Their-Eyes-Were-Watching-God-rmrju9

58 42, Zora Neale HurstonMayor Starks deliberately changed his shoes before hereached into his pocket for the money. By that time Matt waswringing and twisting like a hen on a hot brick. But as soon as hishand closed on the money his face broke into a grin."Beatyuh tradin' dat time, Starks! Dat mule is liable tuh bedead befo' de week is out. You won't git no work outa him.""Didn't buy 'im fuh no work. I god, Ah bought dat varminttuh let 'im rest. You didn't have gumption enough tuh do it."A respectful silence fell on the place. Sam looked at Joe andsaid, "Dat's uh new idea 'bout varmints, Mayor Starks. But Ah laksit mah ownself. It's uh noble thing you done." Everybody agreedwith that.Janie stood still while they all made comments. When it wasall done she stood in front of Joe and said, "Jody, dat wuz uhmighty fine thing fuh you tuh do. 'Tain't everybody would havethought of it, 'cause it ain't no everyday thought. Freein' datmule makes uh mighty big man outa you. Something like GeorgeWashington and Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln, he had de wholeUnited States tuh rule so he freed de Negroes. You got uh townso you freed uh mule. You have tuh have power tuh free thingsand dat makes you lak uh king uh something."Hambo said, "Yo' wife is uh born orator, Starks. Us neverknowed dat befo'. She put jus' de right words tuh our thoughts."Joe bit down hard on his cigar and beamed all around, but henever said a word. The town talked it for three days and saidthat's just what they would have done if they had been rich menlike Joe Starks. Anyhow a free mule in town was something newto talk about. Starks piled fodder under the big tree near theporch and the mule was usually around the store like the othercitizens. Nearly everybody took the habit of fetching along ahandful of fodder to throw on the pile. He almost got fat andthey took a great pride in him. New lies sprung up about his free-