"
"Well, you wait," said Dumps, "an' I'll go bring yer the picnic."
"Don't tell nobody 'boutn my bein' hyear, honey."
"No, I won't," said Dumps, "only Diddie; she's good, an' she won't
tell nobody; an' she can read an' write, an' she'll know what to do
better'n me, because I'm all the time such a little goose. But I'll
bring yer sump'n t' eat; you jes wait er little minute; an' don't yer
starve ter def till I come back."
Dumps ran back to the ditch where the children were, and, taking
Diddie aside in a very mysterious manner, she told her about the poor
man who was hiding in the gin-house, and about his being so hungry.
"An' I tol' 'im I'd bring 'im the picnic," concluded Dumps; and
Diddie, being the gentlest and kindest-hearted little girl imaginable,
at once consented to that plan; and, leaving Tot with the little
negroes in the woods, the two children took their baskets, and went
higher up the ditch, on pretence of finding a good place to set the
table; but, as soon as they were out of sight, they cut across the
grove, and were soon at the gin-house. They entered the pick-room
cautiously, and closed the door behind them. The man came out from his
hiding-place, and the little girls emptied their baskets in his hands.
He ate ravenously, and Diddie and Dumps saw with pleasure how much he
enjoyed the nice tarts and sandwiches and cakes that Mammy had
provided for the picnic.
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