Buffalo, and stayed upon the boat which was to bear them away until the
last bell rang out its warning. As he was leaving them Kate playfully
asked if they were taking anything of his with them. "Yes, everything,
everything," he answered.

Soon the steamer was moving proudly over the blue waters of Lake Erie. On
the upper deck our Kentucky friends were waving their handkerchiefs to
Frank, who stood upon the wharf as long as one bright-haired girl could be
distinguished by the light of the harvest moon, whose rays fell calmly
upon the placid waters.

In a few days Mr. Middleton again folded to his bosom his Sunshine, now
more precious than ever, because, as he said, "He'd lain awake a heap o'
nights, worryin' about her. The dogs had howled, the death watches had
ticked on the wall, and everything had carried on, t'other side up, ever
since she'd been gone. But look, Nancy," he continued to his wife, "she's
fattin' up right smart. Her journey has done her a heap of good, and I'm
glad I let her go."

The blacks now crowded round, delighted to welcome home their young
mistress, who had a kind word and some little gift for each. Particularly
were Aunt Katy and Aunt Judy pleased with the present of a tasty lace cap,
whose value was greatly increased from the fact that they were bought in
New York City. In these simple creatures' estimation, New York and
Frankfort were the largest places in the world. "I s'pose," said Aunt
Katy, "that this New York is mighty nigh three times as large as
Frankfort."

"Three times as large!" repeated Fanny. "Why, yes, Katy, forty times as
large."

From that time Aunt Katy looked upon Fanny as one not long for this world.
"'Tain't in natur," said she, "that she should stay long. Allus was peart
like and forrud, and now has been ridin' in the railroad all over the
airth, and hain't got lost nuther, besides a-sailin' along in the steam
engine over the salt water."

It was indeed marvelous how much Fanny had seen, and when she came to tell
the wonder-stricken negroes of the cataract of Niagara, their amazement
knew no bounds. Our friend Bobaway did not fail to ease himself by a round
of somersaults, his usual manner of expressing surprise or pleasure. At
the same time he whispered to Lucy that "He's mistaken if Miss Fanny wan't
tellin' 'em a stretcher this time," for which declaration Lucy rewarded
him with a smart box on the ear, saying, "Is you no better manners than to
'cuse white folks o