Bad Hugh

In the stable yard, Claib, his good-humored face all aglow with pride,

is exercising the fiery Rocket, who arches his neck as proudly as of

old, and dances mincingly around, while Lulu leans over the gate,

watching not so much him as the individual who holds him. And now that

it grows darker, and the ripple of the river sounds more like eventide,

lights gleam from the pleasant parlor, and thither Hugh and Alice

repair, still hand in hand, still looking love into each other's eyes,

but not forgetting others in their own great happiness.

Very pleasantly Alice smiles upon Mrs. Worthington and Aunt Eunice

sitting by the cheerful fire just kindled on the marble hearth; and

then, withdrawing her hand from Hugh's, trips up the stairs and knocking

at a door, goes in where Densie sits, watching the daylight fade from

the western sky, and whispering to herself of the baby she could not

find when she went back to her home in the far-off city. Without turning

her head, she puts to Alice the same question she puts to every one: "Have you children, madam?" and when Alice answers no, she adds: "Be

thankful then, for they will never call you a white nigger, as 'Lina did

her mother. Poor 'Lina, she died, though saying 'Our Father.' Will you

say that with me?"

"Yes, Densie, it's almost time to say our evening prayer, I came for

you," Alice rejoins, and taking the crazed creature's hand, she leads

her gently down to the parlor below, where, ere long, the blacks are all

assembled, and kneeling side by side, they follow with stammering

tongues, but honest hearts, their beloved master as he says first the

prayer our Savior taught, and then with words of thankful praise asks

God to bless and keep him and his in the days to come, even as He has

blessed and kept them in the days gone by.