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 my farm. I gwine 'low no mo' rent-payin' ter nobody off'n my lan'!"

"Your land, Uncle Aleck? When did you get it?" asked Marion, placing her cheek against the setter.

"De Gubment gim it ter me to-day," he replied, fumbling in his pocket and pulling out the document. "You kin read it all dar yo'sef."

He handed Marion the paper, and Margaret hurried down and read it over her shoulder.

Both girls broke into screams of laughter.

Aleck looked up sharply.

"Do you know what's written on this paper, Uncle Aleck?" Margaret asked.

"Cose I do. Dat's de deed ter my farm er forty acres in de bend er de creek, whar I done stuck off wid de red, white, an' blue sticks de Gubment gimme."

"I'll read it to you," said Margaret.

"Wait a minute," interrupted Marion. "I want Aunt Cindy to hear it—she's here to see Mama in the kitchen now."

She ran for Uncle Aleck's spouse. Aunt Cindy walked around the house and stood by the steps, eyeing her erstwhile lord with contempt.

"Got yer deed, is yer, ter stop me payin' my missy her rent fum de fan' my chillun wucks? Yu'se er smart boy, you is—let's hear de deed!"

Aleck edged away a little, and said with a bow:

"Dar's de paper wid de big mark er de Gubment."

Aunt Cindy sniffed the air contemptuously.

"What is it, honey?" she asked of Margaret.