"As fine a child as ever breathed the breath of life. But where did them
black eyes come from? Born in Injy,--that 's it, ain't it? No, it's her
poor mother's eyes to be sure. Does n't it seem as if there was a kind
of Injin look to 'em? She'll be a lively one to manage, if I know
anything about childun. See her clinchin' them little fists!"

This was when Miss Silence came near her and brought her rather severe
countenance close to the child for inspection of its features. The
ungracious aspect of the woman and the defiant attitude of the child
prefigured in one brief instant the history of many long coming years.

It was not a great while before the two parties in that wearing conflict
of alien lives, which is often called education, began to measure their
strength against each other. The child was bright, observing, of
restless activity, inquisitively curious, very hard to frighten, and with
a will which seemed made for mastery, not submission.

The stern spinster to whose care this vigorous life was committed was
disposed to discharge her duty to the girl faithfully and
conscientiously; but there were two points in her character and belief
which had a most important bearing on the manner in which she carried out
her laudable intentions. First, she was one of that class of human
beings whose one single engrossing thought is their own welfare,--in the
next world, it is true, but still their own personal welfare. The Roman
Church recognizes this class, and provides every form of specific to meet
their spiritual condition. But in so far as Protestantism has thrown out
works as a means of insuring future safety, these unfortunates are as
badly off as nervous patients who have no drops, pills, potions, no
doctors' rules, to follow. Only tell a poor creature what to do, and he