The Mountain Girl by Emma Payne Erskine Chapter 14 Page 31

Sunday, Frale. Is they going to be a circus, Frale, is they?” She poured forth her questions rapidly, as she hopped from one foot to the other. “Will you take me, Frale, if it’s a circus? I’ll ask mamma. I want to see the el’phant.”

“‘Tain’t no circus,” he replied grimly.

“What’s the matter, Frale? Don’t you like your fried cakes? Then why don’t you eat them? What you wrapping them up for? You ought to say thank you, when I bring you nice cakes ‘at I went an’ stole for you,” she remonstrated severely.

His throat worked convulsively as he stood, now looking at the child, now watching the street. Suddenly he lifted her in his arms and buried his face in her gingham apron.