I
never saw one of them that wasn't worse than we Southerners before
he'd been in Charleston a year, and was perfect death on niggers.
Yes, sir, it's only the extreme goodness of the Southern people's
hearts that makes the niggers like them so. I never saw a Northerner
yet that wouldn't work his niggers to death in two years. D--me,
sir, my servants all love me as if I was a prince. Have you ever
been in France, sir?" said he, suddenly breaking off. The Captain
replied in the affirmative.
"Ah! then you can speak French! the most polished language known to
refined society. I wouldn't part with my French for the world. All
the first families in Charleston are familiar with it. It's the
modern gentleman's curt-blanche to society here. There's no language
like it for beauty and flexibility; but one must go to France and
learn to acquire its grace and ease," said he, in rapid succession,
rolling out his words in imitation of a London sprig of the Inner
Temple, and working his little mastiff mouth.
"No, sir," said the Captain quaintly. "I never stopped long enough
in France to get hold of the lingo."
"God bless me, what a misfortune! and can't speak it yet, ah? Why,
Captain, if you wanted to court a petit‚ madmoselle, you'd be in a
sad fix-she wouldn't understand what you were talking about and
would take your love-pledges for gammon.
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