Dat chile war allers at my heels.

I couldn't stir widout him, an' when he missed me, he'd fret an' cry so I had ter stay wid him; an' wen he went to school, I had ter carry him in de mornin' and bring him home in de ebenin'.

An' I learned him to hunt squirrels, an' rabbits, an' ketch fish, an' set traps for birds.

I beliebs he lob'd me better dan any ob his kin'.

An' he showed me how to read." "Well," said Tom, "ef he lob'd you so much, why didn't he set you free ?" "Marse Robert tole me, ef he died fust he war gwine ter leave me free--dat I should neber sarve any one else." "Oh, sho!" said Tom, "promises, like pie crusts, is made to be broken.