Crossword-Solution: MENCE 5 letters, 1 clue 🏆 scrabble score: 9

Most un 'em would 'mence' ter laf, en whareber Dave went he could see folks p'intin' at him, en year 'em sayin:-- "'W'at kine er collar dat nigger got roun' his neck?' er, ef dey knowed 'im, 'Is yer stole any mo' hams lately?' er 'W'at yer take fer yo' neckliss, Dave?' er some joke er 'nuther 'bout dat ham.

Den she 'mence' ter figger back, en sho' 'nuff, dey wuz two er th'ee times in de las' week w'en she'd be'n he'p'n de ladies wid dey dressin' en udder fixin's in de ebenin', en Jeff mought 'a' gone down ter de swamp widout her knowin' 'bout it at all.

But it is more common to hear the blanchisseuses singing merry, jaunty, sarcastic ditties,--Carnival compositions,--in which the African sense of rhythmic melody is more marked:--"Marie-Clémence maudi," "Loéma tombé," "Quand ou ni ti mari jojoll." --At mid-day the màchanne-mangé comes, with her girls,--carrying trays of fried fish, and _akras_, and cooked beans, and bottles of mabi.

During the scene which we have just described, Claire, Still in her fainting fit, was delivered to the tender care and attentions of Clémence and the sisters; one of the latter sustained her drooping head, while Lady d'Harville, leaning over the bed, wiped away with her handkerchief the cold sweat from the brow of the patient.

Profoundly affected, Saint Rémy contemplated this touching picture, when a sudden thought struck him, and he drew near Clémence, and said in a low tone: "And the mother of this unfortunate, madame?" The marchioness turned toward Saint Rémy, and answered, with sadness, "She has no longer a mother, my lord." "Dead!" "I only learned last night, on my return, the address of Madame de Fermont, and her alarming situation.