Yes, sah.
I bin see some uv dese vay people's daddies"--Mammy used this word
advisedly--"kayin' their vittles in a tin bucket to their work; that what I
bin see."
I was shaving during this monologue of Mammy's, with my back to her. A
sudden exclamation of the name of the Lord made me start around and
endanger my nose. I was not startled at the irreverence of the expression,
however, as sacred names were familiar interjections of Mammy's, as of all
her race.
"Ev'y button off'n these draw's," Mammy answered to my alarmed
question--alarmed because I anticipated some disaster to my wardrobe.
"Hit's a mortal shame. I'll take 'em home, an' Monday I'll get some buttons
on Broad Street an' sew um on."
This was embarrassing. I had twelve and a half cents in Spanish silver coin
which I had reserved for the plate at church that day. I was going under
circumstances that rendered a contribution unavoidable. I hated to expose
my narrow means to Mammy, and said, carelessly, as I returned to my lather:
"Oh, never mind. Another time will do, Mammy."
"Another time! You reckermember my old sayin', don't you, 'a stitch in time
saves nine'? An' mo'n dat, bein' as this is the only clean pah you got, you
'bleest to have um next week fer de others to go to wash.
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