r fingers burned," said Sukey severely.

"But we aren't young ladies, mammy, and we will be careful," urged
Bess.

"I don't think anyone _could_ get dirty in this kitchen," Dora added
in honest admiration.

This compliment pleased Mandy, and furthermore it was her kitchen, so
she said good-naturedly, "You can make all the candy you want, so long
as you get through before dinner-time."

With this permission the sugar and molasses were soon simmering in a
saucepan, sending forth a pleasant fragrance.

When it was well begun Bess sat down by Sukey, saying, "Now tell us a
story, mammy."

"Oh, go 'long, I tole you all my stories long ago! You all's getting
too big for stories. Looks like it was just yesterday that Miss Zelie
was askin', 'Mammy, tell me a story,' same as you."

"Was Auntie pretty when she was a little girl?" asked Bess.

"There never was a child as good-looking from first to last. Louise
favors her, and it looks like I forget sometimes that it ain't Miss
Zelie; but pretty is as pretty does, that's the truth, and she was
pretty in manners as well as face."

"Go on and tell us about her," begged Louise, for though they had
heard it all many times there was nothing they liked so well to listen
to. Nor was there anything Sukey liked so well to tell, so as she
sorted and turned and rolled the stockings in a leisurely way, she
began.

The sunshine came in at the window and rested on Louise's bright head
and Dora's dark one, as they sat together in the same chair. Bess's
seat was an upturned earthen jar, and the same sunlight fell on her
small folded hands and on the brown wrinkled ones at work with the
stockings.

"Well, you know how Miss Zelie's ma died when she wasn't as big as
little Carie, and the last thing she said to me was, 'Sukey, you mind
my baby.' Miss Elizabeth always set great store by me, and I 'lowed
that freedom or nothin' could take me from old Master's family. It was
powerful lonesome in this big house in those days. Your grandpa took
your grandma's death mighty hard, and he had to travel a good deal for
his health, so Miss Zelie didn't have any one to look after her but
Mr. William and me. Mr. Frank, your pa, was away at college. Then Mr.
William got married. Miss Marcia is a good woman and kind-hearted, but
she ain't any gift at managin' children, and that's the truth. Miss
Zelie was a smart, lively child with a temper of her own, and if I do
say it she would have had a hard time