n it into his infant
head to have the German measles just at the time that Isaac was slowly
recovering from the chicken-pox. Patsy Ann's powers had been taxed to
the utmost, and Mrs. Caroline Gibson had been called in from next door
to superintend the brewing of the saffron tea, and for the general care
of the fretful sufferer.

To Patsy Ann, then, in ominous tone, spoke this oracle. "Patsy Ann, how
yo' pappy doin' sence Matildy died?" "Matildy" was the deceased wife.

"Oh, he gittin' 'long all right. He was mighty broke up at de fus', but
he 'low now dat de house go on de same's ef mammy was a-livin'."

"Oom huh," disdainfully; "Oom huh. Yo' mammy bin daid fou' yeahs, ain't
she?"

"Yes'm; mighty nigh."

"Oom huh; fou' yeahs is a mighty long time fu' a colo'd man to wait; but
we'n he do wait dat long, hit's all de wuss we'n hit do come."

"Pap bin wo'kin right stiddy at de brick-ya'd," said Patsy, in loyal
defence against some vaguely implied accusation, "an' he done put some
money in de bank."

"Bad sign, bad sign," and Mrs. Gibson gave her head a fearsome shake.

But just then the shrill voice of little John calling for attention drew
her away and left Patsy Ann to herself and her meditations.

What could this mean?

When that lady had finished ministering to the sick child and returned,
Patsy Ann asked her, "Mis' Gibson, what you mean by sayin' 'bad sign,
bad sign?'"

Again the oracle shook her head sagely. Then she answered, "Chil', you
do' know de dev'ment dey is in dis worl'."

"But," retorted the child, "my pappy ain' up to no dev'ment, 'case he
got 'uligion an' bin baptised."

"Oom-m," groaned Sistah Gibson, "dat don' mek a bit o' diffunce. Who is
any mo' ma'yin' men den de preachahs demse'ves? W'y Brothah 'Lias Scott
done tempted matermony six times a'ready, an' 's lookin' roun' fu' de
sebent, an' he's a good man, too."

"Ma'yin'," said Patsy breathlessly.

"Yes, honey, ma'yin', an' I's afeared yo' pappy's got notions in his
haid, an' w'en a widower git gals in his haid dey ain' no use
a-pesterin' wid 'em, 'case dey boun' to have dey way."

"Ma'yin'," said Patsy to herself reflectively. "Ma'yin'." She knew what
it meant, but she had never dreamed of the possibility of such a thing
in connection with her father. "Ma'yin'," and yet the idea of it did not
seem so very unalluring.

She spoke her thoughts aloud.

"But ef pap 'u'd ma'y, Mis' Gibson, den I'd git a chanct to go to
school. He all