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Oh, Mammy, don't! You'se a-killin' me!" came in a high shriek. Then there was a sudden dash for the cabin door, and an eight-year-old colored boy scurried down the path like a little wild rabbit, as fast as his bare feet could carry him.
Yas, Lawd, an' 'member dat Gen'l Grant an' Gen'l Burnside, an' Gen'l Meade's is all right here a-watch-in' ye! An' member dat I'se er watchin' ye. I'se er sargint in dis here comp'ny. Any you tries ter be a skulker, you'se gwine ter git a beyonet run clean froo ye yas, Lawd! You hear me!" He had scarcely finished his harangue when a smothering peal of thunder shook the world.
You'se on de safe side ob de crack yit, so be keerful. I knows woman folks soon as I claps my eyes on dem. Miss Mara quar in her notions 'bout de Norf she was brung up to 'em but dere's nuff woman in my honey lam' to make a tousan ob dis yere limpsey-slimpsey one." Clancy clinched his hands in mental distress as he listened to the hard sense and unerring judgment of the sagacious old woman.
After he had speared a piece of bacon with his two-tined fork, and landed it safely on his plate, he rolled his eyes around the table. "Did you know this is my buthday, Mammy?" he asked. "I'm nine yeahs ole to-day." "That's so, honey," she answered, cheerfully. "You'se gettin' to be a big boy now, plenty big enough to keep out o' mischief an' take keer o' yo' clothes.
His trepidation was increased when he was told briefly and sternly to put on his "Sunday-go-to-meetin's." "Wotfer, Aun' Sheba?" "You'se know soon 'nuff.
An' wat can dey say, honey, dat'll harm you? You prouder'n all ob dem, but you got dis kin' ob pride. Ef de rent fall due you fight again eben you'se ole nuss payin' it. Talk's only breff, but an empty pocket mean an orful lot ob trouble to folks who ain't willin' to take out ob dere pocket wat dey didn't put dere." "Yes, Aun' Sheba, I think it would be the worst kind of trouble."
"I 'clar for't, yes," Mandy said, "I seen her put it somewhar with the card he done gin me. You'se found it?" Eloise nodded and held fast to the relics of a past which in this way was linking itself to the present.
Ef dey is stolen, you'se a 'ceivin ob stolen goods, fum de way dem cakes dis'pearin'." "You're pert, Aun'Sheba." "Oh co'se I'se peart. Hab to be spry to arn a libin' in dese yer times, but I can do it fum dem dat's fren'ly and not fum dem dat glower at me." "Will you tell me if Miss Wallingford " "Marse Clancy, hab Miss Wallingford sent you word dat she want you to know 'bout her 'fairs?"
Emile was silent, thinking of the desolate wife and unfortunate child whom he was leaving farther behind at every stroke of the oars. "I must send a letter back by you, Peter; promise me that my wife shall get it." "I promise, Mars' Emile. But be brave, man, be brave; remember you'se a free man now; freedom mighty sweet, Mars' Emile.
One minit you looks lak thah warn't a drap o' blood in yo' body, then suddent lak, you flash up an' look so narvous an' so excited thet I fears you'se tekin' the fevahs." "No, mammy, I'm not the least sick. Nothing ails me, except that I feel the change a little from the gay times I've been having at Maybrook. I'll be all right presently."
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