, do you take me for a neger,--I am Colonel Manly's waiter.

JESSAMY

A true Yankee distinction, egad, without a difference. Why, Sir, do
you not perform all the offices of a servant? do you not even blacken
his boots?

JONATHAN

Yes; I do grease them a bit sometimes; but I am a true blue son of
liberty, for all that. Father said I should come as Colonel Manly's
waiter, to see the world, and all that; but no man shall master me. My
father has as good a farm as the colonel.

JESSAMY

Well, Sir, we will not quarrel about terms upon the eve of an
acquaintance from which I promise myself so much
satisfaction;--therefore, sans ceremonie--

JONATHAN

What?--

JESSAMY

I say I am extremely happy to see Colonel Manly's waiter.

JONATHAN

Well, and I vow, too, I am pretty considerably glad to see you; but
what the dogs need of all this outlandish lingo? Who may you be, Sir,
if I may be so bold?

JESSAMY

I have the honour to be Mr. Dimple's servant, or, if you please,
waiter. We lodge under the same roof, and should be glad of the honour
of your acquaintance.

JONATHAN

You a waiter! by the living jingo, you look so topping, I took you for
one of the agents to Congress.

JESSAMY

The brute has discernment, notwithstanding his appearance.--Give me
leave to say I wonder then at your familiarity.

JONATHAN

Why, as to the matter of that, Mr.--; pray, what's your name?

JESSAMY

Jessamy, at your service.

JONATHAN

Why, I swear we don't make any great matter of distinction in our state
between quality and other folks.

JESSAMY

This is, indeed, a levelling principle.--I hope, Mr. Jonathan, you have
not taken part with the insurgents.

JONATHAN

Why, since General Shays has sneaked off and given us the bag to hold,
I don't care to give my opinion; but you'll promise not to tell--put
your ear this way--you won't tell?--I vow I did think the sturgeons
were right.

JESSAMY

I thought, Mr. Jonathan, you Massachusetts men always argued with a gun
in your hand. Why didn't you join them?

JONATHAN

Why, the colonel is one of those folks called the Shin--Shin--dang it
all, I can't speak them lignum vitae words--you know who I mean--there
is a company of them--they wear a china goose at their button-hole--a
kind of gilt thing.--Now the colonel told father and brother,--you must
know there are, let me see--there is Elnathan, Silas, and Barnabas,
Tabitha--no,