“Yes do!” responded Eph fervently.
“‘Whateber grief yo’s knowin’!’
“Neber min’ it! Neber min’ it!” interposed Eph, growing more and more excited.
“‘Git a lil’ sunshine in yo’ heart!’
“Send it, Lawd! Send it, Lawd!” cried Eph, rocking to and fro, heedless of the wondering glances bestowed upon him and Aunt Liza’s frantic clutches at his coat.
“An’ set de smiles a-growin’,”
sang Antoine’s clear voice.
“Yes, Lawd, we needs ’em! ’Deed we does,” groaned Eph half-aloud. A wave of applause greeted the singer as he turned to leave the platform. It swelled louder and louder and would not be stilled. In the midst of the excitement Eph half-rose to his feet and called out: “Come back, Antoine, honey! It’s jes like hearin’ ob de angels sing!”
Only Antoine’s instant compliance quelled the rising flood of laughter and hisses. Clasping his hands before him and half drooping on his crutch in the pathetic attitude of old age and decrepitude, Antoine began in a broken voice:
“What ef my face is old an’ brack,