“Plenty o’ Niggers was out, too, doin’ devlishment.  Three of ’em got ‘rested an’ dey had de trial Monday.  In de meantime, all de Yankee-lovin’ Niggers had a big meetin’ an’ de loudes’ mouf dere was dat big buck Nigger Bill.  He all time call hisse’f Dennis when he don’ call hisse’f Clopton.  Here dey goes, all het up frum makin’ speeches an’ a-drinkin’, an’ packs de courtroom full.  When Mr. Patton got up on de stan’ an’ say, he sho’ done hear Bill Dennis say somp’in’, Bill he holler out, ‘Dat’s a lie!’ Only he say a bad word dat I wouldn’ say.  Den Mr. Patton raise up his walkin’ stick an’ start toward Bill.  ’Bout den Bill jerk out his pistol an’ shoot at Mr. Patton.  He miss Mr. Patton an’ hit Judge Bramlette.  Yes’m, kilt him corpse-dead right dere on his high pulpit chair!

“‘Bout dat time ever’thing bus’ loose.  Near ’bout all de white gent’mun in de court room take a shot at Bill.  He falls, but he aint dead yet.  Dey put him in de sheriff’s office an’ lef two white men wid him.  But things was a-happenin’ so fas’ by dat time dey couldn’ stan’ it.  Dey th’owed Bill out of dat two-story window an’ run down to git in de fight.  De white folks was plumb wo’ out by dat time wid all de devilishment o’ de Yankees an’ de fool Niggers.  Even a mean Nigger got sense ‘nough to know when he done gone too far.  Dey all git away as fas’ as dey could an’ scatter over town, den after dark dey come a-creepin’ back to de quarters.  Dat was sho’ de wronges’ thing to do.  Dat night, all de sho’ ‘nough white men came a-marchin’ out Seventh Street on dey way to de quarters.

“I had did up Miss Lizzie’s parlor curtains dat very day an’ de boy was puttin’ up de mouldin’ frame ‘roun’ ’em when us hear dat trompin’ soun’.  It didn’ soun’ lak no ever’day marchin’.  It soun’ lak Judgement Day.  De boy fell off de ladder an’ run an’ hid b’hind de flour barrel in de pantry.  Miss Lizzie was peepin’ out ‘twixt dem white lace curtains an’ I was right b’hin’ ’er.  I ‘spec’ Seventh Street was lined wid wimmin-folks doin’ jus’ what us doin’, ‘cause dey husban’s, sons, an’ sweethearts was out dere in dat march-line.

“Well, dat night ended all de troubles.  De line done stop at Mr. Theodore Sturges’ house’ fore it git out far as us.  ’Course, ever’body know Mr. Theodore an’ Miss Allie was sho’ ’nough folks, but dey was bound to have dat Yankee brother o’ his’n.

“De yard was plumb full o’ white men ready to burn de house right down on Miss Allie’s head lessen dey’d give up dat Yankee Mayor.  Mr. Theodore come to de door an’ say, ‘Gent’mun, he aint here.’  Aint nobody believe dat.  Dey was a-fixin’ to bus’ on in anyhow, when Miss Allie come out.  She come right down dem steps ‘mongst all dem mad folks an’ say, calm an’ lady-lak, ’Gent’mun, my brother-in-law is here, cert’ny.  Where would he go for safety ’cepn to his brother’s house?  But I give you my word dat he gwine stay right here ‘till you put him on de firs’ train headin’ nawth.  Den no mo’ blood will be spilled.’  An’ dat’s what dey done.