JIMCRACK AND THE JUMBIES. J67 



while. But, don' yo' talk too much, massa ; drink dis 

 ar'root gruel me mak fo' yo', an' go sleep ag'in." 



After that rational refreshment and a nap I was 

 ready to take a short walk about the house, and I 

 noted with delight how neat it was, and the many 

 little touches my " Friday " had given to the rooms, 

 showing a refined nature and good breeding. 



He was a man past middle age, with bent and shriv- 

 eled form, gray kinky hair, and a shrewd and wrinkled 

 face. He was a native of the island, never having 

 been beyond its shores ; had been born a slave, but 

 was freed in the English emancipation, and had always 

 lived, until recently, at the " great house " of his for- 

 mer master, on a plantation, where he occupied the 

 post of major-domo, having general charge of all do- 

 mestic affairs. 



His old master had died about ten years before, 

 the plantation went into the hands of some London 

 merchants on account of debts incurred by its man- 

 agers, and he was set adrift, having accumulated noth- 

 ing during his long years of servitude, but having a 

 local reputation for honor and faithfulness that served 

 him well for a time among the few planters left on the 

 island. 



Of late he had made a scant living by shooting 

 birds for the feather dealers in Trinidad, and for sev- 

 eral years had roamed the forests in search of high- 

 colored birds for the feather market. He had taught 

 himself the art of taxidermy, and I found him quite 

 expert at the skinning of birds, but an affliction which 

 caused his hands to tremble violently made the work 



