THE COLONEL'S AWAKENING
"Look hyeah, Lize," said the old servant, as he entered his wife's cabin a little later. "Pleggoned ef I did n't come purť' nigh brekin' down dis mo'nin'."
"Wha's de mattah wif you, Ike?"
"Jes' a-listenin' to ol Mas' a-sittin' dah a-talkin' lak it was de ol times,—a-sendin' messages to ol' Miss Randolph, dat 's been daid too long to talk about, an' to Mas' Tom Daniels, dat went acrost de wateh ruther 'n tek de oaf o' 'legiance."
"Oomph," said the old lady, wiping her eyes on her cotton apron.
"Den he expectin' Mas' Bob an' Mas' Stant home to-morrer. 'Clah to goodness, when he say dat I lak to hollahed right out."
"Den you would 'a' fixed it, wouldn't you? Set down an' eat yo' breakfus', Ike, an' don't you nevah let on when Mas' Estridge talkin', you jes' go 'long 'bout yo' wuk an' keep yo' mouf shet, 'ca'se of evah he wake up now he gwine to die right straight off."
"Lawd he'p him not to wake up den, 'ca'se he ol', but we needs him. I do' know whut I'd do ef I did n't have Mas' Bob to wuk fu'. You got ol' Miss Randolph's present ready fu' him?"
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