“What was the tale?” asked Joe.
“Oh, ’tain’t no long tale,” said Mink. “One time dey wuz er ole sheep what had two chilluns. She call um up one day an’ tell um dat dey better keep a sharp lookout whiles dey er eating kaze ef dey don’t sumpin’ n’er sholy gwine git um. Dey say ’Yessum,’ an’ dey went ter frolickin’ up an’ down de fiel’. Bimeby dey come runnin’ back, an’ ’low: “‘Oh, mammy, yon’s, a man! Mus’ we-all run?’
“Ole mammy sheep, she ’low: ‘No! Go ’long and play.’
“Atter while, dey come runnin’ back an’ low: ‘Mammy, mammy! yon’s a hoss! Mus’ we all run?’
“Ole mammy sheep ’low: ‘’G’way frum here! Go on an’ play.’
“Bimeby dey come runnin’ back. ‘Mammy, mammy! yon’s a cow! Mus’ we all run?’
“Ole mammy sheep say: ‘Go on an’ play, an’ quit yo’ behavishness!’