POOR ANN

"MISS Diddie!" called Dilsey, running into the nursery one morning in
a great state of excitement; then, seeing that Diddie was not there,
she stopped short, and demanded, "Whar Miss Diddie?"

"She's sayin' her lessons," answered Dumps. "What do you want with
her?"

"De specerlaters is come," said Dilsey; "dey's right down yon'er on de
crick banks back er de quarters."

In an instant Dumps and Tot had abandoned their dolls, and Chris and
Riar had thrown aside their quilt-pieces (for Aunt Milly was teaching
them to sew), and they were all just leaving the room when Mammy
entered.

"Whar yer gwine?" asked Mammy.

"Oh, Mammy, de specerlaters is come," said Dumps, "an' we're goin'
down to the creek to see 'um."

"No yer ain't, nuther," said Mammy. "Yer ain't er gwine er nyear dem
specerlaters, er cotchin' uv measles an' hookin'-coffs an' sich, fum
dem niggers. Yer ain't gwine er nyear 'um; an' yer jes ez well fur ter
tuck off dem bunnits an' ter set yerse'fs right back on de flo' an' go
ter playin'. An' efn you little niggers don't tuck up dem quilt-pieces
an' go ter patchin' uv 'em, I lay I'll hu't yer, mun! Who dat tell
deze chil'en 'bout de specerlaters?"