commenced with the opening portion of the Elder's sermon. "And it
was said-Servants obey your masters, for that is right in the sight
of the Lord," and with a style of native eloquence, and rich
cantation, he continued for about ten minutes, giving every word,
seriatim, of the Elder's sermon; and would have kept it up, in word
and action, to the end, had he not been stopped by Marston. All
seemed astonished at his power of memory. Maxwell begged that he
might be allowed to proceed.

"He's a valuable fellow, that-eh?" said Marston. "He'll be worth
three-sixteenths of a rise on cotton to all the planters in the
neighbourhood, by-and-by. He's larned to read, somehow, on the
sly-isn't it so, Harry? come, talk up!"

"Yes, mas'r, I larn dat when you sleepin'; do Lor' tell me his
spirit warn't in dat sarmon what de Elder preach,--dat me must sarch
de good book, and make me own tinking valuable. Mas'r tink ignorant
nigger lob him best, but t'ant so, mas'r. Good book make heart good,
and make nigger love de Lor', and love mas'r too."

"I'll bet the rascal's got a Bible, or a Prayer-book, hid up
somewhere. He and old Daddy Bob are worse on religion than two old
coons on a fowl-yard," said Marston. Here old Aunt Rachel entered
the room to fuss around a little, and have a pleasant meeting with
mas'r's guests. Harry smiled at Marston's remark, and turned his
eyes upward, as much as to say, "a day will come when God's Word
will not thus be turned into ridicule!"

"And he's made such a good old Christian of this dark sinner, Aunt
Rachel, that I wouldn't take two thousand dollars for her. I expect