"Te! He! 'Deed ah don' know how ol' ah is; ah gone los' mah age
paper."

"Is he married?"

(Quickly and with very grave face) "Oh, yes indeed, mahster, Ah
his sure 'nough wife."

"Can he read?"

(Hesitatingly) "Er--a leetle, sir, not too much, sir." (Which
generally means he can spell out a few words of one syllable and
make some sort of mark representing his name.)

"What kind of work does he do?"

(Haughtily) "Him employed by de I. C. C."

"Yes, naturally. But what kind of work does he do. Is he a
laborer?"

(Quickly and very impressively) "Laborer! Oh, no, mah sweet
mahster, he jes' shovel away de dirt befo' de steam shovel."

"All right. That 'll do for 'Rasmus. Now your name?"

"Mah name Mistress Jane Iggleston."

"How long have you lived on the Canal Zone?"