ing was burned--the
savings of years, the precious Bible among the rest. The Squire
took her down to his house, and nursed her: but she died in two
days of cold and fright; and Isaac had to begin life again alone.
Kind folks built up his ajoupa, and started him afresh; and, to
their astonishment, Isaac grew young again, and set to work for
himself. He had depended too much for many years on his wife's
superior intellect: now he had to act for himself; and he acted.
But he spoke of her, like any knight of old, as of a guardian
goddess--his guardian still in the other world, as she had been in
this.

He was happy enough, he said: but I was told that he had to endure
much vexation from the neighbouring Negroes, who were Baptists,
narrow and conceited; and who--just as the Baptists of the lower
class in England would be but too apt to do--tormented him by
telling him that he was not sure of heaven, because he went to
church instead of joining their body. But he, though he went to
chapel in wet weather, clung to his own creed like an old soldier;
and came down to Massa's house to spend the Sunday whenever there
was a Communion, walking some five miles thither, and as much back
again.

So much I learnt concerning old Isaac. And when in the afternoon he
toddled away, and back into the forest, what wonder if I felt like
Wordsworth after his talk with the old leech-gatherer?--

'And when he ended,
I could have laughed myself to scorn to find
In that decrepit man so firm a mind;
God, said I, be my help and stay secure,
I'll think of thee, leech-gatherer, on the lonely moor.'

On the Monday morning there was a great parade. All the Coolies
were to come up to see the Governor; and after breakfast a long line
of dark people arrived up the lawn, the women in their gaudiest
muslins, and some of them in cotton velvet jackets of the richest
colours. The Oriental instinct for harmonious hues, and those at
once rich and sober, such as may be seen in Indian shawls, is very
observable even in these Coolies, low-caste as most of them are.
There were bangles and jewels among them in plenty; and as it was a
high day and a holiday, the women had taken out the little gold or
silver stoppers in their pierced nostrils, and put in their place
the great gold ring which hangs down over the mouth, and is
considered by them, as learned men tell us it was by Rebekah at the
well, a special ornam