"Sit down, mammy," said Elsie pityingly, as they reached the settee where she and her father had been sitting; "you are trembling so you can scarcely stand." "O darlin', dat's true 'nuff, I'se mos' ready to drop," she said tremulously, coming down heavily upon a trunk that stood close at hand. "Oh, de good Lord hab bring me face to face wid my ole Uncle Joe; oh, I neber 'spected to see him no more in dis wicked world. But dey'll take 'im off again an' dis ole heart'll break," she added, with a bursting sob. "No, no, mammy, you shall have him, if money can accomplish it." "You buy 'im, darlin'? Oh, your ole mammy can neber t'ank you 'nuff!" and a low, happy laugh mingled with the choking sobs. "But dey'll ask heaps ob money." "You shall have him, let the price be what it will," was Elsie's assurance. "See papa is bargaining with the captain now, for they look at Uncle Joe as they talk." Chloe regarded them with eager interest; yes, they were looking at Uncle Joe, and evidently speaking of him. "By the way," Mr. Dinsmore remarked carelessly, "does Uncle Joe belong to you? or is he merely a hired hand?" "He's my property, sir." "Would you like to sell?" "I am not anxious; he's a good hand, faithful and honest: quite a religious character in fact," he concluded with a sneer; "overshoots the mark in prayin and psalm-singing. But do you want to buy?" "Well yes; my daughter is fond of her old mammy, and for her sake would be willing to give a reasonable sum. What do you ask?" "Make me an offer." "Five hundred dollars." "Five hundred? ridiculous! he's worth twice that." "I think not, he is old--not far from seventy and will soon be past work and only a burden and expense. My offer is a good one." "Make it seven hundred and I'll take it." Mr. Dinsmore considered a moment. "That is too high," he said at length, "but for the sake of making two poor creatures happy, I will give it." "Cash down?" "Yes, a check on a New Orleans bank." "Please walk down into the cabin then, sir, and we'll conclude the business at once." In a few moments Mr. Dinsmore returned to his daughter's side, and placing the receipted bill of sale in her hands, asked, "Have I given too much?" "Oh, no, papa, no indeed! I should have given a thousand without a moment's hesitation, if asked it--five, ten thousand, if need be, rather than have them parted again," she exclaimed, the bright tears shining in her eyes. "Mammy, my poor old mammy, Uncle Joe belongs to me now, and you can have him always with you as long as the Lord spares your lives." "Now bress de Lord!" cried the old woman devoutly, raising her streaming eyes and clasped hands to heaven; "de good Lord dat hears de prayers ob His chilen's cryin' to Him when dere hearts is oberwhelmed!" "Go break the news to Uncle Joe, mammy," said Elsie; "see, yonder he stands looking so eager and wistful."