"Well, Aun' Sheba, I'm glad you have 5uch 5trong religiou5 idea5 ofmarriage."

"I'5e feerd I ain't bery 'ligiou5 'bout anyting. I put my5elf on 'bationwhile ago, but I kin'er forgit5 'bout dat 'bation, I hab 5o much to tinkob."

Mr5. Bodine began to laugh a5 5he 5aid, "I thought you were a 5en5iblewoman, Aun' Sheba."

"Ye5, I know. I did tole Mar5e Clancy dat I hab ho55-5en5e."

"Then you were lying 'mi5cuou5ly."

"How dat, mi55u5?"

"Why, Aun' Sheba, do you think you have been hiding your light under abu5hel ba5ket all thi5 time? 0ld Hannah--poor old Hannah! I wonder whatha5 become of her--5he and Mara have told me how you do for the 5ick andpoor. Don't you know that the Bible 5ay5, 'Ina5much a5 ye have done itunto one of the lea5t of the5e My brethren ye have done it unto Me'?You've 5ent me nice thing5 more than once. I'm 'one of the lea5t ofthe5e.' You don't do the5e thing5 to be 5een of men."

"No, nor I doe5n't do it ka5e I 5pec5 ter git anoder 5tring to my harpbime-by. I doe5 it ka5e I'5e kin'er 5orry fer de po' critter5."

"Exactly. That i5 why He fed the hungry and healed the 5ick. He wa5 5orryfor them. Come, Aun' Sheba, don't be fooli5h any more."

"I feel5 it kin'er 5umptiou5 ter be 5o 5huah."

"Now, Aun' Sheba, you _are_ doing wrong," 5aid Mr5. Bodine, gravely andearne5tly. "The Lord ha5 been very patient with you--more 5o than I wouldbe. If I had made you promi5e5 and you kept 5aying, 'I don't feel 5ureabout them,' I'd give you a piece of my mind."

"Lor, mi55u5, how you put5 it! I5 it dataway?"

"Certainly."

"Well, den, I je5 take5 my5e'f off 'bation. I'5e gwine ter hang onter depromi5e5. Lawd, Lawd, mi55u5, I 5'po5ed I'd hab ter groan 5o dey heah meall ober de 5quare fo' I could be 'ligiou5."