396 TENANTS OF x\N OLD FARM. 



a cone, or something of that sort. I am ashamed, hu- 

 miHatcd and amazed at my stupidity !" 



"An honest confession. Aunt Hannah," I said, 

 "and if all who are in like condemnation would speak 

 with like candor, there would be a great ' army of con- 

 fessors,' I assure you. But so it always has been. The 

 ' seeing eye ' is one of the rarest gifts in this world of 

 ours." 



" Shall I tell you what I have been thinking about ?" 

 asked Abby. 



"By all means ; something pleasant, I am sure, by 

 your smiling face." 



"I was thinking of the Jubilee Singers." 



"The Jubilee Singers!" the Mistress exclaimed. 

 " Of all things mundane, why of them ? Your power 

 of association will certainly turn out to be a greater 

 marvel than we have yet heard of." 



" I am quite in earnest,' Abby I'csponded. " There 

 is one plantation song v/hich those colored students 

 rendei-cd that I never understood until to-day. It 

 flashed into my mind while Mr. ]\fayfield was telling us 

 how the basket-worm walks. Do you remember the 

 lines ?^ 



' Tm inchin' aloiiij liko a pore inch-worm, 

 IiK'hiu' aloni^ to Jesus !' 



" Now, I used to think that over-rude, if not irrev- 

 erent, even for a plantation hymn ; for it never occurred 

 to me before that the figure is a true and highly ex- 

 pi-essive one, drawn from the dail}- observation and 

 adapted to the simple characters of those who sang 



