24 AGNES.

new flannels, and we cannot get flannels and shoes at the same
time, that is out of the question; and of course I can go with-
out better than grandpa can.”

Rius shook his head, still contemplating the dilapidated
shoes, then he gave a long sigh. “We'll get ’em somehow,
honey,” he replied. “T’ll do my bes’, an’ maybe dey’ll hold
out a day or two; but dey sholy is plum wore out.”

“Oh, Uncle ’Rius, if we only could find the box!” said

Agnes, clasping her hands. “We have never needed it so
much before. We must, must find it!” she said, stamping her
little foot fiercely on the ground. “Uncle ’Rius, won’t you
help me to-day ?”
_ The old man again shook his head: “Honey, dere is a
heap to be done, an’ Uncle ’Rius must do it. How yo’ an’
yo’ ma an’ yo’ gran’pa gwine to have anything to eat if "Rius
ain’t jes’ a-wuckin’, a-wuckin’?” ,

“But Pl help you, Uncle ’Rius, indeed I will; and if we
could only find the box—why, Uncle ’Rius, there is five hun-
dred dollars in it, and I don’t know how much jewelry,—dia-
monds and pearls, and I don’t know what all.”

“Yes, I know, honey chile,” the old man said, soothingly,
though he had long ago given up all hopes of finding the box.
“T is ’bleedged to mend de cow-shed,” he went on, “ an’ I mus’
ca’y de corn to de mill, so we-alls kin have nice corn pone, an’
I mus’ tote de chickens to town to sell, so yo’ ma kin git yo’
gran’pa’s flannels.”