But it did not come right, according to Bithie’s standard; and when ’Liza was about a year old Bithie could stand it no longer, so she consulted old Maumer, who dealt in charms and cungers, about the taking away of Unc’ Caspar’s curse, for ’Liza had had a fit and frothed at the mouth. Every one, even Ole Miss, said that it was ’Liza’s teeth; but Bithie knew better, and on her knees she swore to barter to Maumer everything of value that she possessed if Maumer would but work upon the curse. Then Maumer brewed a mysterious, greasy compound to rub on ’Liza’s gums, and made a necklace of the small twigs of the prickly ash, and, stringing an alligator’s tooth with it, she wound it around the child’s neck three times. ’Liza had no more fits, but in spite of the charm her temper showed no signs of mending, and Maumer, though she kept all of Bithie’s treasures, gave up the case in despair. “I cain’t wuk ’gin Unc’ Caspar,” she acknowledged, “fur he’s too strong. Unc’ Caspar er powerful hoodoo, but I is, too, an’ I wuk an’ he wuk, an’ de charm ole Maumer wuk des lock ho’ns wid his’n an’ stan’ dar grinnin’ at one nudder. I cain’t tek hit off, but es long es I wuks, Unc’ Caspar’s charm cain’t kill her; but you better let dat chile ’lone, Bithie, lessen you kin git Unc’ Caspar ter call back de cuss.” So Bithie stifled her sorrow and tried to believe Ole Miss, and all of her spare time she spent in making dainty clothes for her seventh daughter, out of the things that Ole Miss had given her. The other six might go ragged, half clothed, and dirty, as far as she was concerned, but the child under the curse must be dressed like a “lady.” The day that Ole Miss sent for ’Liza to come to the “Big House” was an event in Bithie’s cabin, for none of Bithie’s children had been so honored before, and ’Liza was now old enough to play with Ole Miss’s little ones. ’Liza’s round, black face shone with all the polish that hot water and soft-soap could give; her blue-checked pinafore was spotlessly neat, and the tight “wraps” of woolly hair that latticed the little round head actually bore a scarlet ribbon where they joined. “Min’, ’Liza, dat you says ’Ma’am’ an’ ’Yas, Sar’ ter dem chillen, if dey is littler ’n you, ’case dey’s you’ little marster and mistiss,” said Bithie, bridling with importance. But Bithie’s pride was short-lived, for ’Liza proved to be a marplot among the children, and, after less than half an hour of service, she was whisked away to the Quarters by Betty, the second nurse, who “’clared ter gracious, dat I’d druther tame er rattler ’n tame Bithie’s ’Liza!”