interested in the story, while tears gathered in Dump's blue eyes; and
even Diddie was seen to wink a little at the forlorn condition of "de
po' white chile."

"Yes, indeed," continued Mammy, "she done all her own wuk herse'f, an'
nobody ter say er blessed word ter her, nor he'p her a bit; an' she
neber eben hyeard ob de wushin'-stone, but had jes come out fur er
little while ter enjoy de birds, an' de fresh air, an' flowers, same
as de quality folks; fur she was mos' all de time sick, an, dis wuz
jes de same as Christmus ter her. She hobbled erlong on her crutches,
an' atter while she got ter de stone; an' hit so happened dar wan't
nobody dar, so she sot down ter res'. Well, mun, she hadn't mo'n totch
de stone when de little birds began, 'I wush I had,' 'I wush I wuz.'

"'Oh, what er sweet, pretty place!' de little gal said; 'an' what nice
little birds! I wush dat po' old sick man what libs next ter us could
come out here and see it all.'

"'I wush I had,' 'I wush I wuz,' sung de little birds. 'I wush all de
po' chil'en could come an' spen' de day here,' said de little gal;
'what er nice time dey would hab!'

"'I wush I wuz,' 'I wush I had,' sung de birds in er flutter, hoppin'
all 'bout 'mong de branches.

"'An' all de lame people, an' sick people, an' ole people,' said de
little gal, 'I wush dey could all git well, an' strong, an' lib in er
beautiful place jes like dis, an' all be happy.'

"Oh, de little birds! what er bustle dey wuz in to be sho'! Dey sot