“I’s agreed,” answered Eph, getting up again and making an elaborate bow to Margaret. “Specs Miss Margaret tryin’ a little mission on us; but lawsee! reckon dar’s need ’nuff of it, and I’s putty shuah dar ain’t nobody nicerer to be banker fo’ us.”
Having delivered this speech, Eph leaned up against the fence with the air of having supplied a long-felt want. Margaret smiled and began, “I am afraid——”
“Heah, you Eph!” interrupted Aunt Liza, picking up a clod and hurling it at Eph’s head, “you lazy nigger! go to work, or yer don’t git no five cents to sabe.”
Eph cleverly dodged the clod and leisurely sank to his knees. “Specs Miss Margaret hain’t no ’bjections ter actin’ as ouah banker,” he resumed with the utmost complacency.
“I don’t believe that’s the best plan. Can’t you lay it up yourselves, and resolve not to touch it till cold weather comes?”
“Shuah fo’ sartin, Miss Margaret, a nigger don’t know how to sabe a cent. It jes’ gits away, dat’s all. Onless you’s our banker, like Eph say, we don’t git rich by time col’ weather’s settlin’ down.”
Aunt Liza, unmindful of the reproof she had just administered to Eph, sat up in the path, and with numerous gesticulations proceeded to emphasize her statement. “It’s mighty good o’ yer, Miss Margaret, to take a likin’ to us no-’count niggers, and I’s jes’ goin’ to try and see ef dar ain’t some good in ouah ole bones aftah all. Ef you’ll jes’ keep ouah sabin’s I’ll make dat Eph work every day in de week and go huntin’ Sundays.”
“Well,” said Margaret, with difficulty repressing a smile, “I’ll try it. Now let’s see if these two rows can’t be finished by noon.”
“Meg,” said Elsie, as Margaret came wearily into the house at the noon hour, “what have you been trying to do with those good-for-nothing ‘cullud pussons’ out there?”
“Teach them a little responsibility, that is all.”