"I don't know but what they were girls. I think they were."

Now mars Clay, you knows bettern dat. Sometimes a body can't tell

whedder you's a sayin' what you means or whedder you's a sayin' what you

don't mean, 'case you says 'em bofe de same way."

"But how should I know whether they were boys or girls?"

Goodness sakes, mars Clay, don't de Good Book say? 'Sides, don't it

call 'em de HE-brew chil'en? If dey was gals wouldn't dey be de SHE-brew

chil'en? Some people dat kin read don't 'pear to take no notice when dey

do read."

"Well, Uncle Dan'l, I think that-----My! here comes another one up the

river! There can't be two!"

"We gone dis time--we done gone dis time, sho'! Dey ain't two, mars

Clay--days de same one. De Lord kin 'pear eberywhah in a second.

Goodness, how do fiah and de smoke do belch up! Dat mean business,

honey. He comin' now like he fo'got sumfin. Come 'long, chil'en, time

you's gwyne to roos'. Go 'long wid you--ole Uncle Daniel gwyne out in de

woods to rastle in prah--de ole nigger gwyne to do what he kin to sabe

you agin."

He did go to the woods and pray; but he went so far that he doubted,

The Gilded Age