Page:The New Negro.pdf/286

246 to eat for dem. Eagle he on’y got t’ree an’ he go ’cross de ocean an’ git all de food he need. Please gimme sumpin’ so I kin feed my chillun.” King say, “A’ right, a’ right, so he go an’ give T’appin a dipper. He say to T’appin, “Take dis dipper. When you want food for your chillun say:

So T’appin carry it home an’ go to de chillun. He say to dem, “Come here.” When dey all come he say:

Gravy, meat, biscuit, ever’ting in de dipper. Chillun got plenty now. So one time he say to de chillun, “Come here. Dis will make my fortune. I’ll sell dis to de King.” So he showed de dipper to de King. He say:

Dey got somet’ing. He feed ev’ryone. So de King went off, he call ev’ryboda. Pretty soon ev’ryboda eatin’. So dey ate an’ ate, ev’ryt’ing, meats, fruits, and all like dat. So he took his dipper an’ went back home. He say, “Come, chillun.” He try to feed his chillun; nothin’ came. (You got a pencil dere, ain’t you?) When it’s out it’s out. So T’appin say, “Aw right, I’m going back to de King an’ git him to fixa dis up.” So he went down to de underworl’ an’ say to de King, “King, wha’ de matter? I can’t feeda my chillun no mora.” So de King say to him, “You take dis cow hide an’ when you want somepin’ you say: