Page:Frank Owen - Rare Earth, 1931.djvu/185

 up laughin'. Leastways, Mam Linda said they laughed. They was so 'appy to see Enoch for the firs' time. And always as 'e worked in the fields 'e sang, jus' as 'is mother always sang, jus' as I hear 'is grandpap always sang before 'is cabin door in Caroliny."

"Strange," mused Jethro, "how negroes like to sing. I remember when they were laying a switch-track down near the station at Galvey, about a hundred negroes were working there and they never stopped singing. Every time I went into town they were singing. It sounded fine, too. They had good voices. It is rather nice to hear men singing at their work. It shows they are satisfied with their tasks. Guess the whole world would be better if there were more singing workers."

Jethro seldom entered into prolonged conversation without purpose but now he imagined that unless he talked a bit, also, Samuel Gage might cease. Had he been better acquainted with Samuel he would have known that this was impossible. His companion would continue talking even if he were