ploits, and
the boisterous glee of her hearers, might have drawn the mistress with
whip in hand from the house, to inflict with double severity the evaded
punishment of the morning, but for the timely interference of Venus,
who, with her clean white apron and turbaned head, majestically emerged
from the kitchen, warning the young rebel and her associates to clear
the premises.

"Along wid yer, and keep yer tongue tween yer teeth, chile, or you'll
cotch it."

So Frances, drawing Tidy along with her, and followed by the whole
troop, turned into the lane that led down to the negro quarters, and as
they saunter along, I will tell you about her.

She was a fair specimen of slave children, full of the merry humor, the
love of fun and frolic peculiar to her race, with not a little admixture
of art and cunning. She was wild, rough, and boisterous, one of the sort
always getting into disgrace. She couldn't step without stumbling, nor
hold anything in her hand without spilling. She never had on a whole
frock, except when it was new, and her bare feet were seldom without
a bandage. She considered herself one of the most unfortunate of
creatures, because she met with so many accidents, and had, in
consequence, to suffer so much punishment; and it was of no use to try
to do differently, she declared, for she "couldn't help it, nohow."

I have seen just such children who were not slaves, haven't you? And I
think I understand the cause of their misfortunes. Shall I give you an
inkling of it? It is because they are so heedless and headlong in their
ways, racing and romping about with perfect recklessness. Don't you
think now that I am right, little reader, you who cried this very day,
because you were always getting into trouble, and getting scolded and
punished for it? You who are always tearing your frock and soiling your
nice white apron, spilling ink on your copy-book, and misplacing your
geography, forgetting your pencil and losing your sponge, and so getting
reproof upon reproof until you are heart-sick and discouraged? I know
what Jessie Smith's father told HER the other day. "You wouldn't meet
with so many mishaps, Jessie, if you didn't RUSH so." Jessie tried,
after that, to move round more gently and carefully, and I think she got
on better.

Frances was just one of these "rushing" children, but she was
good-natured, and Tidy was quite fascinated with her. It was so new to
have an associate of her own age too; and so it