“Yes, master; I likes it very well.”
“Better than staying at home, eh?”
“Well, I likes my country better dan dis; must say dat, master; likes my country better dan dis. I’se a free nigger in my country, master.”
“Oh, you are a free man, are you! North Carolina is a better country than this, for free men, I suppose.”
“Yes, master, I likes my country de best; I gets five dollar a month for dat boy.” (Hastily, to change the subject.)
“He is your son, is he?”
“Yes, sar; he drives dat waggon, I drives dis; and I haant seen him fore, master, for six weeks, till dis mornin’.”
“How were you separated?”
“We separated six weeks ago, sar, and we agreed to meet here, last night. We didn’, dough, till dis mornin’.”
The old man’s tone softened, and he regarded his son with earnestness.