“But daddy thinks there is a great purpose in our coming here, Mammy.  He says he believes that the Lord is overruling our defeat, and that the driving us out from our homes and scattering us abroad will be the means of extending King George’s sway, and raising up a great nation in this land.”

“Missie Jean,” and Mammy raised a warning finger, “I doan want to predjis you ’ginst yer daddy’s jeg’ment, remember.  But I can’t see de Lo’d’s hand in dis racket.  It doan seems nat’ral to me fo’ de Lo’d to let King George lose a good an’ beau’ful country, an’ den gib him sich a jumpin’-off place as dis instead.  An’, chile, I doan believe dat de Lo’d ever meant yo’ to come here.”

“Why, Mammy?  Do I look any the worse for it?”

“Yo’ couldn’t look worse, Missie Jean, not if yo’ tried ebber so hard.”

“Come, come, Mammy, I am surprised at you,” and the girl’s eyes sparkled with merriment.  “What do you mean by saying I couldn’t look worse?  I didn’t know I was as hideous as all that.”

“I didn’t say yo’ was hidjus, Missie Jean.  I jes said yo’ couldn’t look worse, an’ ye can’t.  Yo’ kin only look beau’ful.  Why, chile, it makes my ol’ heart ache when I t’ink of sich a lubly creature as yo’ bein’ buried alive ’way off in de woods.”

“But I don’t intend to be buried alive, Mammy.  I hope to live a good many years yet, and only buried when I am dead.”

“Ah, chile, dere is more ways den one of bein’ buried alive.  I am t’inkin’ of de lonely life in de woods, wif no nice young men to look at yer pretty face, lubly eyes, an’ beau’ful hair.  An’ ye’ll hab no chance to wear fine clothes an’ be admired.”

“Mammy.”  There was a note in the girl’s voice which caused the colored woman to glance quickly up.

“What is it, chile?”

“I want to tell you something, Mammy.  This is not the time to talk about such things, nor to wail and lament about our lot.  I have just been down helping some of those women with their children.  They are almost heart-broken, and I did what I could to cheer them up.  I have made up my mind that no matter how badly I feel, no one is to know anything about it.  I am going to forget my own troubles in helping others.  And, Mammy, I want you to do the same.  If you talk to others as you have been talking to me, it will make them more depressed than ever.  They need smiles, words of cheer, and a helping hand.  And you can do that, remember.  Never mind about me, or admiring young men.  There are more serious things to think about just now.”

“Land sakes, chile!” the colored woman exclaimed, holding up both hands.  “I nebber heard yo’ talk dat way befo’.  But I guess yo’re right, an’ I’se ready to do what I kin.  But here comes de Cun’l!  An’, oh, Missie Jean, de Major’s wif him!  Dere won’t be ’nuf waffles to go ‘round, an’ de fire’s ’most out.  What in de world is I to do?”

“Never mind, Mammy,” the girl comforted, “they have hardly time to think about eating.  Just give them what you have.”