Raising the bed clothes, he got on top of Mama, who moved some so as to be easy under him, or so I supposed. Then she reached her hand down in the bed and presently said, “Now it's in nicely.” Again began the regular motions of the night before. I could see the bed clothes rise and fall and could tell that Mama moved as he did.

I need not say that I greatly wondered what it all meant. I wondered what it could be that was “in nicely” and what, indeed, it was in. But it was all Greek to me then. As their motions became more brisk, they were not as cautious as the night before. Still I did not think it expedient to wake up. I could see that he had his arm about Mama, and she seemed to be enjoying it so I was not alarmed. But after the loud breathing they both kept quiet for awhile. Finally Mr. Amberg threw back the bed clothes and got off of Mama, and then I saw that he had been between her thighs. As soon as he got off, Mama pulled her chemise down between her legs and pulled the cover over her again.

Next day Mr. Amberg left us as before. Just before noon my papa and another man came in, and such a time as they had I can't describe. It ended by Papa taking me and leaving Mama there alone. We went first to our old home. Then Papa found a place for me in a family in the country by the name of Wilcox. I never told anyone about Mama and Mr. Amberg. I had got in the habit of keeping my eyes and ears open and my thoughts to myself.

The Wilcox family consisted of the old folks and a married daughter who was visiting them, Mrs. Davey. One of the first things that excited my curiosity was that Mrs. Davey should have such a big belly. I have since learned that she had come home so as to be with her mother during confinement, but it was all a puzzle to me then, and after the baby was born I wondered why Mrs. Davey's belly was smaller than it was before. I had no one to talk with about it, however, so it remained a puzzle.