"Why I asked where you learned all dat 'bout de children of Israel."
"Oh, I learned that at Philadelphia," was his reply; "I learned it at school with the rest of the boys."
"You did!" exclaimed she, raising her hands with astonishment. "Is dere many more of 'em like you?"
Charlie did not hear this last question of Aunt Comfort's, therefore she was rather startled by his replying in a loud tone, "Immense hosts."
"Did I ever—jis' hear dat, dere's ''mense hostes' of 'em jest like him! only think of it. Is dey all dere yet, honey?"
"They were all drowned."
"Oh, Lordy, Lordy," rejoined she, aghast with horror; for Charlie's reply to a question regarding the fate of Pharaoh's army, had been by her interpreted as an answer to her question respecting his coloured schoolmates at Philadelphia.
"And how did you 'scape, honey," continued she, "from drowning 'long wid the rest of 'em?"
"Why I wasn't there, it was thousands of years ago."
"Look here. What do you mean?" she whispered; "didn't you say jest now dat you went to school wid 'em?"