David was perplexed and disconsolate and at bed-hour went to the stable. Anah was munching his oats, and David, little and bent, stood behind the mule, who switched his tail and laid back his ears as if to say, You are going to take away my oats. The old man’s eyes brimmed with tears; he had a big, kind heart, and his affection for the mule was really touching. Finally he said, “You recommember me all de time, don’ you, Anah? Don’ I al’ays feed you good an’ rub you an’ gib you uh sorf bed?” Then he walked into the stall, stroked the mule’s ear and said, “Jes’ ez sorf ez uh ’possum’s ear; you know I ain’ gwine ter let ’em sell you, Anah. Mars Jimmy kyant find an nerr mule in Talbot County like you. He ain’ gwine ter sell you, an’ ef’n he do, he got ter sell me wid you, dat he is! Well, da ain’ no tellin’; Mars Jimmy mout sell dis mule ter-morry, so I’m gwine ter sleep wid him dis night, fuh it mout be de po’ mule’s lars’ night heah. I’ll put some mo’ hay in de bottom ub de manger, an’ wid dese corn-cobs I’ll meck ub pillah, put meh coat on it, an’ den I’ll kivver mehsef wid hay. Lemmy see—no, I won’ teck meh shoes orf, kase I mout hab ter git up futto git him some oats.” His bed arranged, the old man said, “I heah Pawson Demby say dat our blessid Lawd an’ Sabior wuz bawn in ub stable, so hit sut’ny good ernuff fuh me.” Weary and sad, he leaned against the manger, said his prayers, and then he snuggled in the hay and sang his favorite hymn: =“What kind ub shoes you gwine ter wear? Golden slippers! What kind ub shoes you gwine ter wear? Golden slippers I’m bound ter wear, dat outshines de glitter-in’ sun.= =What kind ub crown you gwine ter wear? Star-ry crown! What kind ub crown you gwine ter wear? Star-ry crown I’m bound ter wear, dat outshines de glitter-in’ sun.= =What kind ub robe you gwine ter wear? White robe! What kind ub robe you gwine ter wear? White robe! Long white robe I’m bound ter wear, dat outshines de glit-ter-in’ sun.= =What kind ub hymn you gwine ter sing? New hymn! What kind ub hyarp you gwine ter play? Golden hyarp! Golden hyarp I’m bound ter play, dat outshines de glit—ter—in’——sun——.”= Then all was hushed! Mayhap Uncle David dreamed he had on his golden slippers that outshone the glittering sun, wore a starry crown and long white robe, sang a new hymn, and played upon a golden harp, for the Bible tells us— =“The sleep of a laboring man is sweet.”= ----- Footnote 1: Robert Morris was the father of the revolutionary financier, and Henry Callister, a philanthropist who befriended the deported hapless Acadians, sent to Annapolis, Md., in 1775, and gave large sums from his own pocket to relieve their suffering, to the serious impairment of his moderate fortune. Footnote 2: Macaulay says, “Our own firm belief is that he was.” Footnote 3: