A young planter in Mississippi had an old servant called Uncle Mose, who
had cared for him as a child and whose devotion had never waned. The
young man became engaged to a girl of the neighborhood who had a
reputation for unusual beauty and also for a very violent temper.
Noticing that Uncle Mose never mentioned his approaching marriage, the
planter said:
"Mose, you know I am going to marry Miss Currier?"
"Yassuh, I knows it."
"I haven't heard you say anything about it," persisted the planter.
"No, suh," said Mose. "Tain't fo' me to say nothin' 'bout it. I's got
nothin' to say."
"But you must have some opinion about so important a step on my part."
"Well, suh," said the old negro with some hesitation, "yo' knows one
thing--the most p'izonest snakes has got the most prettiest skins."