“I intend you shall, little daughter, and if you and Harold will be here with your hats on, all ready to start at once when we come back, I will give you each a short ride before the ponies are put away.”

“Oh, thank you, papa! we’ll be sure to be ready,” they answered, and ran in to their mother to tell her of papa’s kind promise, and to have their hats put on.

Elsie, who was in the sitting-room with Herbert on her lap, rejoiced in their joy, and bade Dinah prepare them at once for their ride.

“Bress dere little hearts! dey grows hansomer ebery day,” exclaimed an elderly negress, who had just come in with a basket on her arm.

“Don’t say such things before them, Aunt Sally,” said her mistress in a tone of gentle reproof, “their young hearts are only too ready to be puffed up with vanity and pride.  Now what is your report from the quarter.”

“Well, missus, dere’s lots ob miseries down dere dis mornin’; ole Lize she’s took wid a misery in her side; an’ Uncle Jack, he got um in his head; ole Aunt Delie’s got de misery in de joints wid de rheumatiz, an’ ole Uncle Mose he’s ‘plainin ob de misery in his back; can’t stan’ up straight no how:  an’ Hannah’s baby got a mighty bad cold, can’t hardly draw its breff; ‘twas took dat way in de night; an’ Silvy’s boy tore his foot on a nail.”

“Quite a list,” said Elsie.  And giving her babe to Aunt Chloe, she selected a key from a bright bunch lying in a little basket, held by a small dusky maid at her side, unlocked a closet door and looked over her medical store.  “Here’s a plaster for Uncle Mose to put on his back, and one for Lize’s side,” she said, handing each article in turn to Aunt Sally, who bestowed it in her basket.  “This small bottle has some drops that will do Uncle Jack’s head good; and this larger one is for Aunt Delia.  Tell her to rub her joints with it.  There is medicine for the baby, and Hannah must give it a warm bath.  If it is not better directly we must send for the doctor.  Now, here is a box of salve, excellent for cuts, burns and bruises; spread some on a bit of rag, and tie it on Silvy’s boy’s foot.  There, I think that is all.  I’ll be down after a while, to see how they are all doing,” and with some added directions concerning the use of each remedy, Aunt Sally was dismissed.

Then Aunt Dicey, the housekeeper, came for her orders for the day, and such supplies from pantry and storehouse as were needed in carrying them out.

In the meantime the riding party had returned, Harold and Violet had been treated to a ride about the grounds, the one in his father’s arms, Beppo stepping carefully as if he knew he carried a tender babe, the other on one of the ponies close at papa’s side and under his watchful eye.

It was a rosy merry group mamma found upon the veranda, chatting to each other and laughing gayly as they watched their father cantering down the avenue on his way to the fields to oversee the work going on there.