“Sold for one farthing,” repeated the scholars.
And thus they went on, Mary Jay enunciating the several clauses of the verse in succession, and the children repeating them after her. Marielle and Lucy were surprised to see how precisely together the children repeated the words.
Mary Jay had trained them to do it very accurately.
“Children,” said Mary Jay, “do you know what this verse means?”
The children were silent.
“It means,” said Mary Jay, “that sparrows are such little things that it takes two of them to be worth a farthing; and yet God takes care of every one. Of course much more will he take care of us. So you see, children, it is an excellent verse for us all; and particularly it is an excellent verse for me, now that I am going away alone among strangers.
“And now let us see,” she continued, “if some of you can repeat the verse. Lucretia, you may try.”
So Lucretia, who was one of the girls upon the back seat, rose, and repeated the verse. She spoke in a low and gentle tone, but they were all very still, and so they could hear her; and she said it very correctly.
“Anna,” said Mary Jay.
Anna was a little girl who sat very near Marielle and Lucy. She rose, and repeated the verse in a very correct and proper manner.