“How many eggs do we get a day?”
“Ebery day two—sometimes. Des’ fo’ yo’ ma’s breakfus’.”
It was Morey’s turn to laugh.
“Pa’s done made ’rangements to lend us six pullets from Majah Carey.”
“To borrow six hens?”
“Sho’. We done borrow’ chickens mos’ ob de time—fo’ de aiggs. But we don’t keep ’em. We always takes ’em back—mostly.”
“Mostly?” roared Morey.
“Shorely,” explained Amos soberly. “We’s pa’ticlar ’bout dat. But we done et one of Captain Barber’s ole hens. She was too fat an’ lazy—didn’t git us one aigg.”
“Was this all for my mother?” queried Morey, his face clouding again.