Father Fabian, true to his promise, had visited old Mabel, and found her so well disposed, and of such docile faith, that he had promised, as soon as he finished her general confession, to give her holy baptism.  Two or three times a week he dropped in, and was much edified by the fervor and humility with which she received his instructions.  It all seemed like a new world dawning around her, as if through the chinks of her lowly dwelling bright visions of heaven stole in to gladen her, while her soul in its humble love traversed back and forth with angel messengers.  May had not seen her for some days, and now went to take her money to pay the rent of her poor cottage, and purchase a supply of provisions.  Mrs. Tabb had disposed of her fancy knitting, and sent her son early that morning with the proceeds, some six or seven dollars, to May.  Rejoicing in the power to do good, and leaving all her vexations and trials at home, she sought old Mabel’s lowly dwelling, to impart and receive consolation.

“That’s Miss May!  Here, Nellie, fetch that stool over thar for Miss May,” exclaimed the old woman, as soon as the door opened.  “How is you, honey?”

“I am quite well, Aunt Mabel.  I think you are looking better,” replied May, sitting down beside her.

“Oh, honey, it’s blessed times with me now.  I bin blind all my life; I never see nuffin till now.  Ah, honey, that good priest you send me aint like the buckra parsons I used to know. He aint too proud to sit down by a poor nigger, an’ take her lame hand in his’n, and rub it with some sort of liniment he fotch.  And thar’s a bottle of wine he left ’cause the doctor said I must have some. He don’t stand off as if he was afeard I would pizen him, and fling the gospel at me like stingy people throws bones to dogs.  He makes me feel that I’m a child of God as well as white folks, by treating me like one, honey.”

“I’m very glad, Aunt Mabel, that you are comforted by Father Fabian’s visits,” said May, smiling at her unsophisticated statement.

“Yes, he comforts me mightily, Miss May; and he talk so simple and beautiful, that I understand every word he says.”

“What does Father Fabian tell you, Aunt Mabel?”

“He read one thing to me out of my ole Bible thar.  You know I can’t read myself, Miss May, but I keep it ’cause it belonged to my missis.  He asked me if I ever been baptized?’ I told him, ‘No, sir.’  Then he ask me how I knew, and I tell him that too.  Then he read what Jesus Christ said, ’Unless you be born again, of water and the Holy Ghost, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven;’ and, honey, it was enough, for me to know he said it.  And then he told me about the power our Lord left with his Church to forgive sins, and I didn’t dar doubt it, ’cause who can be so presumptuous as to contradict Jesus Christ when he lays down the way and the truth?  But oh, Miss May, when the day comes for me to receive in my ole heart the dear Lord hisself—­my poor ole tired, aching heart—­then I lived long enough, ’cause the glory of God will be with me.”