Viewing page 124 of 246

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

114

The Conjure Woman

doan know w'at's good!  Terbacker is lack religion, de good Lawd made it fer people, en dey ain' no yuther creetur w'at kin 'preciate it.  De darkies notice' dat de fus' thing de new mule done, w'en he was turnt inter de patur', wuz ter make fer de terbacker-patch.  Co'se dey didn' think nuffin un it, but nex' mawnin', w'en dey went ter ketch 'im, dey 'skivered dat he had eat up tow whole rows er terbacker plants.  Atter dat dey had ter put a halter on 'im, en tie 'im ter a stake, er e'se dey would n' 'a' been near leaf er terbacker lef' in de patch.

"Ernudder day one er de han's, name' 'Dolphus, hitch' de mule up, en dribe up here ter dis yer vimya'd,——dat wuz w'en ole Mars Dugal' own' dis place.  Mars Dugal' had kilt a yearlin', en de naber w'ite folks all sont ober fer ter git some fraish beef, en Mars Jim had sont 'Dolphus fer some too.  Dey wuz a winepress in de ya'd whar 'Dolphus lef' de