"He wusn't clean out, but he wus clost on ter de aige--all he need is er lit'le mo' uv his ma's studdy light ter show him de way home,--an' he got hit too, fur dar she wus by him on de rock, whin he come thu. She crawl 'long mouty slow b'fo' him, caze Bill wus in er pow'ful bad fix, but her light ain' flick'r, an' hit keep bright an' studdy, an' bimeby atter er long time she lan' him at home safe an' soun'." "How could it take long?" Willis was keeping tab on the time. "Yer see, baby, yer kin nachelly fly wid Bob Wind when yer's on de road ter Satan wid Jacky-Lantern, an' Willie Wisp lightin' hit up so purty fur yer; but whin yer starts back, an' de road's dark--an' yer got jes one lit'le light, hit take er long time ter fine yer way erbout." "Was Abe and the boys waiting for Bill?" Mary Van desired to see the home reunited. "Dey wus waitin', but dey wusn't settin' down waitin'. Abe an' dem boys had done dig dat gole out'n de cell'r an' buy 'em er passel er mules, an' cows, an' chick'ns, an' bilt 'em er fine house, an' raise sich craps, dat de ole farm tu'n out ter be de bigges' plantation in dem parts." "Did Bill get home?" "Ter be sho', son, ain't I done tole yer de glow wurm gwine p'int out de road fur him?" "Did they give Bill some money, too?" "Cose dey did, gal, der ma's speeret light up der h'arts so bright dat dey ain' see no rees'n ter keep all de money jes' 'caze dey stays at home an' fines hit.--Sut'nly dey give Bill his sheer." "Did the glow worm stay with them?" "Dey ma's speeret stay's dar, but de glow wurm hatt'r g'long back ter de swamp ter hope de res' er de po' sinn'rs dat gits tang'led up runnin' atter Jacky-Lanterns an' Willie Wispes." IV MISS RACE HOSS AN' DE FLEAS "Come on hyah, baby! Let de dog er loose--sleepy time done come ter us." "No, Mammy, I ain't goin' ter sleepy!" "Who say you ain't?" "I say so, 'caus' my papa says I'm er man! My papa don't go ter sleepy in the day time!" "Lordee! I bet he do if he gits er chanct. Dat dog gwine bite yer if you don't quit foolin' wid es tail." "Bray ain't goin' ter bite me--Mammy, you tie the bow." "Tie er ribbin bow on er dog's tail?" "Oom hoo!" "Ooom hoo? Is dat de way you speaks ter yo' ole Mammy?" "I says, yes, ma'm." "Well, gimme de ribbin!--but what you wanter tie er bow on er dog's tail fur? Folks puts bows 'round dey necks." "But I want ter fool Bray, and make him think this is his head." "You'se er sight, you is! Who on earth but you'd er thought er tryin' ter make er dog think es tail was es head! Nev' mind! Yer bett'r take keer dat he don't play er wusser joke on you, like ole Sis' Cow, an' Sis' Dog, an' Sis' Sow, an' Sis' Cat done ter ole Miss Race Hoss when she try ter pass off one er her jokes on dem!" "Did they hurt Miss Race Hoss, Mammy?" "Dey mos' driv her crazy, dat's what dey done!--but you wait tell I ties dis heah bow, an' den we gwinter slip off up-stairs 'fo' Bray wake up an' ketch us." "All right, Mammy."