The Phoenix herald., 1879-03-26
roo MUCH ELEVATION =
NIT. Berry,s aIIshap-


 thesline of our daily peregrinations.
 "Sartin, boss, shine'em up in less'n no time," said lie, and we mounted to the hurricane deck of his place of business.
 "Wall, yes, boss. not bin here long, but I'se gettin' insight inter de ways mighty fast. De ways here, sah, is different to what dey is down in ole Massissip. Bin Massissip, sah Fine ole State, sah. Like de ways better nor de ways here. Not so much elc- walton down dar. You hear de white folks talkin' all de time bout de clc- walton of de black folks, an de cullud folks is some of dem gettin' it on de brain an is preachin' elevation. Not so much back dar in ole Massissip as to de Norf an out dis way. Down in Massissip dey goes on booty much in de ole ways. Dey takes what hap piness comes along in de natural way, an doesn't reach up for it till dey gifts pain in de neck.
 ''The colored people here appear to be quite as happy as in any part of the world" we 7entured to remark.
 "No, sah beg leave to diffah: yOu's not on the inside, sah; dar's too much elevation; dat's what's de matter Give yo- an instance: Las week you know, sah, de culled folks had ball; quite high-toned affair, sah. Well, I engaged young lady foe de par ty, sah, one dat I at dat time looked upon as de pride of de country, sah. I am not indifferent to dress and I put on clothes, sah-clothes dat don't ev- cry day see de light ob de sun-and went to de residence ob de gal.
 q rived at de 'pinted time De gal, was in de bes' room an in her bes' clothes, waitin' my arrival on de scene. De ole man was dar an de ole woman also fingered in de tablcaux, wid few juvenile supernumerary members ob de family.
 Miss Augusta smiled on me in dat meltin' way ob de eyes dat alters guy me a movement of de heart. I was interjuced to demore influential mem- bers of de household an de discOurs was agreeable. Presently suggested dat it would be well to be mOvin, for de party, an Miss Augusta rose in all de pomp and circumstance of her higt-priced attire.
 We arrived on de stoop of de door an.' oferin' my arm, I supposed we should progress. No, sah, not a bit oft Dat gal receded. She rose eric to an astonishin' night, an as she transfxed me wid her gaze she uttered desc memorable words: "Wars de transportation s'
 "De what?" says.I, feelin' dat suffln was agoIn' wrong.
 De trans-pot ation, Whar's de transportation s'
 "What's de transportation ?' says l.
 ''De wehickle-wha's de wehickle ?'' says she.
 q don't know muffin bout no we hickle, ,"say s I.
 "Wha's de kerridge :''says she.
 "De kerridge ?''says I. T haven't seen no kerridge!" :"
 'eA1istah Berry, does you pertend to tell me you've come to take me to de- ball widout a kerridge :'' and she be- come of still greater night
 Why ofcourse," say I, T thought we could walk. Down in ole Mass isssip de gals think muffin of goin' mile an miles,
 "'So you expects me to hoof it. Mistah Berry: Yeu tells me bout de gals in Massissip, Mistah Berry; do de gals in Massissip know anything -bout proper attire, Mistah Berry ?' An she guy a sort of kick an sling of her body an trailed out about four yards of train'
 De ole man an de ole woman an all de rest now put in dar 'pearance' an says de ole man: What all dis confusion of tonguesr
 4 'Mistah Berry doesen't consider de honah sufficient to warrant him in de outlay necessary for de furnish ing of propah transportation, said Miss Augusta.
 'Sahr said de ole man; 'Sahl' said de ole woman; 'Sahr said all de little members.
 T said nuffen."
 Does de niggah 'spect he's gwine to lead our darter off on de hoof like she was a COW? 2 said de ole woman.
 "'Whoyou call niggah, ole woman ?' saysI. Why I'se drove better-lookin' heiffers nor yours to de plow down iii ole Massissipr
 ''De gal shriektr"
 t'Dar you talk to mo an my darter in dat bituminous manner" said de ole man, an he guy me a lift wid his ole stogas dat raised me ofHn de stoop and follered it up wid numerous ofde same dat was much assistance to me in gittin' out de gate.
 Oars too much elevation, sah, creepiB' into cullud society. I turns my back to it, sah .''-V Virgtnia En- 5o,.,,,.;eo