Zora Neale Hurston
(1891- 1960)
“Nope, Ah come to collect some old stories and tales and Ah know y'all know a plenty of 'em and that's why Ah headed straight for home."
"What you mean, Zora, them big old lies we tell when we're jus' sittin' around here on the store porch doin' nothin'?" asked B. Moseley.
"Yeah, those same ones about Ole Massa, and colored folks in heaven, and--oh, y'all know the kind I mean."
"Aw shucks," exclaimed George Thomas doubtfully. "Zora, don't you come here and tell de biggest lie first thing. Who you reckon want to read all them old-time tales about Brer Rabbit and Brer Bear?"
"Plenty of people, George. They are a lot more valuable than you might think. We want to set them down before it's too late."
"Too late for what?"
"Before everybody forgets all of 'em."
"No danger of that. That's all some people is good for-set 'round and lie and murder groceries."