“Aunt Amphy, child: ’deed it is! least ways that’s what they do call me, aldough de name give me by my sponsors in Babtism wer Amphitryte, arter the Queen of the Ocean.” “Yes. Well, can I do any thing for you, Amphy?” “Lor bless you, no, child! no, honey! not a single thing! I’s independent, thanks be to my ’Vine Marster. I come to see if I could be of any sarvice to you, child, in showing you the house and furniter—seeing how you’ve rented of it jes as it stands—and if I could make de beds, or get supper ready for you, or any thing.” “I thank you: you are very kind. I accept your services, and will reward them; there is my maid; you can consult and assist her. Susan, come hither, my girl.” Susan came forward. “Here is this good woman, Amphy, who will show you through the house and render you any assistance you may need.” “Yes, child—’deed will _I_,” put in the woman. “Very well, come along then, and show me where the kitchen is, first of all,” said Susan. “Yes, honey—keep close arter me. And don’t you be ’fraid now, if de house is haunted,” said Amphy. There was not far to go. Amphy simply crossed the hall, and opening the opposite door on the left hand side, ushered her companion into the room used as a kitchen;—such a poor place! so clean, yet so bare of furniture; a wide fire-place with iron fire-dogs, and surmounted by a mantle-piece upon which stood a row of brass candlesticks, a corner cupboard—the upper part with glass doors—containing common white delf ware, a wooden table and four wooden chairs, were all the visible articles of furniture. “Dar honey! What do you say to _dat_ for a ’spectable kitchen?” exclaimed the old woman in triumph. “Where are the cooking utensils?” asked Susan, eluding the other’s question. “The _which_, honey?” “The tea-kettle, and saucepan, and toasting-fork, and so on.” “Oh, yes, child, surely! Dey’s in de bottom o’ de cupboard.” “Now, then, if you will show me where to get some wood and water, I will have the fire made and the kettle on by the time the hampers arrive.” “I’ll go get de wood and water, child—you jes go and wait to unpack de hampers.” “Very well; thank you; go.” The fire was soon kindled; the hampers were brought in and unpacked; and Susan’s dexterous and willing fingers quickly prepared a light repast of black tea, toast, and two poached eggs, which she neatly arranged upon a waiter and carried in and set before her mistress. “Now _do_, sweet lady, try to eat something,” she said, affectionately—“these eggs look like snowballs; this toast is browned to a turn, and this tea—better never came from Canton—try now while I go and see what prospect there is for comfortable sleeping.” And leaving the sad-browed lady, she called Amphy from the hall, and directed her to show the way to the best chamber. The old woman merely opened the door connecting the parlor in which they stood with the back room, and said: