“Dat’s de Mystery.” — 379
Two darkies had bought a mess of pork in partnership, but Sam having no place to put his portion in, consented to trust the whole to Julius’ keeping. The next morning they met, when Sam says—“Good mornin’, Julius, anything happen strange or mysterious down in your vicinity lately?” “Yaas, Sam, most a strange thing happen at my house yesterlast night—all mystery, all mystery to me.” “Ah, Julius, what was dat?” “Well, Sam, I tole you now. Dis morning I went down into the cellar for to get a piece of hog for dis darky’s breakfast, and I put my hand down in de brine and felt all round, but no pork dere—all gone. Codn’t tell what bewent with it, so I turned up de bar’l, and Sam, true as preachin’, de rats had eat a hole clar froo de bottom of de bar’l, and dragged de pork all out!” Sam was petrified with astonishment, but presently said—“Why didn’t de brine run out of the same hole?” “Ah, Sam, dat’s de mystery.”