Little Homespun

art for very much fun, for Grandma Ellis has been very ill up at Ellismere, and dear old Joe is lying helpless in bed in his own little cabin. After the

ndma Ellis, “I would like to look out for Joe de res’ of his days. I ain’t allers been ober kin’ to dat ole gem’an, an’ I ain’t had no idea what splendid stuff he had in 098him,” and it seemed a very little thing to Grandma Ellis to spare Mammy for the sake of the one who had saved Brevet’s life. That Joe had saved it there was but little question, for the storm had seemed to be at its very h

he men, as it happened, were three miles away at the blacksmith’s,

him to join the party in search of Brevet, or ever cease to be thankful that at last, rus

min’, Mammy, just sendin’ fo’ Miss Courage to come heah for awhile dis ebenin’. I’se somethin’ important ter say ter lier, ‘Tain’t dat I couldn’t trus’ you wi

be spending the day at Homespun, for her companion. They stopped to leave the buckboard at the stable, where a young mulatto boy was now doing Joe’s work, and then Brevet asked permission to r

e cabin and looking quickly about to see if Mammy h

coming, “I was des habin a bit o’ a day-dream.” 100"Joe,” whispered Brevet, tip-toeing

oney, I

pened to come then, didn’t it, Joe?” in anxious inquiry, and as though to find

elf, had never told any one), “whereas mos’ white-haired cullud pussons is par’Iysed long afore my time o’ life, par’Iysed all over too, not des a sort o’ half par’Iysed

wondering how to account for the little fellow’s apparent spiritlessne

s Courage. Go up to de house and down ‘roun’ General Sheridan’s grave, an’ my Oder special fav’rites, an’ see if ebery

rrand; and after Courage and Joe had exchanged a few words of g

rkey in all dis county as I is. Look at dis cabin! des as orderly as can be, an’ den ‘member how I’se allers tr

e. I met her as I came, and she told me that you had something import

y or so, ter see if she can len’ a hand as you are so good as ter sen’ her, dey ain’t, as a rule, nuffin lef for her ter do, ‘ceptin’ Mammy set her ter make some little relish for me to pay her fo’ de trouble of cornin’. Now can you ‘magine,

has been always rather down upon you. No wonder that she wants to make amends. You’re a perfect her

come. I want it ter be so understood. I’d had the queerest numb sort o’ feelin’s creepin’ over me a whole week ‘fo’ I took dat plunge 103in de riber—but—-but, what I sent for you for am dis: I’se had a heap o’ time, lyin’ heah, an’ I’se been usin’ my eyes, an’ sure huff I hab an idea. You know your Sylvy? We

at nobody knew; but if you wish, I can write and ma

g in de worl’ dat Mammy and Sylvy is related,” and Jo

found that upon?” C

I tol’ you, I’se been usin’ my eyes lyin’ heah, an’ dey has little ways an’ gestures, Mammy and Sylvy, common to bof of ‘em. Den you know Mammy had a daughter

tly say I do not think it probable. Just think

e little ways an’ gestures; but you’ll write, won’t you

but you mustn’t hang too many hopes upon

” said incorrigible Joe, “an’ I’se not

all Mammy back now? for I should like

ow your ‘tention’s called ter it, if dere

that she wrote her letter that night with a deeper conviction that they might be on