Mah Tea Cake gone. 'E had rabies from dat nasty ole dog on de river. Ah had tah shoot 'im. 'E couldn't keep no watah down an' de Docatah said 'e was fixin' tah die. Ah begged fah a cure an' 'e said 'e would try an' find one, but mah Tea Cake died anyhow. Ah got sent tah court fah shootin' 'im, even tho shootin' 'im wuz de hardest thang I've evah did in mah life. Dey knowed it was tah save mah own life so Ah got outta jail wit no trouble. Ah buried 'im in Palm Beach. Took me some seeds tah 'member 'im by. Ah'm home now, an' Ah feel 'im all de time.
Janie Mae Woods
Translation (in today's vernacular):
My Tea Cake is gone. He had rabies from that nasty old dog on the river. I had to shoot him. he couldn't keep any water down and the Doctor saud he was going to die. I begged him for a cure and he said he would try and get one but he died anyway. I got sent to court for shooting him, even though shooting him was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. They know it was to save my own life so I got out of jail with no trouble. I buried him in Palm Beach. I took some seeds to remember him by. I'm home now, and I feel him all the time.
Janie Mae Woods
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