When visitors were at "Poplar Farm," Dr. Gaines would frequently call in Cato to sing a song or crack a joke, for the amusement of the company. On one occasion, requesting the servant to give a toast, at the same time handing the negro a glass of wine, the latter took the glass, held it up, looked at it, began to show his ivory, and said:


                         "De big bee flies high,
                         De little bee makes de honey,
                         De black man raise de cotton,
                         An' de white man gets de money."

         The same servant going to meeting one Sabbath, was met on the road by Major Ben. O'Fallon, who was riding on horseback, with a hoisted umbrella to keep the rain off. The Major, seeing the negro trudging along bareheaded and with something under his coat, supposing he had stolen some article which he was attempting to hide said, "What's that you've got under your coat, boy?"

         "Nothin', sir, but my hat," replied the slave, and at the same time drawing forth a second-hand beaver.

         "Is it yours?" inquired the Major.

         "Yes, sir," was the quick response of the negro.

         "Well," continued the Major, "if it is yours, why

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don't you wear it and save your head from the rain?"

         "Oh!" replied the servant, with a smile of seeming satisfaction, "de head belongs to massa an' de hat belongs to me. Let massa take care of his property, an' I'll take care of mine."