What Might Have Been Expected

naturally,

o little girl in the county knew more about the trees of her native place than Kate; for she had made good use of her long rides through the country with her father. Here were the chincapin-bushes, like miniature chestnut-trees, and here were the beautiful poplars. She knew them by their bright leaves, which looked as though they had been snipped off at the top with a pair of scissors. And here, right in front of her, was Uncle Braddock. She knew him by his many-colored dressing-gown, without which he never appeared in public. It was one of the most curious dressing-gowns ever seen, as Uncle Braddock was one of the most curious old colored men ever seen. The gown was not really as old as its wearer, but it looked older. It was composed of about a hundred pieces of different colors and patterns-red, green, blue

addock!"

st standing up straight in his astonishment

as she came up with him, "what i

as glad as I can be to see you, Uncle Braddock, for I was beginning to be afraid, because its getting dark so fast, and your dressing-g

would stick 'em in the hands. Couldn't wash him, Miss Kate; it's too late for dat now. Might have washed him before de war, p'raps. We was stronger, den. B

olored people," said Kate, "at

m pick it the'rselves

atilda can't do

Aunt Matilda?" s

ng to pick enough to get her all she wants. Harry and I intend to take c

at afore. Why, you all isn't done bein' tuk care of you'selves." Kate l

Braddock. "Oh no!" said Kate, "yo

e enuf fur me to get along, anyway, and a

l very heavy for her, and as it did not seem to make the slightest differe

cabin, Kate ran into the house, carrying her bag with ease, for she was excited by the hop

ere. And soon it was nigh

. Loudon, with two of the neighbors, started out into

ed. She determined to stay awake until Harry should come home. But the sofa-cushions became more and more pleasant, and very soon she was dreaming that Harry had shot a giraffe, and had skinned it, and had stuffed the sk

ll absent. Poor Kate was in despair, and could not tou

, plying a long whip and shouting to the oxen. Behind the cart, and on each side of it, were negroes, men and women, carrying huge bales of sumac on their heads. Bags, pillow-cases, bed-ticks, sheets and coverlets had been called into requisition to hold the precious leaves. Here was a woman with a great bundle on her head, which sa

stion these people. They mu

team, and every head-burdened man, woman, and child clustered around her, until it se

eeds of a week's sumac gathering, had come from a portion of the county man