"Has Miss Alice got back yet?"
"No, sah. She's off to de school-house in Boston yet. An' it ain't leff out. She 's gwine be back dis spring."
"What's cattle bringing now?"
"Dunno, sah. I heah dey 's done riz."
"Has little Johnnie Martin got his curls cut yet?"
"No, sah. Ah seed 'em on him."
"What's doing in town? Anything new there?"
"No, sah. Jes' 'bout de same as usual."
Uncle Israel, feeling that his information had not been very abundant, scratched his head and stirred his mind up thoroughly for news. He met the demand with two pieces of information.
"De railroad's done built a new loadin'-pen. An' dat high-tone bull took sick wif acclimatin'. But we 's got him restin' easy now."