e sharks. No wonder it thundered and lightened, and de
waves splashed in, and de captain prayed. Lord above! de captain prayed,
when he was stealin and murderin of his fellow-creeturs. We didn't go down,
we got safe across. Some went here, some went thar, and I come long wid de
rest to Virginny. Ever sence, workin and slavin; ever sence, sweatin and
drivin; workin all day, workin all night."

"You never worked a bit in the night time, Aunt Peggy," said Phillis; "and
you know it."

"Worked all time," said Aunt Peggy, "niggers aint made for nothin else.
Now, kase Death's somewhar, wantin somefin, thinks it must be me."

"I didn't say 'twas you, Aunt Peggy," said Phillis.

"Wants somefin," said Aunt Peggy. "Tell you what, Phillis," and she
laughed, "wants Miss Alice."

"What's come over you?" said Phillis, looking at her, terrified. "There's
nothing the matter with Miss Alice but a headache."

"Headache!" said Aunt Peggy, "that's all?" and she laughed again. "Think I
didn't see her yesterday? Whars the red cheeks?--white about her lips,
black about her eyes; jist like Mistis when she was gwine fast, and de
young baby on her arm. Death wants Miss Alice--aint arter me."

"Aint you ashamed to talk so about Miss Alice, when she's always coming to
you, bringing you something, and trying to do something for you?" said
Phillis. "You might as well sit here and talk bad of one of the angels
above."

"Aint talking bad of her," said Aunt Peggy; "aint wishin her no harm. If
there is any angels she's as good as any of 'em; but it's her Death's
arter, not me; look here at my arms--stronger than yourn--" and she held
out her sinewy, tough arm, grasping her cane, to go in the house.

Phillis saw she was not wanted there, and looking in to be assured that
Nancy (Aunt Peggy's grand-daughter, who lived with her to take care of
her,) was there, went home and thought to go to bed. But she found no
disposition to sleep within her. Accustomed, as she was, to Aunt Peggy's
fault finding, and her strange way of talking, she was particularly
impressed with it to-night. 'Twas so strange, Phillis thought, that she
should have talked about being stolen away from Guinea, and things that
happened almost a hundred years ago. Then her saying, so often that, "Death
was about." Phillis was no more nervous than her iron tea-kettle, but now
she could not feel right. She sat down by the door, and tried to compose
herself. Every one on the plantation wa