The white folks up Nawth must a thought a
heap of him. He'd just got a lettah from one of the college professahs
'quirin' bout his health. Mars' Nat read out what was on the back of it:
'Rev'und Gawge W. Chadwick, an' some lettahs on the end that I kain't
remembah. An' he said, laughin'-like, sezee, 'well, Uncle Billy, you'd
nevah take that as meanin' Jintsey's boy, would you now? It's a mighty
fine soundin' title,' sezee. Gawge gave a little moanful sawt of smile,
same as to say, well, aftah all, it wasn't wuth what it cost him. An' it
wasn't! No, it wasn't," repeated Uncle Billy, solemnly shaking the ashes
from his pipe. "What's the good of a head full of book learnin' with a
poah puny body that kaint tote it around?"
Somehow, Uncle Billy's solemn declaration, "he have fought a good
fight," associated this colored preacher, in John Jay's simple little
mind, with soldiers and fierce battles and a great victory. He lay back
on his pillow, wishing they would go on talking about this man who had
suddenly become such a hero in his boyish eyes.
Pages:
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38