we suffer with him, we shall also reign,
Scripture says; but, if we deny Him, he also will deny us. Didn't they
all suffer?--the Lord and all his? It tells how they was stoned and
sawn asunder, and wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins, and was
destitute, afflicted, tormented. Sufferin' an't no reason to make us
think the Lord's turned agin us; but jest the contrary, if only we hold
on to him, and doesn't give up to sin."

"But why does he put us where we can't help but sin?" said the woman.

"I think we _can_ help it," said Tom.

"You'll see," said Cassy; "what'll you do? Tomorrow they'll be at you
again. I know 'em; I've seen all their doings; I can't bear to think of
all they'll bring you to;--and they'll make you give out, at last!"

"Lord Jesus!" said Tom, "you _will_ take care of my soul? O Lord,
do!--don't let me give out!"

"O dear!" said Cassy; "I've heard all this crying and praying before;
and yet, they've been broken down, and brought under. There's Emmeline,
she's trying to hold on, and you're trying,--but what use? You must give
up, or be killed by inches."

"Well, then, I _will_ die!" said Tom. "Spin it out as long as they can,
they can't help my dying, some time!--and, after that, they can't do
no more. I'm clar, I'm set! I _know_ the Lord'll help me, and bring me
through."

The woman did not answer; she sat with her black eyes intently fixed on
the floor.

"May be it's the way," she murmured to herself; "but those that _have_
given up, there's no hope for them!--none! We live in filth, and grow
loathsome, till we loathe ourselves! And we long to die, and we
don't dare to kill ourselves!--No hope! no hope! no hope?--this girl
now,--just as old as I was!

"You see me now," she said, speaking to Tom very rapidly; "see what I
am! Well, I was brought up in luxury; the first I remember is, playing
about, when I was a child, in splendid parlors,--when I was kept dressed
up like a doll, and company and visitors used to praise me. There was
a garden opening from the saloon windows; and there I used to play
hide-and-go-seek, under the orange-trees, with my brothers and sisters.
I went to a convent, and there I learned music, French and embroidery,
and what not; and when I was fourteen, I came out to my father's
funeral. He died very suddenly, and when the property came to be
settled, they found that there was scarcely enough to cover the debts;
and when the creditors took an inventory of the pr