University of Virginia Library

ALBERT.

Major McDaniel's boy, Albert, who rode Oysterman to-day,
is as black as the ace of spades. He is a native Virginian—
raised on the Major's farm. The Major paid $150 for him when
he was three months old—taking his sick mother, who was
thrown in in the bargain. Major McDaniel, who is a plain, blunt
old Virginian, fairly worships the boy, who, in turn, looks upon
the Major as the very Cæsar of the track.

“How long have you been with the Major?” I asked of little
Albert.

“Dun-no; 'rackon it's gwine on twenty years.”

“But, Albert, you're not twenty years old.”

“Wal, I'ze done been with Major Mac all my life. Sometimes
down in Virgin, and sometimes up at the Patterson track
—then over to Nashville and Memphis.”

Like Artemus Ward, whose daughter had been singing the
“Mocking Bird” for three weeks, Albert thought he should like
it—living with the Major.