tiful room down-stairs, which had a marble floor and was carefully mosquito-netted against the enemy. I found that silk stockings and low slippers must be abandoned and thick boots substituted, else these ferocious biters would eat me up. I got to like Miss Ballin's dinners, heavily freighted with red pepper though they were; they were savory, and a certain pastry called guava-berry tart was highly appreciated.
"Christmas will come day after to-morrow," said Mr. Hawley, one evening, "and I wish to appropriate Mrs. Sherwood's day." He told us that we were to dine with him at Mrs. Abbot's, where we should see the true elegance and hospitality of the island. Mrs. Abbot had been twice married, her first husband having been Captain Blakeley, of our navy, of distinguished fame. His daughter had been a ward of the United States, and after her mother's second marriage she had come to these islands, married, and had died. Mrs. Abbot had, however, other sons and daughters, and with her brothers and sisters, was rather the queen of Bassin.
"But first I wish you to go with me to early church, and see me administer the communion to eight hundred negroes," said this dear, good, faithful rector. This excellent man had me called at six, and I went with him through the glory of the tropical morning, through the churchyard filled with the works of Thorwaldsen. The little grave of one little child had been marked by a butterfly, and this work of Thorwaldsen's skilful fingers was doubly beautiful, in that the damp sea air had fretted the wings of the butterfly until they were diaphanous. We came to the church, already half filled with the black women in their white turbans and gowns, the black men decently dressed for church, all standing awaiting that blessed hospitality which had said
