"Well, you try it, anyway. Some other prisoners has done it."

     "One er dem big cat-tail-lookin' mullen-stalks would grow in heah, Mars Tom, I reck'n, but she wouldn't be wuth half de trouble she'd coss."

     "Don't you believe it. We'll fetch you a little one and you plant it in the corner over there, and raise it. And don't call it mullen, call it Pitchiola--that's its right name when it's in a prison. And you want to water it with your tears."

     "Why, I got plenty spring water, Mars Tom."

     "You don't WANT spring water; you want to water it with your tears. It's the way they always do."

     "Why, Mars Tom, I lay I kin raise one er dem mullen-stalks twyste wid spring water whiles another man's a START'N one wid tears."

     "That ain't the idea. You GOT to do it with tears."

     "She'll die on my han's, Mars Tom, she sholy will; kase I doan' skasely ever cry."