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Literary
August 20, 1844
Southport Telegraph
Kenosha, Southport, Kenosha County, Wisconsin
What is this article about?
Humorous anecdote about Sambo, a devoted slave, who ingeniously corroborates his master's implausible hunting lie to guests by explaining the buck scratched its ear as the shot was fired, then advises the master not to make such distant exaggerations.
Clipping
OCR Quality
92%
Excellent
Full Text
PUTTING THINGS TOO FAR APART.—Sambo was a slave to a master who was constitutionally addicted to lying. Sambo being strongly devoted to his master, had by dint of long practice, made himself an adept in giving plausibility to his master's stories.
One day when the master was entertaining his guests in his customary manner, among other marvellous facts, he related an incident which took place in one of his hunting excursions.
' I fired at a buck,' said he, ' at a hundred yards distance, and the ball passed through his left hind foot, and through his head just back of the ear !'
This evidently produced some little doubt in the minds of his guests he called upon Sambo to corroborate him.
' Yes, massa,' said the almost confounded slave, after a moments hesitation, 'me se de ball hit'in. Jes as massa lift up de gun to he eve, de old buck lift up hin foot to scratch'im ear, and massa's ball went clear frough'im foot an' hend at de same tme.'
The guests were perfectly satisfied with Sambo's explanation, and swallowed the whole without hesitation ; but when the guests were gone, Sambo ventured upon his master's good humor so far as to remonstrate
' For goodness sake, massa, w hen you tell a nudder such a big he, don't put um so far apart, me hab tarnation hard work to get ain tegether.'
One day when the master was entertaining his guests in his customary manner, among other marvellous facts, he related an incident which took place in one of his hunting excursions.
' I fired at a buck,' said he, ' at a hundred yards distance, and the ball passed through his left hind foot, and through his head just back of the ear !'
This evidently produced some little doubt in the minds of his guests he called upon Sambo to corroborate him.
' Yes, massa,' said the almost confounded slave, after a moments hesitation, 'me se de ball hit'in. Jes as massa lift up de gun to he eve, de old buck lift up hin foot to scratch'im ear, and massa's ball went clear frough'im foot an' hend at de same tme.'
The guests were perfectly satisfied with Sambo's explanation, and swallowed the whole without hesitation ; but when the guests were gone, Sambo ventured upon his master's good humor so far as to remonstrate
' For goodness sake, massa, w hen you tell a nudder such a big he, don't put um so far apart, me hab tarnation hard work to get ain tegether.'
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Slavery Abolition
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Slave Anecdote
Lying Master
Humorous Corroboration
Hunting Exaggeration
Dialect Story
Literary Details
Title
Putting Things Too Far Apart.
Key Lines
' Yes, Massa,' Said The Almost Confounded Slave, After A Moments Hesitation, 'Me Se De Ball Hit'in. Jes As Massa, Lift Up De Gun To He Eve, De Old Buck Lift Up Hin Foot To Scratch'im Ear, And Massa's Ball Went Clear Frough'im Foot An' Hend At De Same Tme.'
' For Goodness Sake, Massa, W Hen You Tell A Nudder Such A Big He, Don't Put Um So Far Apart, Me Hab Tarnation Hard Work To Get Ain Tegether.'