"Why no, sir! A stockin' don't have no history. 'Tis only kings and queens and big men have history, same as I used to learn about at school!"
"But where did you get so much money?" said the clergyman.
"'Twas a present, sir, from my sick capting, and the rest I saved myself."
"And how long have you been interested in missionary work?"
"Oh, ever so long, since I went to a meetin' near a year ago. I'm a-goin' to be a missionary myself one day, but—" here a frightened look stole into her eyes—"I shan't never have to speak on a platform like the missionary gents do, shall I, sir?"
"You might be called upon to do worse things than that, if you were a missionary," said the clergyman, smiling. "Why do you want to be one?"
"Oh, please sir, because of the heathen, who don't know nothin', and the missionaries say they can't get round and tell 'em all!"
"No, we can't do that," said the clergyman, a little sadly.
"Please, sir, have you ever been out amongst the heathen?"
"Yes, for fifteen years I have been in India."