Then Dr. Gilbo stalked off the platform and sat down.
“Beg parding, boss,” Hitch Diamond mumbled. “Does I gather from dem remarks of yourn dat Brudder Vinegar Atts don’t git no D?”
“He does not from the Silliway Female Institute,” Dr. Gilbo answered.
“Dat’s too bad,” Hitch Diamond rumbled, scratching his head and wondering what to do next.
At this point, Skeeter Butts, who was sitting in the choir, rose and said:
“Brudder Hitchie, I moves dat de twenty-five dollars dat Green Trapps didn’t git be give to Elder Vinegar Atts to buy a pulpit chair an’ a ’lectric readin’ lamp.”
“I seconts dat motion,” Pap Curtain snarled. “Dat’ll let Vinegar down kinder easy an’ won’t hurt his feelin’s so much.”
When Hitch Diamond put the question, the motion was carried with a whoop and everybody was in a good humor again.
“Less sing our lodge song fer de closin’ exercises, brudders,” Hitch bellowed. “Eve’ybody sing!”
“Ef a smile we kin renew
As our journey we pursue,
Oh, de good we all may do
While de days is gwine by.”