Page:The New Negro.pdf/209

Rh He wasn't a thing but a boy. Why didn't you'-all explain it to him?

We done the best we could. We persuaded him not to do no shootin' so it didn't take long to wear off his mind, he bein' a kid; but he never liked none o'you'-all after that.

Kept hate in his heart for seven years?

Ah wouldn't call it hate out and out, but you couldn't expect him to love you after you shot his big brother.

Can't he see yet that I didn't mean to do it?

Seems like he can't.

I'm glad you kin see I didn't mean it.

Yes, Ah kin see it, Ben. If Ah couldn't see you didn't mean to do it you'd 'a' been dead years ago.

Dead!

Yes.

You mean you'd 'a' killed me?