“Now Daph must be gittin dis place in order quick, or de childen will be wakin up,” said Daph, as she rose hastily with the air of one prepared for action. She carefully closed the shutters, locked the door behind her, and putting the key in her pocket, set off to make her purchases.
V.
Daph’s Shopping.
Daph had observed a small cabinet-maker’s shop, not far from her new home, and to it she easily made her way. The sight of two little wooden chairs, painted with the usual variety of wonderfully bright colors, attracted her attention, and suggested her plan of operations.
“It’s for de childen I’se buying,” she said, “and what’s de use ob paying a big price for grown up things. I just wants two chairs and a few tings to match for de dears.” While Daph was thus soliloquising, the shopman came forward, and she promptly addressed him as follows, “I’se jus come, sar, to buy de fixin ob a leetle room for my massa’s childen, General Louis La Tourette.”
Daph mentioned her master’s name with a pompous air, and with great distinctness, which had their effect on the humble cabinet-maker. He moved about briskly, and Daph soon had displayed before her all the small articles of furniture he had on hand.
The bright yellow chairs, adorned with the wonderful roses and tulips, were first set aside; then followed a little table, painted in the same fanciful manner, and lastly, a good-sized trundle bed, of a somewhat less gaudy appearance.
“I’se in a most pertickler hurry, jus now,” said Daph; “would you jus hab de kindness to get for de bed jus what will make it look neat and comfable; not too nice for childen to play on, while I steps out for a few notions as I’se ’bliged to git.”
The shopkeeper kindly complied, while Daph went on her way delighted at being thus able to have what the children would need for comfort, a matter about which she felt herself quite ignorant in this new climate.