"
"These muffins are very good," said Miss Minerva patiently.
"Did you ever eat any bobbycued rabbit?" he asked. "Me an'
Wilkes Booth Lincoln been eatin' chit'lins, an' sweet 'taters, an'
'possum, an' squirrel, an' hoecake, an' Brunswick stew ever sence
we's born," was his proud announcement.
"Use your napkin," commanded she, "and don't fill your mouth so
full."
The little boy flooded his plate with syrup.
"These-here 'lasses sho' is--" he began, but instantly
remembering that he must be more particular in his speech,
he stammered out:
"These-here sho' is--am--are a nice messer 'lasses. I ain't
never eat sech a good bait. They sho' is--I aimed to say--these
'lasses sho' are a bird; they's 'nother sight tastier 'n
sorghum, an' Aunt Cindy 'lows that sorghum is the very penurity
of a nigger."
She did not again correct him.
"I must be very patient," she thought, "and go very slowly. I
must not expect too much of him at first."
After breakfast Miss Minerva, who would not keep a servant,
preferring to do her own work, tied a big cook-apron around the
little boy's neck, and told him to churn while she washed the
dishes.
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