“Yes, honey; that’s what makes us bofe so little, I reckon; but we don’t mean no harm by it. We nebber does nothin’ to nobody; me and ’Sias don’t.” “I’m sure you don’t. Be satisfied. We are not disposed to think evil of you,” said John. “I do thank you for that ’pinion, marster; an’ it a true one; ’cause we nebber does nothin’ to nobody. An’ now I’ll go. Ebenin’, sar; ebenin’, ma’am; ebenin’, young people. I’s gwine now.” And with these last words the queer little old woman took leave and went away. The strong, industrious and hard-working Palmers, toiling together, soon got their pleasant house in perfect order. And then they began to realize how, without actually possessing wealth, they had come into all the practical enjoyment of it. John’s duty was very light—it was only to look after the plantation; but not to take any part in the hard labor. Susan’s office was still lighter—to look after the women servants and see that the manor-house was kept clean and well aired, and that all the work in their department was well done. In compensation the Palmers had the free use of the comfortable house, six hundred dollars a year, and all the family provisions from the plantation that the household might require; and lastly, the privilege of “exercising” the horses in the stable, either under the saddle or before one of the rather dilapidated old carriages. The granaries supplied them with abundance of bread-stuffs; the dairies with milk, cream and butter; the barnyard with poultry; the droves of cattle and flocks of sheep with meat; the river below them with fish; the garden with vegetables; the orchard with fruit, and the bee-hives with honey; for, although the manor-house had been utterly neglected, the farms and stock had been tolerably well kept up by the negroes, under the occasional supervision of the agent. Besides all this, John and Susan had the privilege of selecting two servants, a man and a woman, from the plantation for their own family service—a privilege which they had not as yet availed themselves of, having help enough within their own household. There were so many hands, indeed, that all their work was quietly and easily done, leaving them much leisure for rest and recreation. John Palmer took the women and children in the capacious old carry-all for long drives along the banks of the river or through the forest. Em. and the two boys learned to ride so well that they could always attend the carry-all on horseback.