The Flower of the Chapdelaines

same thing. When we rose aunt drew me aside and with caressing touches on my brow and temples said she was sorry to be so slow in bringing me into social contact with the young

round the parlor lamp. Can you amuse yourself alone, dear, or with Si

untie, was the inf

dear; I may tell you

er go back to

e we'd rather keep you. Let me see; has Mingo ever danced

t laughable wonder, and I should have begged for more than I did, but

said if they would follow me to the top of the flight I would tell this marvel: what the learned believed those eternal lamps to be; why some were out of view three-fourths of the night, others only half, others not a quarter; how a very few

' mammy; dey don't want dat sto'y f'om me secon' haynded!" Mingo darted off and we waited.

y and yearly turning, there would necessarily be two opposite points on our earth which would never

nin'-wheel, Miss Maud? Oh, yass, I b'li

er see how it forever picked out from among all the stars of heaven that one small light, and held quiveringly to it.

plain the law

awmy win' a-fulfillin' of his word, when de ain't a single stah admissible in de ske-eye?--De Lawd's na-ame be pra-aise'!" Her fa

bdued voice, "dat little trick m

id I had bought it for twenty-five cents. They laughed with delight. Yet, when I told Sidney she might have i

had begun with Sidney, I went on to point out the polar constellations and to rela

pered the mother, "was

g and queen of Ethiopia, an

an' yit sa-ave at la

r spoke softly to me again. "Miss Maud, dass a tryin' sawt o' sto'y

untry was ever known to white folks, or black," and the eyes of a

rd her say; "I don' care, I b'lieb dat be'n

ly, she took my feet in her slim black hands, and with eyes lifted tenderly to mine, said: "How bu'ful 'pon de mounta

' on stayin' togetheh al'ays in dis va-ain worl'," and all at once I found my face in my hands and th

hem that by the folly of others, far away, they had lost their whole fortune at one stroke and must part with everything, and with them, by sale. Their dark hearers wept with them,

when we could have done it. Your mistress and I are going to town

, "don't you do dat! Don't you was'e no time dat a-way

u mean, Silas," said m

za, no matteh how much us bring?" and when aunt said yes, Sidney murm

use for Mingo. It was after nightfall when they came dragging home. "Now don't you fret one bit 'bout dat, Maw

ng in pity, "how slight an impression disaster makes

drew me to my window and showed me how promptly she could point out the pole-star at the centre of the clock's vast dial, although at our right a big moon was lea

hine full a

de stahs

ood-by. "Why, Sidney!" I laughed,

said: "But still, Miss Maud, who eveh know when dey say good night dat it ain't good-by?" Sh

the waking cup of coffee which it was Sidney's wont to bring. I started from th

ay," she replied, addin

in such bad n

n it came. Rain never cam

"--I s

must have started soon after moonrise, and had the w

ere, auntie;

r," she continued, as if wholly to h

m the bed. "

way, and if only they may

her bosom. "Oh, auntie, auntie, I'm afraid it's my faul

ault; I'd like to be in your shoes. And, I don't car

gled as a lost dog--sprang into my arms. When I had got her reclothed and fed I eagerly heard her story. Three of the four had come safel

te, 'llowin' fo' to rejine togetheh on de bank o' de nex' creek, an' which, de Lawd a-he'pin' of us, h-it al'ays come to pass; an' so, a