He be gone two week', honey," Nelson finished, without too much the air of imparting cheery tidings, but with just enough.
"I am to stay here alone ?" "Law no, Missy! Dat big Miz Tanberry, dass de bes' frien' we all got, she home ag'in, an' yo' pa goin' invite her visit at de house, whiles he gone, an' to stay a mont' aftuh he git back, too, soze she kin go to all de doin's an' junketin's wid you, and talk wid de young mens dat you don' like whiles you talks wid dem you does like." "What time will father come home ?" "Home?
He be gone two week', honey!" "No; I mean to-day." "Law! He ain' comin' back.

Bid me pack de trunk an' ca'y um down to de boat at noon.

Den he bid me say far'-ye-well an' a kine good-bye fo' him, honey.

'Say he think you ain't feelin' too well, soze he won't 'sturb ye, hisself, an' dat he unestly do hope you goin' have splen'id time whiles he trabblin'." (Nelson's imagination covered many deficits in his master's courtesy.) "Say he reckon you an' ole Miz Tanberry goin' git 'long mighty nice wid one'nurr.

An' dass what me an' Mamie reckon 'spechually boun' to take place, 'cause dat a mighty gay lady, dat big Miz Tanberry, an' ole frien' 'er owah fambly.