“Did you ever hang up your stockings, Harbert?” asked Willie. “Why, tooby sho' honey,” replied the negro, laughing. “I bin hang um up way back yander 'fo' you wuz born'd. An' I used ter git goodies in um, too. Lord! dem wuz times, sho' nuff. I used ter git goodies in um dem days, but now I speck I wouldn't git so much ez a piece er 'lasses candy. But, nummine'bout dat! I'll des take en hang um up dis night, an' I'll be mighty glad ef I git a slishe er cracklin' bread. Dat kinder bread good nuff for me, 'specially when it right fresh.” “Man, don't talk!” exclaimed Aunt Crissy. “Look like I kin in about tas'e it now!” “Aunt Crissy, are you going to hang up your stockings?” asked Wattie. “Bless yo' soul, honey! I mos' got in de notion un it. Ef 'twan't dat I'm a sleepin' up in old Granny Chaney house fer ter sorter keep'er comp'ny, I speck I would hang um up. But dey tells me dat 'twon't do no good ef you hang up yo' stockin's in some un else house. 'Sides dat, ole Granny Chaney so restless dat she'd in about skeer old Sandy Claus off ef he 'uz to start ter come. I'm a tellin' you de trufe, Brer Harbert, dat ole creetur done got so dat she don't skacely close'er eyes fer sleep de whole blessed night. She take so many naps endurin' 'er de day, dat when night come she des ez wakeful ez dat ole black cat what stay up dar at de barn.” “Dat ole'oman gittin' ole, mon,” said Har-bert. “She wuz done grown an' had chillun when I wuz little baby. She lots older dan what I is, an' I ain't no chicken myse'f. I speck ef she 'uz ter go back an' count up 'er Chris-'mases, she done seed mighty nigh ez many ez what ole Sandy Claus is.” “Well,” said Aunt Crissy, changing the subject, “I ain't gwine hang up no stockin', kaze I speck dat whatsomever ole Sandy Claus got fer me, he'll drap it som'rs in de big house, an' when I holler at marster an' mistiss in de morn-in', dey'll fetch it out.” “Dat's so,” said Harbert. “Yit I got a mighty good notion fer ter hang up mine an' take de resk. But I'd a heap ruther git sumpin' dat's too big fer ter go in um.” “Well, we are going to hang up our stockings,” said Willie. “I'm going to hang up both of mine, and Wattie says she's going to hang up both of hers.” “Dat's right, honey; an' if dat ain't 'nuff' whirl in an' hang up a meal-sack. I done bin year tell 'fo' now 'bout folks what hang up great big bags stidder der stocking. Whedder dey got any mo' dan t'er folks is mo' dan I kin tell you.” “Harbert,” said Wattie, “do you reckon we'll git anything at all?” “Oh, I speck so,” said the negro. “I ain't year talk er you bein' so mighty bad dis long time. You cuts up scan'lous sometimes, but it's kaze yo' buddy dar pesters you.” This suggestion made Willie so angry that he threatened to go back to the big house and go to bed, and he would have gone but for a remark made by Aunt Crissy--a remark that made him forget his anger.