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164: LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION."When was that, Uncle Kemus ? "" Way back yander. In dem times we 'uz all unus black ;we 'uz all niggers tergedder, en 'cordin' terall de 'counts w'at I years fokes 'uz gittin 'long 'bout ezwell in dem days ez deyis now. But atter Vile denews come dat dere wuz a pon' er water some'rs in denaberhood, w'ich ef dey'd git inter dey'd be wash offnice en w'ite, en den one un um, he fine de place enmake er splunge inter de pon', en come out w'iteez atown gal.En den, bless !grashus w'en de fokes seedit,dey make a break fer de pon',en dem w'at wuz desoopless, dey got in fus' en dey come out w'ite ;en demw'at wuz de nex' soopless, dey got in nex', en dey comeout merlatters en ; dey wuz sech a crowd un um datdey mighty nigh use de water up, w'ich w'en demyuthers come 'long, de merest dey could do wuz terpaddle about wid der foots en dabble in it wid derhan's. Dem wuz de niggers, en down ter dis day deyain't no w'ite 'bout a nigger 'ceppin de pa'ms er derhan's en de soles er der foot."The littleboy seemed to be very much interested inthis new account of the origin of races, and he madesome further inquiries, which elicited from Uncle Remusthe following additional particulars:" De Injun en de Chinee got ter be 'counted 'longer de merlatter. I ain't seed no Chinee dat I knowsun, but dey tells me dey er sorter 'twix' a brown en abrindle.Deyer all merlatters."