128 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



the blessing of education. Why, it would do 

 your heart good, Ma'am, to hear her read the 

 Bible, she reads it with such piety or a prayer 

 or two, often out of her prayer book. We have 

 a few little stories too, that we like to hear again 

 and again. The Blind Farmer and the History 

 of Wilcocks and a pretty tale called Simple 

 Susan in short, madam, though I am always a 

 suffering, poor creature, and though we sometimes 

 are supperless, we are still happy, and it is all 

 owing to that grateful good Bessy." 



But I must tell you, Mamma, about Franklin. 

 He has really given up a great deal for her sake : 

 he might have been in a much richer way had 

 he remained in America; but then, he says, 

 what good would it all have been to him away 

 from his Bessy ! They are to be married next 

 week ; and my aunt, and all of us, are preparing 

 different articles of dress or furniture, that may 

 be useful presents to them. My uncle suggested 

 some little alterations in the arrangement of the 

 house, so as to make room, at present, for the 

 Franklins ; and he offered to assist them next 

 spring in making it still more comfortable. 



There is a farm to be let not very good 

 ground, but well situated, and about half way 

 between Fernhurst and the old man's cottage. 

 My uncle has hopes of procuring it for the 

 Franklins; and I am sure it will be an ad- 

 vantage to them to be near my uncle, his advice 



