'Member Youse a Nigger
Ole John was a slave, you know. And there was Ole Massa and Ole Missy and de two li' chidren- a girl and a boy.
Well, John was workin' in de field and he seen de chidlren out on de lake in a boat, just a hollerin". They had done lost they oars and was 'bout to turn over. So then he went and tole Ole Massa and Ole Missy.
Well, Ole Missy, she hollered and said: "It's so sad to lose these 'cause Ah ain't never goin' to have no more children." Ole Massa made her hush and they went down to de water and follered de shore on 'round till they found 'em. John pulled off his shoes and hopped in and swum out and got in de boat wid de children and brought 'em to shore.
Well, Massa and John take 'em to de house. So they was all so glad 'cause de children got saved. So Massa told 'im to make a good crop dat year and fill up de barn, and den when he lay by de crops nex' year, he was going to set him free.
So John raised so much crop dat year he filled de barn and had to put some of it in de house. So friday come, and Massa said, "Well, de day done come that I said I'd set you free. I hate to do it, but I don't like to make myself out a lie. I hate to git rid of a good nigger like you."
So he went in de house and give John one of his old suits of clothes to put on. So John put it on and come in to shake hands and tell 'em goodbye. De children they cry, and Ole Missy she cry. Didn't want to see John go. So John took his bundle and put it on his stick and hung it crost his shoulder.
Well, Ole John started on down de road. Well, Ole Massa said, "John, de children love yuh."
"Yassuh."
"John, I love yuh."
"Yassah."
"And Missy like yuh!"
"Yassuh."
"But 'member, John, youse a nigger."
"Yassuh."
Fur as John could hear 'im down de road he wuz hollerin', "John, Oh John! De children loves you. And I love you. De Missy like you."
John would hollor back, "Yassuh."
"But 'member youse a nigger,tho!"
Ole Massa kept callin 'im and his voice was pitiful. But John kept right on steppin' to Canada. He answered Ole Massa every time he called 'im, but he consumed on wid his bag.
from Mules and Men. Copyright ©1935, 1963 Zora Neale Hurston. Used with questionable permission.