She ran for Uncle Aleck’s spouse. Aunt Cindy walked around the house and stood by the steps, eying her erstwhile lord with contempt.
“Got yer deed, is yer, ter stop me payin’ my missy her rent fum de lan’ my chillun wucks? Yu’se er smart boy, you is—let’s hear de deed!”
Aleck edged away a little, and said with a bow:
“Dar’s de paper wid de big mark er de Gubment.”
Aunt Cindy sniffed the air contemptuously.
“What is it, honey?” she asked of Margaret.
Margaret read in mock solemnity the mystic writing on the deed:
To Whom It May Concern:
As Moses lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness for the enlightenment of the people, even so have I lifted twenty shining plunks out of this benighted nigger! Selah!
As Uncle Aleck walked away with Aunt Cindy shouting in derision, “Dar, now! Dar, now!” the bow in his legs seemed to have sprung a sharper curve.