heard moving in his room yet, Rondeau
concluded to go at all events.

"I know,", said he, "that'll be the first thing he'll tell me to do, and I
may as well go on my own hook, as to wait and be sent."

Accordingly he again started for the post office, thinking to himself, "I
hope that marster'll get a letter this time, for he don't seem no more
like the wide-awake chap he did when he first come from Kentuck, than
nothin'. I don't want him to have Miss Mabel nohow; for their niggers say
she's awful spunky."

By the time this soliloquy was ended, he had reached the office. The clerk
handed him two letters, both of which Rondeau eyed sharply. On looking at
the second, the cavity between the ears widened to an enormous extent, and
he gave vent to his joy by uttering aloud, "Crackee, this is just the
thing!"

"What's the matter, Rondeau? Can you read writing?" asked the clerk in
some surprise.

"No, sir, not but a little," said Rondeau; "but I know this hand write, I
reckon."

In a twinkling, he was in the street. "This is a fine morning," thought
he. "I've got the right letter this time, so I won't hurry home, for
marster ain't goin' to find any fault if I don't git thar till noon."

So the next hour was spent in gossiping with all the blacks which could be
found lounging round the streets. Suddenly one of the negroes called out,
"Ho, Rondeau! Thar's yer old marster Lace comin'. You'd better cut stick
for home, or he'll be in yer har."

Rondeau instantly started for home, where he was greeted by Aunt Dilsey
with a torrent of abuse, that good lady rating him soundly for being gone
too long. "Warn't he 'shamed to be foolin' away his time? 'Twan't his time
nuther, 'twas marster's time. Was that ar fulfillin' of Scripter, which
says, 'we must be all eye sarvants,' which means ye must all keep clus
where yer marsters can see you?"

How long Aunt Dilsey might have gone expounding Scripture is not known,
for Rondeau interrupted her by saying, "Don't scold so, old lady. Marster
ain't a-goin' to care for I've got him something this time better than
victuals or drink."

"What is it?" said Leffie, coming forward. "Have you got him a letter from
Kentuck?"

"I hain't got nothin' else, Miss Leffie Lacey, if you please," said
Rondeau, snapping his fingers in her face, and giving Aunt Dilsey's elbow
a slight jostle, just enough to spill the oil, with which she was filling
a lamp.

"Rondeau, I 'clar' for't," said Aunt Dilse