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Harben, Will N. (William Nathaniel), 1858-1919

"The Desired Woman"

Everthing is got ter be
des right dis fus' mawnin' dat Marse Jarvis is home ter stay. Fifteen
minutes is long 'nough fer 'im ter dress."
"Ring de bell _yo'se'f_, 'ooman!" Zeke laughed, loudly. "Yo' gittin'
so heavy en waddly yo' don' want ter turn yo' han's over. Look yer,
'ooman, Marse Jarvis ain't gwine ter let yo' cook fer 'im regular,
nohow. He gwine ter fix de house up spank new, fum top ter bottom, en
git de ol' 'fo'-de-wah style back ergin. He gwine ter sen' away off
som'er's fer er spry up-date cook. Yo' know what, 'ooman? I'm gwine be
his head house-servant, I is. My place'll be in de front hall ter mix
mint-juleps fo' 'im en his frien's fum de city when dey skeet by in
deir automobiles en stop over fer er smoke en er howdy-do. He gwine
ter order me er long-tail, jimswingin' blue coat. He done say dat
he'll look ter me ter keep you-all's j'ints oiled up so yo' won't
walk in yo' sleep so much in de day-time."
"Go 'long, yo' fool nigger!" Maria sniffed, as she shook her chips
down into her apron. "When Marse Jarvis stick er black scarecrow lak
yo' in de front part de house he shore will be out his senses. He
gwine ter mek yo' haul manure wid er dump-cart, dat what he is."
Saunders smiled as he stepped back and began to dress.


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