Captain Mugford

"Oh dat nigger, dat Clump,--why he no come? And here's Massa er waitten and er waitten; but Clump, ole mon, he get berry slow--berry, berry slow. Now Massa Bob, vy you laff at ole Juno so?--hi! hi!"

However, Clump came at last; and when he beheld us, great and comical was his surprise. He dropped his basket to the floor, and, with battered hat in hand and both hands on his knees, stood for a moment and stared at us, and then his mouth stretched wide with joy and his sides shook with delight, while the tears trickled down from the wrinkled eyes to the laughing ivory.

"Tank de Lord! tank de Lord! Clump lib to see his ole Massa agin; and dat young gemmen,--vy, lem'me see! vy, sure as I'm dat nigger Clump, ef dat ain't--Massa Drake?--no,--Massa Walter?--no,--vy Juno, ole woman! dat are Massa Bob!" He took my hands and shook and squeezed them, saying over and over again, "Massa Bob am cum ter see de ole cradle. Oh! hi hi!"