he Overseer now?'

'No; she see de trubble she bring on Sam, and she bery sorry. She won't
look at a wite man now.'

During the conversation above recorded, we had ridden for several miles
over the western half of the plantation, and were then again near the
house. My limbs being decidedly stiff and sore from the effects of the
previous day's journey, I decided to alight and rest at the house until
the hour for dinner.

I mentioned my jaded condition to Jim, who said,--

'Dat's right, massa; come in de house. I'll cure de rumatics; I knows
how to fix dem.'

Fastening the horses at the door, Jim accompanied me to my
sleeping-room, where he lighted a pile of pine knots, and in a moment
the fire blazed up on the hearth and sent a cheerful glow through the
apartment; then, saying he would return after stabling the horses, the
darky left me.

I took off my boots, drew the sofa near the fire, and stretched myself
at full length upon it. If ever mortal was tired, 'I reckon' I was. It
seemed as if every joint and bone in my body had lost the power of
motion, and sharp, acute pains danced along my nerves, as I have seen
lightning play along the telegraph wires. My entire system had the
toothache.

Jim soon returned, bearing in one hand a decanter of 'Otard,' and in the
other a mug of hot water and a crash towel.

'I'se got de stuff dat'll fix de rumatics, massa.'

'Thank you, Jim; a glass will do me good. Where did you get it?' I
asked, thinking it strange the Colonel should leave his brandy-bottle
within reach of the darkies, who have an universal weakness for spirits.

'Oh, I keeps de keys; de Cunnel hisself hab to come to me wen he want
suffin' to warm hisself.'

It was the fact; Jim had exclusive charge of the wine-cellar; in short,
was butler, barber, porter, footman, and body-servant, all combined.

'Now, massa, you lay right whar you is, and I'll make you ober new in
less dan no time.'

And he did; but I emptied the brandy-bottle. Lest my temperance friends
should be horror-stricken, I will mention, however, that I took the
fluid by external absorption. For all rheumatic sufferers, I would
prescribe, hot brandy in plentiful doses, a coarse towel, and an active
Southern darky, and if on the first application the patient is not
cured, the fault will not be the nigger's. Out of mercy to the
chivalry, I hope our government, in saving the Union, will not
annihilate the order of body-servants. They are the only