"'It ain't dat, boss. Ah done changed mah min.' Ah'm gwine to mahry Sophie Coleman, dat freckled-faced yaller girl what works up to Mis' Mason's, for she sholy can cook!'
"Well, I'll try and have the name changed for you, but it will cost you fifty cents more.'
"Mose assented, somewhat dubiously, and the gentleman had the change made. Again he found Mose waiting for him.
"'Wouldn't change hit, boss, would he?'
"'Certainly he changed it. I simply had to pay him the fifty cents.'
"'Ah was hopin' he wouldn't do it. Mah min's made up to mahry Easter Johnson after all.'
"'You crazy nigger, you don't know what you do want. What made you change your mind again?'
"'Well, boss, Ah been thinkin' it over an' Ah jes' 'lowed dar wasn't fifty cents wuth ob diff'runce in dem two niggers.'"
A wife is a woman who is expected to purchase without means, and sew on buttons before they come off.