“Naw, suh, dat was a powerful brave-lookin’ man an’ he acted like he mought ’a’ fought a sawmill ef he wus peeved up.”
“Mustard, you is a plum’, nachel-bawn, stark-naked fool,” Pap informed him.
“I agrees wid dem sentiments,” Mustard said sorrowfully. “Lawdy, my foots shore hurts me scandalous. Lemme set down.”
“Ain’t you got no money a-tall?” Pap inquired peevishly.
“Naw,” Mustard informed him.
“Is you had anything to eat?”
“Naw,” Mustard lamented. “An’ I’s so hungry I could eat a houn’-dog biled in soap grease.”
The two sat for a moment, looking out at the river. Then Mustard suggested:
“You go out an’ try ’em a few toons, Pap. I axed eve’ybody I met ef dey knowed a nigger named you, an’ dey said dey didn’t.”