ed quietly
until she returned. Just then the others came in sight, and I sent the
boy to halt them. Aunty came out so excited that she could hardly speak.

"'Sho' as you is born'd, dat Massa Tom knows you; but, sah, he's
powerful weak, an' you must exclose who yo' is to him in a most
delicacious manner, or you'll incite him. He's 'fraid, sah, dat you is a
exposter.'

"'O, no, aunty, I am his uncle and benefactor.'

"'Yo'is what?'

"'His uncle,'

"'No, but de oder t'ing what you is?'

"'His benefactor.'

"'Glory to God! Is you? May de Laud shine his light in dis pore house,
an' brush away de fears ob dis misfortunate famly.'

"Then she called Ham.

"'Oh, yo' Ham, come heah.'

"I entered the cabin and beheld Col. Anderson, as pale as death, lying
on a poor, broken-down bed. I knelt by his side upon the floor and wept
aloud. The Colonel could only whisper. Extending his hand, while the
great tears were rolling down his face, he asked:

"'Is my wife with you? How is my child?'

"He was greatly excited and very weak. I arose from his bedside and
told him who were coming, and begged him to be calm. Aunty brought some
cloths and laid on his breast, saying to him:

"'Now, Massa Tom, you mus' be still. Don' be like I tole you. You
mussent get 'cited now--nuffln of the kine. Jes' see de folks like yo'
allers done. Dey's come a mighty long ways to fine yo'. Wish dey stay
away 'til I cure yo'; but spose it's all rite. De good Laud he done
knowed de bes'. Maybe de "Sesh" come take him some day afore long, so de
Laud he knows what he wants. Bress de good Laud.'

"'I went out to meet the others. Mary at once asked me what the matter
was. I spoke as gently as I could, and said:

"'Mary, Tom is still alive.'

"She instantly leaped from her horse and made for the cabin, and in an
instant was at the bedside of her husband, covering his face with kisses
and tears. Tom was too weak to more than whisper 'my dear wife,' and
weep in silence. Old Ham had come in, and stood in one corner of the
room looking on the scene with his hands locked together over his head.
He was heard to say over and over in a low tone: "'De Lord bress dese
chilien.' "Aunt Martha took hold of Mary, saying: "'Deah Misses, yo'
jes' stop dat cryin'. You ought to be 'joiced dat Massa Tom be libbin.
You ought ter seed him when de "Sesh" fotched him heah. I tell you dat
was de time what fotched me down, I done got rite on my old knees an'
axed de good L