y, and sent her home quite happy.
What do you think of that story? Don't the little mulatto girl talk
queerly? All the black people talk so.

"The other night I felt quite ill, and the dear friend with whom I am
staying sent Hannah, a black girl, up to me with a tub of warm water to
bathe my feet. She dropped a little bobbing courtesy, and said: 'Please
missis, you ain't berry well, I'se want to wash you foot.'

"'Oh dear, no, Hannah, I cannot let you bathe my feet; I always do that
for myself.'

"'Oh _do_, please missis; I ain't got noting to do. I _like_ to wash
um.'

"'But, Hannah, I shall feel very funny to have you poking at my toes.'

"'Now missis, _do_,' said Hannah, in a coaxing tone; 'I'll do um fust
rate.'

"Her eyes looked so big, and she made such a queer face at me, that I
turned round to laugh; when I looked back she was standing at the long
glass making courtesies to herself; then she turned round, and twisted
her head till I thought she would crack it off--and stared at her back
and made some more courtesies--and I had to laugh out loud, and she
looked quite ashamed.

"Then I said: 'Hannah, do you really want to bathe my feet?'

"''Strue as you live, missis.'

"'Would you like me to read to you?'

"'Oh do, missis! tank you.'

"'Well, then, you may, and I will read Little Susy's Six Birthdays to
you.'

"That seemed to be a most delightful idea--and she pulled off my boots
and stockings in a great hurry, and lifted my feet into the water, and
passed her hands so gently over my ankles that it really seemed to do me
good; but when she poked between my toes, she tickled me so dreadfully
that I squealed, and laughed, and came very near upsetting the tub of
water.

"But she liked the book very much, and her great black eyes were full of
love and gratitude as she thanked me; and I thanked her, and gave her a
penny; but she liked my _thanking her_ better than the penny.

"I have bought you a pretty little green parasol; and I love you, oh! so
dearly! you precious little roly-poly tweedle-de diamond-darling! What
do you think of that for a love name? you sweet little humpy-dumpy
tweedle-dum rosebud robin! there's another; from your loving

"MOTHER."

How Bella laughed at the love-names, and how happy they made her, is
more than I can describe; but she cuddled up to Edith, and whispered:

"Dear _little_ mamma," and that was all she said.