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(Conecuh County, AL)
They met at the busy Cross Roads, Old Aunt Millie and the man of the law, each doing their duty yet evidently at cross purposes. Aunt Millie bent and determined to "go to Ole Miss", and the officer endeavoring to protect her from the dangers of the highway. Aunt Millie voices a strong protest.
"Yes, such, I'se gwine ter Ole Miss. Yes suh, I'se gwine ter walk, caze I caint ride. Ole Miss wants me. Dat's enuff. I'se gwine".
"What's dat you say? Huh, lots you knows 'bout my Ole Miss. Dis ole niggah trabble the land ober jes, to heah her say 'Mammy, you ole black fool, you's de grandes' of 'em all...' You am a hossifer alright, but taint no crime fer to go to Ole Miss, so jes' pleas Marsa Capt'n stan' outen my path an' let dis ole niggah go on her way, caze she sho is gwine.
"Suh? Naw suh, I haint got no folks ceptin' Ole Miss. We all dat's lef. She all I needs. She enuff. All 'er res' is in the grabeya'd. Jes' Ole Miss an' ole Millie lef' of 'em all.
"Naw, such, Marsa Capt'n, I ain't gwine no way ceptin down dis heah road. Dat road lead to Ole Miss home fo' miles back. I'se gwine ter go down fo' miles back an' no mistake.
"Why? Marsa Capt'n aint I done tole you why? Caze Ole Miss needs me. Aint dat why enuff?
"Tell you 'bout hit? Taint nothin' ter tell ceptin Ole Miss she wah Ole Marsa John's young'st, de baby ob de fam'ly. She ma'hied an out sidah, a mighty fin' lookin' man but he so no count, he aint woth he salt.
"While Ole Marsa John libed, he kep' a curb bit on him, an' he keep in de path. Ole Marsa John he daid now, an' de law cotch de tother 'un. He's whar he caint do Ole Miss no mo ha'm, but de law did'n cotch him soon enuff. He done a lot ob debilment fo dey cotch him. Ole Miss, she in a turrible fix. I jes' heard it day fo' yistiddy, arter sun down. I got a mite sabed outen my cotton an' I's gwine ter her. Marsa Cap'n yo means well, but yo is jes' holdin' me heah er keepin me back, an' I aint got no time ter gib yo.
"No, suh, Marsa Cap'n. My feets will ca'hy me whar my min's sot on gittin. Naw, suh, no low-lived nigger long er a road gwine ter tak dat money, caze de'll not be able ter fin' hit.
"What you mean, Marsa Cap'n, dey kill me caze dey caint fin' hit Well...Dat's bad. But, Marsa Cap'n, caint yo gin me a piece o' paper to make 'em skeered o' de law? Caze I got ter go ter Ole Miss.
"What yo doin' a stoppin of dat cyar? I done tole you I aint gwine no whar but jes right down dis heah road what takes me to Ole Miss.
"What you mean, Marsa Cap'n? Dis man gwine right by Ole Miss house? But I caint a-fohd to pay fer ridin'. Naw, suh, thank yo suh, I'se gwine ter walk.
"He doan want no pay? Marsa Cap'n, effen yo say he alright--- Yes suh, thank yo suh. I'se sho is ti'ahed. I come 20 miles sence yistiddy at sun up. My feet is gittin' ole, but den dey'd held up t'well I got ter Ole Miss. Thank yo Cap'n. Yo sho aint no outsidah.
Dat's surt'n. ...Ole Miss, Millie's a-comin. Jes' hole up yo haid, honey, tell I gets dar.
"Dis am a mighty fin' cyar, aint hit? Spects it cost a heap? More'n a thousand dollahs? And all Ole Miss needs is $100. Mor'n a thousand---heah Marsa, heah we is, heah's Ole Miss Home, I caint ax you in dis' time, but when yo comes agin. Thank yo Marsa fo de ride, an' thank Gawd I don' got ter Ole Miss.""
