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LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY 61 |
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see how he splashed hisself; and Jerry limps too; don't think Missis would be willin' to have us start dis yer way, nohow. Lord bless you, Mas'r, we can ketch up, if we do stop. Lizy never was no great of a walker."
Mrs. Shelby, who, greatly to her amusement, had overheard this conversation from the veranda, now resolved to do her part. She came forward, and, courteously expressing her concern for Haley's accident, pressed him to stay to dinner, saying that the cook should bring it on the table immediately.
Thus, all things considered, Haley, with rather an equivocal grace, proceeded to the parlor, while Sam, rolling his eyes after him with unutterable meaning, proceeded gravely with the horses to the stable-yard.
" Did yer see him, Andy ? did yer see him ? " said Sam, when he had got fairly beyond the shelter of the barn, and fastened the horse to a post. " Oh, Lor, if it warn't as good as a meetin', now, to see him a dancin' and kickin' and swarin' at us. Did n't I hear him ? Swar away, ole fellow (says I to myself) ; will yer have yer hoss now, or wait till you cotch him ? (says I). Lor, Andy, I think I can see him now." And Sam and Andy leaned up against the barn, and laughed to their hearts' content.
" Yer oughter seen how mad he looked when I brought the hoss up. Lord, he 'd 'a' killed me, if he durs' to ; and there I was a-standin' as innercent and as humble."
" Lor, I seed you," said Andy; " an't you arf old hoss, Sam! "
"Rather spects I am," said Sam ; "did yer see Missis upsta'rs at the winder ? I seed her laughin'."
" I 'm sure, I was racin' so, I did n't see nothing," said Andy.
" Well, yer see," said Sam, proceeding gravely to wash down Haley's pony, " I 'se 'quired what ye may call a habit o' bobservation, Andy. It's a very 'portant habit, Andy, and. I 'commend yer to be cultivatin' it, now yer young. Hist up that hind foot, Andy. Yer see, Andy, |
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