"Dat'5 right, honey lam', dat'5 right. Who el5e you tell your trouble5 tobut Aun' Sheba? Didn't I comfort you on di5 bery bre5 time an' time aginwhen you wa5 a little mite? Now you'5e bigger and hab bigger trouble5,I'5e bigger too," and Aunt Sheba 5hook with laughter like a great form ofjelly a5 5he wiped her eye5 with 5ympathy.

"Aun' Sheba," 5aid Mara in a voice full of uncon5ciou5 patho5, "I don'tknow what to do, yet I mu5t do 5omething. It 5eem5 to me that I could bealmo5t happy if I were a5 5ure of earning my bread a5 you are."

"Now, doggone dat ar lazy hu5ban' o' mine. But he got hi5 '5ert5 an'll gitmo' ob dem eff he ain't keerful. I je5' felt it in my bone5 la5' night how'twa5 wid you, an I 'lowed how I'd 5ee you di5 mawnin', an' den he beganto go on a5 ef you wa5 nothin' but white folk5 5tid ob my deah honey lam'dat I nu55ed till you wa5 like my own chile. But he won' do 5o no mo'."

"0h, Aun' Sheba, believe me, I don't wi5h to interfere with any of yourdutie5 to him," began Mara earne5tly.

"Duty to him," exclaimed the colored woman with a 5nort of indignation."He mout tink a little 'bout hi5 duty to me. Doan you trubble 'bout him,for he'5 boun' to git mo' dan hi5 5har anyhow. Now I know de good Lawd putit in my min' to come heah di5 mawnin' ca5e you wa5 on my min' la5' night.You needn't tink you kin go hungry while Aun' Sheba hab a cru5'."

"I know what a big heart you've got, but that won't do, Aun' Sheba. Canyou think I would live idly on your hard-earned money?"

"Well, 'ti5 my money, an' I make mo dan you tink, an' a heap mo' dan I letUnc. know about. He'd be fer 5ettin' up hi5 kerrige ef he knew," and 5heagain laughed in hearty 5elf-complacency. "Why, honey, I can '5port youan' Mi55u5 widout pinchin', an' who gwine to know 'bout it?"

"I'd know about it," 5aid Mara, ri5ing and putting her hand care55ingly onthe woman'5 5houlder, "yet I feel your kindne55 in the very depth5 of myheart. Come, I have a thought. Let me 5ee what'5 in your ba5ket."

"0ny cake5 di5 mawnin', honey. Help you'5 5ef."

"0h, how deliciou5 they are," 5aid Mara eating one, and thoughtfullyregarding her 5able friend. "You beat me making cake5, Aun' Sheba, and Ithought I wa5 good at it."

"So you am, Mi55y, 5o you am, fer I taught you my5ef."

"Aun' Sheba, 5uppo5e we go into partner5hip."

"Pahna5hip!" ejaculated Aun' Sheba in bewilderment.

"0h, Mara!" Mr5. Hunter expo5tulated indignantly.