"Well, sir," said Brother Roach, pushing his hat back, and placing his thumbs behind his suspenders, "last Sat'day gone I was a-hurrying to and fro, when who should pop in at the door but Giner'l Bledser?
"'Hello, Johnny!' says he, free and familiar.
"'Howdy, Giner'l,' says I. 'You look holp up, speaking off-hand,' says I.
"'That I am, Johnny, that I am,' says he; 'I've made a trade that makes me particular proud,' says he.
"'How's that, Giner'l?' says I.
"'Why, I've sold Blue Dave,' says he; 'eight year ago, I bought him for five hundred dollars, and now I've sold him to Mizzerg Denham for a thousand,' says he. 'I've got the cold cash in my pocket, and now let 'em ketch the nigger,' says he.
"'Well, Giner'l,' says I, 'it'll be time for to marvel arter you seethe outcome, bekaze,' says I, 'when there's business in the wind, Mizzers Denham is as long-headed and as cle'r-sighted as a Philedelphia lawyer,' says I.
"And (would you believe it, Brother Brannum?) the outcome happened then and there right before our very face and eyes."
"In what regards, Brother Roach?" said Brother Brannum, rubbing his bony hands together.
"Well, sir, I glanced my eye out of the door, and I see the Denham carriage coming down yan hill. I p'inted it out to the Giner'l, and he ups and says, says he—