“Indeed I will, uncle,” Elsie said, rising at once and going with him, Bible in hand; “I had been thinking of doing this very thing.”

She found a rustic seat placed for her under a giant oak, and garlanded with fragrant flowers.  Aunt Phillis, Aunt Chloe, Uncle Joe, and the rest of the house-servants, gathered in a semicircle around it, while beyond, the men, women, and children from the quarter sat or lay upon the grass, enjoying the rest from the toils of the week, the quiet, the balmy air laden with the fragrance of the magnolia and orange, and all the sweet sights and sounds of rural life in that favored region.

Every one rose at the appearance of their young mistress, and there were murmurs of delight and gratitude coming from all sides.  “Now bress de Lord, she read the good book for us.”  “She good an’ lubly as de angels.”  “Missus berry kind, de darkies neber forget.”

Elsie acknowledged it all with a smile and a few kindly words, then commanding silence by a slight motion of the hand, addressed them in a clear, melodious voice, which, though not loud, could be distinctly heard by every one of the now almost breathless listeners.

“I shall read to you of Jesus and some of His own words,” she said, “but first we will ask Him to help us to understand, to love, and to obey His teachings.”

Then folding her hands and lifting her eyes to the clear blue sky above, she led them in a prayer so simple and childlike, so filial and loving in spirit and expression, that the dullest understood it, and felt that she spoke to One who was very near and dear to her.

After that she read with the same distinct utterance the third chapter of John’s Gospel, and commented briefly upon it.  “You all want to go to heaven?” she said, closing the book.

“Yes, Miss Elsie.”  “Yes missus, we all does.”

“But to be able to go there you must know the way, and now I want to make sure you do know it.  Can you tell me what you must do to be saved?”

There were various answers.  “Be good,” “Mine de rules an’ do ’bout right.”  “Pray to de Lord,” etc., etc.

Elsie shook her head gravely.  “All that you must do, and more besides.  What does Jesus say?  ’God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’  We must believe in Jesus—­believe all that the Bible tells us about Him, that He was very God and very man, that He came down from heaven, was born a little babe and laid in a manger, that He grew up to be a man, went about doing good, and at last suffered and died the cruel death of the cross; and all to save poor lost sinners.

“But even that is not enough:  the devils believe so much; they know it is all true.  But beside this, we must believe on Christ Jesus.  He offers to be our Saviour.  ‘Come unto Me ... and I will give you rest.’  ’Him that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out,’ And you must come, you must take the eternal life He offers you; you must rest on Him and Him only.