ce and address him.

Glancing up from her book, "Ah, Uncle Ben, good evening," she said. "What
can I do for you?"

"Missus," he answered, making a low salam, "all de darkies is gadered
togedder under a tree 'round de house yondah, and dey 'pint me committee
to come an' ax de young missus would she be so kind for to come an' read
the Bible to dem, an' talk, an' pray, an' sing like she do for de sick
ones down to de quarter? Dey be berry glad, missus, an' more dan obliged."

"Indeed I will, uncle," Elsie said, rising at once and going with him,
Bible in hand; "I had been thinking of doing this very thing."

She found a rustic seat placed for her under a giant oak, and garlanded
with fragrant flowers. Aunt Phillis, Aunt Chloe, Uncle Joe, and the rest
of the house-servants, gathered in a semicircle around it, while beyond,
the men, women, and children from the quarter sat or lay upon the grass,
enjoying the rest from the toils of the week, the quiet, the balmy air
laden with the fragrance of the magnolia and orange, and all the sweet
sights and sounds of rural life in that favored region.

Every one rose at the appearance of their young mistress, and there were
murmurs of delight and gratitude coming from all sides. "Now bress de
Lord, she read the good book for us." "She good an' lubly as de angels."
"Missus berry kind, de darkies neber forget."

Elsie acknowledged it all with a smile and a few kindly words, then
commanding silence by a slight motion of the hand, addressed them in a
clear, melodious voice, which, though not loud, could be distinctly heard
by every one of the now almost breathless listeners.

"I shall read to you of Jesus and some of His own words," she said, "but
first we will ask Him to help us to understand, to love, and to obey His
teachings."

Then folding her hands and lifting her eyes to the clear blue sky above,
she led them in a prayer so simple and childlike, so filial and loving in
spirit and expression, that the dullest understood it, and felt that she
spoke to One who was very near and dear to her.

After that she read with the same distinct utterance the third chapter of
John's Gospel, and commented briefly upon it. "You all want to go to
heaven?" she said, closing the book.

"Yes, Miss Elsie." "Yes missus, we all does."

"But to be able to go there you must know the way, and now I want to make
sure you do know it. Can you tell me what you must do to be saved?"

There were various