worked, and how I hoped to fit myself to go into some little business of
my own, not a barber-shop, or any such thing, but something that'd
support you and keep you like a lady after while, and that would help me
and my people at the same time. For, of course," I said, "every one of
us that does anything more than the world expects us to do, or better,
makes the world think so much the more and better of us all."

"What did he say to that?"

"I wish you'd seen him! He pushed back that beautiful hair of his, and
his eyes shone, and his mouth trembled, though I could see he tried hard
to hold it still, and put up his hand to cover it; and he said, in a
solemn sort of way, 'Franklin, you've opened a window for me, and I
sha'n't forget what I see through it to-day.' And then he offered to set
me up in some business at once, and urged hard when I declined."

"Say it all over again, sonny; what was it you told him?"

"I said that would do well enough for a white man; that he could help,
and the white man be helped, just as people were being and doing all the
time, and no one would think a thought about it. But, sir," I said,
"everybody says we can do nothing alone; that we're a poor, shiftless
set; and it will be just one of the master race helping a nigger to
climb and to stand where he couldn't climb or stand alone, and I'd
rather fight my battle alone."

"Yes, yes! well, go on, go on. I like to hear what followed."

"Well, there was just a word or two more, and then he put out his hand
and shook mine, and said good by. It was the first time I ever shook