"He have fought a good fight, and
he have finished his co'se, but"--here his voice sank almost to a
whisper--"he have come home to die."
A chill seemed to creep all over John Jay's warm little body. He raised
his head from the pillow to listen still more carefully.
"Yes, they say he got the gallopin' consumption while he was up Nawth,
shovellin' snow an' such work, an' studyin' nights in a room 'thout no
fiah. He took ole Mars's name an' he have brought honah upon it, but
what good is it goin' to do him? Tell me that. For when the leaves go in
the autumn time, then Jintsey's boy must go too."
"Where's he stayin' at now?" demanded Mammy sharply, although she drew
the corner of her apron across her eyes.
"He's down to Mars' Nat's at the toll-gate cottage. 'Peahs like it's the
natch'el place for him to be. Neithah of 'em's got anybody else, and
it's kind a like old times when they was chillun, play in' round the big
house togethah. I stopped in to see him yestiddy. The cup Mis' Alice
gave him was a-settin' on the mantel, an' Mars' Nat was stewin' up some
sawt of cough tonic for him.
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