"Oh, Tiff, Tiff! poor old black, faithful Tiff! What should I have done without you? So sick as I've been, and so weak, and so lonesome! But, Tiff, it's coming to an end pretty soon. I've seen, to-night, that I an't going to live long, and I've been crying to think the children have got to live. If I could only take them all into my arms, and all lie down in the grave together, I should be so glad! I never knew what God made me for! I've never been fit for anything, nor done anything!"
Tiff seemed so utterly overcome by this appeal, his great spectacles were fairly washed down in a flood of tears, and his broad, awkward frame shook with sobs.
"Law bless you, Miss Sue, don't be talking dat ar way! Why, if de Lord should call you, Miss Sue, I can take care of the children. I can bring them up powerful, I tell ye! But you won't be a-going; you'll get better! It's just the sperits is low; and, laws, why shouldn't dey be?"
Just at this moment a loud barking was heard outside the house, together with the rattle of wheels and the tramp of horses' feet.
"Dar's massa, sure as I'm alive!" said he, hastily laying down the invalid, and arranging her pillows.
A rough voice called, "Hallo, Tiff! here with a light!"
Tiff caught the pine-knot, and ran to open the door. A strange-looking vehicle, of a most unexampled composite order, was standing before the door, drawn by a lean, one-eyed horse.
"Here, Tiff, help me out. I've got a lot of goods here. How's Sue?"
"Missis is powerful bad; been wanting to see you dis long time."