inger, "I doan want to
predjis you 'ginst yer daddy's jeg'ment, remember. But I can't see de
Lo'd's hand in dis racket. It doan seems nat'ral to me fo' de Lo'd to
let King George lose a good an' beau'ful country, an' den gib him sich
a jumpin'-off place as dis instead. An', chile, I doan believe dat de
Lo'd ever meant yo' to come here."

"Why, Mammy? Do I look any the worse for it?"

"Yo' couldn't look worse, Missie Jean, not if yo' tried ebber so hard."

"Come, come, Mammy, I am surprised at you," and the girl's eyes
sparkled with merriment. "What do you mean by saying I couldn't look
worse? I didn't know I was as hideous as all that."

"I didn't say yo' was hidjus, Missie Jean. I jes said yo' couldn't
look worse, an' ye can't. Yo' kin only look beau'ful. Why, chile, it
makes my ol' heart ache when I t'ink of sich a lubly creature as yo'
bein' buried alive 'way off in de woods."

"But I don't intend to be buried alive, Mammy. I hope to live a good
many years yet, and only buried when I am dead."

"Ah, chile, dere is more ways den one of bein' buried alive. I am
t'inkin' of de lonely life in de woods, wif no nice young men to look
at yer pretty face, lubly eyes, an' beau'ful hair. An' ye'll hab no
chance to wear fine clothes an' be admired."

"Mammy." There was a note in the girl's voice which caused the colored
woman to glance quickly up.

"What is it, chile?"

"I want to tell you something, Mammy. This is not the time to talk
about such things, nor to wail and lament about our lot. I have just
been down helping some of those women with their children. They are
almost heart-broken, and I did what I could to cheer them up. I have
made up my mind that no matter how badly I feel, no one is to know
anything about it. I am going to forget my own troubles in helping
others. And, Mammy, I want you to do the same. If you talk to others
as you have been talking to me, it will make them more depressed than
ever. They need smiles, words of cheer, and a helping hand. And you
can do that, remember. Never mind about me, or admiring young men.
There are more serious things to think about just now."

"Land sakes, chile!" the colored woman exclaimed, holding up both
hands. "I nebber heard yo' talk dat way befo'. But I guess yo're
right, an' I'se ready to do what I kin. But here comes de Cun'l! An',
oh, Missie Jean, de Major's wif him! Dere won't be 'nuf waffles to go
'round, an' de fire's 'most o