ross the veranda, entered the
hall. A great, old-fashioned, eight-day clock, like the pendulum that
hung in the farmer's kitchen so long, and got tired of ticking, I
imagine, stood in one corner. Just at the foot of this, Tidy saw a white
string protruding. She forgot for the moment what she was hunting after,
and stooped to pick up the string. She pulled at it, but it seemed to
catch in something and slipped through her fingers. She pulled again,
when lo and behold! out came the ball of yarn. Didn't her eyes sparkle?
Didn't her hands twitch with excitement, as she picked it up and carried
it to her mistress? So much for praying, said she to herself; I shall
know what to do the next time I get into trouble.

The next time the affair proved a more serious one. It was no less than
a search for Frances, who had again been guilty of some misdemeanor, and
had hidden herself away to escape punishment. On the second day of her
absence, Mrs. Lee called Tidy, and instructed her to search for the
girl, with the assurance that if she didn't find her, she herself should
get the whipping. It was no very pleasant prospect for Tidy, but she
set to her task earnestly. A half-day she spent going over the
premises,--the house, the out-buildings, the quarters, and the
pine-woods opposite; but the girl was not to be found.

Afraid to come and report her want of success, for a while she was quite
in despair; until again she bethought herself of prayer, and out she ran
to the gully. There she cried,--

"Lord, I's very anxious to find France. I'll thank you to show me whar
she is, and make missus merciful, so she sha'n't lash neither one of
us. Oh, if I could only find France. Blessed Lord, you can help me find
her"----

She was pleading very earnestly when a voice suddenly interrupted her,
and there, at her side, stood the girl.

"Who's dat ar you's conbersin wid 'bout me, little goose?" asked
Frances.

"Oh, France," cried Tidy in delight, "whar was you? Missus set me
lookin' for yer, and she said she'd whip all the skin off me, if I
didn't find yer. Whar's you been?"

"Laws, you nummy, ye don't specs now I's gwine to let all dis yer
plantation know dat secret. Ho, ho, ho! If I telled, I couldn't go dar
'gin no way. I's comed here for my dinner, caus specs dis chile can't
starve nohow. See, my mudder knows whar to put de bones for dis yer
chile," and pushing aside the bushes, she displayed an ample supply of
eatables, which she fell