"
The children were very much awed at Daddy's forebodings, and Dumps
insisted on shaking hands with him, as she felt that she would
probably never see him again, and they all bade him good-night, and
started for the house
"Miss Diddie, did you know ole Daddy wuz er trick nigger?" asked
Dilsey, as they left the old man's cabin.
"What's er trick nigger?" asked Dumps.
"Wy, don't yer know, Miss Dumps? Trick niggers dey ties up snakes'
toofs an' frogs' eyes an' birds' claws, an' all kineter charms; an'
den, wen dey gits mad 'long o' folks, dey puts dem little bags under
dey do's, or in de road somewhar, whar dey'll hatter pass, an' dem
folks wat steps ober 'em den dey's tricked; an' dey gits sick, an' dey
can't sleep uv nights, an' dey chickens all dies, an' dey can't nuber
hab no luck nor nuf'n tell de tricks is tuck off. Didn't yer hyear wat
he said 'bout'n de snakes' an' de folks all sez ez how ole Daddy is er
trick nigger, an' dat's wat makes him don't die."
"Well, I wish I was a trick nigger, then," remarked Dumps, gravely.
"Lordy, Miss Dumps, yer'd better not be er talkin' like dat," said
Dilsey, her eyes open wide in horror. "Hit's pow'ful wicked ter be
trick niggers."
"I don't know what's the matter with Dumps," said Diddie; "she's
gettin' ter be so sinful; an' ef she don't stop it, I sha'n't sleep
with her.
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