As an index of Jo’s native quickness of perception, the following excerpts, taken from Pettit’s “Sketches of the Underground Railroad,” published some years ago by W. McKinstry & Son, are added, the only change being that the places where the events are thought to have taken place are given.
Jo was a serious, devoted Christian, yet his wit and mirthfulness were often exhibited in keen, sarcastic repartee. At Delanti the question was asked, ‘Did you work hard when you were a slave?’
‘No! I didn’t work hard when I could help it.’
‘Did you have enough to eat?’
‘Yes, such as it was.’
‘Did you have decent clothes?’
‘Yes, midlin’.’
‘Well, you were better off than most people are here, and you were a fool to run away.’
‘Well, now, the place I lef’ is there yet, I s’pose. Guess nobody’s never got into it, and if my frien’ here wants it, he can have it fo’ the askin’, though p’raps he better get his member of Congress to recommend him.’
At Westfield, a fellow asked, ‘Is the speaker in favor of amalgamation?’