“Won’t white folks steal too, sometimes?”
“Yes,” said Elijah, “some o’ the poo’ whites are a durned sight wus’n the niggers!”
“Then why not drive them out of the country too? You see,” said I, “your charges against the negroes are vague, and amount to nothing.”
“I own,” he replied, “thar’s now and then one that’s ekal to any white man. Thar’s one a-comin’ thar.”
A load of wood was approaching, drawn by two horses abreast and a mule for leader. A white-haired old negro was riding the mule.
“He is the greatest man!” said Elijah, after we had passed. “He’s been the support of his master’s family for twenty year and over. He kin manage a heap better’n his master kin. The’ a’n’t a farmer in the country kin beat him. He keeps right on jest the same now he’s free; though I suppose he gits wages.”
“You acknowledge, then, that some of the negroes are superior men?”
“Yes, thar’s about ten in a hundred, honest and smart as anybody.”
“That,” said I, “is a good many. Do you suppose you could say more of the white race, if it had just come out of slavery?”
“I don’t believe,” said Elijah, “that ye could say as much!”