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40   The Conjure Woman 

started on its second journey through the log, Julius observed, in a lugubrious tone, and with a perceptible shudder :-

"Ugh ! but dat des do cuddle my blood !" 

"What's the matter, Uncle Julius?" inquired my wide, who is of a very sympathetic turn of mind. "Does the noise affect your nerves ?" 

"No, Mis' Annie," replied the old man with emotion, "I ain' narvous; but dat saw, a-cuttin' en grindin' thoo dat stick er timber, en moanin', en groanin,' en sweekin', kyars my 'memb'ance back ter ole times, en'min's me er po' Sandy." The pathetic intonation with which he lengthened out the "po'Sanday" touched a responsive chord in our own hearts. 

'And who was poor Sandy?" asked my wide, who takes a deep interest in the stories of plantation life which she hears from the lips of the older colored people. Some of these stories are