"She may be pretty, as colored widows go, but she is certainly lazy and shiftless." "Yes, and she has more than two children and I know it.

Why, once I came past here and I saw her with at least seven or eight." When the boys came up they saw several colored children hurrying away from the house.

As they did this the widow came to the door and called after them: "Now, Arabella, go to the cemetery, jest as I tole yo', an' stay thar!" "I ain't gwine to stay long," answered Arabella.
"You stay an hour or two," answered the widow.

"To morrow, I'll give yo' money fer lolly pops." "What is she sending the children to the cemetery for ?" asked Tom, in a whisper.
"Maybe to keep 'em quiet," answered Sam, with a grin.
"Must be wanting to keep them out of Aleck's way." At that moment the figure of a tall, lanky colored man came down a side street.

The man entered the widow's cottage and received a warm welcome.
"Glad to see you, Mistah Thomas.