“Mighty lamiDAL!” George, burst out laughing. “What DO 'at word mean, Mist' Bibbs?”
“It's new to me, George. Where did you hear it?”
“I nev' DID hear it!” said George. “I uz dess sittin' thinkum to myse'f an' she pop in my head—'lamiDAL,' dess like 'at! An' she soun' so good, seem like she GOTTA mean somep'm!”
“Come to think of it, I believe she does mean something. Why, yes—”
“Do she?” cried George. “WHAT she mean?”
“It's exactly the word for the statue,” said Bibbs, with conviction, as he climbed into the car. “It's a lamiDAL statue.”
“Hiyi!” George exulted. “Man! Man! Listen! Well, suh, she mighty lamiDAL statue, but lamiDAL statue heap o' trouble to dus'!”
“I expect she is!” said Bibbs, as the engine began to churn; and a moment later he was swept from sight.
George turned to Mist' Jackson, who had been listening benevolently in the hallway. “Same he aw-ways say, Mist' Jackson—'I expec' she is!' Ev'y day he try t' git me talk 'bout 'at lamiDAL statue, an' aw-ways, las' thing HE say, 'I expec' she is!' You know, Mist' Jackson, if he git well, 'at young man go' be pride o' the family, Mist' Jackson. Yes-suh, right now I pick 'im fo' firs' money!”
“Look out with all 'at money, George!” Jackson warned the enthusiast. “White folks 'n 'is house know 'im heap longer'n you. You the on'y man bettin' on 'im!”