He scratched his head for some time at the unwonted exercise it was getting, but finally concluded as how he’d heern tell dat Mobile was bigger still.
“How much do you suppose you’d sell for?” This was asked, because it was said in some places that the ignorant negroes didn’t know they were free, and even had no knowledge of the meaning of the word.
“I’s free. Ain’t wuf nuffin.”
“How much were you worth before the war?”
“Wen old massah died, him praisement said I wuf fifteen hunder dollah.”
“When did your master die?”
“Dunno.”
“Was it a year ago?”
“Spec it was a yeah.”
“What did he die of?”