aster and mistress, and the visitors that thronged to the place. If any little service was to be performed which required more than usual care or expedition, she was the one to

she was not able entirely to

very-where,-in Mammy Grace's cabin, on the veranda, in the drawing-room, dining-room, and kitchen, up-stairs, down-stairs, and in the lady's chamber, but no ball was to be found. The mistres

ink she did? I

hout luxuries from the table of the family. Fruits, tarts, and many a choice bit of cake, found their way through the children's hands to their little favorite, so that she had nothing to wish for in the eating line. Her services with the children were so much in accordance with her taste as to be almost pastime, and the old nurse was as kind and good as a mother could be. Never until this day had she been brought into a real strait; and it was in this emergency that she thought to put Mammy Grace's suggestion to the test. She had attended the weekly pra

crept, just moistening the roots of the wild cherry and alder bushes which grew there in great abundance, and keeping the grass fresh and green all the summer long. No one ever came to this spot excepting now

I can't. You know whar 'tis. Show me, so I sha'n't get

with the prayer. So she uttered it with a feeling of great satisfaction, as though that capped the climax of her duty, and put the seal of acceptance on her petition; and then she go

find help that you little dream of. If the Lord in his greatness regards the little sparrows, so that not one of them shall fall to the ground without his notice, and if he numbers the hairs of our heads, surely there is nothing that can give us un

's kitchen so long, and got tired of ticking, I imagine, stood in one corner. Just at the foot of this, Tidy saw a white string protruding. She forgot for the moment what she was hunting after, and stooped to pick up the string. She pulled at it, but it seemed to catch in something and slipped thro

ond day of her absence, Mrs. Lee called Tidy, and instructed her to search for the girl, with the assurance that if she didn't find her, she herself should get the whipping. It was no very pleasant pro

she was quite in despair; until again she bethought herself

he is, and make missus merciful, so she sha'n't lash neither one of us.

a voice suddenly interrupted her, a

ersin wid 'bout me, litt

sus set me lookin' for yer, and she said she'd whip all

y of eatables, which she fell to devouring greedily. Tidy had to reason long and stoutly with the refractory girl before she could persuade her to return to the house; and when she accomplished her purpose, she was probably not aware of the real motive that wrought in that dark, stupid negro mind. It was not the fear of an increased punish

g round to the sitting-room, timidly informed her mistress of the arrival, adding

e, I'll come for it," and seizing her whip which she kept on a shelf close by, she proceeded

tened girl fel

away 'gin! I'll neber do noffin! Oh, Missus, please don't, oh, dear,"-as notwithstanding the appeal,

ly, "excuse her just this once, and give

ch to Tidy, who, to to [sic] her thinking, had become implicated in Frances' guilt, she dismissed them both from her presence,-the one chuckling over her fortunate escape, and the other quer

erty when she is old enough; and if any thing prev

t mean? Tidy laid up the sayin

child then? Tidy's services paid her owner's board at her brother's hou