fully wrought statuette of Jesus receiving little children,
and on either side marble vases, for which it was Tom's
pride and delight to offer bouquets every morning. Two
or three exquisite paintings of children, in various attitudes,
embellished the wall. In short, the eye could turn nowhere
without meeting images of childhood, of beauty, and of
peace. Those little eyes never opened, in the morning light,
without falling on something which suggested to the heart
soothing and beautiful thoughts.

The deceitful strength which had buoyed Eva up for a
little while was fast passing away; seldom and more seldom
her light footstep was heard in the veranda, and oftener
and oftener she was found reclined on a little lounge by the
open window, her large, deep eyes fixed on the rising and
falling waters of the lake.

It was towards the middle of the afternoon, as she was
so reclining, -- her Bible half open, her little transparent
fingers lying listlessly between the leaves, -- sudden! she
heard her mother's voice, in sharp tones, in the veranda.

"What now, you baggage! -- what new piece of mischief!
You've been picking the flowers, hey?" and Eva heard the
sound of a smart slap.

"Law, Missis! -- they 's for Miss Eva," she heard a voice
say, which she knew belonged to Topsy.

"Miss Eva! A pretty excuse! -- you suppose she wants
your flowers, you good-for-nothing nigger! Get along off
with you!"

In a moment, Eva was off from her lounge, and in the
veranda.

"Oh, don't, mother! I should like the flowers; do give
them to me; I want them!"

"Why, Eva, your room is full now."

"I can't have too many," said Eva. " Topsy, do bring
them here."

Topsy, who had stood sullenly, holding down her head,
now came up and offered her flowers. She did it with a
look of hesitation and bashfulness, quite unlike the eldrich
boldness and brightness which was usual with her.

"It 's a beautiful bouquet!" said Eva, looking at it.

It was rather a singular one, -- a brilliant scarlet gera-
nium, and one single white japonica, with its glossy leaves.
It was tied up with an evident eye to the contrast of color,

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