"Jes let gubberment pay me, boss, and see if I can't."
It was spoken with great earnestness.
In the next cabin I found Peter, who had taken the name of Brown, that of his former master. Slavery gave its victims but one name. General Mitchell said that they were entitled to another name, and he ordered that they should take that of their former masters; hence there are Peter Beauregards, James Trenholms, Susan Rhetts, Julia Barnwells, on the plantations of the Sea Islands.
"Mr. Brown, did you ever hear about the Abolitionists?" I asked.
"Yes, sir, tank you, I's he'd of 'em."
"What did you hear about them?"
"O, dey is a werry bad sort of people, sir. Old massa said dat if dey could get a chance dey would take all our pickaninnies and smash der brains out agin de trees!"
"Did you ever see an Abolitionist?"
"No, sir, tank you, nebber saw one."
"Well, Mr. Brown, I am one."