs. Barney.--Why, you don't tell me so!

Mrs. Shad.--Oh, it's the truth. She didn't join till after she was married, and the church took on mightily about his marrying one out of society. But after she joined, they all got satisfied.

Mrs. Reed.--Why, la! me, the seven stars is 'way over here!

Mrs. Barney.--Well, let's light our pipes, and take a short smoke, and go to bed. How did you come on raisin' chickens this year, Mis' Shad?

Mrs. Shad.--La messy, honey! I have had mighty bad luck. I had the prettiest pa'sel you most ever seed, till the varment took to killin' 'em.

Mrs. Reed and Mrs. Barney.--The varment!!