A Daughter of Maryland — page 161: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

= ah es y | oe nal van Pies , “4 Lor, p oft ee ie = +> _4 ba “a3 <Aiingl 2 r a pee fs a a oF a Ew” . % ' * 140 A DAUGHTER OF MARYLAND. far better spirits than she had expected. S’posen was. acgompanied by another negro, who when they had got fairly started on their homeward journey, asked of his. companion in a husky whisper plainly heard by Aurian: ‘‘Hab yo’ broke de news, S’posen?’’ : ‘‘Coorse I hab, yo’ great, greaser nigger, yo’. Wharfo’ yo’ t’ink I bo’n? Massa tol’ me to break ’em mighty gentle laik, an’ see how ca’m she am.’’ Then, turning to his passenger, he continued aloud: ‘*Wese feared young Massa Berners ’speared.’’ ‘‘Do you mean that Esten Berners has left Sylvania ?’’ ‘*Dat’s jess de words I use in ’spressin’ yit. He speared tween two lights. ’’ ‘‘What made him leave?’’ asked Auriun in genuine surprise. ‘‘Dunno’. S’pec’s yo’ hear massa don’ broke his frunt toof out?’’ ‘*‘No. How did that occur?’’ ‘*When de hurry-scurrum knoc’ de shingle off’n de house. ”’ . ‘‘The hurricane! Has there been a storm then, which - caused father to send for me??’’ ‘Golly ! dem air jess de words I ’spressed. ’’ ‘*Was much damage done?’’ ‘‘Oceans on yit, missus. Knocked ebery t’ing askew at Sylvanny. Dat’s de terruble truf.’’ ‘‘In mercy’s name, S’posen Jones, what has happened? Why can’t you tell me?’’ ‘‘Massa go to tell me to break de news mighty gently, an’ dat’s jess de way I’se ’spressin’ yit. See how ca’m yo’ 1p: : Aurian, thoroughly disgusted and angered by this unwar- rantable method, seized the whip and flourished it over the darky’s head, crying sharply: ‘*Tell me what has taken place at Sylvania be——’’ ‘Golly, missus! don’ hit po’ me. I’se got to yit. cComicboo cS n reo)