"Yes, mam, Honey, things went on 'bout de same old way atter de war." Suddenly the old woman leaped to her feet and began shouting, "Bless God A'mighty! Praise de Lord! I knows de key to prayers. I'se done prayed jus' dis mornin' for de Lord to send me some 'baccy and coffee, and God is done sont Missy wid de money to answer my prayer. Praise de Lord! I'se glad I'se here, 'cause I coulda been gone and missed my 'baccy and coffee. Praise God! I'se gwine to smoke dat damned old pipe one more time." She seized the visitor by the shoulder as she shouted, "I sho laks your looks, but you may be de devil for all I knows, and you may be fixin' to put me in de chaingang wid all dis here writin', but" here she gave the startled visitor a shake that almost pulled her out of the chair, "Damn, if I don't lak you anyhow."
Her granddaughter, Callie, came out on the porch to see what was wrong with Lina. "Granny," she said, "I wouldn't talk lak dat. Missy will think you is dat way all de time."
"Git back to your ironin', gal," said Lina. "I knows I talks right smart ugly. Didn't my Miss Fannie, tell me one time she was gwine to put potash in my mouth to clean it out? Now, Nigger, I said git, 'fore I hits you." Her grandmother started toward her, and Callie lost no time going inside the house. Lina went back to her chair, and as she sat down started singing. With each note her tones grew louder. The words were something like this:
"God A'mighty, when my heart begins to burn And dat old wheel begins to turn, Den, Oh, Lord! Don't leave me here."
It seemed from the length of her chant that the wheels would turn indefinitely, but no sooner had she finished that song, than she started another.
"When my old mammy died a-shoutin', All de friend I had done died and gone. She died a-prayin', she died a-prayin'.
"In dat day dat you died, dat you died, Gwine to be a star risin' in dat mornin'. Didn't you hear 'em say, 'gwine to be a Star risin' in de mornin'.
"De Christians all will know in dat day, Dat my old mammy died a-shoutin', died a-shoutin', 'Cause dat star sho gwine to be dar.
"Oh, Lord! Don't leave me now, Oh, Lord! But guide me all 'long de way, 'long de way. 'Cause I'se in trouble, dat I am. Lord! Oh, Lord! don't leave me now."