Explanation

In this book a number of dialects are used, to wit: the Missouri negro dialect; the extremest form of the backwoods Southwestern dialect; the ordinary “Pike County” dialect; and four modified varieties of this last. The shadings have not been done in a haphazard fashion, or by guesswork; but painstakingly, and with the trustworthy guidance and support of personal familiarity with these several forms of speech.

This book uses several dialects: the Missouri Black dialect, the most extreme form of the backwoods Southwestern dialect, the ordinary “Pike County” dialect, and four variations of the Pike County dialect. The subtle differences were not written at random or based on guesswork. They were written with great care, guided and supported by reliable firsthand knowledge of these forms of speech.

I make this explanation for the reason that without it many readers would suppose that all these characters were trying to talk alike and not succeeding.

I'm giving this explanation for a reason. Without it, many readers would think all these characters were trying to talk alike and failing.

THE AUTHOR.

THE AUTHOR.