l," she continued, "whar you
come from?"

"I come from New Orleans, Auntie," replied Elsy.

"What bring you to Jackson?" continued the old woman.

Elsy repeated the tale she had told Dr. Humphries and Alfred, and
after she had concluded, the old woman clasped her hands as she
exclaimed, "Sake alibe! what become ob your mistis and de childen?"

"I don't know, Auntie, but my New Orleans mass'r is here now, and I's
been looking for dem."

"Why de lady and childen dat come to my cabin was from New Orleans
too," observed the old negro.

"You say you don't know de name?" remarked Elsy.

"No, I forget," she answered; "but what name did your mistis hab?"

"Dey was name Wentworth," she replied.

"Wantworth--Wentworth," repeated the old woman. "No, dat don't sound
like de name ob de lady, but may be I forget. What was de leetle gal
name?" she added.

"Ella," replied Elsy.

"Dat's it," exclaimed the old negro, "dat's de berry name!"

"Den it was my mistis and her childen," answered Elsy, "and you say de
police take her to prison for stealin."

"Yes, gal," she answered, "dey take her away from de dead body ob her
chile and take her to prison for stealin."

"It ain't true," said Elsy, "my mistis is a born lady, and she
wouldn't steal for anyting. I don't beliebe a word ob it."

"I don't beliebe neider," replied the old woman, "but for all dat, dey
did carry her to prison because dey say she steal money."

"My poh mistis," remarked Elsy, bursting into tears, "I knowed dat
some bad ting would happen to her--and I was in town so long and neber
eben sawed her."

"Poh lady," observed the old negro, "she look bery bad and sorrowful
like, aldough she didn't cry when de chile die; but she tan up by de
bedside and look 'pon de dead face widout sayin' a word--it made me
feel bad to see her."

"I must tell my master," said Elsy, "so dat he can go and take her out
ob prison. It am a shame dat a lady like dat should be locked up in a
prison, and Mr. Wentworth will soon take her out."

"You better not say anyting to your master about it, yet," observed
the old woman. "See de Doctor and tell him; he will know what to do,
and den he can tell de gemman all about it a'terwards."

"But you certain it am my mistis?" said Elsy.

"I ain't quite sure ob dat," she answered, "for de name sound
different to de one I heard, and dats de reason I don't want you to
say noting 'bout it till de Doctor enquire into de matter and find
out