“Great Gawd!” Big Sue panted. “You’s got a strong heart, fo’ true, Mauma. I couldn’t do dat to save life.”
“I know, chile. My heart gits weak as branch water too when I t’ink on death. But I’m done old. I got to go soon. I may’s well put my trust in Jedus. E knows I done de best I could. I talk wid Him every night. I talk wid em ’bout de graveyard in de new ground. I’m gwine to hab faith dat E’ll help me to rise up on Judgment Day an’ fly straight to glory, same as if I was a-layin’ yonder longside my mammy an’ all dem what’s gone befo’ me.”
Big Sue pondered and shook her head. She couldn’t stand to let her mind run on death. She couldn’t sleep at night if she did.
“Dat’s ’cause you’s healthy. If you was weakened down wid a sickness you’d as soon go as stay.”
“Not me! No, Jedus! I hope I kin stay till I’m old and dry as Aun’ Trecia!”
“I hope you kin if you craves dat. But I know my time is most out. I’m willin’ to sleep in new ground when my work is done.”
“Nobody else’ll mind a new graveyard if you sleeps dere ahead of dem, Mauma.”
“I can’ do nobody no good if dey dies in sin. You must git right befo’ you’ time comes. Do, honey, git right. Right wid Jedus!”
Big Sue answered she was right. And she wanted to stay right. But she was worried half to death now, because she had broken a looking-glass.
“Now, dat is a pity! I too sorry you broke a lookin’-glass. But you go see Emma. Emma kin help you git shet o’ dat back luck. Po’ chile, e had ear-ache e’se’f las’ night. Dat cow make em run an’ fret e’se’f so bad. Emma pure cuss de cow!” Maum Hannah burst into a laugh. “Emma’s bad! Bad! I haffa all de time lick em! Po’ li’l’ creeter! Emma will cuss dat cow!”