monstrous serious, sah. We feels bad 'bout
Marsa Lincum, what dem 'Sesh kill. He war our bes' frien', He make us
free, and we feel dat dar am some wrong somewhar, dat dem 'Sesh starve
de Union sogers; dey shoots dem when dey wants to, and dey kills our
President, and none of dem get hunged for dis. If dis is de way dat
matters is a-gwine, what am goin' to 'come of de darkies? Whar am dey
gwine? What am gwine to 'come ob Marfa and Ham? Dat's what am worryin'
us.'

"'Well, Ham, you need not worry about that. You will be taken care of. I
will see to that.'

"Just then Aunt Martha came into the house, and hearing the
conversation, the good old woman became greatly excited. When she heard
what the General said to Ham she caught hold of the former, and in her
way gave expression to her feelings. She said:

"'Marsa Gen'l, I's mighty feered somethin' bad gwine to happen to us
poor colored folks. Dar frien's seem de only ones what get kill, and
when dey do de folks do nuffln wid de 'Sesh. Dey send dem home agin, so
dat dey do jes' what dey please. You mind what Aunt Marfa say, dem 'Sesh
do wid de darkies what dey wan' to in less den no time. Dey is free; I
know dat; but who dey work for? Mus' dey be under de same ones what sell
dem before de 'bellion? If dey is, den de 'Sesh make dem young darkies
what's comin' on b'lieve anything dey wants to; and afore dey is growd
up dey be helpin' de 'Sesh, and den what we do? I tells you dis bin on
my min' and in Ham's head, too. We trus' in de good Laud; and you, Marsa
Gen'l, you kin fix dis. I's sure you kin. De good Laud spare you for
dis; I know he do. I's sure dar was six mans in dis family, all kill, my
good old missus die, den my good young missus, she die; dey was all kill
and die 'ceptin' you, and I knows dat you are save to take keer of us
darkies, or you bin kill long afore dis!'

"'Well, aunty, I will do all I can for everybody. You and Ham shall be
cared for; have no fears about that.'

"'Dat be good. I always know you look after us, Marsa Gen'l, case we
sabe you life; but, den, my chillens, Laud knows whar dey is. Ham and
me bin talkin' 'bout dat. We wants dem to get long, but we not know dem,
nor whar dey am. Maybe we see dem some day.'

"'All right, aunty, we will talk about this hereafter.'

"Poor old darkies! They both went back to the kitchen better satisfied
and much happier."

Dr. Adams said: "Uncle Daniel, Aunt Martha did not miss it very far, did
she?'

"