ingers full of brass rings, too. I jest told her that she'd have to
take 'em off, that I didn't want to eat any brass. Laws a massy, niggers
are jest as different from what they was as day is from night. Talk to
me about freedom helpin' 'em. But the Lord knows best," she added, with
a sigh of resignation. "If He wants 'em to be free, why, no one ought to
complain, and goodness knows I don't. Yes, they ought to be free," she
went on after a moment of reflection. "Oh, it was a sin and a shame to
sell 'em away from their children. But it's all over now, thank God.
Now, I wonder where your father is, Alf. Never saw sich a man in my
life. Looks jest like he begrudges time enough to eat. There he comes
now."

The old man came in, covered with dirt. "Alf, is the shot gun loaded?"
he asked, brushing himself.

"Yes, sir. Why?" We looked at the old fellow, wondering what he meant,
but he made no explanation. Alf repeated his question. "Why?" And the
old man exclaimed: "Oh, nothin'. Jest goin' to blow that red steer's
head off, that's all. Confound his hide. I wish I may die this minute if
I ever had sich a jolt in my life. Went along by him, not sayin' a word
to him, and if he didn't up and let me have both heels I'm the biggest
liar that ever walked a log. Hadn't done a thing to him, mind you;
walkin' along 'tendin' to my own business, when both of his heels flew
at me. And I'll eat a bite and then go and blow his head off."

"Oh, Limuel," his wife protested; "a body to hear you talk would think
that you don't do anything at all but thirst for blood. If the Lord puts
it in the mind of a steer to kick you, why, it ain't the poor creeter's
fault."

The old man snorted. "And if the Lord puts it in my mind to kill the
steer it ain't my fault, muther. Conscience alive, what are we all
dressed up so about?" he added, looking at Alf. "So much stile goin' on
that a body don't know whuther he's a shuckin' corn or is at a picnic.
Blow his head off as soon as I eat a bite."

I could see that Alf was anxious to tell me something, and immediately
after supper I went up stairs with him. He took off his coat, and after
dusting it carefully hung it up and sat down. He looked at me as if he
were delighted with the curiosity that I was showing, and then as he
reached for his pipe he began: "I was a-plowing out in the field about
three hours by sun, when I saw Millie come out of the valley like a
larkspur straightening up in the spring of the