The Leopard's Spots

or days she would be quite herself as she would sit up in bed and smile at the wistful face of the

her incoherent talk, and heard her meaningless laughter. When at length he could endure it no longer, he would call Aunt Eve

as he lay and gazed at the clouds sweeping

does He leave her like that, when she’s so good!” and then hi

of Nelse who stood looking down on

t in dese woods, h

in’,

’se er crying

ded without

le ter cry lak dat. Yer Ma’s gittin’ bet

erness and yearning in the child’s voice,

’ll soon be here. I see whar er ole rabbit been er eatin’ on my turnip tops. Da

you, N

me pick you er chune on dis

nd half parted lips he dreamed his mother was well, and then that he had grown to be a man, a great man, rich and powerful. Now he was the Governor of the state, living in the Governor’s palace, and his moth

mock severity, “Now look at ’im er cryin’ ergin, e

in’ to the music. Nelse, you’re the

r Yankee gin’er to me in de wah! Dat wuz the fus’ Yankee I ebber seed hab s

ting with our men how did yo

njer talk. En den yere dey come! De Yankees fum one way en our boys de yudder. I make out lak I doan see ’em tall, des playin’ ter myself. Den I make dat banjer moan en cry en talk about de folks way down in Dixie. De boys creep up closer en closer twell d

you get this

s fairly pull de insides outen ’er, he ’low dat hit ’ed be er sin

rose

e you dat rabbit box sho, en erlong ’bout

old the gun?” the

e crack er de fence en whisper ter de t

ace was one

ed to a sensitive boy’s soul. To him the days were weeks, the weeks months, the months, long weary years. It seemed to him he had lived a life-time, died, and

ere on this seat—you m

t to see the flowers

is shinin’ awful on t

weeds and grass during the long hot summer and he was afraid his moth

esee the gathering black hurricane of trag

see the lawn. He said everything he could think of to please her. She would

when you were so sick I used to slip

amed you wer

e rich, and build a great house and you are going to live in

tty girl, and almost forget your

e anybody like I lo

neck, held her close for a moment

per he so

awn. Mama wants to see them. It was all I cou

week ter clean out dat lawn. Hits gone f

ork at those flowers. He had worked perhaps, a half hour. His face was red with heat and wet with

up and saw his mo

Charlie!”

de. She caught him in her arms and kisse

sweetest boy

l these words to the

all these weeds you would c

sun working so hard to please me. I’ve seen the most beautiful flower this morning that ever blossomed

im fondly again.