As the huge Commissariat advertised the fatness of reconstruction, so Joshua advertised the leanness thereof. The black diplomat in a tentative way was preparing the colored people for an event of momentous consequence. His mission to Ned's cabin was for this purpose. "Mornin to yu boff," came the crusty greeting. "Is dat yu, brudder Joshaway?" Clarissa enquired. "Yes, dis is me." "Cum in, den," said Clarissa, and Joshua, reeling from old age tottered in and took a seat with a groan. "Is dat you, Miss Alice?" he asked looking up and shading his eyes with a palsied hand and seeing the young lady in the cabin. "Scuse me, marm, I haint seed yu afore." "Good morning, Uncle Joshua, I am very glad to see you. You are a stranger to us and the old home. I should think you would come to see us now and then, to know how we are getting on. Have you entirely forgotten your old friends?" The old negro dropped his head embarrassingly as he replied with hesitation. "Not eggzackly, mum, but fokeses has dun und got so kurous now a days dar haint no telling how menny scrapes yu is ergwine to git kotched in; I'm moest afeered to git outen Hanner's wision, deed I is, mum." "You are not a soldier I hope, uncle Joshua? Do you belong to the army," asked Alice as she observed the blue uniform that he wore. "No mum, not pintedly," the negro furtively answered. "Dat is I don't tote no muskeet--und I got my deesharge from de leftenant--und I haint got no offis in pertickler, but de cappen lowed dat he mout pint me corpurul of de gyard at de kumissurry ef I cud hole out." "Ef I cud hole out" sneeringly repeated Clarissa. "Ugh! Nigh unto er hunded year ole er holin out; mouter say ef yu cud hole in; jess es ragged es er sedge hen." Alice was very much amused at the coarse wit of Clarissa, but it was important that she should return home and perhaps, too, her presence might embarrass the interview between the freed slaves, and taking uncle Joshua's hand in her own she bade him good bye with the observation. "Remember, old man, that father and I are still your friends; and when you are in trouble or distress come to us. May God bless you, uncle Joshua." "Good by, missis!" exclaimed Joshua, as he wiped his eyes with his coat sleeve, "May de Lord do de same to yu missis." After the young lady had retired, Joshua, with some trepidation, observed: "Brudder Johnsing, Hanner sont me ober heer to ax yu und sister to de weddin Saddy nite und to tell sister Johnsing how she mout bake er cake wid ice on de tip eend of hit, ur she moutent ef she didn't want to." "Who dat want er cake?" exclaimed Clarissa. "Yu heerd whot I sed, didn't yu?" Joshua petulantly replied. "Who dat ergwine to git married Joshua?" she asked. "Efrum, dats who," replied Joshua. "My King! dat biggerty nigger ergwine to git married sho nuff?"