nstrations of attachment. When her work was done in the
evening she sometimes taught us the alphabet and to spell words of three
letters; the rest we mastered for ourselves, and taught each other, and
so in process of time we were able to read. The like with writing: Nelly
pointed out the rudiments, and Gabrielle, endowed with magical powers of
swift perception, speedily wrought out lessons both for herself and me.
The only books in the house were a cookery-book; a spelling-book which
Nelly borrowed; a great huge History of England, which formed her usual
footstool; and an ancient, equally large Bible, full of quaint pictures.
Would that I had the latter blessed volume bound in gold now, and set
with diamonds! A new epoch opened in my life. I had already thought, now
I understood; and the light divine dawned on my soul as Nelly, the
humble instrument of grace, in simple words explained all that was
wanting: for our faith is very simple, notwithstanding the ineffable
glories of Jesus and redemption. I dreamed by night of Jesus and of
angels, and of shepherds watching their flocks "all seated on the
ground;" and I used to ask Nelly if she did not think an angel must be
just like Gabrielle, with shining wings, certainly? But Nelly would say
that Miss Gabrielle was too proud for an angel, and never likely to
become one unless she liked her Bible better; and it was too true that
my darling sister had not the same love for holy things that I had then.
She liked to read of Queen Bess and Bluff King Hal; but when we found
our way to a church, and heard the chanting, her emotions far surpassed
mine, and she sobbed outright. At length Gabrielle, who had been
pondering many days without speaking, confided to me her determination
to ask our father to send us to school.

"Why should I not ask him, Ruth?" she said. "I wonder we never thought
of it before--only he is always poorly, or smoking, or drinking."

I observed her beautiful lip curl as she spoke in a contemptuous tone,
and I thought that Jesus taught _not so_; but I feared to speak--so I
wept, and knelt down alone and prayed for my sister.

Gabrielle did ask him, and my father laid down his paper, and took the
cigar from his mouth, gazing in dull amazement at the speaker, but I saw
his gaze become more earnest and observant as he said,

"Why, girl, how old are you?"

"I was thirteen last month," replied Gabrielle.

"You are a monstrous tall girl of your age, then, I decl