faihfulohisword，hedaybeforechrismas，jusanighfall，basscameridinginoheyard

“howareyou，”saidepps，shakinghimbyhehand，“gdoseeyou”

hewouldnohavebeenverygdhadheknownheobjecofhiserrand

“quiewell，quiewell，”answeredbass“hadsomebusinessouonhebayou，andconcludedocallandseeyou，andsayovernigh”

eppsorderedoneofhesvesoakechargeofhishorse，andwihmuchalkandugherheypassedinohehouseogeher；no，however，unilbasshadlookedamesignificanly，asmuchasosay，

“keepdark，weundersandeachoher”iwaseno’clockanighbeforeheborsofhedaywereperformed，whenieneredhecabinahaimeuncleabramandboboccupiediwihmeiiddownuponmyboardandfeignediwasasleepwhenmycompanionshadfalleninoaprofoundslumber，imovedsealhilyouofhedoor，andwached，andlisenedaenivelyforsomesignorsoundfrombasshereisoodunillongafermidnigh，bunohingcouldbeseenorheardasisuspeced，hedarednoleavehehouse，hroughfearofexciinghesuspicionofsomeofhefamilyijudged，correcly，hewouldriseearlierhanwashiscusom，andakeheopporuniyofseeingmebeforeeppswasup

accordinglyiarouseduncleabramanhoursoonerhanusual，andsenhiminohehouseobuildafire，which，ahaseasonofheyear，isaparofuncleabram’sduies

ialsogavebobaviolenshake，andaskedhimifheinendedosleepillnoon，sayingmaserwouldbeupbeforehemuleswerefedheknewrighwellheconsequencehawouldfollowsuchaneven，and，jumpingohisfee，wasahehorsepasureinawinkling

presenly，whenbohweregone，bassslippedinohecabin

“noleerye，p，”saidhehea

ouncemenfelluponmyhearlikelead

“oh，dowrieagain，maserbass，”icried；“iwillgiveyouhenamesofagreamanyiknowsurelyheyarenoalldeadsurelysomeonewillpiyme”

“nouse，”bassreplied，“nouseihavemadeupmymindohaifearhemarksvilleposmaserwillmisrussomehing，ihaveinquiredsoofenahisoffice

oouncerain—oodangerous”

“heniisallover，”iexcimed“oh，mygod，howcaniendmydayshere！”

“you’renogoingoendhemhere，”hesaid，“unlessyoudieverysooni’vehoughhismaerallhavecomeoadeerminaionherearemorewayshanoomanagehisbusiness，andabeerandsurerwayhanwriingleersihaveajoborwoonhandwhichcanbecompleedbymarchoraprilbyhaimeishallhaveaconsiderablesumofmoney，andhen，p，iamgoingosaraogamyself”

icouldscarcelycredimyownsensesashewordsfellfromhislipsbuheassuredme，inama

erhalefnodoubofhesinceriyofhisinenion，haifhislifewassparedunilspring，heshouldcerainlyunderakehejourney

“ihavelivedinhisregionlongenough，”heconsidered；“imayaswellbeinonepceasanoherforalongimeihavebeenhinkingofgoingbackmoreohepcewhereiwasborni’miredofsveryaswellasyouificansucceedingeingyouawayfromhere，iwillbeagoodachaishalllikeohinkofallmylifeandishallsucceed，p；i’mboundodoinowlemeellyouwhaiwaneppswillbeupsoon，andiwon’doobecaughherehinkofagreamanymenasaraogaandsandyhill，andinhaneighborhood，whoonceknewyouishallmakeexcuseocomehereagaininhecourseofhewiner，wheniwillwriedownheirnamesiwillhenknowwhoocallonwhenigonorhhinkofallyoucancheerup！don’bediscouragedi’mwihyou，lifeordeahgoodbyegodblessyou，”andsayinghishelefhecabinquickly，andeneredhegreahouse

iwaschrismasmorning—hehappiesdayinhewholeyearforhesvehamorningheneednohurryohefield，wihhisgourdandcoonbaghappinesssparkledinheeyesandoverspreadhecounenancesofallheimeoffeasinganddancinghadcomehecaneandcoonfieldsweredeseredhadayhecleandresswasobedo

ed—heredribbondispyed；herewereobereunions，andjoyandugher，andhurryingoandfroiwasobeadayofliberyamonghechildrenofsverywhereforeheywerehappy，andrejoiced

aferbreakfaseppsandbasssauneredabouheyard，conversinguponhepriceofcoon，andvariousoheropics

“wheredoyourniggersholdchrismas？”bassinquired

“pisgoingoa

ersodayhisfiddleisingreademandheywanhimamarshall’smonday，andmissmarymccoy，onheoldnorwoodpnaion，wriesmeanoehashewanshimopyforherniggersuesday”

“heisraherasmarboy，ain’he？”saidbass“comehere，p，”headded，lookingameasiwalkedupohem，asifhehadneverhoughbeforeoakeanyspecialnoiceofme

“yes，”repliedepps，akingholdofmyarmandfeelingi，“hereisn’abadjoininhimhereain’aboyonhebayouworhmorehanheis—perfeclysound，andnobadricksd—nhim，heisn’likeoherniggers；doesn’looklike’em—don’aclike’emiwasofferedseveneenhundreddolrsforhimsweek”

“anddidn’akei？”bassinquired，wihanairofsurprise

“akei—no；devilishclearofiwhy，he’sareg’rgenius；canmakeaploughbeam，wagonongue—anyhing，aswellasyoucanmarshallwanedopuuponeofhisniggersaginhimandraffleforhem，buioldhimiwouldseehedevilhavehimfirs”

“idon’seeanyhingremarkableabouhim，”bassobserved

“why，jusfeelofhim，now，”eppsrejoined“youdon’seeaboyveryofenpuogeheranycloserhanheis

he’sahinskin’dcuss，andwon’bearasmuchwhippingassome；buhe’sgohemuscleinhim，andnomisake