Peoplethought——andtheyhadreasontothinkfromwhathadoftenhappenedelsewhere——thatthoughthedustmighthurtthecropsforthatyear，itwouldmakethemricherinyearstocome，becauseitwouldactasmanureuponthesoil；andsoitdidafterafewyears；butitdidterribledamageatthetime，breakingofftheboughsoftreesandcoveringupthecrops；andinSt。Vincentitselfwholeestateswereruined。Itwasafrightfulday，butI
knowwellthatbehindthatHowtherewasaWhyforitshappening，andhappeningtoo，aboutthatverytime，whichallwhoknowthehistoryofnegroslaveryintheWestIndiescanguessforthemselves，andconfess，Ihope，thatinthiscase，asinallothers，whenLadyWhyseemsmostseveresheisoftenmostjustandkind。
Ah！mydearchild，thatIcouldgoontalkingtoyouofthisforhoursanddays！ButIhavetimenowonlytoteachyouthealphabetofthesematters——and，indeed，Iknowlittlemorethanthealphabetmyself；butiftheverylettersofMadamHow’sbook，andthemereA，B，AB，ofit，whichIamtryingtoteachyou，aresowonderfulandsobeautiful，whatmustitssentencesbeanditschapters？Andwhatmustthewholebookbelike？ButthatlastnonecanreadsaveHewhowroteitbeforetheworldsweremade。
ButnowIseeyouwanttoaskaquestion。Letushaveitout。I
wouldsooneransweronequestionofyoursthantellyoutenthingswithoutyourasking。