UNDER THE APPLE-TREE 52

UNCLE BILLY 65

"THE GANDERS HAD CHASED HIM AROUND" 76

"GEORGE CAME OUT AND LOCKED THE DOOR" 93

"SAT ALONE BY THE CHURCH STEPS" 111

[Illustration: Cabin]




OLE MAMMY'S TORMENT.

CHAPTER I.


Uncle Billy rested his axe on the log he was chopping, and turned his
grizzly old head to one side, listening intently. A confusion of sounds
came from the little cabin across the road. It was a dilapidated negro
cabin, with its roof awry and the weather-boarding off in great patches;
still, it was a place of interest to Uncle Billy. His sister lived there
with three orphan grandchildren.

Leaning heavily on his axe-handle, he thrust out his under lip, and
rolled his eyes in the direction of the uproar. A broad grin spread over