"And is it as profitable to you?"
"About twice as profitable, my dear; so, if the lady really can keep me in work all the year round, there will be no need of your poor little wages, earned by your hard labor," answered Hannah.
"Oh, I didn't think it hard at all, you see, because Israel Put——I beg your pardon, Aunt Hannah—I won't forget again," said the boy, correcting himself in time, and returning to the silent reading of his book.
Some time after he closed his book, and looked up.
"Aunt Hannah!"
"Well, Ishmael?"
"You often talk to me of my dear mother in heaven, but never of my father. Who was my father, Aunt Hannah?"
For all answer Hannah arose and boxed his ears.