"Can you read?"
"If the words ain't too long; but in printin' there are so few short ones, that I don't seem to find out what the man who made it meant."
"I should have taught you instead of sitting here idle; but we couldn't have accomplished a great deal since you came."
"You've had enough to do without botherin' about me."
"But, Jack, you can do a great deal by yourself. Before you go away I want to give you a little money, and with some of it you must buy a school book. Then study a certain portion of it each day, until there is no difficulty in reading any ordinary print. After that will be time enough to take up other branches, and writing must come with the reading, as I shall look very anxiously for a letter in your own hand."
"I'll do the best I can, Aunt Nancy, but I don't want you to give me any money. You haven't much to spare, and that I know."
"I shall share it with you, Jack dear, and you mustn't make any objection, for after you have gone I shall feel better to know you are able to buy what little you may want."
Then Aunt Nancy drew from her pocket a small black book which she handed to the boy as she said in a low tone,—
"This was my father's Bible, and the print is so faint that I can no longer read it even with glasses."
"Hadn't you rather keep it? It was your father's."