They had once possessed as good eyes as mules need ask for; but, living where there was nothing but darkness to be seen, and no sunlight to see it by, pray what did they need of eyesight?
"Cassy," said Grace, "don't you remember, when we were children, we used to say we meant some time to live together and keep house?
Suppose we try it here.

We might have gas-light, you know, and all our food could be brought down on a dumb waiter." "Yes," said Cassy, who was very fond of sleep; "and we needn't ever get up in the morning." "No skeetos," suggested Dotty.
"Men have lived in the earth sometimes," said Horace.

"There was St.
Dunstan; his cell was hardly large enough to stand in--was it, father?
And sometimes he stood in water all night, and sang psalms." "What was that for, Uncle Edward ?" "He was trying to please God." "But uncle, I don't believe God liked it." "The man was, no doubt, insane, dear.

But his perseverance in doing what he thought right was something grand.

Now suppose, children, we ascend and see what is going on atop of the earth." "I'm glad we didn't always have to stay in that black hole," said Dotty, catching her breath as they were drawn up.
Then the thought occurred to her that the One who had made the sunlight and the soft green earth was kinder than she had ever supposed.
"Well," said cousin Horace, "now we've done the mine; and this evening, Dotty, you and I will go and sniggle for eels." Dotty dared not tell any one that she had expected to find gold, and had been disappointed.
Her first act, after reaching Aunt 'Ria's was to look in the little box for her precious pearl.