NEGRO YOUTH SPEAKS
171
CARTER
Morning Jane.
Got any good coffee?
JANE
Ah don't never have no other kind.
CARTER
I know you don't. You make the best coffee in this county. I 'clare I can't get my wife
JANE
Sit down and Ah'll get you a cup.
[He sits at the left of the table and she goes into the kitchen.]
CARTER
I kin smell it all the way in here, Jane.
JANE
[Appearing with a cup of coffee and placing it on the table before him.]
Ef there's anything men-folks is pertic'ler about, it's coffee. Jim was moughty pertic'ler about his'n—if he was good for nuthin'.
CARTER
Now, Jane—lay off Jim. Jim wasn't the wust husban' in these parts.
JANE
Jim was big and strong enuf—and good natured, 'cept drinkin'—but Jim was nuthin' up here [taps her forehead].
CARTER
Oh, well, Jim's gone now. Ferget it, Jane.
JANE
If he'd had any brains he wouldn't a tuk that hund'ed dollars and drunk hisself ter death, would he?
