The glory of my brightest days,
And comfort of my nights.

"In darkest shades if he appear,
My dawning is begun;
He is my soul's sweet morning star,
And he my rising sun."

"Look dar, chile," cried the old nurse, springing to
her feet, "Massa George's jess a'most out ob de door.
Ef he SHOULD fall and break his neck, what WOULD 'come of us.
Dis yer chile 'd neber hab no more peace all de days of her life.
Yer reads raal pooty, honey; but ye mus'n't neglect duty for de books,
'caus ef ye do, ye isn't worthy of de prevelege."

So Tidy had to forego her hymns till the children were put to bed.

After this, in the long winter evenings, in Mammy Grace's snug cabin,
what harvests of enjoyment were gathered from that precious book.
Uncle Simon was the favored guest on such occasions, and always "bringed
his welcome wid hissef," he said, in the shape of pitch-pine fagots,
the richest to be found, by the light of which they read and sung
the songs of Zion, which they dearly loved; the pious old slave
in the mean time commending, congratulating, and encouraging Tidy
in her wonderful intellectual achievements.


CHAPTER XII.

A GREAT UNDERTAKING.