Page:Emma Speed Sampson--The shorn lamb.djvu/227

223 Peachy must have come out of one of the eggs the devil and carelessness had a hand in," she suggested.

Aunt Pearly Gates chuckled.

"Ain't it the truf? Now I ought'n ter be a savin' that either. How kin we tell? Aunt Peachy done always had it in fer me'n Si; but then, she helt somethin' aginst all the folks, white an' black, on this side the ribber. I done mistrus'ed Marse Bob's jedgment some when he 'lowed you ter go make frien's with the folks at The Hedges."

"Oh, but Aunt Pearly Gates, what would I do without them? They are my best an' only friends, besides you and all the good colored people over on this side. Mr. Philip Bolling was really responsible for my getting here in good order, and he is the loveliest person I ever saw. His mother is mighty kind and pleasant, and there is something about her that kind of breaks my heart. Betsy is a peach, a nice, sound peach, without a single speck on it and never a worm on the inside, and Jo is—well, Jo is improving. He is about the only boy I ever knew, and I must say he is some fun to play around with. He looks a little like his funny, fat old father, but I am sure he will never be like him. I have taken hold of him in time."