Tell ye, sir, the flesh on 't has come jest like a stone, practising on nigger--feel on it." The stranger applied his fingers to the implement in question, and simply said, "'T is hard enough; and, I suppose," he added, "practice has made your heart just like it." "Why, yes, I may say so," said Simon, with a hearty laugh.

"I reckon there's as little soft in me as in any one going.

Tell you, nobody comes it over me! Niggers never gets round me, neither with squalling nor soft soap,--that's a fact." "You have a fine lot there." "Real," said Simon.

"There's that Tom, they telled me he was suthin' uncommon.

I paid a little high for him, tendin' him for a driver and a managing chap; only get the notions out that he's larnt by bein' treated as niggers never ought to be, he'll do prime! The yellow woman I got took in on.