At last a reverend gentleman, whose remarks respecting the intelligence of the children of Ham had been particularly disparaging, asserted that nowhere in Chaucer, Spencer, nor any of the old English poets could anything relating to it be found.

At this, the little waiter became so excited that he could no longer contain himself, and, despite the frowns and nods of our hostess, exclaimed, 'Yes it can, it's in Chaucer; here,' he continued, taking out a book from the book-case, 'here is the very volume,'[*] and turning over the leaves he pointed out the passage, to the great chagrin of the reverend gentleman, and to the amusement of the guests.

The Belgian minister enjoyed it immensely.

'Ah,' said he, 'the child of Ham know more than the child of Shem, dis time.' Whereupon Mrs.Morton rejoined that in this case it was not so wonderful, owing to the frequent and intimate relations into which ham and salad were brought, and with this joke the subject was dismissed.

I can't say I was particularly sorry when the company broke up." [Footnote * See Chaucer, "Flower and the Leaf."] "Oh, George, never mind the white people," here interposed Mrs.Garie.
"Never mind them; tell us about the coloured folks; they are the ones I take the most interest in.