"Hurry up, and unhitch, Dannie," she said. "Your supper is waiting."
And Dannie turned and stolidly walked back to his team, without
uttering a word.
"Uncle Dannie!" cried a child's voice. "Please let me ride to the
barn with you!"
A winsome little maid came rushing to Dannie, threw her arms about
his neck, and hugged him tight, as he stooped to lift her. Her
yellow curls were against his cheek, and her breath was flower-
sweet in his face.
"Why didn't you kiss Aunt Mary?" she demanded." Daddy Dolan always
kisses mammy when he comes from all day gone. Aunt Mary's worked so
hard to please you. And Daddie worked, and mammy worked, and
another woman. You are pleased, ain't you, Uncle Dannie?"
"Who told ye to call me Uncle?" asked Dannie, with unsteady lips.
"She did!" announced the little woman, flourishing the whip in the
direction of the cabin. Dannie climbed down to unhitch. "You are
goin' to be my Uncle, ain't you, as soon as it's a little over a
year, so folks won't talk?"
"Who told ye that?" panted Dannie, hiding behind a horse.
"Nobody told me! Mammy just ~said it to Daddy, and I heard,"
answered the little maid. "And I'm glad of it, and so are all of us
glad. Mammy said she'd just love to come here now, whin things
would be like white folks. Mammy said Aunt Mary had suffered a lot
more'n her share. Say, you won't make her suffer any more, will you?"
"No," moaned Dannie, and staggered into the barn with the horses.
He leaned against a stall, and shut his eyes.
Pages:
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207