Aleck would not take it, because of the briar bushes and the dust. As
the boys were in their knockaround suits they did not mind this.

The widow's cottage was a tumbled-down affair on a side street of
Dexter's Corners. A stovepipe stuck out of a back window, and the front
door lacked the lower hinge. In the front yard the weeds were several
feet high.

"I don't see why Aleck wants to come and see such a person as this,"
observed Sam. "She may be pretty, as colored widows go, but she is
certainly lazy and shiftless."

"Yes, and she has more than two children and I know it. Why, once I
came past here and I saw her with at least seven or eight."

When the boys came up they saw several colored children hurrying away
from the house. As they did this the widow came to the door and called
after them:

"Now, Arabella, go to the cemetery, jest as I tole yo', an' stay thar!"

"I ain't gwine to stay long," answered Arabella.

"You stay an hour or two," answered the widow. "To-morrow, I'll give
yo' money fer lolly-pops."

"What is she sending the children to the cemetery for?" asked Tom, in a
whisper.

"Maybe to keep 'em quiet," answered Sam, with a grin.

"Must be wanting to keep them out of Aleck's way."

At that moment the figure of a tall, lanky colored man came down a side
street. The man entered the widow's cottage and received a warm
welcome.

"Glad to see you, Mistah Thomas. Hopes yo' is feelin' fine this
ebenin'," said the widow graciously.

"I'se come fo' to make yo' an offah," said Mr. Thomas. "Yo' said yo'
would mahrry me soon as I had a job. Well, I'se got de job now."

"Is it a steady job?"

"Yes, at de stone quarry--dribin' a stone wagon."

"How much yo' gits a week, Peter?"

"Twelve dollahs," was the proud answer.

"Den I closes wid you," said the widow, and allowed the suitor to
embrace her.

Just then Aleck came in sight. As he saw the couple through the open
door he straightened up.

"Maybe yo' didn't look fo' me around, Mrs. Taylor," he said, stiffly.

"Oh, yes, I did, Mistah Pop," she said, sweetly. "But yo' see--I--dat
is----" She stopped short. "Wot's dat?" she cried.

"Wot?"

"Dat hump on yo' back?"

"Ain't no hump on my back," answered Aleck.

"Suah da is."

"He's got a sign on, too," put in Peter Thomas. "Look wot it reads, 'I
hab got to hump to cotch de widow.' Hah! hah! hah! Dot's a good one."

"Yo' needn't hump yo'self to cotch me," cried the widow, wrathfully.
"I's