answer for them. None of them ever did me any harm; and I reckon
none of them'll ever hurt her. But I'm mistaken, if you don't have
a real burning when you get to Mrs. Thackeray's."

"But, Sister Cooper--" commenced the preacher.

"Yes, Brother Cross," replied the dame.

"Books, as I said before, are of two kinds."

"Yes, I know--good and bad--I only wonder there's no indifferent
ones among 'em," replied the lady.

"They should be examined for the benefit of the young and ignorant."

"Oh, yes, and for more besides, for Mrs. Thackeray's not young,
that's clear enough; and I know there's a good many things that
she's not ignorant of. She's precious knowing about many things
that don't do her much good; and if the books could unlearn her,
I'd say for one let her keep 'em. But as for looking at Margaret's
books--why, Brother Cross, you surely know Margaret?"

The preacher answered meekly, but negatively.

"Ain't she about the smartest girl you ever met with?" continued
the mother.

"God has certainly blessed her with many gifts," was the reply,
"but where the trust is great, the responsibility is great also."