READER, the sorrows of our coloured friends in Boston are over. Poor Tom, we trust (though houseless here), has found a mansion in the skies not made with hands; and ere this has welcomed Mammy Betty to a participation of his joys. We will leave their remains to the protection of mother earth, and retrace our steps to Virginia, where our hearts (stricken with sorrow for the miseries we have witnessed) will find consolation in a better state of things. The sacredness of grief must not be intruded upon by a visit to Major Scott's; we will inform the reader, however, that George Preble, upon hearing of the death of Mrs. Benson, abandoned all thought of going to California. It was settled between the Major and himself,

  We will go to the Cottage, where we shall find Doctor and Mrs. Boswell; the one attending upon Miss Priscilla Graham, who is ill, as her physician; the other as assistant nurse with Miss Evelina Preble.

  "Have you heard," said the Doctor, addressing himself to Miss Evelina, "that the abolitionists in Boston had taken poor old Mammy Betty forcibly from Major Scott, after they had gotten on board a steamship? My heart bled for the old creature, when I heard it. Can you conceive of a more forlorn situation than hers? in deep grief for the loss of her soul's darling Amelia, anxious as she must have been to return to her relations and friends here, and now cut off from all comfort, and all prospect of over seeing any of them again, in the midst of strangers, too, who care nothing about her, and who may treat her just as we heard they had treated Tom; Oh! it is too bad! too bad!" Mrs. Boswell and Miss Evelina were both weeping over the fate of poor Mammy Betty, and made no reply.

  "What did you say was too bad, Doctor?" asked Miss Priscilla, who had overheard his last sentence, though pronounced in a whisper. He went up to her bed, and repeated what he had said. She put her hands upon her forehead, over her eyes, and remained silent for some time, when she said, "The ways of Providence, Doctor, are inscrutable; 'his ways are not our ways;' he makes good to come out of what to us appears evil. Perhaps poor old Betty, who had acted the part of the good Samaritan, and had bestowed the widow's mite, may have had

  "No doubt, madam, Providence has some good design in all its dispensations. But I had rather you would not talk any more, Miss Priscilla, as your fever is now rising, and the excitement of talking might increase it."

  "Doctor," said Mrs. Boswell, "can't we devise some plan for getting the old woman back? I've got twenty-five dollars that I would most cheerfully put into a joint fund for that purpose." "I will give as much," said Evelina;—"And I will give fifty," said Miss Priscilla, who overheard again what they were saying.

  "Ladies," said the Doctor, "I don't know how your charity is to be brought to bear upon this subject, unless we could prevail upon the abolitionists of Boston to sell her to us; and indeed, if they are all like Bob Benson, we may not even find that a very difficult matter."

  "But, Doctor," said Miss Evelina, "although no amount of money could effect her restoration to her friends, her situation there might be rendered much more comfortable, by sending a fund there, to be laid out for her benefit."

  "That's well thought of, Miss Evelina; I will make inquiry as to a proper individual to whom to intrust the fund, and we will send her on some money as soon as we have found out to whom to direct it. She who spent nearly her little all upon poor Tom, should not be forgotten when she stands in need of charity herself. Mr. Grattan will be here this afternoon, Miss Evelina, will he not?"

  "Yes, Doctor, he comes every afternoon, to read and pray with Aunt Priscilla."

  "I suppose Mr. Grattan must know, or have heard of some Boston minister, who would be the very person to send this fund to."

  The report which old Mr. Frazer had told Dr. Boswell was in circulation, viz., that the Rev. Mr. Grattan had been forbidden to visit at the Cottage, was entirely without foundation. His visits there had not been very frequent after the wedding at Major Scott's, up to the time of Miss Priscilla's sickness, since which time he had been there every afternoon, at the particular request of Miss Priscilla, who, although she needed no instruction upon the doctrines of Christianity, derived comfort from his conversation and prayers. The little matter of misunderstanding between himself and Miss Evelina had been adjusted to the entire satisfaction of both.

  To the Doctor's inquiry when he arrived, whether he knew personally, or by name, any minister in Boston, he responded that "he knew intimately, the Rev. Mr. Scholfield, a minister of the Congregational church, a man of great piety, and peculiarly fitted, by an uncommonly benevolent disposition, for the proper expenditure of any fund which might be intrusted to him for charitable purposes."

  It was determined forthwith, that the fund, which was increased by contribution from the Doctor and the Rev. Mr. Grattan, should be forwarded to him.

  Miss Priscilla Graham's fever raged with considerable violence that afternoon, and the Doctor advised Mr. Grattan to hold no conversation with her. She asked him herself to read a chapter in the Bible, and pray. He

  "I do not think, Doctor," said Mr. Grattan, "that I have ever seen any individual better prepared for entering the world of spirits, than Miss Priscilla. Hers, I understand, has been a life of piety and devotedness to her Lord and Saviour; she knows and feels the reality of that new birth spoken of in the chapter she selected; she has given a beautiful exemplification of it through life, and if her mind is spared she will give a crowning testimony at her death."

  Old Mr. Preble, who had been taking his evening walk, joined them in the parlour; his manner towards Mr. Grattan was cold and chilling.

  "Have you seen Major Scott since his return, Mr. Preble?" said the Doctor.

  "No, sir; I saw George to-day, who says they are in great distress; and he believes their distress has been greatly increased by their disappointment at not seeing the old woman Betty return with her master."

  "That must have been a great shock to Mrs. Scott and Julia; I think, Mr. Preble, the conduct of the Bostonians was outrageous in that affair; I can't see upon what ground they acted in taking her away from the Major. She was acknowledged to be free by the gentleman who carried her to Boston, and by her former master, and was anxious to return to Virginia. I did suppose they would let free people go where they pleased."

  "Thinking, Doctor, as the Bostonians do upon the subject of slavery, I don't well see how they could have acted differently; and besides, sir, admitting that she was free, I don't think the law of our state would allow Major Scott to go to Boston and bring a free person of colour here."

  "Well, sir, if such is the law of our state, I can't exactly see how it concerns the Bostonians; we don't want their assistance in enforcing the laws of Virginia. We should be very thankful to them if they would enforce the constitution of the United States, and a law of Congress passed some years ago in relation to slavery."

  While the above conversation was carried on in the parlour, a much more interesting one was held in the room of Miss Priscilla Graham. As soon as the Doctor and Mr. Grattan left, she called Miss Evelina to her bedside, and said, Evelina, my dear, I think it my duty to inform you, that it is my firm belief that I shall not hold out many days longer. I have a feeling I cannot describe, which convinces me that my death is rapidly approaching. It is scarcely needful for me to tell you, Evelina, that death has no terrors for me; I shall meet it, not with indifference, but with joy. You know very well, my dear,

  "Evelina, my dear, your situation at present is a peculiar one. Your aspirations after worldly happiness are drawn from a source which we both unite in believing is calculated to insure it. But your earthly parent thinks otherwise; and you are now exercised by an embarrassing and difficult conflict between duty and inclination. Such being the circumstances in which you are placed, I have thought that the advice of one to whom you have always appealed in difficulty might be needed, and would be thankfully received by you.

  "As long, my dear, as your father objects to your union with Mr. Grattan, my advice to you is not to marry him. So far your duty should carry you. If your father, however, should require you not only to give up Mr. Grattan, but to marry another, on whom your affections were

  "My dear aunt," said Miss Evelina, "I trust the Lord will prolong for years a life so necessary to my happiness as yours; but, if it should be his pleasure to take you from me, I hope your example and admonitions will be blessed to one for whose spiritual and temporal welfare you have always evinced a mother's solicitude."

  "I have a great deal more to say to you, Evelina, but my strength fails me for the present, and I must postpone it to another time." She was so weakened by the exertion she had made, that the ladies thought it advisable to send for the Doctor to come up. He found her very much prostrated, and said that many more such efforts as he was told she had made, would hasten an event which he feared must soon take place. When Miss Evelina heard the opinion of the Doctor, her fears were much more aroused for the situation of her aunt than by the old lady's own foreshadowings of her death; and she left the room to mourn in solitude. Miss Priscilla had an uncomfortable night. The next morning the Doctor thought her end rapidly approaching. Mr. George Preble and his wife were sent for; they arrived about eleven o'clock, after which time none of the family left her bedside, each one catching an indistinctly-uttered parting benediction. Her last words were distinctly heard by them all, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly;" "I know him in whom I have

  Miss Evelina's grief was deep, though silent and unobtrusive. George had always felt for his aunt a filial affection, and was more violent in his expressions of sorrow than his sister; but his was destined to give place to a natural buoyancy of spirit, before hers had reached its height.

  Notice was given throughout the neighbourhood, that her funeral sermon would be preached by the Rev. Mr. Grattan. In life she had been the friend of all, particularly of the poor labouring whites, and of the blacks, both free and in bondage. Mr. Grattan preached to a large congregation, from the text, "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; the end of that man is peace." He said that as his funeral sermons were intended for the living, he rarely adverted to the deceased, but in the present instance he took pleasure in dwelling upon the excellencies of a character so transcendently adorned by all the Christian graces; and that the highest possible good he could wish for the living souls around him, was an imitation of her virtues.

  After the funeral, Dr. Boswell was furnished with the key of her desk, and requested by old Mr. Preble to see if she had left a will. He found a paper neatly folded up, sealed, and endorsed "My will, to be opened after my death." It was opened in the parlour, in the presence of the family and a few remaining friends. It was written entirely in her own handwriting, and was dated about twelve months before.

  She left her slaves (seven in number) their freedom,

  At the earnest solicitation of Doctor and Mrs. Boswell, old Mr. Preble and his daughter went over that night to Selma, and the Cottage doors were closed upon gloom and solitude. Miss Evelina, as soon as she got there, retired to her room, and as she was silent and indisposed to conversation, Mrs. Boswell left her and joined the gentlemen in the parlour.

  "What a beautiful discourse Mr. Grattan gave us this afternoon, Mr. Preble," said she; "I have heard sermons from the same text, but I don't think I ever heard one I liked so well as that."

  "Yes, madam," he responded, "it was a very good sermon, but I don't think it was anything very uncommon. Miss Priscilla was everything that he made her out to be, madam."

  "From what I know of Miss Priscilla, and from what I have heard from those who knew her better than I did, I would say his was a very just tribute. It would be impossible to exaggerate the excellencies of Miss Priscilla Graham's character. Mr. Grattan was well acquainted with her, and spoke from his own knowledge of her worth. Miss Priscilla also had a very high opinion of Mr. Grattan, for I have frequently heard her express herself in the most affectionate manner of him; indeed, I don't know how anybody can be acquainted with Mr. Grattan, and not love him."

  "I can't say that I know much of Mr. Grattan, madam, although he is frequently at my house. It has so happened that we have had very little communication; he's very distant and reserved towards me."

  "I have always thought him remarkably affable, Mr. Preble."

  "He does seem so, madam, with everybody but myself."

  "I have observed," said the Doctor, "that he is reserved towards persons who don't make an effort to bring him out in conversation, which proceeds, I suppose, from his diffidence, fearing lest he might obtrude his conversation upon persons who evince no disposition to be sociable with him. Now, sir, if, the next time you meet with him, you make anything like an advance, you will find him very willing to enter into conversation upon any subject whatever, and that he is well informed upon all subjects."

  "I can't say, sir, that I have any great desire to overcome his reserve towards me. I shall always be polite to Mr. Grattan, but I suppose our intercourse will never be more cordial than it is at present."

  Mrs. Boswell had purposely given the conversation the turn it took, hoping that Mr. Preble might say something about Evelina and Mr. Grattan, which would afford the Doctor and herself an opportunity of urging him to give over his opposition to their union; but, as he avoided any mention of the subject, they felt a difficulty in introducing it, and their conversation took another turn.

  The next morning Mr. Preble returned home, leaving Evelina to remain some days at Selma. She confined herself to her room until the afternoon, when she walked into the garden, where she met with Uncle Robin.

  "My young missis," said her, "I mighty glad to see

  "I hope and trust, Uncle Robin, that she is now in the enjoyment of that happiness in Heaven."

  "Madam, I don' hope 'tis so, I know 'tis so, jus' same as I know you standin' dare; an't God's word true, madam? an' don't dat word tell us dat de righteous shill inherit de kingdom of Heaven, an' dat dey dat believe on de Son o' God shill be saved? an' Missis, who ever been righteous if Miss Priscilla Graham wan't? and who ever bin believe 'pun de Son o' God, if she didn't? tan't only hope, madam, wid me 'bout you aunt happiness; I know it; de truth of God's word pledged fur it; dese thoughts ought to make you 'joice instead of cryin' 'bout it."

  "But, Uncle Robin, though I know she is happier in heaven, I can't help grieving for the loss of the society of one I loved so dearly."

  "Now, my young missis, I tell you how you mus' git ober dat; you stribe to walk in de footstep of you aunt, follow de good lessons she bin gin you, an' bum by you'll go to Hebben too, an' be in her 'ciety not for short time, but for eber and eber. Misses, is you bin hear 'bout poo' Tom, how he bin die yonder in Bosson, in one hayloft?"

  "Yes, Uncle Robin, I've heard all about it, and how kind old Mammy Betty was to him; poor old Mammy Betty, I wish she was here with her friends."

  "I does wish so, mightly, madam; if dat boy Tom had mine de tex' o' de scripturs, which say, 'Put ye not you confidence in de guide,' he'd neber bin gone dar to die; he'd bin here now, dat he would. My missis, tan't wo'th while for we to pine at what de Lord order, madam; He does make de wickedness of man tell o' He glory; all dese things wuck out somethin' we don' 'speck."

  Dr. Boswell received that afternoon, through the postoffice, a letter from a mercantile house in Boston, informing him that a draft which had been drawn by Mr. Henry Stephens, of Norristown, Pennsylvania, dated the 2d of June, and endorsed by him, had been protested, and that the holder looked to him for payment. Mrs. Boswell was not present when the letter was received, and he determined to say nothing to her about it, fearing that she might be made uneasy at the prospect of his being involved in difficulty for her brother. He wrote to Mr. Stephens immediately, informing him of the protest, and urging him to pay the draft without delay. Although he had been assured by Mr. Stephens that it should be paid at maturity, the receipt of the protest caused him much alarm, lest he should be made to pay so large a sum of money, for which he was not at all prepared. His crop of the present year had been exhausted in paying off his store accounts, and the balance of a debt of his father's, which last had taken also the money received for his two boys; he knew of no way of paying the draft than by selling slaves, to which he was very much opposed. He cheered himself, however, with the hope that Mr. Stephens would be able to take up the draft; and that if he himself was made to pay, he might be enabled so to arrange the

  While he was pondering upon the ways and means of liquidating so large a debt, the sheriff of the county was announced, who informed him, that he had a writ from the clerk's office of the superior court of law, at the suit of Hicks and Son, of Boston, holders of a draft which had been drawn by Henry Stephens of Norristown, and endorsed by him. The Doctor inquired who was the attorney for the plaintiffs, and the sheriff, upon examining the writ, found the name of Melchezedek Squashum endorsed on it. The Doctor was quite alarmed when he saw who were the plaintiffs in the suit; he had hoped that through the influence of their attorney they might be induced to give him time, so as to avoid the disagreeable necessity of selling negroes, particularly if an appeal should be made to their humanity; but the conduct of Mr. Hicks while he was in the neighbourhood in June, and that of his Cousin Bob,

  The Doctor had never been personally acquainted with Mr. Squashum, but from what he had heard of him, his calculations of enlisting his sympathies in behalf of his servants were not very sanguine. Mr. Squashum was originally from Vermont, and had been in Virginia about fifteen years. He came here as a book agent, and having been instructed by his employers as to the general scope of the works he offered for sale, in a written summary of their contents, which he had committed to memory, he had taken up an idea that he was really a man of literature, determined to abandon his calling, and betake himself to the study of the law in Virginia.

  In about two years he obtained a license and rented an office, which last act generally precedes, and is in anticipation of the coming in of fees sufficient to satisfy the landlord. Mr. Squashum had a peculiar tact at impressing others with a belief that he was a man of business; he was for ever talking of his success in the recovery of doubtful claims, and of his cunning and astuteness in the management of difficult cases; in short, he was the prince of pettifoggers, a class of lawyers who are obnoxious to their more respectable and high-minded brethren of the craft, but often run ahead of them in pocketing fees.

  Whenever he thought a purpose beneficial to himself could be subserved, he was in words a thorough-going abolitionist; consequently much of his business came from that respectable portion of the community denominated Friends. It was strongly suspected, when he travelled

  "Take a seat, sir, take a seat; sit down, sit down," said Mr. Squashum, in his usually hurried, consequential manner.

  "I am come to see you, sir," said the Doctor, "upon the subject of a lawsuit you have brought against me for a client in Boston."

  "Boswell did you say your name was? Boswell—let me see—let me see; I must turn to my memorandum-book. Ah! true, here it is; "writ ordered versus Boswell ads. Hicks and Son, Boston, trading under the firm of Hicks and Son, Boston: a, d, s, means ad sectum, ad sectum, sir, at the suit of—we lawyers, sir, can't keep in our heads the number of suits we bring; we must refer to our memorandum-book—well, what of it, sir? I suppose the writ has been served, and you have come to pay the money, I hope. Ha! ha! ha! quick work, quick work, sir."

  The Doctor being a man of education, smiled at the "tum," and replied:

  "No, sir; you must be aware of the difficulty of a farmer's raising so large an amount, coming upon him so unexpectedly, too. So far from bringing the money, sir, my business with you is to solicit your aid in

  "Ha! ha! ha! that's good, sir, that's good; Southern people calling upon the North for humanity towards their slaves! humanity had better begin in the South, sir. Ha! ha! ha! they'd better do the thing right at once—set them free, sir, set them free. No, I can't advise my clients to do any such thing; it's a very dangerous thing to meddle with judgments and executions. You may pick some flaw, some flaw hereafter, and my clients may lose the whole debt, sir."

  "You are but little acquainted with my character, Mr. Squashum, if you suppose I would take advantage of any

  "I don't know anything about that, but the safest plan is for the execution and the judgment to be contemporaneous—yes, sir, I say contemporaneous. Why, sir, the credit in this transaction was given to your name because it was known you held slaves, sir. It's property, sir, and must follow all the laws of other property. Ha! ha! ha! advise my clients to jeopardize their debt, out of humanity to property—yes, sir, I say, to property—ha! ha! ha!"

  "I have been entirely misinformed, sir, as to your views and feelings in relation to slavery. I have always understood you were an abolitionist, and that you professed much sympathy for persons held in bondage."

  "My philanthropy, sir—my philanthropy embraces the whole human family. I should rejoice to see every human being upon earth as free as air—yes, sir, I say as free as air."

  "I should suppose, sir, that, having a desire to see every human being as free as air, if you could not accomplish that desire, your philanthropy would extend to ameliorating the condition of every human being who was not free; and that, sir, is just as far as I wish your philanthropy to go; when you can't accomplish your grand desideratum of setting them all free, to lessen as much as possible the miseries of those that are not so. It was to effect such an object as that, sir, that I came here to-day."

  "I will not advise my clients, sir, to do any such thing; and I now tell you, once for all, sir, that the execution will be contemporaneous with the judgment. Ha! ha!

  The Doctor left him in disgust, and determined to make the appeal to Hicks and Son, himself, by letter, which he wrote and sent to the Post Office after returning home.