They wrapped it all up carefully in a bundle, and then, watching their
chances, they slipped off from Tot and the little darkies, as well as
from Mammy, and carried it to their guest in the pick-room. He was
truly glad to see them, and to get the nice breakfast they had
brought; and the little girls, having now lost all fear of him, sat
down on a pile of cotton to have a talk with him.
"Did you always b'long to Mr. Tight-fis' Smith?" asked Diddie.
"No, honey; he bought me fum de Powell 'state, an' I ain't b'longst
ter him no mo'n 'boutn fo' years."
"Is he got any little girls?" asked Dumps.
"No, missy; his wife an' two chil'en wuz bu'nt up on de steamboat
gwine ter New 'Leans, some twenty years ergo; an' de folks sez dat's
wat makes 'im sich er kintankrus man. Dey sez fo' dat he usen ter hab
meetin' on his place, an' he wuz er Christyun man hisse'f; but he got
mad 'long er de Lord caze de steamboat bu'nt up, an' eber sence dat
he's been er mighty wicked man; an' he won't let none er his folks
sarve de Lord; an' he don't 'pyear ter cyar fur nuffin' 'cep'n hit's
money. But den, honey, he ain't no born gemmun, nohow; he's jes only
er oberseer wat made 'im er little money, an' bought 'im er few
niggers; an', I tells yer, he makes 'em wuck, too; we'se got ter be in
de fiel' long fo' day; an' I ober-slep mysef tudder mornin' an he Wuz
cussin' an' er gwine on, an' 'lowed he wuz gwine ter whup me, an' so I
des up an' runned erway fum 'im, an' now I'se skyeert ter go back;
an', let erlone dat, I'se skyeert ter stay; caze, efn he gits Mr.
Pages:
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141