human
Hello, Jeremiah! said Gabriel by way of salutation.
gpt
What's up now?
human
Good-evenin', Mister Gabe, responded the Rev. Jeremiah.
gpt
Dey been havin' some plasterin' done in my chu'ch, suh, an' we 'lowd we'd hol' pra'r-meetin' here ter-night. An' I'll tell you why, suh: You know mighty well how we coloured folks does--we ain't got nothin' fer ter hide, an' we couldn't hide it ef we did had sump'n. Well, suh, dem mongst us what got any erligion is bleeze ter show it; when de sperret move um, dey bleeze ter let one an'er know it; an' in dat way, suh, dey do a heap er movin' 'bout. Dey rastles wid Satan, ez you may say, when dey gits in a weavin' way; an' I wuz fear'd, suh, dat dey mought shake de damp plasterin' down.
human
But you have no pulpit here,
gpt
So much de better, suh, replied the Rev. Jeremiah.
human
Ef you wuz ter come ter my chu'ch, you'd allers see me come down when I gits warmed up. Dey ain't no pulpit big nuff for me long about dat time. No, suh; I'm bleeze ter have elbow-room, an' I'm mighty glad dey ain't no pulpit in here. But whar you been, Mr. Gabe?
gpt
Just walking about in the woods and fields,
human
The Rev. Jeremiah dropped his head to one side, and smiled a knowing smile.
gpt
Oh, you needn't be shame un it, suh, the negro went on as the colour slowly mounted to Gabriel's face.
human
I uv said it befo' an' I'll say it ag'in, an' I don't keer who hears me--Miss Nan is boun' ter make de finest 'oman in de lan'. An' dat ain't all, suh: when I hear folks hintin' dat she's gwine ter make a match wid Mr. Frank Bethune, sez I, 'Des keep yo' eye on Mr. Gabe'; dat zackly what I sez.
gpt
Oh, the dickens and Tom Walker! exclaimed Gabriel impatiently;
human
Why, purty nigh eve'ybody, suh, remarked the Rev. Jeremiah, smacking his lips.
gpt
What white folks say in de parlour, you kin allers hear in de kitchen.