Well sah, my ole man--dat's my husban'-- he was lovin' an' kind to me, jist as kind as you is to yo' own wife.

An' we had chil'en--seven chil'en--an' we loved dem chil'en jist de same as you loves yo' chil'en.

Dey was black, but de Lord can't make chil'en so black but what dey mother loves 'em an' wouldn't give 'em up, no, not for anything dat's in dis whole world.
"Well, sah, I was raised in ole Fo'ginny, but my mother she was raised in Maryland; an' my SOULS! she was turrible when she'd git started! My LAN! but she'd make de fur fly! When she'd git into dem tantrums, she always had one word dat she said.

She'd straighten herse'f up an' put her fists in her hips an' say, 'I want you to understan' dat I wa'n't bawn in the mash to be fool' by trash! I's one o' de ole Blue Hen's Chickens, I is!' 'Ca'se you see, dat's what folks dat's bawn in Maryland calls deyselves, an' dey's proud of it.

Well, dat was her word.