'Do you find that in the Bible, Lazarus?'
'Yas, massa, whar I reads it. Dat's whar it tell 'bout David and Sol'mon and all em—dey hab a heap ob wives. A pore ole darky karn't hab nuffin' 'sides dem, an' he orter be 'low'd jess so many as he likes.'
Laughing at the reasoning of the negro, I asked:
'How would you like it, if your wife over at Colonel J——'s had as many husbands as she liked?'
'Wal, I couldn't fine no fault, massa; an' I s'pose she do, dough I doan't knows it, 'case I'se dar only Sundays.'
'Have you any children?'
'Yas, sar, Ise free 'longin' ter de Cunnel, an' four or five—I doan't 'zactly know—up ter hum; but dey'se grow'd up.'
'Is your wife up there married again?'
'Yas, massa, she got anoder man jess w'en I cum 'way; har ole massa make har do it.'
We then left the cabin, and when out of hearing of the blacks, I said to the corn-cracker: 'That may be Scripture doctrine, but I have not been taught so.'