keep no niggars dey can't treat so; dey won't keep 'em, won't be bodered wid 'em. If dey gets a niggar and he doan behave himself, day won't keep him; dey juss tell him, sar, he must look up anudder master, and if he doan' find hisself one, I tell 'ou, when de trader cum along, dey sells him, and he totes him away. Dey allers sell off all de bad niggars out of our country; dat's de way all de bad niggar and all dem no-account niggar keep a cumin' down heah; dat's de way on't, master."
"Yes, that's the way of it, I suppose; these big plantations are not just the best thing for niggers, I see that plainly."
"Master, you wan't raise in dis country, was 'ou?"
"No; I came from the North."
"I tort so, sar; I knew 'ou wan't one of dis country people; 'peared like 'ou was one o' my country people, way 'ou talks; and I loves dem kine of people. Won't you take some whisky, sar? Heah, you boy! bring dat jug of whisky dah, out o' my waggon; in dah,—in dat box under dem foddar."
"No, don't trouble yourself, I am very much obliged to you; but I don't like to drink whisky."
"Like to have you drink some, master, if you'd like it. You's right welcome to it. 'Pears like I knew you was one of my country people. Ever been in Greensboro,' master? dat's in Guilford."
"No, I never was there. I came from New York, further North than your country."
"New York, did 'ou, master? I heerd New York was what dey calls a Free State; all de niggars free dah."
"Yes, that is so."
"Not no slaves at all; well, I expec dat's a good ting, for all de niggars to be free. Greensboro' is a right comely town; tain't like dese heah Souf Car'lina towns."
