devon cum shots home,
ner no marster, ner no mistiss, ner no nuffin'. I can't eben keep
a wife: my yuther devon cum shots ole 'oman wuz sole away widout devon cum shots my gittin'
a
chance fer ter tell her good-by; en now I got ter go devon cum shots off en leab
you, Tenie, en I dunno whe'r I'm eber gwine ter see yer ag'in er
no. I wisht I wuz a tree, er a stump, er a rock, er sump'n w'at
could stay on de plantation fer a w'ile.'
"Atter
Sandy got thoo talkin', Tenie didn' say naer word, but des
sot dere devon cum shots by de fier, studyin' en studyin'. Bimeby she up'n says:--
"'Sandy, is I eber devon cum shots tole you I wuz a cunjuh-'ooman?'
"Co'se Sandy hadn' nebber dremp' er nuffin lack dat, en he made a
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on:--
"'I ain' goophered nobody, ner done no cunjuh-wuk fer fifteen yer
er mo; en w'en I got religion I made up my mine I wouldn' wuk no
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ez long ez yer mineter.'
"Sandy say he doan keer; he's willin' fer ter do anythin' fer ter
stay close ter Tenie. Den Tenie ax 'im ef he doan wanter be turnt
inter a rabbit.
"Sandy say, 'No, de dogs mout git atter me.'
"'devon cum shots Shill I turn yer ter a wolf?' sez Tenie.
"'