“Hyuh bow-legged Nat, Early in de mawnin’. Maybe-so, Nat, an’ bow-legged onions; Bow-legged cawn, an’ bow-legged punkins; Leave-it-lay, Scawl, an’ one-eye Companyun. Come out an’ peep at Nat bow-legged cucumbers; Bow-legged Maybe-so fresh from de country. Bow-legged red peppers picked off de pepper bush; Come buy yo’ vegetables, Early in de mawnin’.” After the bartering was finished, Nat would take up the reins again; and as soon as the mule heard him say, “Nat’s gone,” off he would start; the dogs following with wagging tails, apparently pleased with the thought of another pilgrimage. Susan crossed the room and picked up the hat from the floor where Nat had thrown it, and as she hung it on the rack, said to him: “You mus’ bin strollin’ out today. I see you got on yo’ shoes an’ a clean shirt, an’ done took off yo’ cottonade breeches; but you ain’ laid aside dis ole palmeeter hat. W’at Rose doin’, she can’t look after you no better, an’ make you dress yo’self ’cawdin’ to de season?” “Rose too busy, Sis’ Susan.” he answered. “W’at Rose got to do make her so busy?” she asked in surprise. “Nobody but Roxy an’ you in de house to bother ’bout, ain’t it?” “Rose ’tenshun so taken up wid dat sweet Lucy wine she git yonder to Mr. Camille sto’, Sis’ Susan, she don’ know de diffunce twix’ July an’ Janawerry.” “Ain’t Roxy ole enough to take charge an’ look aft’ yo’ clo’se an’ things for you?” asked Felo. “Roxy ole enough,” Nat answered assuringly, “but she too occapied lookin’ aft’ dem boys, an’ makin’ matrimony wid evvy one comin’ ’long de road.” “Unc’ Nat, ain’t you shame?” Scilla exclaimed. “Settin’ hyuh befo’ all dese people, scand’lizin’ yo’ own chile name like dat?” “Roxy ain’ shame, is she?” he replied bluntly. “She ain’ talkin’ ’bout it, but dat ain’ keepin’ people from knowin’ she totin’ somh’n under her a-pun right now, is it?” “Y’oughta chastise her if you feel sho you ain’ makin’ no mistake,” said Tom. “Mistake or no mistake,” commented Nookie, “y’oughta quit yo’ blabbin’ ’bout it.” “W’at y’all mean?” Nat asked with impatience. “Roxy ain’ commit no terr’ble crime, is she? She ain’t hurt nobody fatal. Roxy ain’ did nothin’ but follow de feelin’s of a natchal ooman, curuss to know somh’n convincin’ concernin’ de seecut workin’ of a ’ooman life. An’ all she done was de li’l thing some foolish ole misun’stannin’ people done classify in de bad lis’ und’ de headin’ o’ sinful ways.” “Den you means to uphol’ Roxy ’long de brazen road she takin’?” asked Scilla, staring at him in amazement. He deliberated a few seconds, then answered: “I means to keep my min’ from gittin’ upset ’bout somh’n I ain’ got no cuntrol over. Roxy jus’ like she come hyuh to dis life; wid evvything jus’ like ’twus inten’ to be. An’ Roxy ain’ no diffunt from you an’ no yuther wimmins. An’ nature ways is Gawd ways; an’ I ain’ got no right to meddle. An’ you can’t say I ain’ correck, if you wan’ leave yo’self tell de true.”