patiently, as there was no one near, either to
accompany him in a search, or to give him advice. He seated himself to
write to his mother, deeming that his time could not be more dutifully
passed.

The letter was finished and sealed, and still no news of Arthur. Guly
had seized his hat with the intent of going forth at all hazards, when
the door of his room slowly opened, and Jeff's shining face was thrust
in.

"Please, young massar, may I come in?"

"Certainly. Close the door."

The negro entered with a shuffling gait, holding a tattered straw hat in
his hands, and with a bow and sheepish look stopped directly in front of
Guly.

"Anything I can do for you, Jeff?"

"Well, I hopes you'll 'scuse my 'trusion, young massar, but I thought as
dis was Sunday, mebbe you'd be reading dat big book yourself, and would
let me hear you."

"To be sure, Jeff, to be sure. Whenever that big book is read you will
always be a welcome listener, and whenever I have time I shall always be
ready to read it to you."

"Oh, young massar, you is so good to de poor nigger--sometimes when I
look at you, I can't help tinking you'se just some angel as has lost his
wings, and a-waiting on dis airth till they grow agin."

"Hush, Jeff."

"Yes, massar; if you'se ready to read, I'se ready to listen."

Guly smiled at this misconstruction of his words, but opening the Bible
he read aloud the fourteenth chapter of John; while Jeff sat with his
elbows on his knees, and his chin in his palms, his large eyes fixed
attentively on the reader.

When the chapter was finished, Guly took the different paragraphs, and
in a simple but concise manner endeavored to explain all which was
difficult for his listener to understand.

"Thar!" said Jeff, flinging his old hat emphatically upon the floor, as
Guly ceased, "If that ain't as good as a minister, dis child guv it up,
dat's all! Oh, young massar, if you'd just call a meetin' ob de clerks
in dis store, and read and 'spound to 'em sometime in dis way, dar'd be
a better set in old massar's bizness, to say the least."

"Your master's clerks all seem to be well-disposed young men, I'm sure,
Jeff--I never see them commit a wrong."

"You'se too good yousef to see evil, sah; but mebbe de clerks _is_ good
when de Boss's sharp eye is on 'em."

"Oh!" exclaimed Guly, starting to his feet, and rapidly pacing the
floor, "What a place of sin for a young inexperienced boy to be in, and
under the influence of evi