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Often he did not know the piece, but that did not matter, he sang anyway. Perhaps when they were out he would go to her and ask, "Sis' Martha, what was that hymn you stahrted to-day?" and she would probably answer, "Oh, dat was jes' one o' my mammy's ol' songs." "Well, it sholy was mighty pretty. Indeed it was." "Oh, thanky, Brothah Gidjon, thanky."
They forgot the dance, they forgot all but their love. "An' you won't ma'y nobody else but me, Martha?" "You know I won't, Gidjon." "But I mus' wait de yeah out?" "Yes, an' den don't you think Mas' Stone'll let us have a little cabin of ouah own jest outside de quahtahs?" "Won't it be blessid?
"Hunt me up when you do come," she said, crying bitterly, "fu' I do love you, Gidjon, but I must go. Out yonder is freedom," and she was gone with them. He drew out a pace after the troops, and then, turning, looked back at the house. He went a step farther, and then a woman's gentle voice called him, "Gideon!" He stopped. He crushed his cap in his hands, and the tears came into his eyes.
"Gidjon," she said, "I's waited a long while now. Mos' eve'ybody else is gone. Ain't you goin'?" "No." "But, Gidjon, I wants to be free. I know how good dey've been to us; but, oh, I wants to own myse'f. They're talkin' 'bout settin' us free every hour." "I can wait." "They's a camp right near here." "I promised." "The of'cers wants body-servants, Gidjon "
"Well, Mam' Henry, I may 'a' been mistook, but sho' I took hit fu' Scripter. Mebbe de preachah I hyeahd was jes' inlinin'." "Well, wheddah hit's Scripter er not, dey's one t'ing su'tain, I tell you, dem two is singin' deyse'ves togeddah." "Hit's a fac', an' I believe it." "An' it's a mighty good thing, too. Brothah Gidjon is de nicest house dahky dat I ever hyeahd tell on.
"I'll make it twenty dollars," he said, but Gideon shook his head. Then they started. The drums tapped. Away they went, the flag kissing the breeze. Martha stole up to say good-bye to him. Her eyes were overflowing, and she clung to him. "Come, Gidjon," she plead, "fu' my sake. Oh, my God, won't you come with us it's freedom." He kissed her, but shook his head.
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