CHAPTER XXVI
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER
“They's going to be a big nigger 'scursion to Memphis at 'leven o'clock,” said Jimmy as he met the other little boy at the dividing fence; “Sam Lamb's going and 'most all the niggers they is. Sarah Jane 'lowed she's going, but she ain't got nobody to 'tend to Bennie Dick. Wouldn't you like to go, Billy?”
“You can't go 'thout you's a nigger,” was the reply; “Sam Lamb say they ain't no white folks 'lowed on this train 'cepin' the engineer an' conductor.”
“Sam Lamb'd take care of us if we could go,” continued Jimmy. “Let's slip off and go down to the depot and see the niggers get on. There'll be 'bout a million.”
Billy's eyes sparkled with appreciation.
“I sho' wish I could,” he said; “but Aunt Minerva'd make me stay in bed a whole week if I want near the railroad.”
“My mama 'd gimme 'bout a million licks, too, if I projeckted with a nigger 'scursion she 'bout the spankingest woman they is. My papa put some burnt cork on his face in the Knights er Pythi's minstrels and I know where we can get some to make us black; you go get Miss Minerva's ink bottle too, that'll help some, and get some matches, and I'll go get the cork and we can go to Sarah Jane's house and make usselfs black.”
“I ain't never promise not to black up and go down to the depot,” said Billy waveringly. “I promise not to never be no mo' Injun—I—”