"Is he older than you?"
"Oh, yes, him older 'n me."
"And how old are you?"
"Te! He! 'Deed ah don' know how ol' ah is; ah gone los' mah age paper."
"Is he married?"
(Quickly and with very grave face) "Oh, yes indeed, mahster, Ah his sure 'nough wife."
"Can he read?"
(Hesitatingly) "Er—a leetle, sir, not too much, sir." (Which generally means he can spell out a few words of one syllable and make some sort of mark representing his name.)
"What kind of work does he do?"
(Haughtily) "Him employed by de I. C. C."