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He leaned over her. "Po' little baby," he said; "what do she know about a step-mothah?" And Patsy saw him and heard him, for she was awake then, and far into the night. In the eyes of the child her father stood convicted. He had "gal in his haid," and was going to bring her a step-mother; but it would never be; her resolution was taken.
You sut'ny look lak you plumb tukahed out. Come in an' tell me all 'bout yo'se'f, you po' little t'ing. Dese yo' little brothas an' sistahs?" "Yes'm," said Patsy Ann. "W'y, chil', whaih you goin'?" "I don' know," was the truthful answer. "You don' know? Whaih you live?" "Oh, I live down on Douglas Street," said Patsy Ann, "an' I's runnin' away f'om home an' my step-mothah."
"Dah now, dah now," cried the woman, casting a pitying glance at the child, "dat's de las' t'ing. He des a feelin' roun' now. You po', ign'ant, mothahless chil'. You ain' nevah had no step-mothah, an' you don' know what hit means." "But she'd tek keer o' the chillen," persisted Patsy. "Sich tekin' keer of 'em ez hit 'u'd be. She'd keer fu' 'em to dey graves.
The woman looked keenly at her. "What yo' name?" she said. "My name's Patsy Ann Meriweather." "An' is yo' got a step-mothah?" "No," said Patsy Ann, "I ain' got none now, but I's sut'ny 'spectin' one." "What you know 'bout step-mothahs, honey?" "Mis' Gibson tol' me. Dey sho'ly is awful, missus, awful." "Mis' Gibson ain' tol' you right, honey. You come in hyeah and set down.
"Don' you bothah 'bout de chillen," she said, and she took him by the hand and led him to where the five lay sleeping calmly across the bed. "Dey was runnin' f'om home an' dey step-mothah," said she. "Dey run hyeah f'om a step-mothah an' foun' a mothah." It was a tribute and a proposal all in one.
Then his laugh rang out as he patted her head and drew her close to him again. "Ef yo' pappy do bring a step-mothah into dis house, Gawd knows he'll bring de right kin'." "Dey ain't no right kin'," answered Patsy. "You don' know, baby; you don' know. Go to baid an' don' worry." He sat up a long time watching the candle sputter, then he pulled off his boots and tiptoed to Patsy's bedside.
She laid her head close against his big breast, and the tears would come as she answered, "No, suh; de chillen bin ez good az good could be, but oh, pappy, pappy, is you got gal in yo' haid an' a-goin' to bring me a step-mothah?" He held her away from him almost harshly and gazed at her as he queried, "W'y, you po' baby, you! Who's bin puttin' dis hyeah foolishness in yo' haid?"
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