"Now, Unc., dat ar rheumatiz is like de scapegoat in de Bible. You loads
it up with all you sins. We all hope dat wen you got so sot on dat you'd
turn ober a new leaf. How you stan' it sittin' roun' all day I doan see,
no how. I'se gettin' so heaby an' logy an' oncomf'ble dat I'se gwine ter
take in washin' de rest ob de month."
"I'd be glad to go to work to-morrow, too," said Ella. "I'd be glad of
anything to make the time pass."
"Why, honey, wot you want de time to pass quick fer? You oughter be like
de hummin'-bird, gederin sweets all de day."
"I feel more like a croaking raven."
"You'se quar, Missy Ella. You'se up an' you'se down, an' you doan know
why. Ole Hannah dat lib wid you says dat you'se gittin' a lot ob beaux.
Why, you eben make a 'pression on dat big, 'ansome Northern chap, ole
Houghton's son, wen you doan know it. More'n once he ax me which de cakes
you make, an' wen I tell him, he wanter buy dem all."
"That's very funny," Ella said, and there was the old mirthful ring in her
laugh.
"You know him?" Aun' Sheba asked, quickly.
"I met him at Mrs. Willoughby's."
"Shuah now! Dat counts fer it. Well, he'd gobble all you'se cake if I'd
let him, but I had oder cus'mers on my min'; an' he seem ter hab on'y you
on his min'."
"You were very wise, Aun' Sheba. So much cake would have made him ill,"
and she still laughed joyously.
"'Pears to me you'se gittin' betteh, Missy Ella.
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