Tilda came at the call of her master. While she was replacing the articles
in her mistress' basket, Raymond, who wished to show that he was ready to
adopt all the peculiarities of the State, said, "That's a valuable looking
negro girl. I suppose your property mostly consists in such as she. I
don't wonder that you object to give them up just to please the North.
Have you many such?"
"Yes, quite a heap on 'em. Why? Want to steal 'em, hey?"
Raymond reddened. His attempts at anti-abolition had not succeeded as well
as he anticipated; but he soon rallied and said, "Certainly not; I
shouldn't know what to do with your slaves if I had them; besides I have
no inclination to interfere with your Southern institutions. I am too much
of a pro-slavery man myself."
"Likely enough," said Mr. Middleton, rather gruffly, for he did not much
like the appearance of Raymond, "likely enough. But, young man, let old
Josh give you a little advice. I've seen more than double your years, I
reckon, and I never seen a man come from the free states that wasn't a
little teched with abolitionism. It's nateral like and onnateral to change
their mind so mighty soon. So I advise you to keep your opinions to
yourself for a spell, any way. A heap on 'em come here, and are surprised
not to find a whippin' post stuck up in a corner of every yard. I don't
say you are one of 'em; but we don't think no better of a body when they
jine in with us so soon."
This speech somewhat disconcerted young Raymond, who was anxious to get
into Mr. Middleton's good graces; but his discomfiture was soon removed by
his saying, "Boy, don't take what I've said in high dudgeon. Folks allus
see the roughest side of me first; I'm a friend to you, and allus will be
as long as you do well." Then chancing to think his guests were hungry, he
called out, "Saints and angels! Why don't you bring in supper, you lazy
bones thar in the kitchen? Do you hear?"
"Yes, marster," said three or four negroes at once, "supper'll be ready
d'rectly."
In a few moments the nicely-cooked spare-rib was smoking on the table,
together with hot coffee, boiled turnips and egg bread, which Southern
cooks know so well how to make. Besides this there was the golden-colored
butter, white flaky honeycomb, and the Sunday pitcher overflowing with
rich creamy milk. "Come, boys, set by and have some fodder!" said Mr.
Middleton.