'Fore de Lawd, if ole Miss
know I dun loss dat ar bed she gwine ter rise rite outen de grabe."
Colonel ----, remembering the scene of the disaster to Winnie's
feather-bed, felt inclined to laugh heartily, but wishing to mollify
the old creature preserved his gravity while he offered her quite a
handsome sum "to buy some more feathers." A look from Mr. Grey put a
stop to the old woman's talk. Soon the visitors took their leave,
having given and received most pleasant impressions. Their visit
recalled so vividly their time of trial and adventure that the Greys
sat talking far into night.
The next morning Mr. Grey walked over to the cabin to administer a
rebuke to Maum Winnie. As he drew near the gate the quavering voice of
the old woman was heard singing jerkily, and with a pause between
every few words,--
"Al_do_ yer _sees_ me _gwine_ 'long _so_,
I has my troubles _heah_ below."
At last, discovering Mr. Grey, she rose and dropped a courtesy.
"Mornin', Mars Ned."
"Well, Winnie, you forgot your Virginia raising yesterday. What is all
this about your feather-bed?"
"Well, Mars Ned, dey dun stole it."
"Who stole it?"
"_Dah_, honey, de Lawd only knows, an' he ain't gwine ter tell.
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