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Show 68 UNCLE 'f0M1S CABIN: OR, "But they ought to read the Bible, mamm>, to learn God's will.'' " 0 ! they can get that read to them alllhm; need." ''It seems to me, mamma, the Bible is for •every one to read themselves. They need it a great many times when there is nobody to read it." " Eva, you are an odd child," said her mother. " Miss Ophelio has taught Topsy to read," continued Eva. " Yes, and you sec how much good it does. 'fopsy is the worst creature I ever saw! " " Here 's poor 1\llammy ! " said Eva. " She docs love tho Bible so much, and wishes so she could read ! And what will she do when I can't read to her?" Marie was busy, turning orcr the contents of a. drawer, as she answered, " Well, of course, by and by, Eva, you will have other things to think of, besides reading the Bible round to servant.'l. Not but that is very proper ; I 'vc done it myself, wl10n I had health. But when you come to be dressing and going into company, you won't have time. Sec here ! " she added, "these jewels I 'm going to give you when you come out. I wore them to my first ball. I can tell you, Eva, I made a sensation.'' Eva took the jewel-case, and lifted from it a diamond neck- .. lace. Her large, thoughtful eyes rested on them, but it was • plain her thoughts were elsewhere. " llow sober you look, child ! " said :Marie. "Arc these worth a. great deal of money, mamma. ~" ~< To be sure, they arc. Father sent to France for them. They are worth a smoll fortune." "I wish I had them," said Era, " to do what I pleased with! " LIFl!l AMONG THE LOWLY. 69 "·what would you do ·with them?" " I 'd sell them, and buy • place in the free states, and take all our people there, and hire teachers, to teach them to read and write." Eva was cut short by her mother's laughing . "Set up o boarding-school ! Wouldn't you teach them to play on the piano, and paint on velvet?" " I 'd teach them to read their own Bible, and write their own letters, and read letters that arc written to them/' said Eva, steadily. " I know, mamma, it docs come very hard on them, that they can't do these things. Tom feels it,Mammy does,-a great many of them do. I think it '• wrong.'' "Come, come, Eva ; you are only a child! You don't know anything about these things, n said i\Iaric; "besides, your talking mokcs my head ache." Marie always had a head-ache on hand for any cOnversa-tion that did not exactly suit her. Eva stole away ; but after that, she assiduously gave Mammy reading lessons. |