asked if they were taking anything of his with them. "Yes, everything,
everything," he answered.

Soon the steamer was moving proudly over the blue waters of Lake Erie. On
the upper deck our Kentucky friends were waving their handkerchiefs to
Frank, who stood upon the wharf as long as one bright-haired girl could be
distinguished by the light of the harvest moon, whose rays fell calmly
upon the placid waters.

In a few days Mr. Middleton again folded to his bosom his Sunshine, now
more precious than ever, because, as he said, "He’d lain awake a heap o’
nights, worryin’ about her. The dogs had howled, the death watches had
ticked on the wall, and everything had carried on, t’other side up, ever
since she’d been gone. But look, Nancy," he continued to his wife, "she’s
fattin’ up right smart. Her journey has done her a heap of good, and I’m
glad I let her go."

The blacks now crowded round, delighted to welcome home their young
mistress, who had a kind word and some little gift for each. Particularly
were Aunt Katy and Aunt Judy pleased with the present of a tasty lace cap,
whose value was greatly increased from the fact that they were bought in
New York City. In these simple creatures’ estimation, New York and
Frankfort were the largest places in the world. "I s’pose," said Aunt
Katy, "that this New York is mighty nigh three times as large as
Frankfort."

"Three times as large!" repeated Fanny. "Why, yes, Katy, forty times as
large."

From that time Aunt Katy looked upon Fanny as one not long for this world.