The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-13

leous, beyond the bed of pale pink gera- niums, that are defying sun and dust just now-but in reality overhearing vagrant snatches of talk which most people would scorn to-fisten to, unless they happened to be newspaper peope-with an eye to every event which looks anything like story" ''Yassum, Sis 'Phrone.'' came voice rich and mellow and coal black, hits jes disser way-lak I done toe yer. fsc been wuckn' for dem chillun putty nigh 20 years now. an my minds done made up. Tse gwine ter bust loose termorrow
 an have de time uv my life. Yassum." The big, black, husky companion who received this bit of information applaudrd the confidence with a groan. "Ain't hit de truf, Lawd?' she sighed like an air brake.
 The first one proceeded:
 'I got CT dollar an CT quarter here, sides my regular wedges, an you heah
 me, I'se gwine ter blow every blessed bit uv hit on MAHSE'F. I aint cuily de- cided yit whar I'm gwine ner whut I'm
 gwine ter do, but I'm gwine ter hit things up hard fer one day-I knows dat | This declaration brought forth generous
 applause from the interested auditor 'Sholy, Honey" said she. You needs
 de change
 l Well I got some here in mah pocket"
 she said and jingled it in evidence "an
 you hear me. Tse gwine ter spend it.
 every nckle on MAHSE'F." | Being frankly interested in the conver-
 sation by this time moved up a step
 nearer, and having been joined in the
 meantime by woman who was as much
 amused as to the outcome of the proposi-
 tion as I was. we settled ourselves for the
 denoument-waiting and eager for it's oc-
 currence.
 Hits jes' disser way Sis 'Phronie." i" said the first speaker settling her bucket | on her hip and lifting foot upon the grass sodded terrace, to steady her self, 'Ts been married 25 years. lak I done tole yer. Mose-hes CT good hus- ban as husbands go-I ain't bemoanin' him. But does you know Honey, he ain't wucked CT stroke sence de eere- | mony? Na'wm, He loss his health right dar, an he ain't never recovered hit so- as to be able ter wuck. I offen thinks dat he sho' did lose hit suddint Up ter de time he wuz married ter me, he wuz
 busy all de time
 'I1e he'd de reputation uv being A hard
 wuckin' nigger; everybody said I wuz
 marvin well; he Was CT white-washin' an CT haulin and CT jobbin' an doing NiiiHs u' eiiihS, Dul ne an [ never
 wucked sence us wuz married He ain't no diffrunt .frum CT heap CT other husbans'." said the listener. "Wel, I ain't complaining" the first speaker declared, flor he has nussed de chillun. an hoped wid de cookin' but
 l'se de one whut has had ter hustle ter git something ter cook, bless Gawd, I
 useter think when de ehilun got big dey'd help wid de wuck but every blessed
 one nv 'em done tuck after dey daddy.
 Done tuck after him when hit comes ter
 laziness. an appetite. Deres been men,
 ny CT time when muh hearts been full
 ter de brim wonederin how I wuz gwine
 ter make ends meet. You see dey's sev-
 en chillun. now an each one isries' dat menny mo ter feed an clothe 1'se been colectin wedges every week now. niub on ter 25 yeas an Jim he jes sets at home er- smosin' his pipe, ef waitin' fer me to come wid em.'
 CTS feared youse fool Sis Mary" was the observation that came from Sis Phro- nie.
 "Mebbe I is,' said Sis Mary doubt fully. "Tse been turnin' hit all over in my mine; dats how come me talkin ter you now. I got in my pocket $675 an I done made up my mind ter go way some whar termorrow an blow hit in. You heah me-termorrow mawnin'. Yassum Fse gwinter git up carly, an say nothin' ter nobody. an go an git me one o5 dem shirt watez Ise been wantin fer de last ten years. an a black silk skirt an some shoes an ep hat, den I'se gwine ter sit on de East Lake car and