Whack comes the thimble, and the child snatches her claws out of the sugar-bowl without fooling around any. Just then the nigger woman steps on to the passage, and says:

“Missus, dey’s a sheet gone.”

“A sheet gone! Well, for the land’s sake!”

“I’ll stop up them holes today,” says Uncle Silas, looking sorrowful.

“Oh, do shet up!⁠—s’pose the rats took the sheet ? Where’s it gone, Lize?”