knock at de fust
door you comes to. I'll tek yo' hoss, suh."

The stranger crossed the low, clapboard-covered porch and entered a
wide, dusky hall running through the entire length of the house. The
hum of a spinning-wheel guided him to a side door, at which he knocked.
In answer to a loud "Come in," he stepped into a large room made
cheerful by a gay rag carpet on the floor. A comely, middle-aged woman
sat at a side window, at work with her needle on some coarse homespun
material. Near her a bright-faced, rosy-cheeked girl, clad in short,
linsey dress and homespun apron, had charge of the spinning-wheel in
the center of the room. In one corner a negro girl was carding wool;
and on the wide rock hearth two little boys were parching corn in a
skillet.

"Glad to see you, suh," exclaimed Mrs. Rogers heartily, hastening
toward the stranger with outstretched hand. "Susan," she said to the
spinner, who came forward with a modest courtesy and a shy "Good
evenin'," "set a cheer an' tek the gentleman's hat. Rache"--to the
negro--"put by yer cardin' an' tek thet spinnin'-wheel out to the
loom-room. Tommy an' Buddy, stop litt'rin' up the h'arth, an' run wash
yer faces. Heah, tek this skillet with you, an' then see ef you kin
find yer pap. He's down whar they're geth'rin' cawn, I reckon."

Seizing a split broom as she spoke, she brushed the hearth, then gave a
tap with her foot to the smouldering logs, which broke into a blaze and
sent a shower of sparks up the wide chimney.

"The days is gittin' cooler, 'spesh'ly ez night comes on. Draw up to
the fire, suh--an', heah, tek this cheer; it's comf'tabler then
that'n'," she said hospitably, ejecting a big tortoise-shell cat from
the depths of a cushioned rocker which she pulled forward.

"My name is Dudley, madam; Abner Dudley," said the guest as he
exchanged the straight, split-bottom chair for the rocker. "I learned
from Squire Osborne, of Bourbonton, that a teacher was wanted in this
neighborhood. I had intended going to Major Gilcrest's to-night, but
made the wrong turning, and then met your old servant, who directed me
here."

"You're welcome, I'm shore, 'spesh'ly ef you're a schoolmastah. We'd
begun to think we warn't to hev no school a'tall this wintah. Folks
'roun' heah air beginnin' to tek big stock in schoolin'," she went on
as she resumed her seat and began to sew.

"So Squire Osborne told me," answered Dudley. "I'm glad the people are
interested in educational matt