“Dey do tell me so. I’ll be thah. You kin ’pend on me to be out whenevah thah’s to be any good preachin’.” “Well, we kin have dat kin’ o’ preachin’ all de time ef we gits Broth’ ’Lias Smith.” “Yes, ’m.” “Dey ain’t no ’sputin’ he’ll be a movin’ powah at Bull-Skin.” “Yes, ’m.” “We sistahs’ll have to ban’ togethah an’ try to do whut is bes’ fu’ de chu’ch.” “Yes, ’m.” “Co’se, Sistah Sneedon, ef you’s pleased wif his sermon, I suppose you’ll be in favoh o’ callin’ Broth’ ’Lias Smith.” “Well, Sis’ Williams, I do’ know; you see Hezekier’s got his hea’t sot on Broth’ Abe Ma’tin fum Dokesville; he’s mighty sot on him, an’ when he’s sot he’s sot, an’ you know how it is wif us women when de men folks says dis er dat.” Sister Williams saw that she had overshot her mark. “Oh, hit’s all right, Sis’ Sneedon, hit’s all right. I jes’ spoke of it a-wunnerin’. What we women folks wants to do is to ban’ togethah to hol’ up de han’ of de pastah dat comes, whoms’ever he may be.” “Dat’s hit, dat’s hit,” assented her companion; “an’ you kin ’pend on me thah, fu’ I’s a powahful han’ to uphol’ de ministah whoms’ever he is.” “An’ you right too, fu’ dey’s de shepuds of de flock. Well, I mus’ be goin’—come ovah.” “I’s a-comin’—come ag’in yo’se’f, good-bye.” As soon as her visitor was gone, Sister Sneedon warmed over the greens and sat down to the enjoyment of them. She had just finished the last mouthful when her better half entered. He saw the empty plate and the green liquor. Evidently he was not pleased, for be it said that Brother Sneedon had himself a great tenderness for turnip greens. “Wha’d you git dem greens?” he asked. “Sistah Hannah Williams brung ’em ovah to me.” “Sistah Hannah—who?” ejaculated he. “Sis’ Williams, Sis’ Williams, you know Hannah Williams.” “What! dat wolf in sheep’s clothin’ dat’s a-gwine erroun’ a-seekin’ who she may devowah, an’ you hyeah a-projickin’ wif huh, eatin’ de greens she gives you! How you know whut’s in dem greens?” “Oh, g’long, ’Kiah, you so funny! Sis’ Williams ain’t gwine conju’ nobidy.” “You hyeah me, you hyeah me now. Keep on foolin’ wif dat ooman, she’ll have you crawlin’ on yo’ knees an’ ba’kin, lak a dog. She kin do it, she kin do it, fu’ she’s long-haided, I tell you.” “Well, ef she wants to hu’t me it’s done, fu’ I’s eat de greens now.” “Yes,” exclaimed Brother Sneedon, “you eat ’em up lak a hongry hog an’ never saved me a smudgeon.” “Oomph! I thought you’s so afeard o’ gittin’ conju’ed.” “Heish up! you’s allus tryin’ to raise some kin’ er contentions in de fambly. I nevah seed a ooman lak you.” And old Hezekiah strode out of the cabin in high dudgeon.