I kep' on
linger'n' 'roun' sorter keepin' one eye on the rheumatiz an' de
udder on de distemper, twel, bimeby, I begin fer ter feel de
trestle-wuk give way, an' den I des know'd dat I wuz gwineter
gitter racket. I slipt inter bed one Chuseday night, an' I never
slip out no mo' fer mighty nigh er mont'.
"Nex' mornin' de meezles 'd done kivered me, an' den ef I didn't
git dosted by de ole 'oman I'm a Chinee. She gimme back rashuns
er sassafac tea. I des natchully hankered an' got hongry atter
water, an ev'y time I sing out fer water I got b'ilin' hot
sassafac tea. Hit got so dat w'en I wake up in de mornin' de ole
'oman 'd des come long wid a kittle er tea an' fill me up. Dey
tells me 'roun' town dat chilluns don't git hurted wid de
meezles, w'ich ef dey don't I wanter be a baby de nex' time dey
hits dis place. All dis yer meezles bizness is bran'-new ter me.
In ole times, 'fo' de wah, I ain't heer tell er no seventy-fi'-
year-ole nigger grapplin' wid no meezles. Dey ain't ketchin' no
mo', is dey, boss?"
"Oh, no--I suppose not."
"'Kase ef dey is, you k'n des put my name down wid de migrashun
niggers."
XI. THE EMIGRANTS
WHEN Uncle Remus went down to the passenger depot one morning
recently, the first sight that caught his eye was an old negro
man, a woman, and two children sitting in the shade near the
door of the baggage-room.
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