The Story of an African Farm

ver been up in the loft. Fatter women than I go up ladders; I will go up today and see what i

fall," said the Hottentot maid, leering a

istress, trying to conceal a pleased

the ladder against it, the Boer-woman with some danger and difficulty climbed into the loft. Then the Hottentot ma

hes that Waldo was supposed to have liked so; then she sat down near the trap-door beside a barrel of salt

she was married to her husband Bonaparte it would not matter whether a sheep spoiled or no-when o

miling mawkishly. Had Tant Sannie spoken at that moment the life of Bonaparte Blenkins would have run a wholl

ng another close up in front of it, in which he seated himself. "There, put your feet upon t

range customs of other lands, that an old gentleman may bring his chair up to yours, and sit with his knees

"But that aged relative of thine is always casting he

ood that it is the eye, the tone, the action, and not at all the ra

en my arms to receive thee-where art thou, where? Thou art not there!" said Bonaparte, su

nderstand," said Trana

ince first thy amethystine countenance was impressed here-what have I not suffered, what have I not felt? Oh, the p

ve been! The old man has a pain in his stomach, and n

past him, went to the bedroom, quickly retur

id; my mother always drinks them,

nt Sannie crouched, with the shoulder of mutton in her hand. Exactly beneath he

est the lonesome night!" cried Bonaparte, seizing the hand that held the vonlicsense.

ded, Bonaparte looked up through the drops that hung from his eyelids, and saw the red face that looked down at him. With one wild

go after him!" cried the Boer-woman, as Bo

his dog which had been pierced by a thorn. The bruises on his own back had had five days to hea

its youth the bark will quickly cover the gash; but when the tree is very old, peeling the bark

, with tears in his eyes. Then there was a tap at the door. In an instant Do

t on his work; and slowly an

nkins in a mild voice, not venturing more than hi

tle teeth, and tried to rise, b

do, my boy," said Bo

on with his work without looking round. There are some peo

me

o the room, and left the door open behind him

ng to eat all day-I'm

ter a moment, bendin

, Waldo? I've been badly treated; you'll know yourself what it is some day when you can't carry on a little conversation

d up nor answered, and Bo

y. "There's no knowing what she would do to me. I've such trust in you, Waldo; I'v

e boy, "I shal

curtain of the window was closely pulled down, and seated himself at the table. He was soon munching the cold meat and bread. Waldo kn

derly touching the little fringe at the back of his head, "is all caked over like a little plank; you wouldn't think it was hair at all," said Bonaparte, plaintively. "I had to creep all along the stone walls for fear sh

the last morsel, when Waldo

re not going to call her," sai

n the wagon," said the

is bed; there's plenty of ro

do step

y. "I didn't think it would hurt you so much. It was such a little whip. I am

boy wa

felt sure the boy was gone to call Tant Sannie. His teeth chattered with inward cold as he looked round into the darkness and thought of the snakes that might bite him, and the dre

ving the dog a kick to silence his whining when the foot throbbed, he climbed into bed. He did not put o

en the seats of the horse-wagon, was

ooking through one of the windows

enemies arise, and I could not leave withou

looked

id Bonaparte. "And there's that old hat of your

t," sai

naparte, putting it on. "The Lord bless you, my dear boy. You

llings that are i

, my dear child," said Bonaparte; "may He

is arms closel

y the blessing of my God and my father

ose withdrew themselves, and th

se and made their way down the road. He listened as they grew fainter and fainter, and at last died aw

Of P

RT

ay, and no one cou

or. A striving, an

in no