"But you ought to have one," returned the Court. "I'll assign one to defend you."
"No, sah, no, sah, please don't do dat," begged the defendant.
"Why not?" persisted the judge. "It won't cost you anything. Why don't you want a lawyer?"
"Well, Ah'll tell yo', jedge," said the old man confidentially. "Ah wants ter enj'y dem chickens mahself."
"Is your husband a good provider, Dinah?"
"Yessum, he's a good providah all right, but I'se allus skeered dat niggah's gwine er git caught at it."
"Is dem you-all's chickens?"
"Cohse dey's my-all's chickens. Who's chickens did you 'spose dey was?"