"Why he ain't respectful," said the other. "Talks as independent
as if he was a white man."
"Well, he has as much right to talk independently as a white man.
He is just as free," said the chairman sharply.
"Yes; but he ain't white," said the sheriff doggedly, "and our
people won't stand a nigger's puttin' on such airs. Why, Captain,"
he continued in a tone which showed that he felt that the fact he
was about to announce must carry conviction even to the incredulous
heart of the Yankee officer. "You just ought to see his place down
at Red Wing. Damned if he ain't better fixed up than lots of white
men in the county. He's got a good house, and a terbacker-barn,
and a church, and a nigger school-house, and stock, and one of
the finest crops of terbacker in the county. Oh, I tell you, he's
cutting a wide swath, he is." "You don't tell me," said the
chairman with interest. "I am glad to hear it. There appears to
be good stuff in the fellow. He seems to have his own ideas about
things, too."
"Yes, that's the trouble," responded the sheriff. "Our people
ain't used to that and won't stand it. He's putting on altogether
too much style for a nigger."
"Pshaw," said the chairman, "if there were more like him it would
be better for everybody. A man like him is worth something for
an example. If all the race were of his stamp there would be more
hope.
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