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She did learn her letters once, but, having to stop school to make a living, she soon forgot them, and she explained it by saying: "Yer see, honey, dat man wat larnt me dem readin's, he wuz sich er onstedfus' man, an' gittin' drunk, an' votin' an' sich, tell I furgittin' wat he larnt me; but dey's er colored gemman fum de Norf wat's tuck him up er pay-school ober hyear in de 'catermy, an' ef'n I kin git him fur ter take out'n his pay in dat furmifuge wat I makes, I 'low ter go ter him er time er two, caze he's er membah ub de Zion Chu'ch, an' er mighty stedfus' man, an' dat wat he larns me den I'll stay larnt."
For dessert there were the most fragrant red raspberries conceivable, with golden sponge cake. The colored man who served the table seemed to enjoy himself immensely. He condescended to make suggestions as he moved about. "A little mo' of the cold ham, Cap'n?" or, "I 'membah you like the sparrograss, Mis' Marian," he murmured. "The co'n bread's extra fine, Mis'" to Sylvia.
De men dee axed me to bet, but I 'low how I was a chu'ch membah an' didn't tek pa't in no sich carryin's on, an' den dee said 'twan't nuffin mo' den des' a chu'ch raffle, an' it was mo' fun den anyt'ing else. I des' say dat I could fin' de little ball, an' dee said I couldn't, an' if I fin' it dee gin me twenty dollahs, an' if I didn' I des' gin 'em ten dollahs. I shuk my haid.
"Well, I'll tell you des' how it is, suh. I come f'om down in Ma'lan', 'case I wanted to see de hosses run. My ol' mastah was moughty fon' of sich spo't, an' I kin' o' likes it myse'f, dough I don't nevah bet, suh. I's a chu'ch membah.
The Reverend Hayward had given a half discernible start and an exclamation had fallen from his lips. "What say?" repeated his companion. "I knows de sistah ve'y well, she bein' a membah of my flock." "Well, I been gwine in comp'ny wit dat ooman fu' de longes'. You ain't nevah tasted none o' huh cookin', has you?" "I has 'sperienced de sistah's puffo'mances in dat line."
Dopples' cautions, and Ralph paused a moment before he asked: "Where can I find him?" "Yo' membah dat big liv'ry stable on de Main Street as we come erlong?" "Where there were so many wagons and carriages around?" "Yaas, suh. Dat's him. De cap'n he own um all. Disher team 'longs ter de cap'n too. Dey some says Hi yo! If he ain' a comin' right now! Oh, cap'n! Say yo' wanter see him, suh?"
But he wek' up sudden an' heah somefin' a-sayin', "Go to de ole house by de swamp and mebbe yo' fin' somefin'." In de mawnin' he membah wat he heah an' he feel brave an' sco'nful, but dat night he don' feel so brave 'cause he knowed 'bout dat house. Nobody live in it but ha'nts, an' he don' like ha'nts nohow.
"I ain' losin' one ner 'tothah, but I do' see no ha'm in gwine ovah to de wes' plantation." "You do' see no ha'm in gwine ovah to de wes' plantation! You stan' hyeah in sight o' Gawd an' say dat?" "Don't git so 'cited, sis' Lize, you mus' membah dat dey's souls on de wes' plantation, jes' same as dey is on de eas'." "Yes, an' dey's souls in hell, too," the old woman fired back.
An' Ah guess dat we've seen to-night dat we've got a Voodoo among us. Now, Mr. Travis" here he turned to Ambrose "we know what Aunt Belle Agassiz done on de Mathis Plantation in Georgia you ought to know what Tom Blue did in Texas. So we wants to warn you, as a fren' an' membah of dis club in good standin', dat you better leave town to-night."
I 'low ef yo' mammy was hyeah, she'd mek you 'membah; she'd put you in yo' place." The judge rapped for order. "That is just a manner of proceeding," he said; "you must answer the question, so the rest of the court may know." "Oh, yes, suh, 'scuse me, my name hit's Dicey Fairfax." The attorney for the defence threw up his hands and turned purple.
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