“Want a lamp, massa?”
“Want a lamp? Certainly, I do.”
After about ten minutes, I heard a man splitting wood in the yard, and, in ten more, Peter brought in three sticks of green wood, and some chips; then, the little bed-lamp having burned out, he went into an adjoining room, where I heard him talking to some one, evidently awakened by his entrance to get a match; that failing, he went for another. By one o’clock, my fire was made.
“Peter,” said I, “are you going to wait on me, while I stay here?”
“Yes, sar; I ’tends to dis room.”
“Very well; take this, and, when I leave, I’ll give you another, if you take good care of me. Now, I want you to get me some water.”
“I’ll get you some water in de morning, sar.”
“I want some to-night—some water and some towels; don’t you think you can get them for me?”
“I reckon so, massa, if you wants ’em. Want ’em ’fore you go to bed?”
“Yes; and get another lamp.”