He had given Daph a letter to a sailor’s widow, with whom he thought she would be able to secure a home, where she would escape the idle and vicious poor who congregated in less respectable parts of the city. After having made Daph count on her fingers, half a dozen times, the number of streets she must cross before she came to “the small red house, with blue shutters,” where she was to stop, he piloted the little party into Broadway, and setting their faces in the right direction, he bade them an affectionate farewell. As he shook Daph’s black hand for the last time, she placed in his a small parcel, clumsily tied up in brown paper, saying, “You puts that in your pocket, Massa Cap’in, and when you gets to sea, you open it, and you will understand what Daph means.” Captain Jones did, almost unconsciously, as Daph suggested, as, with a full heart, he turned away from the little ones who had become so dear to him. Once more, the only protector of her master’s children, Daph’s energy seemed to return to her. She wound the shawl more closely about Louise, drew Charlie to her honest bosom, looked after the various bundles, and then set off at a regular marching pace. The strange appearance of the little party, soon attracted the attention of the knots of idle boys, who even then infested the more populous parts of New York. “Hallo, Darky! where’s your hand-organ? What’ll ye take for your monkeys?” shouted one of these young rascals, as he eyed the children in their odd-looking red flannel garments. Louise clung closely to Daph, who strode steadily on, apparently unconscious of the little troop gathering in her rear. By degrees the young scamps drew nearer to her, and one of them, taking hold of the skirt of her dress, cried out, “Come, fellows, form a line! Follow the captain, and do as you see me do!” A long string of boys arranged themselves behind Daph, each holding on to the other’s tattered garments, and walking with mock solemnity, while the foremost shouted in Daph’s ear the most provoking and impudent things his imagination and rascality could suggest. Daph maintained her apparent unconsciousness until she came in front of a large door, with a deep recess, which opened directly on the street, and but a step above the pavement. With a sudden and unexpected jerk she freed herself from her tormentor, then placing Charlie and Louise for a moment in the recess, she charged upon her assailants. Right and left she dealt hearty slaps, with her open hand, which sent the little crew howling away, their cheeks smarting with pain and burning with rage. The whole thing was the work of a moment. Daph took Charlie in her arms, clasped the trembling hand of Louise, and resumed her steady walk as calmly as if nothing had occurred.