"Yes, I reckin it am," the negro girl answered with a grin.
"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Abner. "Why, Oleah, this ain't Christmas."
Seeing his mistake, Oleah joined in the laugh, but soon commenced again.
"We're goin' to make the baby a nice, new play-house, ain't we, Abner?"
"Yes, and a swing."
The baby slept nearly all the forenoon. When she woke (for it was a girl) she was washed, and dressed in some of Master Oleah's clothes, and Mrs. Tompkins declared the child a marvel of beauty, and when the little thing turned her dark eyes on her benefactor with a confiding smile the lady resolved that no sorrow that she could avert should cloud the sweet, innocent face.
When the boys came in they began a war dance, which made the baby scream with delight. Impetuous Oleah snatched her from his mother's lap, and both boy and baby rolled over on the floor, fortunately not hurting either. His mother scolded, but the baby crowed and laughed, and he showered a hundred kisses on the little white face.
A boy about twelve years of age was coming down the lane. He entered the gate and was coming towards the house. Mr. Tompkins, who was in the sitting-room, in a moment recognized the boy as Crazy Joe, and told his wife about the unfortunate lad. He met the boy on the porch.
"How do you do, Joe?" he asked, extending his hand.
"I am well," Joe answered. "Have you seen my father Jacob or my brother Benjamin?"