Cuff’s Cabin — 493
A gentleman riding through Virginia was overtaken by a violent thunder-storm. He took shelter in a negro’s cabin, and found the water streaming through many crevices in the roof. “Why don’t you mend your roof, Cuff?” he asked. “Oh, um rain so, maussa, ’can’t,” said the negro. “But why don’t you mend it when it doesn’t rain?” asked the gentleman. “Yah, maussa,” said the negro, with a grin, “den um dohn want mendin’.”