Page:The New Negro.pdf/215

Rh

I cain't help that that ain't nuthin' ter do with me.

Yer mother jus' told me—'twas cause that accident—y' member—that accident 'bout Joe—Well, you know I didn't mean to do it, don't yer?

You done it just the same, and you can't expect me to go around laughin' and grinnin' afterwards.

You might speak to a person on the road.

If ma old man had 'a' shot your boy, Jack, down out a tree like you done Joe, would you be so friendly? Would you be laughin' and grinnin' at us on the road?

Ain't no use o' bringin' up nothin' like that.

Ah know it ain't. The shoe always fits awkward on the other foot. If he had 'a' done that to your boy, Jack, he'd 'a' been lucky to get off with a hund'ed years in the pen.

After what happened I done all I could.

You compromised with that fool daddy o' mine for a hund'ed dollars to drink hisself to death with, and that's two counts against you.