uch. Why you go there?"

"I certainly do not like to leave home, Pablo, for I am very fond of my
brother and sisters; but we cannot always do as we wish in this world,
and it is for their sakes, more than from my own inclinations, that I
have done so."

"Can't see what good you do Missy Alice and Missy Edith 'cause you go
away. How it possible do good, and not with them? Suppose bad
accident, and you away, how you do good. Suppose bad accident, and you
at cottage, then you do good. I think, Massa Edward, you very foolish."

Edward laughed at this blunt observation of Pablo's, and replied, "It is
very true, Pablo, that I cannot watch over my sisters, and protect them
in person when I am away; but there are reasons why I should go,
nevertheless, and I may be more useful to them by going than by
remaining with them. If I did not think so I would not leave them.
They know nobody, and have no friends in the world. Suppose anything
was to happen to me. Suppose both Humphrey and I were to die--for you
know that we never know how soon that event may take place--who would
there be to protect my poor sisters, and what would become of them? Is
it not, therefore, wise that I should procure friends for them, in case
of accident, who would look after them and protect them? And it is my
hope, that by leaving them now, I shall make powerful and kind friends
for them. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, I see now; you think more than me, Massa Edward. I say just now,
you foolish; I say now, Pablo great fool."

"Besides, Pablo, recollect that I never would have left them as long as
there was only Humphrey and me to look after them, because an accident
might have happened to one of us; but when you came to live with us, and
I found what a good clever boy you were, and that you were fond of us
all, I then said, `Now I can leave my sisters, for Pablo shall take my
place, and assist Humphrey to do what is required, and to take care of
them.' Am I not right, Pablo?"

"Yes, Massa Edward," replied Pablo, taking hold of Edward's wrist, "you
quite right. Pablo does love Missy Alice, Missy Edith, Massa Humphrey,
and you, Massa Edward; he love you all very much indeed; he love you so
much that he die for you! Can do no more."

"That is what I really thought of you, Pablo, and yet I am glad to hear
it from your own mouth. If you had not come to live with us, and had
not proved so faithful, I could not have left to benefit my sisters