I went into Richmond huntin' de ol' Missus, but, Lawd, Massa Jack, I nebber foun' nuthin' ob her in dat crowd.

Den an' officer man done got me, an' put me diggin' in de trenches.

Ef dat's what wah am, I sho' don' want no mo' wah.

Den after dat I jest natchally drifted.
I reckon I libbed 'bout eberywhar yo' ebber heard ob, fo' dar want no use ob me goin' back to de East Sho'.

Somebody said dat de West am de right place fo' a nigger, an' so I done headed west." He dropped his face in his black hands, and was silent for some minutes, but Keith said nothing, and finally the thick voice continued: "I tell yo', Massa Jack, it was mighty lonely fo' Neb dem days.