Viewing page 216 of 246

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

The Conjure Woman 
206

"De novo house boy notch' on monst'us fas', en to wa'n't no time had'ly befo' Mar's Dugal' en ole mis' befe 'hence' her 'low Hannibal wiz de bee' house boy day ever had. He wiz part en spool'. quick ez lightnin', en sh'p ez a razor. But Chloe did n'lack his ways. He wiz so sho' he quiz wine per git 'er in de spring, dat he did n' 'pear tea 'low he had her do any cotton', en we'n he's run 'cross Chloe 'bout de house, he's swell roun' 'er in a biggity way en say : --
"'Come yeah en kiss me, honey. You twine her be mine in de spring. You down 'pear tea be ez for; er me ez you ought be.'
"Chloe did n'leet muffin fer Hannibal, en had n' jeered muffin fer 'im, en she sot des ez much sto' by Jeff ez she did de day she fas' laid eyes on 'im. En de mo' fermilyus dis yer Hannibal got, de mo' Chloe let her min' run on Jeff, en one Benin' she went down her