him settin' in de woods, lookin' dat lonesome and losted like, I felt
real sorry for him. Yas'm," and to prove his deep sympathy for the
unfortunate bird he stroked its breast lovingly.

Mrs. Cary turned away to hide her laughter. "How did you catch him?"

"How?" repeated Uncle Billy, while his ancient mind worked with unusual
rapidity. "I got down on all fo's in the thick weeds, an' cluk like a
hen. An' den ol' Mr. Rooster, he came 'long over to see ef I done laid
an aig--an' I des reach right out an' take him home to de Lawd."

"Oh, Uncle Billy," his mistress laughed. "I'm afraid you're
incorrigible. It's a dreadful thing to doubt one's very dinner. Isn't
it?"

"Yas'm. An' I was des 'bout to say ef you an' Miss Virgie kin worry down
de white meat, maybe den dis here bird 'll kinder git eben wid me when I
tackle his drum sticks. Yas'm," and with a final chuckle of joy over his
success the old man hobbled quickly away in the direction of the
kitchen.

Mrs. Cary, still smiling, went back to play Mrs. Fatima to a dusky
moss-covered Blue Beard.

"Oh goody, goody, here is Mrs. Fatima again!" and Virgie's dancing feet
seemed hardly to touch the ground. "We've just finished building the
castle. Look!" She pointed proudly to a square of twigs and leaves
around the garden seat. "Come on, Sally Ann. We can play it now and use
Mamma's keys."