in my lap, was a
doctor, an' some kin to de man what made de Godfrey's cordial, but he
tole me dat he was not. He like de way dat I doctered de chile, an'
sed dat he would rite about it. He sed dat he had tried sum of de
juice hisself an' dat it was good for babies. I tole him dat I did not
blebe in doctors' physic; dey did not no what to do for babies. I tole
him dat nex to de cider berry juice an' sugar rag, dat de Black Jack
was de bes medcin dat I could use. He sed dat de Black Jack seldom
failed. Missus, when dat gemman 'peared at my do, I thort dat he was a
specalader, an' dat you was gwine to sell me." "No, Aunt Barbara,"
said Mrs. Ridley, "if all the money of all the negro buyers were added
together, it would not make an amount sufficient to buy you. Nothing
but death can separate us. You are a part of my very existence. I
have left in my bosom a spark of gratitude yet, which kindles into a
flame when I remember what you have done for the family. I have not
forgotten that it was you that gave the timely warning of the approach
of Nat Turner and his column. By so doing you probably saved the lives
of the household. On another occasion you saved the life of my darling
babe by a miracle wrought in your own way. Aunt Barbara, I would not
give you and your nostrums, such as 'Cider Berry Juice,' 'Sweet Flag,'
'Taters' 'Sugar Rags' and 'Black Jack' for all the doctors in
Christendom." "Missus, I'm glad dat you tink so much ob me. I has
always done de bes dat I could. You know dat de chillun on de
plantashun was bad, but wid my Black Jack I always made dem have
deyself." "That is very true, Aunt Barbara, and they all love you for
it. You know, Aunt Barbara, that the Good Book tells us, 'spare the
rod and you spoil your child.'" "Missus, dats what I 'luded to all de
time. I nebber struc' one ob dem little niggers a lic' amiss in my
life, unless I struc' at him and didn't toch him." The old woman here
saw a little nigger coming at full tilt, and knew that something was
wrong. When he came up, she asked: "What on earth is de matter?" The
boy was quite out of breath and couldn't speak at the time. The old
woman gave him a rake with her Black Jack and said: "What is de matter
wid you?" "I cum to tell you dat Judy's baby is mos ded, an' want you
to cum 'mediately." "When I cum to de house," said the old woman, "I
seed dat de chile was bad off. I took it up an' seed dat it had de
dry gripes. I give it some Cider Berry Juice an