wid you?" "I cum to tell you dat Judy's baby is mos ded, an' want you to cum 'mediately." "When I cum to de house," said the old woman, "I seed dat de chile was bad off. I took it up an' seed dat it had de dry gripes. I give it some Cider Berry Juice an' tole its mudder to fotch me a tater. I give de chile sum tater an' handed it to its mudder, an' tole her to put a sugar rag in its mouf with sum Sweet Flag an' lay it down, an' den I lef to jine de old folks at de house." "Well, Aunt Barbara, I suppose there was nothing very serious the matter with the child," said Mrs. Ridley. "Yas dar was, missus, an' I got dar jus in time. De chile was taken wid de dry gripes. I gin it sum Cider Berry Juice an' tole its mudder to fotch me a tater. I gin it sum of de tater an' put a sugar rag in its mouf. Dat chile has done gone sleep." "Barbara," said Col. R., "I suppose that if you were told that a child was dead and you were sent for in time you could, with your Cider Berry Juice, Tater, Sugar Rags, Sweet Flag and your Black Jack, bring the little sleeper to life. You talk of dry gripes; who ever heard of such a thing? What are they, and how is a person taken?" "Massa," said the old woman, "I tole you 'bout dem when dey got hold ob you. You ses nuffin to nobody, but you goes to de side-bode an' git sum Cider Berry Juice. Dat ma'e you feel good, an' arter a while you take sum mo' ob de juice. De baby dus not know dat, so it draws up its legs an' kicks like wrath. Den I know dat it has de dry gripes." "Aunt Barbara," said Col. R., "I did not take it in that light before. Your philosophy is good, and I shall say nothing about the practice of your profession again. I admit that I take the juice quite often, but it is not for the dry gripes." "Yas, sir, dat medcin is good for all diseases, an' I take sum mysef when dar is nuffin de matter wid me." Mrs. Ridley, who was sitting listening to the conversation, happened to look toward the road gate, and saw some one coming in. All eyes were now turned toward the approaching stranger, and all were anxious to know who it could be. One said that it must be a preacher, another that it was a book agent. Aunt Barbara put on her specs, took a survey and said: "I spec dat it is a doctor cummin' here to sell sum of Godfrey's Cordial for de baby." "You are all wrong," said Col. Ridley, "it is our good friend, Col. Godfrey." He was right. The Colonel had advanced near enough for all to see. Col. R. advanced to the yard gate as Col. Godfrey rode up. A boy was in waiting to take his horse. "Colonel, we are all glad to see you back again. Dismount and let your animal be stabled." Having dismounted, Col. R. took him by the hand and walked in the house. Mrs. R. was standing on the portico, and as Col. G. walked up she said "Sir, I assure you that we are all very glad to see you. We had been talking about you at the time that you appeared at the road gate. Walk in. We will talk about that later.