Barnum, the great showman, hearing of an old negro woman down in Tennessee who claimed to be 125 years old, called to see her with a view to securing her for a side show. He found that the old woman was really very ancient, and commenced to question to find out just how old she really was. He said to her:
“Auntie, do you remember George Washington?”
“I reckon I duz, sah; I’se played wid him many a day.”
“Do you remember anything about the Revolutionary War?” asked Barnum.
“Well, I should say I duz,” replied the old lady. “I ’members when de bullets wuz a flyin’ and a zoonin’ round here laik bumblebees, sah.”
“What do you remember about the fall of the Roman empire?” said Barnum.
The old woman was “stumped” for a moment, but, recovering herself, replied:
“I wuz a mighty leetle gal den’ but I ’members hearin’ de ole folk say dat dey heerd sumpin’ drap.”
E. J. FERGUSON.
Washington, Pa.