the evaded punishment of the morning, but for the timely interference
of Venus, who, with her clean white apron and turbaned head,
majestically emerged from the kitchen, warning the young rebel
and her associates to clear the premises.

"Along wid yer, and keep yer tongue tween yer teeth, chile,
or you'll cotch it."

So Frances, drawing Tidy along with her, and followed by the whole troop,
turned into the lane that led down to the negro quarters, and as they
saunter along, I will tell you about her.

She was a fair specimen of slave children, full of the merry humor,
the love of fun and frolic peculiar to her race, with not a little
admixture of art and cunning. She was wild, rough, and boisterous,
one of the sort always getting into disgrace. She couldn't step
without stumbling, nor hold anything in her hand without spilling.
She never had on a whole frock, except when it was new, and her
bare feet were seldom without a bandage. She considered herself
one of the most unfortunate of creatures, because she met with so
many accidents, and had, in consequence, to suffer so much punishment;
and it was of no use to try to do differently, she declared,
for she "couldn't help it, nohow."

I have seen just such children who were not slaves, haven't you?
And I think I understand the cause of their misfortunes.
Shall I give you an inkling of it? It is because they are so
heedless and headlong in their ways, racing and romping about
with perfect recklessness. Don't you think now that I am right,
little reader, you who cried this very day, because you were always