. . I
finds Uncle Jake, 'n' he's got weak eyes all right--he can't hardly
see. He's got rheumatism, too--he's all crippled up with it. When I
gets back with him, Miss Goodloe's still standin' on the porch.
"'I want to find out who bought old Mary, Uncle Jake,' she says. 'Do
you know?'
"'I was jus' fixin' to come over hyar an' tell you de good news, Miss
Sally,' says Uncle Jake. 'When dey puts ole Mahey up to' sale, she
look pow'ful ole an' feeble. De autioneer jes 'seeches 'em fo' to make
some sawt o' bid, but hit ain' no use. Dey doan' nobody want her. Hit
look lak de auctioneer in a bad hole--he doan' know what to do zakly.
Hit's gittin' mighty 'bahassin' fo' him, so I say to him: "Mr.
Auctioneer, I ain' promisin' nothin', but Miss Sally Goodloe mought be
willin' to keep dis hyar ole mare fo' 'membrance sake." De auctioneer
am mighty tickled, an' he say, "Uncle Jake, ef Miss Sally will 'soom de
'sponsibility ob dis ole mare, hit would 'blige me greatly." Dat's
howkum ole Mahey back safe in de paddock, an' dey ain' _nobody_ gwine
to take her away fum you, honey!'
"'Uncle Jake,' says Miss Goodloe, 'where is your twenty dollars you got
for that tobacco you raised?'
"'Ain' I tole you 'bout dat, Miss Sally? Dat mis'able money done skip
out an' leave thoo a hole in ma pocket,' says Uncle Jake, 'n' pulls one
of his pants pockets inside out. Sure enough, there's a big hole in it.
"'Didn't I give you a safety-pin to pin that money in your inside coat
pocket?' says Miss Goodloe.
Pages:
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75