She would not disturb any of the others, but sat quiet a moment watching them, then turned her eyes again towards the old negro.
“I think I’ll go speak to him,” she said to herself. “He is a great while reading his paper, and I s’pose he can’t make it out very well. Maybe I could help him, and he was very kind to us.”
She rose softly, and walked slowly towards the old man. He looked up and smiled, saying,—
“Little Miss want for any ting ole Joe can do for her?”
“No, thank you,” said Bessie, now feeling rather shy of asking him if she could help him; then after a moment’s pause she added, “You were reading when I went to sleep, and you are reading now.”
“Yes, little Miss,” he answered, “Joe read most all de time when no trains on hand and he work all done up.”
“Is it a little newspaper?” asked Bessie.
“A newspaper?” he answered, spreading the sheet on his knee, and laying his hand reverently upon it. “Yes, Missy, a newspaper what habs great news in it, de best news in de worl’,—de news how de Lord Jesus come down to save sinners, and old Joe among ’em. Do little Miss know dat news?”
“Oh, yes!” said Bessie, simply. “I always knew it. I’m glad you think it’s good news, Joe, then I know you love Him.”