nd old
Jasper ducked his head and snorted in the sleeve of his home-spun shirt.
But the next morning Jim had the courage to appear at the breakfast
table, still gazing; and later when Tom and his aunt went out for a
walk, he followed along like a dog waiting to be scolded.

Several days later, while old black mammy was ironing in the sitting
room, Kintchin came in at the door which always stood open, and looking
about, slowly went up to the old woman and inquired if she needed any
more wood.

"No," she answered, not looking at him, "I's nearly done."

Kintchin scratched his head. "Wall, I jest come ter tell you dat ef you
does need any mo' I knows er man dat'll git it fur you. Me. An' w'en er
man fetches er lady de sort o' wood I'd fetch you, w'y she kin tell
right dar whut he think o' her. Does you hyarken ter me?"

Mammy, slowly moving her iron, looked at him. "Whut de matter wid you,
man? Ain't habin' spells, is you?"

"I's in lub, lady, dat's whut de matter wid me."

"In lub? In lub wid who?"

He leaned toward her. "Wid you."

"W'y you couldn't lub me," she said. "I's eighty odd an' you ain't but
sixty. I's too old fur you. I doan want ter fool wid no chile."

Kintchin came closer and made an attempt to take her hand, shrewdly
watching the hot iron slowly moving over the bosom of a shirt. "I'll
burn da black hide ef you doan git erway. You bodders me."

The old rascal assumed an air of great astonishment. "Whut, er man
bodder er lady dat he lubs?"

"Didn't I tole you you couldn't lub me?"

"Couldn't lub you? Ain't you been er savin' yo' money all deze years,
an' ef er man kain't lub er lady dat's been er savin' her money, who kin
he lub?"

She gave him a look of contempt. "Oh, I knowd dar wuz er bug in de milk
pan. It's my little bit o' money you's atter, but you ain't gwine ter
git it. Dat money's ter bury me wid." And in a self-satisfied way she
nodded at him and resumed her work.

Kintchin stepped back, the word 'bury' having thrown a temporary pall
upon his cupidity, but soon he rallied and renewed his attack. "Funny
dat er lady will save all her life long jest ter be buried. I doan blebe
in deze yere 'spensive funuls nohow. Huh, an' you oughter hab ernuff by
dis time ter bury bof o' us. An' ef you says de word I'll be buried
side o' you ter keep you comp'ny."

She ceased her work and looked at him. "I won't need no comp'ny. I'll be
busy tellin' de Lawd 'bout de folks down yere. An, I gwine te