-I should distrust that man."

"He is close to a farthing," said Abel, "but he is as honest as the day.
Why he has the reputation of a saint. Harriet says she wishes he wore a
long-tailed coat instead of a short jacket, so that she could hang on and
get to heaven that way."

"My sister saw Mrs. White not long ago, and complimented her on her new
bonnet being so very becoming to her. 'Now I want to know!' said Mrs.
White; 'why I thought it made me look like a fright.'

"'But what made you get a black one,' said Harriet, 'why did you not get a
dark green or a brown one?'

"'Why, you see,' said Mrs. White, 'the deacon's health is a failin'; he's
dreadful low in the top knots lately, and I thought as his time might come
very soon, I might as well get a black one while I was a getting. We're all
born to die, Miss Harriet; and the deacon is dwindlin' away.'"

The young men laughed, and Arthur said "What will he do with his money?
Mrs. White will not wear the black bonnet long if she have twenty thousand
dollars; she can buy a new bonnet and a new husband with that."

"No danger," said Abel, "Deacon White has made his will, and has left his
wife the interest of five thousand dollars; at her death the principal
goes, as all the rest, to aid some benevolent purpose.

"But there are the letters; what a bundle for you, Arthur! That is the
penalty of being engaged. Well I must wait for the widow White, I guess
she'll let me have the use of the horse and chaise, at any rate."

Mr. Hubbard arose to go, and Arthur handed him his newspaper. "That is a
valuable document, sir, but there is one still more so in your library
here; it is a paper published the same month and year of the Declaration of
Independence, in which are advertised in the New England States negroes for
sale! Your fathers did not think we were all born free and equal it
appears."

"We have better views now-a-days, said Mr. Hubbard; the Rev. Mr. H. has
just returned from a tour in the Southern States, and he is to lecture
to-night, won't you go and hear him?"

"Thank you, no," said Arthur. "I have seen some of this reverend
gentleman's statements, and his friends ought to advise him to drop the
reverend for life. He is a fit subject for an asylum, for I can't think a
man in his senses would lie so."

"He is considered a man of veracity," said Mr. Hubbard, "by those who have
an opportunity of knowing his character."

"Well, I differ from them," said Arthur,