CHAPTER XIII.

A PLANTATION MEETING AND UNCLE DANIEL'S SERMON.


"Are you gwine ter meetin', Mammy?" asked Diddie one Sunday evening, as
Mammy came out of the house attired in her best flowered muslin, with an
old-fashioned mantilla (that had once been Diddie's grandmother's)
around her shoulders.

"Cose I gwine ter meetin', honey; I'se er tryin' ter sarve de Lord, I
is, caze we ain't gwine stay hyear on dis yearth all de time. We got ter
go ter nudder kentry, chile; an' efn yer don't go ter meetin', an' watch
an' pray, like de Book say fur yer ter do, den yer mus' look out fur
yerse'f wen dat Big Day come wat I hyears 'em talkin' 'bout."

"Can't we go with you, Mammy? We'll be good, an' not laugh at 'em
shoutin'."

"I dunno wat yer gwine loff at 'em shoutin' fur; efn yer don't min' de
loff gwine ter be turnt some er deze days, an' dem wat yer loffs at
hyear, dem's de ones wat's gwine ter do de loffin' wen we gits up
yon'er! But, let erlone dat, yer kin go efn yer wants ter; an' efn
yer'll make has'e an' git yer bunnits, caze I ain't gwine wait no gret
wile. I don't like ter go ter meetin' atter hit starts. I want ter hyear
Brer Dan'l's tex', I duz. I can't neber enj'y de sermon doutn I hyears
de tex'."

You may be sure it wasn't long before the children were all ready, for