A BUSINESS DAY AT CHEE-HA. 201 



negroes, over whom she exercised plenary authority. 

 The sick were then visited, examined and prescribed 

 for. Fortunately, there were no serious cases, and I 

 was preparing to depart, when the plantation nurse, 

 who had been whiling away the tedium of her unoc- 

 cupied hours in a sound day sleep, hobbled forth to 

 meet me. 



" Huddee, inaussa ! how you do ?" 



"Well." 



" How missis do ?" 



"Well." 



"An'alldefambly?" 



Well all well." 



" Bress de Lord ! An' young missis, too ?" 



" I've told you she was well." 



" An' me leetle young missis, too, and young mass 

 Pincher ?" continued the interminable interrogator, 

 who, in spite of all impediment, was determined to 

 fire off her whole volley of questions. 



" Have you no sick but those I have visited in 

 yonder house ?" 



" Ees, sir ; Cudjo got a bad toot." 



" Out with it." 



" And Diana, too; him got twins !" 



" Nurse them !" 



' c Only him not got baby clothes for two /" 



