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98 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN; OR
to get top o' der hay. Wal, I puts up my larder dis yer side ; 't an't no go ; den, 'cause I don't try dere no more, but puts my larder right de contrar side, an't I persistent ? I 'm persistent in wantin' to get up which ary side my larder is ; don't you see, all on yer ? "
" It's the only thing ye ever was persistent in, Lord knows! " muttered Aunt Chloe, who was getting rather restive; the merriment of the evening being to her somewhat after the Scripture comparison, like " vinegar upon nitre."
" Yes, indeed! " said Sam, rising, full of supper and glory, for a closing effort. " Yes, my feller-citizens and ladies of de other sex in general, I has principles, I 'm proud to 'oon 'em, they 's perquisite to dese yer times, and ter all times. I has principles, and I sticks to 'em like forty, jest anything that I thinks is principle, I goes in to 't; I would n't mind if dev burnt me 'live, I 'd walk right up to de stake, I would, and say, here I comes to shed my last blood fur my principles, fur my country, fur der gen'l interests of s'ciety."
" Well," said Aunt Chloe, " one o' yer principles will have to be to get to bed some time to-night, and not be a-keepin' everybody up till mornin'; now, every one of you young uns that don't want to be cracked, had better be scase, mighty sudden."
" Niggers! all on yer," said Sam, waving his palm-leaf with benignity, " I give yer my blessin'; go to bed now, and be good boys."
And, with this pathetic benediction, the assembly dis. persed. |
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