ping room, and those who happened
in that vicinity, between nine and ten at night, could hear the old man
offering up his thanksgiving to God for his protection during the day.
Uncle Tony, however, took great pride, when he thought that any of the
whites were within hearing, to dwell, in his prayer, on his own goodness
and the unfitness of others to die. Often was he heard to say, "O Lord,
thou knowest that the white folks are not Christians, but the black
people are God's own children." But if Tony thought that his old
mistress was within the sound of his voice, he launched out into deeper
water.

It was, therefore, on a sweet night, when the bright stars were looking
out with a joyous sheen, that Mark and two of the other boys passed the
greenhouse, and heard Uncle Tony in his devotions.

"Let's have a little fun," said the mischievous Marcus to his young
companions. "I will make Uncle Tony believe that I am old mistress, and
he'll give us an extra touch in his prayer." Mark immediately commenced
talking in a strain of voice resembling, as well as he could, Mrs.
Miller, and at once Tony was heard to say in a loud voice, "O Lord, thou
knowest that the white people are not fit to die; but, as for old Tony,
whenever the angel of the Lord comes, he's ready." At that moment, Mark
tapped lightly on the door. "Who's dar?" thundered old Tony. Mark made
no reply. The old man commenced and went through with the same remarks
addressed to the Lord, when Mark again knocked at the door. "Who
dat dar?" asked Uncle Tony, with a somewhat agitated countenance and
trembling voice. Still Mark would not reply. Again Tony took up the
thread of his discourse, and said, "O Lord, thou knowest as well as I
do that dese white folks are not prepared to die, but here is old Tony,
when de angel of de Lord comes, he's ready to go to heaven." Mark once
more knocked on the door. "Who dat dar?" thundered Tony at the top of
his voice.

"De angel of de Lord," replied Mark, in a somewhat suppressed and
sepulchral voice.

"What de angel of de Lord want here?" inquired Tony, as if much
frightened.

"He's come for poor old Tony, to take him out of the world," replied
Mark, in the same strange voice.

"Dat nigger ain't here; he die tree weeks ago," responded Tony, in a
still more agitated and frightened tone. Mark and his companions made
the welkin ring with their shouts at the old man's answer. Uncle Tony
hearing them, and finding that he had been i