and Susan. They were good-natured, agreeable little girls,
and it was a pleasure rather than a task to walk to and
from school, and carry their books and dinner-basket for them.
And to go into the play-house, and have the handling of the dolls,
the tea-sets, and toys, was employment as charming as it was new.

The nursery was in the cabin of Mammy Grace, which was situated
a few steps from the family mansion, and was distinguished from
the log-huts of the other slaves, by having brick walls and two rooms.
The inner room contained the baby's cradle, a crib for the little
one who had not yet outgrown his noon-day nap, her own bed,
and now a cot for Tidy. In the outer stood the spinning-wheel,--at
which the old nurse wrought when not occupied with the children,--
a small table, an old chest of drawers, and a few rude chairs.
Some old carpets which had been discarded from the house were
laid over the floors, and gave an air of comfort to the place.
One shelf by the side of the fireplace held all the china and plate
they had to use; for, you must know, little readers, that slave cabins
contain very few of the conveniences which are so familiar to you.
To assert, as some people do, that the negroes do not need them,
is simply to say that they have never been used to the common
comforts of life, and so do not know their worth.

Nevertheless, the place with all its scantiness of furniture was
a happy abode for Tidy, who found in Mammy Grace even a better mother
than old Rosa had been to her; for, besides being kind and cheerful,
she was pious, and from her lips it was that Tidy first heard the name
of God. Would you believe it? Tidy had lived to be ten years old
in this Christian land, and had never heard of the God who made her.
Miss Lee, with all her kindness, was not a Christian, and never read