African Americans -- Education -- Juvenile fiction; Sunday school literature
So the bundle was carried into the cabin, and, much to Aunt Margaret’s
satisfaction, was unpacked there in the main room. Ah! how nice the
books looked! Bibles and Testaments in plenty to the delight of Tom’s
heart--illuminated texts for the school-room, little picture cards, the
preciousness of which every Sunday-school teacher knows. A quantity of
penny hymn-books, and little tracts for distribution, and then a nice
pile--just twenty--of well-selected library-books. Tom was perfectly
happy. There was a little package at the bottom directed to himself in
Miss Mason’s hand, and in this he found a new arithmetic and grammar,
with the places marked, a parcel of pure white paper and envelopes,
with pens and holder, and a very pretty Bible Dictionary. Tom’s eyes
were full of joyful tears. He had been thanking God all the time,
and he only wondered how he should rightly express to Miss Mason his
gratitude for the gift. Jimmy was in an ecstasy. His old taste for
books and study woke right up, and he was Tom’s friend from that minute.
“I have been thinking a long time about coming to the school, Tom,” he
said, “and of being friends again, but somehow I didn’t know how to get
about it, after having been out with you so long. But now I can’t help
it; I must come.”
Late that afternoon Tom came up toward the mansion, and seeing Mr.
Sutherland and Lillie on the porch, he walked toward them.
“Mr. Sutherland,” he said, rather timidly, “if you feel any interest,
I would like very much to have you come and see the books sent to the
Sunday-school this morning. I think it is a very nice collection.”
“I should be very glad to do so, Tom,” said Mr. Sutherland,
good-naturedly, rising and coming down off the steps; “I will go with
you now; are they down at Aunt Margaret’s?”
“Yes, sir,” replied Tom, and then as they stepped away, Tom, looking
back, saw Lillie still sitting in her low chair upon the piazza. “Miss
Lillie,” he said, stepping back, “won’t you come too?”
“Yes, certainly,” she replied, springing up; “I was only afraid you did
not want me. Wait a minute, papa,” she added, “until I get my hat from
the stand in the hall.”
“Stay here, Miss Lillie,” said Tom, checking her and disappearing
within the doorway. He returned in a moment with the hat, which he gave
her with a little bright smile.
“You are quite a courtier,” said Mr. Sutherland with an amused face, as
Tom joined him. “Lillie should wait upon herself sometimes.”
“Miss Lillie does more for me, by her influence among my scholars, than
I can ever do for her in this way; and besides,” he added, “I am very
glad to serve her in any way that I can.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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