“Tant’ Sannie is a singular woman,” said Bonaparte, taking the tobacco-bag the German passed to him.

“Singular! Yes,” said the German; “but her heart is on her right side. I have lived long years with her, and I may say, I have for her an affection, which she returns. I may say,” added the German, with warmth, “I may say, that there is not one soul on this farm for whom I have not an affection.”

“Ah, my friend,” said Bonaparte, “when the grace of God is in our hearts, is it not so with us all? Do we not love the very worm we tread upon, and as we tread upon it? Do we know distinctions of race, or of sex, or of color? No!

“‘Love so amazing, so divine,

It fills my soul, my life, my all.’”

After a time he sank into a less fervent mood, and remarked, —

“The colored female who waits upon Tant’ Sannie appears to be of a virtuous disposition, an individual who — ”

“Virtuous!” said the German; “I have confidence in her. There is that in her which is pure, that which is noble. The rich and high that walk this earth with lofty eyelids might exchange with her.”

The German here got up to bring a coal for Bonaparte’s pipe, and they sat together talking for a while. At length Bonaparte knocked the ashes out of his pipe.

“It is time that I took my departure, dear friend,” he said; “but, before I do so, shall we not close this evening of sweet communion and brotherly intercourse by a few words of prayer? Oh, how good and how pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the dew upon the mountains of Hermon; for there the Lord bestowed a blessing, even life for evermore.

“Stay and drink some coffee,” said the German.

“No, thank you, my friend; I have business that must be done to-night,” said Bonaparte. “Your dear son appears to have gone to sleep. He is going to take the wagon to the mill to-morrow! What a little man he is.”

“A fine boy.”

But though the boy nodded before the fire he was not asleep; and they all knelt down to pray.

When they rose from their knees Bonaparte extended his hand to Waldo, and patted him on the head.

“Good-night, my lad,” he said. “As you go to the mill to-morrow, we shall not see you for some days. Good-night! Good-by! The Lord bless and guide you; and may He bring you back to us in safety to find us all as you have left us!” He laid some emphasis on the last words. “And you my dear friend,” he added, turning with redoubled warmth to the German, “long, long shall I look back to this evening as a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, as an hour of blessed intercourse with a brother in Jesus. May such often return. The Lord bless you!” he added, with yet deeper fervor, “richly, richly.”