Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.”
As Frank stopped singing, he was surprised to hear a sobbing sound behind him, and he turned to see Toots kneeling in the doorway, his face buried in his hands.
“Why, what is the matter with you, Toots?” asked Merry, rising and going toward the colored boy.
It was some moments before Toots could answer. Frank lifted him to his feet.
“Oh, Mistah Frank,” sobbed the colored lad, “I feel so bad!”
“Everything will come out all right in the end, my boy.”
“Dat song neah broke me all up, sah. Dis ole place hab been mah home so long, an’ now—an’ now——”
“And now we must bid it farewell. It is hard, but it is life.”
“I dunno what’s gwan teh become ob me, sah.”
“I will look out for you, Toots. I’ll see that you have a good position somewhere. You are faithful and reliable. You love horses, and you would make a first-class jockey. Don’t worry. I must go out and hustle myself. It needs a stout heart to face the world.”