sleep.

"Hit's er gittin' so late, honey," urged Mammy, "let 'um stay in de box,
an' go ter bed now, like good chil'en."

"I know I ain't, Mammy," replied Dumps. "You mus' think I ain't got no
feelin's ter go ter bed an' leave 'im hollerin'. I'm er goin' ter rock
'im ter sleep in my little rockin'-cheer, an' you needn't be er fussin'
at me nuther."

"I ain't er fussin' at yer, chile; I'm jes' visin' uv yer fur yer good;
caze hit's yer bedtime, an' dem puppies will likely holler all night."

"Then we will sit up all night," said Diddie, in her determined way.
"I'm like Dumps; I'm not going to bed an' leave 'im cryin'."

So Mammy drew her shawl over her head and lay back in her chair for a
nap, while Diddie and Dumps took the little dogs in their arms and sat
before the fire rocking; and Chris and Dilsey and Riar all squatted on
the floor around the fender, very much interested in the process of
getting the puppies quiet.

Presently Dumps began to sing:

"Ef'n 'ligion was er thing that money could buy,
O reign, Marse Jesus, er reign;
De rich would live, an' de po' would die,
O reign, Marse Jesus, er reign.

_Chorus._