faces that scowled at her from the solemn, mournful pages; and anon,
when startled from sleep by these awful visions, she would soothe
herself to rest by murmuring the metrical version of the Lord's
Prayer contained in the "Purgatory." Most emphatically did Mrs. Hunt
disapprove of the studious and contemplative habits of the ambitious
child, who she averred was indulging dreams and aspirations far
above her station in life, and well calculated to dissatisfy her
with her humble, unpretending home and uninviting future. Education,
she contended, was useless to poor people, who could not feed and
clothe themselves with "book learning;" and experience had taught
her that those who lounged about with books in their hands generally
came to want, and invariably to harm. It was in vain that she
endeavored to convince her husband of the impropriety of permitting
the girl to spend so much time over her books; he finally put the
matter at rest by declaring that, in his opinion, Edna was a
remarkable child; and if well educated, might even rise to the
position of teacher for the neighborhood, which would confer most
honorable distinction upon the family. Laying his brawny hand fondly
on her head, he said, tenderly:

"Let her alone, wife! let her alone! You will make us proud of you,
won't you, little Pearl, when you are smart enough to teach a
school? I shall be too old to work by that time, and you will take
care of me, won't you, my little mocking-bird?"

"Oh, Grandy; that I will. But do you really think I ever shall have
sense enough to be a teacher? You know I ought to learn everything,
and I have so few books."

"To be sure you will. Remember there is always a way where there's a