Finally the little woman said, "I don't know ef we did right to let him sleep through it all, but then it was sich a horrible death."
When she had finished dressing the child, she led him to the bed and showed him his mother's face. He touched it with his little grimy finger, and then, as if, young as he was, the realization of his bereavement had fully come to him, he burst into tears.
Miss Hester turned her face away, but Mrs. Davis did not try to conceal her tears. She took the boy up in her arms and comforted him the best she could.
"Don't cry, Freddie," she said; "don't cry; mamma 's— restin'. Ef you don't care, Miss Prime, I'll take him over home an give him some breakfast, an' leave him with my oldest girl, Sophy. She kin stay out o' school to-day. I'll bring you back a cup o tea, too; that is, ef you ain't afeared—"
"Afeared o' what?" exclaimed Miss Prime, turning on her.
"Well, you know, Miss Hester, bein' left alone— ah— some people air funny about—"
"I'm no fool, Melissy Davis. Take the child an' go on."
Miss Hester was glad of the chance to be
