Cane

51

A

hom the whole

her. But worki

ar away from h

w it. Though

d tried to. So

ong as he was

e found it diffic

t. But the fact

town more firml

ulled against, The white of St

was vaguely u

est of the hill,

tchen. As she s

of the f

as in her. Indol

or Tom as the

e canebrake, a

r so later, was

which she fel

f. Separately, There was no unus

ason, they jumb

at the rising

the stir that wa

52

BURNIN

s trembled. The

gitant and rest

hounds, lying

nd back yards, Put their noses i

ntively to yelp

d cackled. Int

yside dogs bark

eralding a wei

ing. The women

cotton-wads to

wn into factor

he step before

g towards a th

on would

er moon.

ning moon

that fact

ep dusk of a c

forest a mello

into the low-h

the air was hea

53

A

A large pile of

shadows upon

to a pole, tru

ivot of the gri

p, a Negro alte

e, and fed can

t boy waddled

ween the grinder

me from the cop

ne came from th

rest and the hi

neath its fragra

le seated aroun

at the white pu

d for them to, i

e cane. One tas

factory town on

n by the glowin

ging he

rgia stirred

g ladle, and eve

Georgia tende

t the white fol

ton picking, an

the men who sa

54

BURNIN

n to him. Tom

aughed with the

ouisa. Till som

uisa and Bob S

she must have g

om's neck hott

rom the stove.

men and said,

laughed. Tom

im up and kno

l of Manning's

m. Tom whipped

cut them to shr

e woods. Tom h

Old David Geo

o factory town.

rking and the r

m the fight, Away from the sto

ered when he s

the cloud-ban

or the fears o

to fasten on Lou

e turned into th

g before her

55

A

mbling, touche

ped, spotted, f

omething to her

now what he had

uldnt say it. H

alls, grinned, an

f

want m

us wants,

here

but that aint a

sam

to say som

o. But words is

how y fumbles

wont come. I d

eels fo yo done

eel Louisa, ho

oughtnt cause y

as had other ga

Lil gal, Ise wa

youall sat rig

ll an sang some

e m heart. Ise c

day after day, a

56

BURNIN

hen yo is ther

! Come near be

did. Yassur! A

st me, I'll have

buy yo what y

stockings an p

believe what s

how y gets th

ways did do fo

help alikin yo, Louisa. Bob S

olks is awhisper

w what you

Ise already cu

ll em so. Nigge

then besides, White folks ain

etter not be.

I wouldnt stand

uld you

s like I cu

, T

d an there ain

alk f now. Sing, h

A

stenin t y I'll

and in his. Ag

own, hers felt

lipped down to

moon sank upwa

e cloud-bank

ed lamp and hun

bulky shadow

oad, opposite T

fted the well-li

n drawing up th

e sang. Figures s

lamp and windo

anties. Shadow'

r on the gray du

the windows and

. Louisa and

t, si

er moon.

ning moon

that fact

ered from his v

58

BURNIN

r trees and mag

in paled, and t

rple. As if to b

nd became cons

d the house wit

n the days of s

kery. He saw L

went in as a m

ct, honest, bo

he had to go t

pulsive to him.

l no, his family

cally. Damned i

o duck around

they knew? H

uldnt mention

n this connecti

d at doing so.

ght, but how abo

see them incre

w. The thought

th their eyes s

mbarrassed. He

gs to them. Exp

tand, and more

A

erner getting on

one. No sir. H

night, and lov

er way. Nigge

ned if he kne

r long enough

about niggers

g to them at c

Looking at the

ng to them didn

t was gossip, un

ing, and licker, And craps — b

more. How mu

fraid of, mor

being afraid o

ell had told h

ter she reache

ever been with

try. Some positi

one, of the old

nigger over a

days. . . Ha!

nd. Not so much, Though. Enoug

60

BURNIN

efield by way o

er. She was wor

y nigger? Why

se she was nigge

The scent of b

saw the rich glo

ces of the men c

skirt the cleari

entioned. He s

gainst a tree,

Yassur, he

en he get

been on th ga

ttin

he's agwine t

He aint foun

— B

no t

int no quitter

f th old uns

ht. He'll

hot f niggers r

er. Y dont kno

ut

ars burned as