diff --git a/slack/channels.py b/slack/channels.py
index c0f16b8..9f4a4f7 100644
--- a/slack/channels.py
+++ b/slack/channels.py
@@ -16,41 +16,25 @@ class Channel(threads.Thread):
     def do_fetch_info(self):
         return info(self.id())
 
+    def do_fetch_messages(self, ts):
+        return history(self.id(), ts)
+
+    def do_mark_messages(self, ts):
+        mark(self.id(), ts)
+
     def is_member(self):
         return self.__member
 
     def post(self, text):
         chat.postMessage(self.__id, text)
 
-    def read(self):
-        if self.__last_ts == None:
-            self.fetch_info()
-        return history(self.__id, self.__last_ts)
-
 
 
 def history(channel, timestamp):
     ret = api.call("channels.history", token = auth.token(), channel = channel, oldest = timestamp)
     if ret["ok"] == False:
         return None
-
-    # Read original message list
-    o_list = []
-    for message in ret["messages"]:
-        o_list += [ chat.Message(message) ]
-    o_list.sort()
-
-    # Merge together messages from the same user
-    m_list = [ o_list[0] ]
-    for msg in o_list[1:]:
-        if msg.user() == m_list[-1].user():
-            m_list[-1].merge(msg)
-        else:
-            m_list += [ msg ]
-
-    if len(m_list) > 0:
-        mark(channel, m_list[-1].ts())
-    return m_list
+    return ret["messages"]
 
 def info(channel):
     ret = api.call("channels.info", token = auth.token(), channel = channel)
diff --git a/slack/chat.py b/slack/chat.py
index bbf8f60..a7319a6 100644
--- a/slack/chat.py
+++ b/slack/chat.py
@@ -10,11 +10,11 @@ import re
 
 
 
-def __text_parse_uid(text):
+def _text_parse_uid(text):
     res = text
     for uid in re.findall("<@(.*?)>", text):
         uid = uid.split("|")[0]
-        user = slack.users.info(uid)
+        user = users.info(uid)
         res = re.sub("<@%s(.*?)>" % uid, "@%s" % user.user(), res)
     return res
 
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class Message:
     def __str__(self):
         lines = []
         for line in self.__text:
-            line   = __text_parse_uid(line)
+            line   = _text_parse_uid(line)
             lines += [ "" ] + textwrap.wrap(line)
         text = "\n	".join(lines)
         time = self.__time.strftime("%I:%M:%S %p")
diff --git a/slack/groups.py b/slack/groups.py
index 8de0ae5..663d521 100644
--- a/slack/groups.py
+++ b/slack/groups.py
@@ -13,6 +13,19 @@ class Group(threads.Thread):
     def do_fetch_info(self):
         return info(self.id())
 
+    def do_fetch_messages(self, ts):
+        return history(self.id(), ts)
+
+    def do_mark_messages(self, ts):
+        mark(self.id(), ts)
+
+
+
+def history(group, timestamp):
+    ret = api.call("groups.history", token = auth.token(), channel = group, oldest = timestamp)
+    if ret["ok"] == False:
+        return None
+    return ret["messages"]
 
 
 def info(group):
@@ -30,3 +43,6 @@ def list():
     for group in ret["groups"]:
         gr_list += [ Group(group) ]
     return gr_list
+
+def mark(group, timestamp):
+    api.call("groups.mark", token = auth.token(), channel = group, ts = timestamp)
diff --git a/slack/threads.py b/slack/threads.py
index 271d3d2..606224b 100644
--- a/slack/threads.py
+++ b/slack/threads.py
@@ -2,12 +2,15 @@
 # Copyright 2015 (c) Anna Schumaker.
 #
 
+from . import chat
 
 #
 # This class represents a slack "thread", which could be a channel, group,
 # or chat.  Note that child classes need to implement the following methods:
 #
-# - do_fetch_info():  Call <whatever>.info to find unread count and timestamp.
+# - do_fetch_info():     Call <whatever>.info to find unread count and timestamp.
+# - do_fetch_messages(): Call <whatever>.history to find unread messages.
+# - do_mark_messages():  Call <whatever>.mark to set unread cursor.
 #
 class Thread:
     def __init__(self, json):
@@ -39,6 +42,28 @@ class Thread:
     def name(self):
         return self.__name
 
+    def read(self):
+        if self.__last_ts == None:
+            self.fetch_info()
+
+        # Read original message list
+        o_list = []
+        for message in self.do_fetch_messages(self.__last_ts):
+            o_list += [ chat.Message(message) ]
+        o_list.sort()
+
+        # Merge together messages from the same user
+        m_list = [ o_list[0] ]
+        for msg in o_list[1:]:
+            if msg.user() == m_list[-1].user():
+                m_list[-1].merge(msg)
+            else:
+                m_list += [ msg ]
+
+        self.do_mark_messages(m_list[-1].ts())
+        return m_list
+
+
     def unread_count(self):
         if self.__unread == None:
             self.fetch_info()