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Show 114 UNCJ,B TO.M'S CABIN: OR, errand, he would edify and delight them with the most ludicrous burlesques and imitations, all delivered with the most .imperturbable earnestness and solemnity i and though the auditors imme<liatcly about him were generally of his own color, it not unfrcqucntly happened that they were fringed pretty deeply with those of a fairer complexion, who listened, laughing and winking, to Sam's great self-congratulation. In fact, Sam considered oratory a.<; his vocation, and never let slip nn opportunity of magnifying his office. Now, between Sam and Aunt Chloe there had existed, from ancient times, a sort of chronic feud, or rather a decided coolness; but, as Sam wn.s meditating something in the provision department, a.s the necessary and obvious foundation of his operations, he determined, on the present occasion, to be eminently conciliatory; for he well knew that although "Missis' orders" would undoubtedly be followed to. the letter, yet he should gain a considerable deal by enlisting tho spirit also. He therefore appeared before Aunt Chloe with a touchingly subdued, resigned expression, like one who has sufl'ercd immeasurable hardships in behalf of a persecuted fellow- creature,- enlarged upon tho fact that 1\lissis bad directed him to come to Aunt Chloe for whatever might be wanting to make up the balance in his solids and fluids, and thus unequivocally acknowledged her right and supremacy in the cooking department, and all thereto pertaining. 1'hc thing took accordingly. No poor, simple, virtuous body was ever cajoled by the attentions of an electioneering politician with more ease than Aunt Chloe was won over by ~faster Sam's suavities; and if he had been the prodigal son himself, he could not have been overwhelmed with more maternal bountifulness; and he soon found himself seated, happy and glorious, over a large tin pan, containing a sort of LIFE A:\lONG THE LOWLY. 115 olla podrida of all that had appcare<l on the table for two or three days past. Savory morsels of ham, golden blocks of corn-cake, fragments of pic of every conceivable mathematical figure, chicken wings, gizzards, and drumsticks, all appeared in picturesque confusion; and Sam, as monarch of all he surveyed, sat with his palm-leaf cocked rejoicingly to one side, and patronizing Andy at his right band. 'l'he kitchen was full of all his compeers, who had hurried and crowded in, from the various cabins, to hear the termination of the day's exploits. Now was Sam's hour of glory. Tho story of the day was rehearsed, with all kinds of ornament and varnishing which might be necessary to heighten its effect ; for Sam, like some of our fa.shiona.blc dilettanti, never a.ll~wcd a story to lose any of its gilding by passing through Ius hands. Roars of laughter attended the narration, and were t1ken up and prolonged by all the smaller fry ~vho werc·lying, in any quantity, about on the floor, or pcrchc~ m every corner. In the height of the uproar and laughter, ~am, however, preserved nn immovable gravity, only from time to time rolling his eyes up, and giving his auditors divers inexpressibly droll glances, without departing from the sententiOus elevation of his orntory. ", Ycr see~ fellow-countrymen," said Sam, elevating a turkpy s leg, wtth energy, "yer sec, nO\v, what dis yer chile's u~ tcr, for fcndin' ycr all,- yes, all on yer. For him as tncs to get on? o: ou:· people, is as good as tryin' to get all ; ycr sec the prmc1ple s de same,- dat ar 's clar. And any one o' these yer drivers that comes smelling round arter nn our people, why, he 's got me in his way; I'm the feller he ,Y got to set in '~ith, - I 'm the feller for yer all to come to: bredren,-I II stand up for ycr nghts, - I 'II fend 'em to the last breath ! " |