Upon the following evening a low knock was heard at the study door, then a fumbling at the latch, and old Jerry once more stood upon the threshold.
“Well, old man, what is it now?” his master asked kindly. “Come, out with it!” he repeated, as the old man, with a feeble grin, stood helplessly fingering his hat. “What’s the matter?”
And old Jerry, slowly scratching his head, made answer:—
“Thank, Marster; I’s come to ax Marster what I done to ’splease Mars?”
“Displease me! Why, what has put that notion into your head?”
“I dunno, Mars, what I’s done, but I’s skeared Mars mout be set agin me, ’cause he say he gwine sen’ me offen de plantation.”
Then Harry explained that he was to be set free, and eagerly enlarged upon the delights of liberty. The hog-feeder listened, but was unmoved: he obstinately declined to accept his freedom, his plea being that “the varments” would “’stroy up his creeturs” if he were not there to look after them.
“De black sow, she got a fine litter o’ pigs now, an’ de foxes is a’ter ’em de blessed time.”
After this no more could be urged, and Jerry, scraping his foot, went out with a mind full of content.