YOURS WITH ALL MY HEART 



rear room, to where black Becky was labo- 

 riously ironing the last beruffled and be- 

 laced white dress for the baby, calling as 

 she did so: 



* Come here this minute, Becky, and tell 

 me what you know about this state of things. 

 Have you let any pedlars or tramps into 

 this house since I've been gone ? ' 



'Fo' der Lor's sakes, missus, yer doan 

 tink I's gone loss my seben senses, dat I 

 should be 'vitin' sich twash inter der house; 

 what's gone happen now?' 



'Come and see!' said the mistress, 

 sternly, and poor Becky, frightened and 

 wondering, slip-shodded along after her to 

 the disheveled room; then stood breathless, 

 with hands uplifted. 



'Der Lors-a-massy, missus! Sure 'nuff, 

 dat's mor'n tramps; dem's thebes an' rob- 

 bers! robbers! Oh, 'pon mer word an' 

 soul, missus, I neber heered a sound; neber 

 a sound, sabe jes dem leetle four-footed 

 critturs. Oh, now I knows, missus, - 

 bress der poor leetle honey hearts, - dey's 

 tying ter tell old Becky, all der time dey 

 wor puttin der teefh inter mer bran' new 

 caliker. 



103 



