rlings! Didn't they
enjoy being in the country, neither, though it was the depth of winter
time? Law, Ish--sir, I mean--it's a mortal sin ag'in natur' to keep
chil'en in town if it can be helped! But their ma, poor thing, couldn't
help it, I know. Law, Ish--sir, I mean--if you had seen her that same
Christmas Day, as she ran in with her chil'en to her aunt as is hostess
at the Farmer's. If ever you see a poor little white bantam trying to
cover her chicks when the hawk was hovering nigh by, you may have some
idea of the way she looked when she was trying to hide her chil'un and
didn't know where; 'cause she daren't keep 'em at home and daren't hide
'em at her aunt's, for her home would be the first place inwaded and her
aunt's the second. They was all so flustered, they took no more notice
o' me standin' in the parlor 'n if I had been a pillar-post,'till
feeling of pityful towards the poor things, I made so bold to go forward
and offer to take 'em home 'long o' me, and which was accepted with
thanks and tears as soon as the landlady recommended me as an old
acquaintance and well-beknown to herself. So it was settled. That night
when you come to spend the evening with us, Ish--sir, I mean--I really
did feel guilty in having of a secret as I wouldn't tell you; but you
see, sir, I was bound up to secrecy, and besides I thought as you was
stopping in Washington City, if you knowed anythink about it you might
be speened afore the court and be obliged to tell all, you know."

"You did quite right, Uncle Reuben," said Ishmael affectionately.

"You call me Uncle Reuben, sir?"

"Why not, Uncle Reuben? and why do you call me sir?"

"Well--sir, because you are a gentleman now--not but what you allers was
a gentleman by natur'; but now you are one by profession. They say you
have come to be a lawyer in the court, sir, and can stand up and plead
before the judges theirselves."

"I have been admitted to the bar, Uncle Reuben."

"Yes, that's what they call it; see there now, you know, I'm only a poor
ignorant man, and you have no call to own the like o' me for uncle,
'cause, come to the rights of it, I aint your uncle at all, sir, though
your friend and well-wisher allers; and to claim the likes o' me as an
uncle might do you a mischief with them as thinks riches and family and
outside show and book-larning is everythink. So Ish--sir, I mean, I
won't take no offense, nor likewise feel hurted, if you leaves oft
calling of me uncl