Charles W. Chesnutt

“ Mis' Molly's guests were mostly of the
bright class, most of them more than half white,
and few of them less. In Mis' Molly's small circle,
straight hair was the only palliative of a dark
complexion. Many of the guests would not have
been casually distinguishable from white people of
the poorer class. ”

“ She did not
hold herself aloof because of pride; any instinctive
shrinking she might have felt by reason of her recent
association with persons of greater refinement
was offset by her still more newly awakened zeal
for humanity; they were her people, she must not
despise them. ”

“ You've done
a mean, low-lived thing, an' a jes' God'll punish
you fer it.'
"De po' man acshully bust inter tears,"
continued Mr. Wain magnanimously, "an' I felt so
sorry fer 'im--he wuz a po' white man tryin' ter
git up in de worl'--dat I hauled out my purse
an' gin 'im ten dollars, an' he 'peared monst'ous
glad ter git it."
" How good-hearted! How kin'!" murmured
the ladies. "It done credit to yo' feelin's."
" Don't b'lieve a word er dem lies," muttered
one young man to another sarcastically. ”

“ Rena had announced in advance her intention
to take no active part in the festivities. "I don't
feel like dancing, mamma--I shall never dance
again."
"Well, now, Rena," answered her mother, "of
co'se you're too dignified, sence you've be'n 'sociatin'
with white folks, to be hoppin' roun' an' kickin'
up like Ma'y B. an' these other yaller gals;
but of co'se, too, you can't slight the comp'ny
entirely, even ef it ain't jest exac'ly our party,--
you'll have to pay 'em some little attention, 'specially
Mr. Wain, sence you're goin' down yonder
with 'im." ”