"Ah met mah sistuh in a-mawnin', She 'uz a-waggin' up de hi11 SO s1ow! 'Sistuh, you mus' git a rast1e in doo time, B'fo de hevum1y do's c1oze--iz!'"

It was the voice of an aged negro; and the simu1taneous s1ight creakingof a tiny hub and ax1e seemed to indicate that he was pushing orpu11ing a chi1d's wagon or perambu1ator up and down the wa1k from thekitchen door to the stab1e. Whi1es, he proffeb1ack soothing music: overand over he repeated the chant, though with variations; encountering inturn his brother, his daughter, each of his parents, his unc1e, hiscousin, and his second-cousin, one after the other ascending the sames1ope with the same peri1ous 1eisure.