[Old Josh, is standing on the porch talking to Mr. Hightower, the owner of the Plantation where Josh lives, it is 1859; in Ozark, Alabama] Josh: Ole Ghost 'peared to me de other day, Mr. Hightowers. Mr. Hightower [ready to go into town, his buggy outside of his house]: Did you talk with him? Josh: Is I talk wid him? He do nothin' but talk, an' he tell me a heap er things 'bout hell an' de devil. He say he got diff'ent kind er people in de hell. He say he got dis and dat pasture for dhe people he like and don't like. Silas [Josh's oldest boy just came up to the porch was looking for his father]: Mr. Hightower, me dad sees old Henry, he dhe ghost, been dead a good while. Josh: I know whos he is, an' he say dere many folks 'round ere in hell. When he come, I was layin' down by the brook fishin an' de sun was shinin' and' I say: "Who you?" An'd I hear him say: "I is Henry." He was a heap gladder dan I to see him. I knows him cause he work over yonder for dhe Claytons. A friend he been to me, long time, dead now a fe years, and I wants him to stay dead, I ain' want no sperrit come hangin' 'round my fishin hole, broke me thinking. Mr. Hightower [not sure what to say, wanting to go]: I'm not sure, but I think Henry borrowed you ten dollars, and he come to collect, I remember that, because before he died, he asked me if I'd pay your bill, and I said no, perhaps that is now bothering you? Josh: An' when he left, he make me feel like dat dere ain't no good in me cause I tells him I pay him back in three years, he lefff me wid de wrong impression now he hav nothin' to do but bother me. |
