A BLACK CHILD. 151 



cramped me. At length I moved my legs, when 

 the sleeper opened his large black eyes and looked 

 me in the face. His expression was a combination 

 of fear, doubt, and affection ; so to assure my little 

 dependant that I was not cross with him, I gently 

 patted him on the head. The intended kindness of 

 this act he at once understood, moved his mouth, 

 and gently said something I did not understand, 

 and in a few moments more adjusted himself 

 into a new position and fell asleep. In his sleep 

 the poor infant talked ; possibly his thoughts were 

 running back to a time when he was surrounded 

 by kith and kindred, for his features assumed a 

 happy expression, which made them quite attractive. 

 Mutual misfortune promotes fellow sympathy, and 

 the symyathy that was engendered within me for 

 the time being, partially dispelled the ennui and de- 

 spondency that I had previously suffered from. It 

 is strange, but nevertheless true, that the misfortunes 

 of others often act as a sedative upon ourselves. 

 This is possibly the result of comparing lots, and 

 finding by comparison that we are not as hardly 

 treated by fate as we might be. 



While thus pondering, Sunday glided up along- 

 side of me. His step was so silent and stealthy, 

 that I started when I became aware of his presence. 

 However, he made no remark, but took a seat upon 

 the ground in my immediate vicinity, occupying 

 himself for some moments in placing fresh fuel 



