“Mr. Noah Bills,” repeated the little man, loud enough to disturb the two couples immediately before him.
“Mrs. Noel’s Bill!” said Ned with mortification and astonishment. “Do the white persons pay such respect to niggers in Savannah? I sha’n’t do it.” So saying, he left the procession.
The little man was at first considerably nettled; but upon being left to his own reflections, he got into an uncontrollable fit of laughter, as did the couple immediately in advance of him, who overheard Ned’s remark. The procession now exhibited a most mortifying spectacle—the head of it in mourning and in tears, and the foot of it convulsed with laughter.
A SAGE CONVERSATION.
(From Georgia Scenes, first edition, 1835.)
[Three old women over their pipes.]
Mrs. Shad.—The old man likes a joke yet right well, the old man does; but he’s a mighty good man, and I think he prays with greater libity, than most any one of his age I most ever seed,—don’t you think he does, Mis’ Reed?
Mrs. Reed.—Powerful.
Mrs. Barney..—Who did he marry?
Mrs. Shad.—Why, he married—stop, I’ll tell you directly—Why, what does make my old head forget so?