’Moye hab ’sulted Massa K——­, Cunnel, awful bad.  He hab swore a blue streak at him, and called him a d——­ ab’lishener, jess ’cause Massa K——­ wudn’t get mad and sass him back.  He hab disgrace your hosspital, Cunnel, wuss dan a nigga.’

The Colonel turned white with rage, and, striding up to the Overseer, seized him by the throat, yelling, rather than speaking, these words:  ’You d——­ ——­ ——­ ——­ ——­ ——­ ——­, have you dared to insult a guest in my house?’

’I didn’t mean to ‘sult him,’ faltered out the Overseer, his voice running through an entire octave, and changing with the varying pressure of the Colonel’s fingers on his throat; ’but he said he war an ab’lishener.’

‘No matter what he said,’ replied the Colonel; ’he is my guest, and in my house he shall say what he pleases, by G——.  Apologize to him, or I’ll send you to h——­ in a second.’

The fellow turned cringingly to me, and ground out something like this, every word seeming to give him the toothache:—­

‘I meant no offence, sar; I hope ye’ll excuse me.’

This satisfied me, but, before I could make a reply, the Colonel again seized him by the throat, and yelled,—­

’None of your sulkiness; get on your knees, you d——­ white-livered hound, and ask the gentleman’s pardon like a man.’

The fellow then fell on his knees, and got out, with less effort than before,—­

’I ’umbly ax yer pardon, sar, very ‘umbly, indeed.’

‘I am satisfied, sir,’ I replied.  ‘I bear you no ill-will.’

‘Now go,’ said the Colonel; ’and in future, take your meals in the kitchen.  I have none but gentlemen at my table.’

The fellow went.  As soon as he had closed the door, the Colonel said to me,—­

’Now, my dear friend, I hope you will pardon me for this occurrence.  I sincerely regret you have been insulted in my house.’

’Don’t speak of it, my dear sir; the fellow is ignorant, and really thinks I am an abolitionist.  It was his zeal in politics that led to his warmth.  I blame him very little,’ I replied.

‘But he lied, Massa K——­,’ chimed in Jim, very warmly; ’you neber said you war an ab’lishener.’

‘You know what they are, don’t you, Jim?’ said the Colonel, laughing, and taking no notice of Jim’s breach of decorum in wedging his black ideas into a white conversation.

‘Yas, I does dat,’ said the darky, grinning.

‘Jim,’ said the Colonel, ’you’re a prince of a nigger, but you talk too much; ask me for something to-day, and I reckon you’ll get it; but go now, and tell Chloe (the cook) to get us some dinner.’

The darky left, and, excusing myself, I soon followed suit.

I went to my room, laid down on the lounge, and soon fell asleep.  It was nearly five o’clock when a slight noise in the apartment awoke me, and, looking up, I saw the Colonel quietly seated by the fire, smoking a cigar.  His feet were elevated above his head, and he appeared absorbed in no very pleasant reflections.