§ 292 The Passive Rôle
It is set forth that during the Civil War a young officer in the Union Army was taking a stroll along a road in Virginia when he met an old negro man and engaged him in conversation. The ancient darky returned such quaint answers to the Northerner’s questions that the latter was moved to quiz him humorously.
“Uncle,” he said, “you know, don’t you, that this war between us and the Rebs is largely on your account?”
“Yas, sah, dat’s whut I done heared ’em say.”
“Well, you crave to have your freedom, don’t you?”
“I ’spects I does.”
“Then why aren’t you in the army yourself?”
The negro scratched his head reflectively.
“Boss,” he said, at length, “did you ever see two dawgs fightin’ over a bone?”
“Yes, many a time.”
“Well, wuz de bone fightin’?”