ut and opened the door: but
judging, from the poultices and green glasses, that my master was an
invalid, he took him very tenderly by one arm and ordered his man to
take the other.

My master then eased himself out, and with their assistance found no
trouble in getting up the steps into the hotel. The proprietor made me
stand on one side, while he paid my master the attention and homage he
thought a gentleman of his high position merited.

My master asked for a bed-room. The servant was ordered to show a good
one, into which we helped him. The servant returned. My master then
handed me the bandages, I took them downstairs in great haste, and told
the landlord my master wanted two hot poultices as quickly as possible.
He rang the bell, the servant came in, to whom he said, "Run to the
kitchen and tell the cook to make two hot poultices right off, for
there is a gentleman upstairs very badly off indeed!"

In a few minutes the smoking poultices were brought in. I placed them
in white handkerchiefs, and hurried upstairs, went into my master's
apartment, shut the door, and laid them on the mantel-piece. As he was
alone for a little while, he thought he could rest a great deal better
with the poultices off. However, it was necessary to have them to
complete the remainder of the journey. I then ordered dinner, and took
my master's boots out to polish them. While doing so I entered into
conversation with one of the slaves. I may state here, that on the
sea-coast of South Carolina and Georgia the slaves speak worse English
than in any other part of the country. This is owing to the frequent
importation, or smuggling in, of Africans, who mingle with the natives.
Consequently the language cannot properly be called English or African,
but a corruption of the two.

The shrewd son of African parents to whom I referred said to me, "Say,
brudder, way you come from, and which side you goin day wid dat ar
little don up buckra" (white man)?

I replied, "To Philadelphia."

"What!" he exclaimed, with astonishment, "to Philumadelphy?"

"Yes," I said.

"By squash! I wish I was going wid you! I hears um say dat dare's no
slaves way over in dem parts; is um so?"

I quietly said, "I have heard the same thing."

"Well," continued he, as he threw down the boot and brush, and, placing
his hands in his pockets, strutted across the floor with an air of
independence--"Gorra Mighty, dem is de parts for Pompey; and I hope
when