“Shame on you, Uncle Lusthah, fer pilin’ up sech a heap ob ’plexity on my honey,” cried Aun’ Jinkey, who was as practical as she was superstitious.  “I kin tell you w’at ter do.  I doan projeck en smoke in my chimbly-corner fer not’n.  W’at kin you do but do ez you tole twel Marse Scoville en de Linkum gin’ral come agin?  S’pose you say you woan wuk en woan ’bey, how you hole out agin Perkins en Mad Whately?  Dey’d tar you all ter pieces.  Dey say dis wah fer freedom.  Whar yo’ patience twel de wah’ll end?  De Yanks mus’ do mo’ dan say we free; dey mus’ keep us free.  Dar Aun’ Suke.  She say she free one minit en a slabe nex’ minute twel her haid mos’ whirl off her shol’ers.  Now she say, ’I doan know ’bout dis freedom business; I does know how ter cook en I’se gwinter cook twel dey gets troo a whirlin’ back en forth.’  You says I mus’ trus’ de Lawd ’bout spooks, Uncle Lusthah.  W’y kyant you trus’ de Lawd ’bout freedom?”

The old man shook his head sorrowfully, for Aun’ Suke and Aun’ Jinkey’s philosophy didn’t satisfy him.  “I’se willin’ ter do my shar,” he said musingly, “de Lawd knows I be.  Ef I cud die lak po’ Marse Yarry en de oders fer freedom I’se willin’ ter die.”

“Now, Uncle Lusthah, your strong feeling and not your good sense speaks,” said Miss Lou, who had been thinking earnestly, meanwhile recalling Scoville’s prediction that the negroes might come to her for help and counsel.  “Aun’ Jinkey is certainly right in this case, and you must tell all our people from me that their only safe course now is to obey all orders and bide their time.  Perkins’ authority would be sustained by all the soldiers on the place and anything like disobedience would be punished severely.  If what Lieutenant Scoville and the Northern general said is true you will soon be free without useless risks on your part.  If that time comes I want you and mammy to stay with me.  You shall be as free as I am and I’ll give you wages.”

“Dar now, young mistis, ef I know I free I bress de Lawd fer de charnce ter gib my wuk ter you.  Dere’s a po’ful dif’unce ‘twix’ bein’ took en kep en des gibin’ yosef out ob yo’ own heart.  Slav’y couldn’t keep me fum gibin’ mysef ter de Lawd en I been He free man many a long yeah, en I be yo’ free man, too, fer lub.”

“Look yere, now, honey,” added Aun’ Jinkey, wiping her eyes with her apron, “you kin bury sogers all ’bout de cabin ef you wanter.  Uncle Lusthah kyant do mo’ fer you, honey, ner me, tookin resks ob spooks.  Des bury dem sogers, ef you wanter, right un’er my win’er.”

CHAPTER XXVIII

TRUTH IF THE HEAVENS FALL

It was quite natural that the thoughts of Perkins and Mr. Baron should turn toward the growing crops, neglected by reason of events unprecedented in their experience.  The announcement to the slaves, first by Scoville and later confirmed by General Marston, of freedom, had staggered both employer and overseer, but every hour since the departure of the raiding Union column had been reassuring.