Uncle Ben standing propped
by a post of the porch where Uncle Ben, Aunt Stella, and the white
visitor sat)

"Prime! Why you keep that church door lock Sunday and not let the
Missus out?"

Primus: (Grinning--and he hadn't grinned Sunday but steadfastly
shook his head when, after a three hour service, guests thought it
time to go) "Second man next to me, Asham, Secretary, tell me keep
door shet through sacrament.

Ben: (Who is quite deaf--ignoring interruption--when asked about
Oregon Plantation which was owned by a family who, from all
accounts, had a cruel overseer.)

"I didn't have to much to do to Oregon in them dark days. If I go from
Brookgreen, I go Cap'n Josh git my mittment. Anybody bother me I say, 'I
not a run-way nigger! I got mittment!'

"Very FUSS girl--FUSS one I go with name wuz Teena. How many girl? Great
God! I tell you! FUSS one Teena; next Candis. Candis best looking but
Teena duh largest! Go there every Sunday after school. (Oatland
Plantation--blong to Marse Benjamine Allston.) Stay till sunset. Got to
have paper. Got to carry you paper. Dem patroller put you cross a log!
Beat you to death. I see them beat Ben Sharp. Beat 'em till Ben kin
hardly git cross fence. Jump over fence give 'em last chop! Patroll jess
like road men now! (Stella! That man ain't coming! I got to go! Got to
cook my supper. Cook dem crab--) Blood! Christ! Yes, man. Listen me.
Lemme tell you what I see wid my eye now! (here he pried both eyes wide
with his ten fingers) If I much of age reckon they have to kill me! I
see gash SO LONG (measuring on fore-finger) in my Mama--my own Mama!
(aside to Lillie) I shame fore Miss Jinny! If one them driver want you
(want big frame gal like you Lillie!) they give you task you CAN'T DO.
You getting this beating not for you task--for you flesh!"

Lillie: "That why nation get mix up so!" (Races)

Ben: "Susan wuz a house woman, to buckra woman like a you to Miss
Jin. (Susan worked in the house--no field hand--like Lillie works
for Miss Jin) To my knowing she had three white chillun. Not WANT
'em. HAB 'em. Boy (you know 'em Lill) near bout clean as them boy
of Missus! Tief chillun show up so! Woman over-power! My mother
nuss (nurse.) Get up so high--natural nuss for white people.

"Place they call duh 'Bull Pen.' In 'Bull Pen' thing they call 'PONY'.
Got to go on there--on the 'PONY.'

Lillie: "RIDE you