e, and was attended
by quite a number of other negroes, who had followed him either out of
curiosity excited by the importance he had attached to the visit, or
else in the desire to shine in reflected glory as his friends. "Old
Hanover" himself stood well out in front of the rest, like an old
African chief in state with his followers behind him about to receive an
embassy. He was arrayed with great care, in a style which I thought at
first glance was indicative of the clerical calling, but which I soon
discovered was intended to be merely symbolical of approximation to the
dignity which was supposed to pertain to that profession. He wore a very
long and baggy coat which had once been black, but was now tanned by
exposure to a reddish brown, a vest which looked as if it had been
velvet before the years had eaten the nap from it, and changed it into a
fabric not unlike leather. His shirt was obviously newly washed for
the occasion, and his high clean collar fell over an ample and somewhat
bulging white cloth, which partook of the qualities of both stock and
necktie. His skin was of that lustrous black which shines as if freshly
oiled, and his face was closely shaved except for two tufts of short,
white hair, one on each side, which shone like snow against his black
cheeks. He wore an old and very quaint beaver, and a pair of large,
old-fashioned, silver-rimmed spectacles, which gave him an air of
portentous dignity.
When I first caught sight of him, he was leaning on a long hickory
stick, which might have been his staff of state, and his face was set in
an expression of superlative importance. As I appeared, however, he at
once removed his hat, and taking a long step forward, made me a profound
bow. I was so much impressed by him, that I failed to catch the whole
of the grandiloquent speech with which he greeted me. I had evident-