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 



