AARON TOTED HIM DOWN DE TREE
“Yes, honey! dar he wuz right in de middle of a big crowd. All de niggers wuz dar fum five mile ’roun’, an’ mighty nigh all de white folks wuz dar. Ol’ Mr. Gossett wuz dar wid his eyelids red, an’ lookin’ like dey been turn wrongsudout’ards. He walk up, he did, an’ ’low—
“‘Aha! If I ain’t mighty much mistaken, dat’s my nigger, A’on. A’on, ’git up fum’ dar, you gran’ rascal.’
“But A’on ain’t move. He des lay dar like he dead. Ol’ Mr. Gossett knelt down by ’im, an’ put his han’ on him, an’ felt ’im like de doctors does. Den he riz up an’ look at A’on long time, an’ den he shuck his head. He shuck his head, an’ turn roun’ an’ holler to Ol’ Marster:—
“‘Jedge, once ’pon a time I hear you say you want to buy dis nigger. What’ll you gimme fer ’im des ez he is?’
“‘Twelve hundred dollars!’ Ol’ Marster holler’d back. He talk short an’ sharp, like he talkin’ to a fiel’ han’.
“Ol’ Mr. Gossett holler back, ‘Done!’
“Den Ol’ Marster, bidout movin’ in his tracks, tuck a long book out er his side pocket, an’ pulled out five bills an’ sont um to Mr. Gossett by one er de niggers.