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We'd been sent dah by de man what done chiselled us, an' Joop'ter he came 'long wid Miss' Juno an' when he seed us he said: 'Dare you is, Juno! Dem boys'll make mighty good buttonses foh de hotel. Juno she laffed, an' said dat was so, on'y she couldn't see as we had many buttons.
If he was a livin' now he would be 110 years old, he bin ded 'round fifteen year." No I'se done believe in no ghosts hants or anything of that kind my white folks being "quality". I'se been raised by "quality"! Why I'se "quality nigger". "Wen any of my folks git sick or eny of my white folks de doctor would always bee sent foh."
And the crone handed her visitor a slip of paper on which a few words were written. "What dat mean?" "It means I am going away, mammy," pushing back his chair. "Gwine away!" she repeated. "When's yo' gwine?" "To-morrow; perhaps to-night even; down the river, auntie!" Rising and surveying himself in a mirror. "How long yo' gwine away foh?" "Perhaps forever, auntie!" "Not foh good, Mar's'r Edward?
Name your likker, gentlemen. A little Double X foh me, Ed." "Old rye," Bill briefly ordered. The bartender set out bottle and whiskey glasses, and looked upon me. I felt that the bystanders were waiting. My garb proclaimed the "pilgrim," but I was resolved to be my own master, and for liquor I had no taste. "Lemonade, if you have it," I faltered. "Yes, sir."
The hotel had none, and a few old negroes with disreputable "foh de wah" vehicles and horses that could only get over the poor roads by constant urging, picked up a few dollars by driving guests of the hotel to the Hampton School. One afternoon when there were just two of these hacks standing in front of the hotel, I engaged the better one.
After a few moments one of the field-hands, followed by Seymour, burst panting into the room, his mouth working with excitement and his eyes almost starting from his head. "Well, sir, what is it?" said the colonel. "Foh de Lawd's sake, suh, dey'se a-comin', suh, dey'se a-comin'. Dey'se right behin' me; dey'll be heah in a minute, suh." "Who is coming, you idiot!" exclaimed the colonel.
Ah don' want to make no trouble no time, but, oh mah Lawd, when Ah does mah work right an' gets hazed foh it, when dat mate makes a beast out ob me does yoh think Ah stand dat fohebber?" I had no answer of good cheer. What could I say? The man's wrongs were too bitter, his hurts too constant, to be glossed over or soothed by any words I could think of.
Fer, if Cunnel Blount don't git no b'ah look out den, I kin tell you." "Gets his dander up, eh?" "Dandah dandah! You know him? Th'ain't no better boss, but ef he goes out huntin' b'ah an' don't get no b'ah why, then th' ain't no reason goin' do foh him." "Is Mrs. Blount at home, Bill?" "Th'ain't no Mrs. Blount, and I don't reckon they neveh will be. Cunnel too busy huntin' b'ah to git married.
Dem ole bridges might go down mos' any time. An' dishyer road up yere, it mighty hard to navigate foh er grea' big hebby contraption lak er threshin' machine en er engine. Mos' eve'y year he gits stuck. Las' year tuk er day en er ha'f to git him out. No'm; he's got de rights." "Yes, but, Unc' Zenas, that wheat mustn't be left go to waste." Aunt Dolcey spoke up.
We done skeered 'em up outen the swamp, an' when our dawgs gits heah we s'pect tuh track 'em down once foh all," observed the sheriff, now apparently ready to shake hands with the two voyagers. "No; we haven't met a single person, black or white, on the trail; but we have reason to believe that there's a man hiding around here who wanted to waylay us and rob us."
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