"All right, uncle," Lee responded cordially. "You can leave that pike with me."
"Yassah, you kin sho have it. God knows I ain't got no use fur it."
He threw the pike down and brushed his hands as if to get rid of the contagion of its touch.
"You're safe," Lee added. "The United States Marines are in command of
Harper's Ferry now."
"Yassah. De Lawd knows I doan wanter 'sociate wid no slu-footed, knock-kneed po' whites. I'se er ristercrat, I is. Yassah, dat's me!"
"I'm glad to help you, uncle."
"Thankee, sah."
"Hurry back to your home now and help your people in their troubles."
"Yassah, right away, sah—right away!"
The old man hurried home, bowing right and left to his white friends and muttering curses on the heads of the Abolitionists, who had dragged him from his bed and caused him to lose four square meals.