" And then," continued her mother, " she sat so lady-like at
table, as if she had been born and bred genteel ; her frocks like
snow, and her cambric handkerchiefs in her lap. At night I
used to go in and tuck up her bed ; she was always at her books,
or her work, or reading her Bible, or on her knees at prayer, for
she was a pious child."

" You must at least be grateful that her mind was so pure,
and pious, and prepared for death," said I.
" Grateful !" replied she, angrily. " What good will it do
me ? I shall be none the better for her hymns and her prayers.
If she had stayed, I could have heard her sweet voice. Now,
I've worked my fingers to the bone just for that dead body. I
can't bear it, and that's an end of the matter. I don't think
it's fair that she should die. Well, I must go to work and



220 RECOLLECTIONS OP A

bury her," muttered she, in a lower tone, and retiring into the
next apartment, where she could ptill glance at her lifeless child.
