for the picnic.

"Do you sleep here at night?" asked Diddie.

"Yes, honey, I'se skyeert ter go out anywhar; I'se so skyeert uv
Tight-fis' Smith."

"He's awful mean, ain't he?" asked Dumps.

"Dat he is, chile," replied the man; "he's cruel an' bad."

"Then don't you ever go back to him," said Dumps. "You stay right here
an' me'n Diddie'll bring you ev'y-thing ter eat, an' have you fur our
nigger."

The man laughed softly at that idea, but said he would stay there for
the present, anyway; and the children, bidding him good-bye, and telling
him they would be sure to bring him something to eat the next day, went
back to their playmates at the ditch.

"Tot," said Diddie, "we gave all the picnic away to a poor old man who
was very hungry; but you don't mind, do you? we'll go back to the
house, and Mammy will give you just as many cakes as you want."

Tot was a little bit disappointed, for she had wanted to eat the picnic
in the woods; but Diddie soon comforted her, and before they reached the
house she was as merry and bright as any of them.

The next morning Diddie and Dumps were very much perplexed to know how
to get off to the gin-house without being seen. There was no difficulty