THE next morning before breakfast, Rachel (Mr. Stephens's cook) came over to let Mrs. Boswell know that her mother was sick in bed, and that the Crosbys had taken themselves off to the poor-house to their parents, the evening before, without leave.

  "That is just what I have been expecting," said the Doctor, "that they would run off. What talk it will afford the gossips in the neighbourhood! How they are to be gotten back, I can't see, my dear; I think the only plan now, is for us to carry Kate and Molly over and insist that your mother shall keep them, and I will bind out those children to somebody else. They will never stay there, and it is not worth while to be troubled with them any longer."

  Mrs. Boswell, in tears, said, "I cannot express to you, my dear husband, my thankfulness for your kindness to my dear parents; I see no other plan than the one you propose, but I am fearful that my mother, even in this extremity, will not consent for the girls to wait upon her."

  "There will be no harm in trying the experiment, my dear, and the girls must get ready to go with us."

  Breakfast was hurried, in consequence of Mrs. Boswell's anxiety to see her mother. When they arrived at Fredonia, Mrs. Boswell went into her mother's chamber, and found her quite sick. She complained much of the conduct of John and Sally, and wanted them sent for immediately.

  "My dear mamma," said Mrs. Boswell, "if we were to send for them, their parents would not let them return, and if we were to force them back, the whole neighbourhood would be up in arms against us. The Doctor has suggested a plan, mamma, which I hope you will agree to. We have brought with us Kate and Molly, who are very good, tractable servants, and if you will try them, mamma, you will find much more satisfaction than you have ever had with those Crosbys, and you can keep them as long as you wish."

  "My dear Ann, I am very thankful to the Doctor for his kindness, but I don't think I can consent to be waited upon by slaves."

  "Oh, do, for my sake, mamma, give up such prejudices. You have been waited upon by those two little awkward creatures, who looked miserable all the time they were here. We now offer you two girls nearly grown, who have been well trained to housework, who, if you treat them well, will do everything you want them to do, with cheerful countenances, and be as happy here with you as possible. Do, mamma, consent to take them; you will find so much comfort in them."

  She made no reply, but was evidently not so determined against taking them as she was at first. Mrs. Boswell opened the door and called the girls in. Kate looked frightened, and seemed to be listening for the horrible words, "poor creatures." If they were uttered, they were inaudible. Mrs. Stephens, however, covered her face with the counterpane. The girls were set to work by Mrs. Boswell, to put in order a room where everything seemed to be out of place, and when it was made neat and comfortable, she proposed to her mother to sit up in an arm chair until the girls could make up her bed. She got up with the assistance of her daughter, and went to the chair, keeping her back to the girls. Mrs. Boswell observed her casting her eyes over the room, and was pleased to discover upon her countenance something like satisfaction at its altered appearance.

  She complained of much weakness, and begged that the girls would make haste with her bed. When it was done, Mrs. Boswell assisted her back to it, and when covered

  "Mamma, won't you have something to eat? I think you would be much better after drinking a cup of good coffee or tea."

  "My dear Ann, I don't think there is any preparation made for breakfast. Rachel was sent over to Selma, and I doubt whether there is any fire made in the kitchen, yet."

  "Girls," said Mrs. Boswell, "go and get water, make a fire in the kitchen, put on the tea kettle, help Rachel about breakfast, and have it ready as soon as you possibly can."

  They were absent but a short time, when Kate came and told her mistress that the kettle was boiling.

  "Already!" said Mrs. Stephens; "I did not suppose they had been gone long enough to make the fire."

  "Mamma, when servants work cheerfully and willingly, they won't take long to do anything you put them at. I suppose it would have taken those little Crosbys two or three hours to make a tea kettle boil."

  "My dear Ann, I don't wish ever to hear those Crosbys mentioned again."

  "I am delighted, mamma, to hear you say so, and I hope you will never see or hear of them more."

  While this conversation was carried on in the chamber, Mr. Stephens and the Doctor were engaged in a similar one in the dining-room. Mr. Stephens was informed of the arrangement, and readily consented to relinquish all claim to the Crosbys under the indenture. The Doctor determined to leave Mrs. Boswell at Fredonia, and go and see Squire Brown, who he knew had to hire hands for his

  "I will ask mamma, Uncle Robin, if she will see you."

  The old lady sent him word that she would be glad to see him in the chamber; and Mrs. Boswell, thinking that her presence might be a restraint upon their conversation, went into the dining-room. She had great hopes that Uncle Robin would say something to her mother which might reconcile her to be waited on by slaves.

  "Missis," said Uncle Robin, "I's sorry to hear you is sick, madam; how you do, now?"

  "I thank you, Uncle Robin; I feel somewhat better since I drank a good cup of coffee my daughter had made for me. How are you, Uncle Robin?"

  "Thank God, missis, I's in reasonable health, madam. I think from what dey tells me, missis, you mus' bin made sick by dem little white creturs you had here, madam."

  "I think it probable, Uncle Robin, that my sickness was caused by the trouble and vexation they occasioned me."

  "Why, madam, white sarvants in dis country an't so good as blacks, anyhow, madam. I don' know how it is whar you com' from, madam, but white folks too proud here, madam, for good sarvants. I wou'dn' give dem two

  "Well, Robin, I came to this state, thinking that the slaves here were the most miserable creatures in the world, and that they were always anxious to get away from their masters whenever they could. Now, Uncle Robin, I think I can rely upon what you say; and I wish you to tell me whether they are really happy or miserable?"

  "Well, missis, I gwine tell you nothin' but the truth, madam. I does think as de black people bin brung to dis country, madam, dat dey better be slave here den free. I see how it is, madam, wid de free niggers, and wid de slaves, madam; and, if you b'leve me, if my masser wus to say to me dis day, 'Robin, you may be free,' I'd say, No, masser, I won' be free; who gwine take care of me, masser, when I gits ole, and pass wuck, masser?' Missis, I never bin see miserable sarvants, madam. Why, sarvants bin happy, madam, eber sence de days of Solomon. When dat queen (what you call her, missis?) went to see all Solomon good things, she tell Solomon he sarvants look happy: so it bin always, madam, wid sarvants who have good massers. If dem people way back North, madam, would but let niggers alone, dey'd be jus' as happy as white folks, madam. Now, missis, don't you think any mo' of dem good for nuttin' Crosby, madam, but try dese gals, Kate and Molly; an' if dey don' mak' your time easy, madam, you may say Robin know'd nothin' 'bout it."

  "Uncle Robin, I have had so much more comfort in the short time that these girls have been here, I will try them, if for nothing else than to gratify my daughter, who is so very anxious that I should keep them."

  "You gwine do jes what's right, madam, de Scriptur' say, parents mus'n' provoke der children to anger, madam. Now dar's no danger of provokin' my missis to anger, madam, but if you don' keep dese gals, dar's danger, madam, of provokin' my missis to hard thoughts 'bout you, madam, which is nex' thing to anger."

  "Uncle Robin, how does your Sabbath school come on? I understand you have one that you superintend; these girls, I suppose, must be sent over to the cabin on Sabbath morning?"

  "Why, madam, my Sunday school does com' on right well; I does super'tend it, but dar's always som' white man or 'oman dar, dat's what de law require', madam. I'll be 'bliged to you, madam, to sen' dem gals over 'bout nine o'clock."

  "Very well, Uncle Robin, they shall be there in time."

  "You' sarvant, missis. I hopes de Lord will raise you up off dat bed, madam, and dat you may live in peace and quiet wid dem gals."

  "Good bye, Uncle Robin, you must come and see me again when you have leisure."

  Dr. Boswell was hailed as usual by old Mr. Frazer as he passed his door on his way to Squire Brown's.

  "I suppose, Doctor, you were at the grand affair at Major Scott's last night."

  "Yes, Mr. Frazer, I was there."

  "Was it a very superb entertainment, Doctor?"

  "Everything was very nice, and good, and abundant, Mr. Frazer, but I saw nothing very superb or splendid."

  "Well, sir, from what I heard of the preparations, I thought it would have been a tearing down party. I

  "Indeed, Mr. Frazer, I can't gratify your curiosity, for I know nothing of Mr. Benson's arrangements. You seem to keep up your antipathy to the Yankees."

  "Yes, Doctor, I do most cordially despise them all. Why, sir, I have just heard that another gang of negroes have gone off from up the valley; there's nobody's property safe, sir. If something isn't done with these Yankees who are prowling about among us, we shall lose all the negroes in the state, sir. Oh! Doctor, those children went from here this morning; they came here last night about dusk, and asked me to let them stay all night; I asked them where they were going, they said to see their parents, and upon further inquiry I found they had run off. I thought at first I would take them back to Mr. Stephens, but they begged so hard, and looked so miserable, that I had not the heart to do it. I gave them their breakfast this morning, and they are gone to the poor-house. It is not worth while, Doctor, for you to attempt to get them children back; they say they won't stay, unless they are kept constantly tied, and the old man won't let them go back, I know, sir."

  "I don't intend they shall ever go back there, Mr. Frazer; I shall make some other arrangements for them."

  "What other arrangements will you make for them, Doctor?"

  "You will hear in good time, Mr. Frazer, after they are made."

  "Indeed, Doctor, I'm not one of those people who would pry into other people's matters; what little news I do pick up at this public place, is generally forced upon me. Do you know whether old Mr. Preble has certainly forbidden Mr. Grattan to come to his house, Doctor?"

  "No, I have never heard that he had, and if there is such a report in circulation, I don't credit it at all. I believe it to be entirely false, sir."

  "Well, sir, I only heard it as a report; I don't vouch for its truth; it is shameful for people to circulate such a report if it's not true."

  "True or false, Mr. Frazer, such things ought not to be freely talked of, about a minister of the gospel."

  "That's just what I tell people, Doctor."

  The Doctor rode off and left him. When he arrived at Squire Brown's, he found him talking with old Mr. Crosby, who had been brought over in a cart from the poor-house (about a half mile distant). The children had gotten there before he left, and he had come over to the Squire's to consult with him about them. The Squire met the Doctor very cordially, but old Mr. Crosby seemed very much disinclined to take the hand which the Doctor held out to him.

  "I am come, Squire Brown," said the Doctor, "to see you upon the subject which I suppose brought Mr. Crosby here."

  "I come here, Doctor, to see my children righted," said Mr. Crosby, with much vehemence; "they've been treated worse than brutes ought to be treated, sir; and if there's any justice in law, sir, I'll have them righted."

  The Doctor very mildly replied, "Mr. Crosby, I am sorry to see you give way to passion; I don't wish your children to go back to Mr. Stephens, but wish this matter settled to the satisfaction of all parties, and want to have as few words about it as possible. I have come here, hoping that Squire Brown would take them off his hands."

  "That's just what I would wish," said Mr. Crosby; "I look upon the Squire as a humane man, and one very fitten to have my children, sir."

  "Doctor," said the Squire, "you have taken me entirely by surprise; but I will go and consult my wife, and if she thinks she can do anything with Sally, we will take them. I know John will be quite useful to me."

  The mildness of the Doctor, and his very acceptable proposal, having subdued the anger of Mr. Crosby, he remained silent until the Squire returned.

  "Well, Doctor, my wife thinks she can make Sally useful, and we have agreed to take them. Whatever clothes they have left at Mr. Stephens's, can be sent over to Frazer's shop."

  "They were furnished, Squire, with very good clothing when they came, and with some since the first suit; but to satisfy all parties, I will leave in your hands six dollars for their use."

  "I always knowed, Doctor," said Mr. Crosby, "that you would do the right thing, and I'm very much beholden to you, sir."

  When the Doctor was gone, the Squire said to Mr. Crosby, he was very sorry he had said anything to wound the feelings of such a good man as Dr. Boswell.

  "Squire," he replied, "if the truth must be told, I was

  "I think it very probable, Mr. Crosby, that the cruelty of Mrs. Stephens to your children gave the Doctor almost as much pain as it gave you; but he was very delicately situated. I don't know how he could, with any regard to her feelings, have hinted at, or advised a change in her treatment. I suppose, after this, the Stephens's will be as fond of being waited on by slaves as any of us. Those Northern people soon get over the notions they bring here with them."

  The Doctor went directly to Fredonia, taking care to give spur to his horse as he passed Mr. Frazer's shop. They were all very much pleased to hear that the Crosbys had been disposed of with so little trouble, not excepting Mrs. Stephens, who had the Doctor in her chamber that afternoon, and who behaved more rationally, and more like a lady, than she had done since her arrival in Virginia. It was apparent, that from sad experience and wholesome appliances, the kink in her brain was in the way of being unravelled.

  "I hope I see you better, this afternoon, Mrs. Stephens?" said the Doctor, as he seated himself by her bedside.

  "Thank you, Doctor, I am much better than I was this morning; Ann's being with me all day has been of great benefit. I feel myself under great obligations to you, Doctor, for the trouble you have taken in settling this disagreeable matter; I will try hereafter to give Ann and yourself less uneasiness on my account. I will confess to

  "Doctor, I have no doubt that when you have been contemplating the many excellencies in the character of our dear Ann, you have often contrasted hers and her mother's, and wondered at the astonishing difference. Although I do not pretend to equality with Ann in those qualities which adorn her character, yet it is due to my self, Doctor, to say, that you have seen me in Virginia under the trembling influence of a solitary idea, which had almost overthrown my mind, and which had entirely obscured traits of character, much lower in degree than those of my daughter, to be sure, but, I flatter myself, infinitely higher than the perverseness, folly, and childishness, induced by that one idea, would seem to indicate, I must acknowledge, also, that the same influence operating upon a temper naturally excitable, caused great impatience under trials, produced by the very bad conduct of those children whom I foolishly took here, and that I sincerely regret the cruelty which I exercised towards them. Your girls, I promise you, will receive different treatment; for, besides the warm feelings of benevolence which I hope I shall always cherish for persons in their situation, the recollection of your kindness, Doctor, I hope, will restrain any passionate inclination to correct your servants, who are so fortunate as never to receive correction from yourself."

  "Well, madam," said the Doctor, "servants as well as children should be taught implicit obedience; and if they require correction, it should be administered in moderation, from a sense of duty, but never in anger, madam."

  It was now getting late in the afternoon, and the girls, who had not been present when the conversations took place between Mrs. Stephens, the Doctor, and Mrs. Boswell, about their remaining, seeing their master and mistress preparing to go home, were making similar preparations for themselves in another room. Mrs. Boswell said to them, "Girls, you are to stay here and wait upon papa and mamma."

  They both exclaimed, "Oh, missis, we don' wan' stay here, madam; please let us go home wid you an' masser."

  "No, you can't go; your master and myself have both told mamma that you were to stay; she has promised to be very kind to you; you must be good girls, mind what is said to you, and keep mamma's room and the dining-room in nice order. You must be over at Selma by nine o'clock on Sunday morning."

  "Not 'fore Sunday, missis?" exclaimed Kate, in tears.

  "Good-bye," said Mrs. Boswell; "now mind, you must be good girls."

  She left them both weeping bitterly.

  When they got back to Selma, they found Mr. Henry Stephens there, from Norristown.

  "My dear brother," said Mrs. Boswell, "I never was so delighted to see anybody in my life; and so unexpected, too. Why did you take us by surprise? You mentioned nothing of coming to Virginia, in your last letter, which papa received a few days ago."

  "No, Ann, when I wrote that letter I had no idea of coming, but business brought me to Baltimore, and I thought I would make you a flying visit."

  "My dear brother, I am sorry to hear that it is only to be a flying visit; I hoped you had come to stay with us some time."

  "No, Ann, I can only give you one day (to-morrow), the next day I must set out again for home."

  "I am truly sorry to hear that, Henry," said the Doctor; "you must think better of it yet."

  "It would give me much pleasure, I assure you, Doctor, to remain longer, but important business requires me to be at home in two days from the day after to-morrow."

  "Your servant told me when I arrived a few minutes ago, that mamma was sick. You are just from there, I suppose; how is she, this evening?"

  "There is not much the matter; she has taken a slight cold, and will be quite well to-morrow, I hope."

  "I must go over and see them; how far do they live from here?"

  "About a half-mile, brother," said Mrs. Boswell; "come into the portico, and I will show you the house. Supper will be brought in directly, and you can go over and stay with them until bed-time, if you choose, and then come back here; they are not prepared for lodging any one."

  After he was gone, the Doctor said: "I can't imagine what has brought Henry on to Baltimore; I thought his business was generally in the direction of New York or Boston."

  "I fear, from what papa told me the other day, that Henry's affairs are not in a very prosperous condition.

  "I wish he would buy a farm, in this valley near us. There are several farms near this, offered for sale; I will mention it to him."

  "My dear husband, Henry will never come to Virginia to live; he is as sensitive upon the subject of slavery as ever mamma was."

  "I think it rather unfortunate, my dear, that he should have come here just at this time; he may throw your mother back upon that (to me) discordant note of 'poor creatures.'"

  "I hope they will have other things to talk about than slavery."

  "A real abolitionist, my dear, lugs in that topic head and heels, neck and shoulders, in place and out of place: it is an eternal ding dong with them. I should not be surprised if those girls are sent back, forthwith."

  "I have no fears of that sort. Mamma's confession, today, was wrung from her by bitter experience and necessity, and she is not going to throw herself back upon the extremity in which I found her this morning. You can form no idea of the comfortless situation in which she was, when she attributed her behaviour since her residence in Virginia, to partial alienation of mind, produced by that fixed idea. She was right, for she has seemed to me an entirely different human being from what she was in Pennsylvania. If Henry's visit will have the effect you apprehend, it will be unfortunate that he ever came. It will be a sad disappointment to me, if she does fall back again into

  "I too, Ann, have marked the difference between Mrs. Stephens in Virginia, and Mrs. Stephens in Pennsylvania, and I have for some time thought she laboured under partial hallucination."

  "I wish I had told Henry not to mention the subject of slavery to her."

  "That never would have done, my dear; such a request would have filled him brim-full of the subject, and his vessel would have overflowed at his first glance at Kate and Molly."

  Mr. Henry Stephens returned before bedtime, and expressed himself much pleased with his father's and mother's situation.

  "Was mamma sitting up, Henry, while you were there?" asked Mrs. Boswell.

  "No, Ann, I found her in bed, with two black girls in her room at work. I had a great inclination to say to her that I never expected to witness such a sight as my mother surrounded by slaves who were labouring for her; but I thought if she chose to give in to the practices of Virginians, it was no business of mine. I know one thing, that if the Lord spares me my senses, wherever I am, I shall retain my abhorrence of slavery."

  "The Doctor was just saying, brother, that he would propose to you to sell out in Norristown, and come and settle by the side of us in Virginia."

  "Although I should like to be near the Doctor and yourself, Ann, I could never consent to that. No, my life must be spent in a free state; I should be the most

  "Then you don't like work, Henry?" said the Doctor.

  "Yes, I do, sir; I like to see everybody employed in some work or other; but let them be free, and work only as long as they please, and just on what kind of work they please. I don't like to see people who have no wills of their own, made to be eternally delving in work that they have no interest in."

  "Henry, were you ever through one of your Northern factories?"

  "Yes, sir, to be sure; I have been in Northern and English factories, too."

  "Do the people in those factories, Henry, work when they please, and leave off when they please, and have they an interest in the work they are delving at?"

  "Why, Doctor, if they left off from work when they pleased, they would be turned out of employ; they certainly have an interest in their work to the amount of their wages."

  "Would the wages of a labouring man in England, or the North, Henry, furnish him with good warm winter clothing, and necessary decent summer clothing, and two abundant meals of bread and meat, for every day in the year?"

  "I can't answer that question with certainty, Doctor, but I suppose his wages would be rather scant for that."

  "Then, Henry, my slaves have more interest in the work they are engaged in than the labouring people of England, or of the North; for they have, as wages of labour, all those things I have enumerated; and although they work at the will of their master, it is a more lenient will

  "They are kept at work all day and part of the night, I believe; but that depends upon the time at which they finish their tasks."

  "Do they get any wages, Henry, which gives them an interest in their work?"

  "They are clothed and fed, sir."

  "Do you suppose that the clothing and food which they get would amount to half of the annual cost of the articles I told you my negroes get?"

  "Not more than half, I suppose."

  "My negroes, then, have double the interest, in the work that they do, than that description of operatives, and are required to be engaged a much shorter time at work. When those operatives who are bound to their employers, neglect to finish their tasks, what is the consequence?"

  "They are made to do it, sir; and if they don't, they are flogged."

  "Henry, I wish you could stay with us, and read two small works, one called 'Helen Fleetwood,' and the other 'The Little Pin-headers;' then go and see the situation of the negroes on my plantation of the same ages with those boys and girls mentioned in those works; and draw the comparison for yourself between their relative situations."

  "Doctor, I am against slavery in toto, and it is not worth while for us to argue about it."

  "No, it is not, Henry; there are none so hard to convince as those who are determined not to be."

  Before Mr. Stephens retired to bed, he told his sister that his father and mother requested that she and the Doctor would come over with him, and spend the next day, so that they might all be together.

  "Doctor," said Mr. Stephens, the next morning as they were walking out, "I have a very particular and important business on hand, the transaction of which will be infinitely beneficial to me. My partner in business wishes to withdraw from the firm, and has offered me his interest in our establishment for three thousand dollars, payable in three months, and requires a draft on a mercantile house in Boston, to run for that time. He can get the money on the draft, provided it is well endorsed; and, having heard of your circumstances, he is willing to take you as the endorser. I would esteem it a particular favour if you would lend me your name."

  "Are you well enough acquainted, Henry, with the liabilities of your firm to be perfectly satisfied that the purchase will be a safe one? Does not the wish of your partner to sell to you, on what you call advantageous terms, raise something like a doubt of its being profitable to you after you have made the purchase?"

  "Not at all, sir; he is anxious to go to Europe on an adventure, from which he expects much more profit than he could possibly reap from our business, were we ever so successful. He is a man in whom I have great confidence, and I am well satisfied there is no liability unknown to myself. I can give you a positive assurance, Doctor, that the draft will be paid at maturity, and there is not, I may say, a possibility of your being made to suffer."

  "Under that assurance, Henry, I will endorse the draft." They went into the house, the draft was produced, and endorsed by the Doctor. They all spent that day at Fredonia, where nothing occurred of sufficient interest to relate. Mr. Stephens returned home on the following day. On that day Miss Evelina received a visit from Mr. Hicks; her father paid him marked attention, but she, recollecting his connexion with the distressing incidents of the wedding-night, felt every disposition to avoid his company, and the civility in her deportment, if civility it may be called, not being in accordance with the feelings of her heart, was a painful effort, forced upon her by a sense of duty to her father.

  "I hope," said he, "Miss Preble experienced no inconvenience from her late, or rather early, ride from the wedding?"

  "No, sir, not the least."

  "We should have had a much more pleasant party if we had been allowed to dance. Don't you think so, Miss Preble?"

  "I don't know, indeed, sir, how much it would have added to the pleasure of others; but it would not have increased mine at all, as I never dance."

  "Well, that's strange. I had somehow or other taken up the idea, that dancing was a universal amusement in Virginia; and I did not suppose that I could be at a party here, where there was no dancing, or that I should have met with a single Virginia lady who was not fond of the amusement."

  "It is by no means a general practice in Virginia, sir."

  "I declare, miss, I think I've seen the amusements of

  "Very probable, sir, as the slaves in Virginia are passionately fond of the dance, with the accompaniments you mention."

  "Poor creatures, I guess they get rid of the sorrows of the heart, through the medium of the feet."

  "They are very often, sir, advised to use the feet as a medium to escape imagined sorrows."

  Mr. Preble was made very uneasy by Miss Evelina's last thrust, and changed the subject, by asking Mr. Hicks how he liked Harper's Ferry.

  "Oh! sir, it's a grand display of the sublime; but I must confess that I was disappointed in my expectations, which had been raised too high by Mr. Jefferson's extravagant description of it."

  "You should go, Mr. Hicks, to see our Natural Bridge, which is a work of nature far superior in grandeur to Harper's Ferry."

  "I should have abundance of time, Mr. Preble, as Benson has determined not to return until after the 15th of the month. I came here as his waiting man, and I guess I must obey his orders, particularly while I am in a land where obedience is enforced by the rod. How far do you call it to the Natural Bridge, sir?"

  "It is, I believe, sir, between one hundred and fifty and one hundred and sixty miles."

  "Are there stages running from this section to the bridge, sir?"

  "Yes, sir, there is a stage running up the valley every day."

  "It is very inconvenient to me, Mr. Preble, to stay from home as long as Benson requires I should do. Do you think, Miss Preble, that, as his groomsman, I am bound to stay until he says I may go?"

  "I suppose, sir," responded Miss Evelina, "that a groomsman, after the performance of the duty for which he was engaged, is perfectly absolved from all obedience to his master (if you so call the groom), becomes a free man, and has a right to return home when he likes."

  "I declare, Mr. Preble, you have put me very much in the notion of going to the Bridge. Miss Preble, don't you think I had as well spend a part of the time I remain in Virginia in taking that trip?"

  "I think you said, Mr. Hicks, it would be very inconvenient for you to remain as long as Mr. Benson wishes; I could, therefore, never advise any gentleman to sacrifice his convenience, or his business, to pleasure."

  "Oh! as to convenience or business, the loss of a few days will be of but little moment. I meant to ask you, miss, whether if I stay (as I have determined to do), you thought I could derive more pleasure from a trip to the Bridge, than by remaining where I am?"

  "I should think a trip to the Bridge would afford you much more amusement, than remaining in this neighbourhood; and as that section of country furnishes much to please strangers, you might spend the whole time which will intervene between this and the 15th in viewing its beauties."

  Old Mr. Preble excused himself to Mr. Hicks for being obliged to leave him to be entertained by his daughter, saying that he had an engagement to meet a gentleman

  Mr. Hicks thanked him, and said he was perfectly excusable in not neglecting his appointment.

  "Miss Preble," said he (taking a nearer seat), "I assure you I had no serious thought of going to the Bridge; there's attraction for me in this neighbourhood far beyond any that a sight of the Bridge offers."

  "I am at a loss to understand, sir, how this neighbourhood, which you have not generally seen, and in which you have not been three days, should have for you attractions superior to a work of nature, which is acknowledged to be one of her grandest efforts."

  "Nature, miss, produces works upon a smaller scale, which, if they fail to excite astonishment and wonder, are eminently qualified to engage the affections of the heart."

  "The works of nature, sir, whether upon a large or small scale, are calculated to engage the affections of the heart for nature's Great Architect, but not for the work itself."

  "Nature's Great Architect, miss, has made some works after his own image, one of which presents itself at this moment, in the person of Miss Evelina Preble, as worthy of every affection of my heart."

  "Mr. Hicks, I esteem it but a poor compliment to a lady's understanding, her prudence or discretion, to be addressed in such language after an acquaintance not yet of three days' length; and I am constrained, sir, to take my leave of you." She left the room with a dignified air. Mr. Hicks was in considerable difficulty to decide whether

  Dr. Boswell had rode that morning as far as Mr. Frazer's, with Mr. Stephens. Mr. Frazer saw him as he was passing, and in a very earnest manner said, "Doctor, get down; I've got something to show you; it is worth seeing, I can tell you." The Doctor alighted, and as he was going into the house, Mr. Frazer directed his attention to two advertisements, tacked to the side of the house, one on each side of the door. The Doctor read the first one he came to, as follows:

  "Will be offered for sale at the shop of Joel Frazer, on the 15th instant, ten likely slaves, for cash. These slaves consist of three families, and not being sold for any fault, they will be set up in families. No bid of a trader will be taken, nor of any one residing out of the county.

GEORGE PREBLE."

  He read the other advertisement, as follows:

  "Will be offered for sale, for cash, on the 15th instant,

ROBERT BENSON."

  "That's just what I told you, Doctor, that that Yankee would sell his negroes. And see, too, Doctor, how he's going to sell them; not like George Preble, in families, in the county, but to anybody and everybody. Now mind what I say, Doctor, if he don't get from twelve to fifteen hundred dollars more than George gets for his. Give me old Virginia, Doctor, any day, for humanity. I won't swear in your presence, Doctor, but I was just going to curse that Yankee."

  "Mr. Frazer," said the Doctor, "he couldn't well do otherwise than to sell his negroes, as they could not be carried to Boston."

  "To carry out his abolition principles, Doctor, he ought to set them free; that's the real truth of the matter."

  "You could not find many Northern people, Mr. Frazer, who would do that; they would take them from the South in a body, but they hold fast to slaves, or their value, when they become possessed of them."

  "I understand, Doctor, you got the Crosbys off Mr. Stephens's hands. They have a fine master now, sir; Squire Brown is a first-rate man."

  The Doctor, finding that Mr. Frazer was getting upon a subject which had occasioned him great uneasiness, and which he wished never to hear mentioned again, left him. On his way home he overtook the Rev. Mr. Grattan returning from his visit, and carried him to Selma, to dinner. Mrs. Boswell said to the Doctor, when they arrived, that

  "A great change has come over your mother, my dear, since she has gotten partially rid of that kink in her brain. Mr. Grattan, I suppose you have heard something of Mrs. Stephens's vagaries upon the subject of slavery, since she came to Virginia? I believe it has been the common talk of the neighbourhood for some weeks."

  "Yes, sir, I have heard that she was very sensitive upon that subject, and felt much concerned that a lady so closely connected with your family should have her peculiarities made a topic for neighbourhood gossipping. I was disposed to make every allowance for what I considered the result of prejudices, founded upon misapprehension of what slavery really was in Virginia, induced by the very false representations made of it. I felt confident, that when she had been long enough in Virginia to judge for herself, those prejudices would be removed: and that any unfavourable impression which might be made on the public mind, would pass off, and be forgotten."

  "The indulgence, sir," said the Doctor, "of those anti slavery prejudices, to the extent to which she carried them, does certainly impair the intellect. Mrs. Stephens in Virginia has appeared to me entirely different from Mrs. Stephens as I knew her in Pennsylvania. I am happy to inform you now that her views upon that subject are undergoing a change, and that there is every prospect of her becoming entirely reconciled to a relation which she once, through ignorance, abhorred. It is a source of

  "I assure you, sir," said Mr. Grattan, "it gives me, also, great pleasure to hear it."

  "I see from George Preble's advertisement, Mr. Grattan, that he has made up his mind positively to go to California."

  "What advertisement do you allude to, sir?"

  "I saw an advertisement to-day, of George's, advertising ten negroes for sale on the 15th."

  "George is certainly to blame in taking his wife to such a distance from her father and mother; and, moreover, the inhumanity of selling slaves, who are guilty of no fault, should have at once banished all thought of it," said Mr. Grattan.

  "George is about to sell his in a manner attended with as little inhumanity as possible; he advertises them in families, and restricts the sale to persons living in the county. Benson advertises his, without any restriction, to be sold separately."

  "That, sir, places sympathy, and a real tender consideration for those persons, in the latitude to which it in truth belongs—the South. The North has set up pretensions to such feelings; but those pretensions, as evidenced in the case of Benson, prove false when interest is at stake. I am astonished, Doctor, that Major Scott should have given them negroes, under the circumstances in which they were placed."

  "I have conversed, sir, with Major Scott upon that subject. He said that he wished to give his children

  "Indeed, Doctor, when I think of the bereavement which hangs over them, my sympathies are highly excited. Mrs. Scott, I know, will bear the separation with true Christian resignation; but I fear the Major will not have sources for consolation to which she resorts."

  "Mr. Grattan," said Mrs. Boswell, "have you seen Evelina since the wedding?" and, with an arch smile, added, "I wonder if the Boston beau has been to the Cottage, yet?"

  "To your question, Mrs. Boswell, I can answer, no, that I have not been to the Cottage since that night; and I can put a stop to your wonder, by saying that I met Mr. Hicks this morning just from the Cottage, as I supposed."

  "Had you any conversation with him?"

  "No, madam, we passed each other in the road. I was about to rein up my horse, to speak to him, but I observed he put spur to his; and our recognition was scarcely perceptible."

  "Mr. Grattan," said the Doctor, "you may put you mind at ease upon that subject. I have known Evelina from her childhood; and I know that she never would consent, under any circumstances whatever, to take such

  "Mrs. Boswell, you have been divulging, I see, to the Doctor, some of our secrets."

  "Why, you know, sir, I promised to obey my husband in all things, and when I asked him that night on our way home, if he would promise to keep a secret, he said I was bound to tell him whether he promised or not; and I looked upon that as something like an order, and obeyed."

  "I can assure you both, that I have heartily repented of the folly of that night," said Mr. Grattan.

  "If Mr. Hicks has any idea of Evelina, the meeting must have disturbed him more than it did you, as he must have concluded that you were on your way to the Cottage. But I can't think that he has any such intention, as I overheard Miss Eliza McKnight tell him, that Evelina's affections were engaged, or something to that effect, and Miss Eliza had her own reasons for making that communication, no doubt."

  "Why, my dear, you never told me of that before," said Mrs. Boswell.

  "My dear, those things make so slight an impression upon my mind, that my memory scarcely ever brings them back, after the occasion has passed, and I perhaps never should have thought of it again, but for the present conversation. I think Miss Eliza McKnight would have no sort of objection to catch Mr. Hicks, herself."

  Charles came into the room to let the Doctor know that Uncle Robin wanted to see him.

  "Well, Robin, what's your will?"

  "De people all seems dispose', sir, to hear de Rev. Mr.

  "I will ask Mr. Grattan, Robin, and if he has no objection, I shall have none." He went back and proposed it Mr. Grattan, who cheerfully consented, and Robin was told to summon the negroes to attend at his cabin, at four o'clock. After dinner, the Doctor and Mrs. Boswell accompanied Mr. Grattan to Uncle Robin's cabin, where they heard a discourse from which they, as well as the slaves, might derive benefit.

  When Mr. Grattan was taking his leave, Mrs. Boswell informed him that the brides and grooms, and some other friends, would be at Selma on the next day; that she had intended to invite him by a written invitation, but there was no necessity for it now, and she hoped he would be of the party.

  "It is not my habit, Mrs. Boswell, to go to large gatherings, except when duty calls, and I hope the Doctor and yourself will excuse me."

  "We should be much pleased to have your company," said the Doctor, "but you are perfectly excusable not to break through, even on our account, a rule which I cannot but think very proper for a minister to adopt."