MY FAVORITE STORIES

By Jach Dionne

Age not guaranteed-Some I have told for 2O years-Some less.

The Nigger And The Anvils

A steam,er was drawn up at one of the river clocks in New Orleans, taking on a consignment of freight to go to some of the towns "up the river." The dock wallopers were busy taking the freight aboard.

Among the freight to be loaded was a s'tack of big steel anvils, weighing 300 pounds apiece. A big, black, sloughfooted d,arkey of mighty frame, came shuffling up to the mate of the boat and said: "Captain, hou' much yo-all goin' t' gi' me fo loadin' dem anvil's abode ?"

"Three cents apiece Sam" said the mate.

"Yassuh," said the big one, where'at he shuffled across the dock, grabbed an anvil, and slough-footed aboard with it.

He put it down, then came shuffling back to the mate' "Captin" said he "how m'uch you-all goin t' give me fo loadin' dem anvils two to'a 'time?"

"Three cents apiece, Mose, load two at a time, six cents a loacl," replied the mate.

"Yas'suh," said the big boy again.

He picked up an anvil under each arm ,and started for the boat. He made 'the gang-plank O. K. but when he got to the middle of it, the worn p,lanks gave way, and down went Mr. Nigger into the Mississippi between the boat and the dock. The laborers all rushed over and threw themselves down on the edge of 't'he dock looking over.

There was a tremendous convulsion noticeable under the water as thou.gh a mighty struggle was taking place. Streams of bubb,les rose, but for the longest time there was no sign of the Big Boy. Then suddenly the top of his head appeared, another tremendous wrench it seemed, and his head came out of water. Looking up at the row of heads staring down at him, the Big Boy shouted:

"If one o' you-all niggahs doan'tho me a rope Ah'm goan to drop ONE OF DESE ANVILS."