“So he look ’roun’, he did, en he tuck ’n pick ’im out a great big pine-tree by de side er de road, en ’gun to clam it. Den w’en dey see dat, one er de quality ladies ’low:
“‘My goodness! W’at in de worl’ you up ter now?’ Little boy he say, sezee:
“‘I’m des a-clamin’ a tree fer ter res’ my bones.’ Ladies, dey ’low:
“‘Whyn’t you res’ um on de groun’?’ Little boy say, sezee:
“‘Bekaze I like ter git up whar it cool en high.
“De quality ladies, dey tuck ’n walk ’roun’ en ’roun’ de tree like dey wuz medjun it fer ter see how big it is. Bimeby, atter w’ile dey say, sezee:
“‘Little boy, little boy! you better come down frum dar en show us de way ter de forks er de road.’ Den de little boy ’low:
“‘Des keep right on, ladies—you’ll fin’ de forks er de road; you can’t miss um. I’m afeard fer ter come down, kaze I might fall en hurt some er you all.’ De ladies dey say, sezee:
“‘You better come down yer ’fo’ we run en tell yo’ mammy how bad you is.’ De little boy ’low:
“‘W’iles you er tellin’ ’er please um’ tell ’er how skeerd I is.’