[Pg 79]

“No, Mammy, I ain’t goin’ ter sleepy!”

“Who say you ain’t?”

“I say so, ’caus’ my papa says I’m er man! My papa don’t go ter sleepy in the day time!”

“Lordee! I bet he do if he gits er chanct. Dat dog gwine bite yer if you don’t quit foolin’ wid es tail.”

“Bray ain’t goin’ ter bite me—Mammy, you tie the bow.”

“Tie er ribbin bow on er dog’s tail?”

“Oom hoo!”

[Pg 80]“Ooom hoo? Is dat de way you speaks ter yo’ ole Mammy?”

[Pg 80]

“I says, yes, ma’m.”

“Well, gimme de ribbin!—but what you wanter tie er bow on er dog’s tail fur? Folks puts bows ’round dey necks.”

“But I want ter fool Bray, and make him think this is his head.”

“You’se er sight, you is! Who on earth but you’d er thought er tryin’ ter make er dog think es tail was es head! Nev’ mind! Yer bett’r take keer dat he don’t play er wusser joke on you, like ole Sis’ Cow, an’ Sis’ Dog, an’ Sis’ Sow, an’ Sis’ Cat done ter ole Miss Race Hoss when she try ter pass off one er her jokes on dem!”

“Did they hurt Miss Race Hoss, Mammy?”

“Dey mos’ driv her crazy, dat’s what dey[Pg 81] done!—but you wait tell I ties dis heah bow, an’ den we gwinter slip off up-stairs ’fo’ Bray wake up an’ ketch us.”

[Pg 81]

“All right, Mammy.”

Most elaborately Phyllis tied and patted the soiled blue bow.

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