MISS EVELINA PREBLE, after remaining a few days at Selma, had returned to the Cottage. George and his wife, hearing of her return, went over with the intention of staying with her until she had become accustomed to a home made dreary, and distressingly gloomy to her, by the death of her Aunt Priscilla. George loved his sister sincerely, and her present forlorn situation excited his warmest sympathy. He knew that she was ardently attached to Mr. Grattan, and was apprehensive that his father's opposition to their union might have a serious effect upon her health, which was naturally delicate.

  He had never conversed with his father upon the subject, and although he had a great desire to do so, his resolution failed him whenever he had proposed to himself to make the attempt. Mr. Preble's manner was distant and austere to every one, but particularly so towards his children, who, when young, had stood very much in awe of him, and now that they were grown, could not approach him with the

  "Well, George, you know that I could not give or withhold my consent until it was asked; and if it had been asked, George, I will candidly say to you that it would have been withheld. Mr. Grattan, I understand, has no property with which he could support Evelina but a small salary, which you know is very precarious; and you have often heard me say, that my property does not pass from my hands during my life. Under such circumstances, George, how could they get along, and how could they expect my consent to be given?"

  "Father, you have forgotten that Aunt Priscilla left Evelina, at the lowest calculation, seven thousand dollars. The interest of that, and Mr. Grattan's income, ought to support them very comfortably; besides, situated as you are, I should think it would be the first wish of your heart to have your only daughter to live with you; and instead of residing here alone, to have the company of so pleasant a companion as Mr. Grattan. If they were to live with you, sir, and not encounter the expenses of housekeeping, they might lay by a portion of their income every year. I, father, shall have an abundance of this world's goods for my purposes, and rather than that Evelina should be made miserable for the balance of her life, I will agree to give up to them every cent's worth of property you may intend for me."

  Mr. Preble's heart of stone was somewhat softened by the noble generosity of his son.

  "Well, George," he said, "I'll think upon this subject, and we will talk more about it at another time."

  George was highly delighted at his father's last remark. He knew his character perfectly—he knew that when determined upon a particular course of conduct, that determination was expressed in a positive, impatient manner, bordering on violence; and from the mild stand to which he had brought him, he augured a favourable result. During the day he went into Evelina's room, and George thought he looked upon her with more commiseration than he ordinarily manifested for the sorrows and afflictions of others. Words of condolence never passed his lips upon any occasion, but he did say to Evelina, while sitting in her room, "that he had supposed the good counsel she had so often received from her aunt, would have enabled her to bear with more fortitude her loss."

  Dr. and Mrs. Boswell rode over to the cottage that afternoon to see Evelina. George was particularly pleased to see the Doctor at such a crisis; he saw that it was necessary that the wavering of his father's mind should be turned to some advantage at once, before the old gentleman's apparent sympathy for his daughter should be succeeded by the coldness and indifference so natural to him; and that his present irresolution should not be suffered to give place to his rigid inflexibility of character.

  He was unwilling himself to renew the morning's conversation with his father so soon; but the arrival of Dr. Boswell determined him to call in his assistance at a time so propitious. He told the Doctor what had passed between his father and himself, and requested him to use his influence with the old man. The Doctor had for some time been disposed to converse with Mr. Preble upon that subject, and readily consented. George soon left them together.

  "Mr. Preble," said the Doctor, "I hope you will not attribute to me any officious intermedding with your family concerns, when I address you upon a subject which might seem exclusively to belong to your own family circle; and I trust, sir, I need offer no other apology for doing so, than a warm and sincere friendship for yourself, and for every other member of your family. I have known for some time, Mr. Preble, that there was an engagement between your daughter and the Rev. Mr. Grattan; and I fear, sir, from what I have heard, that their union will not be sanctioned by you. I may not be fully aware of your reasons for withholding your assent; but be they what they may, you will pardon me for saying, that from my intimate acquaintance with that reverend gentleman, I must presume they are based upon no just foundation. I know of no individual in the circle of my acquaintance, to whom you could intrust with more safety the happiness of your daughter, than to him: he is a clergyman of piety, refinement, and cultivation; his family connexions are as respectable as any in Virginia. I have reason to believe, Mr. Preble, that your daughter is ardently attached to him, and that her happiness for life depends upon their union. I hope, sir, you will suffer me to convey the glad tidings that your opposition is withdrawn?"

  "I must say, Doctor, that this match is not according to my notions of suitableness; but, as you all tell me that Evelina's happiness depends upon it, and as the poor child is so much distressed at her aunt's death, you have liberty to say that my consent will be granted, provided that Mr. Grattan will let himself down so far as to ask it in person."

  "That he will do, sir, most joyously I can assure you."

  Mrs. Boswell whispered it to Evelina; and they took their departure, anxious to communicate it to Mr. Grattan, whom the Doctor sent for as soon as he got home. They found Mr. and Mrs. Stephens at Selma; they had come over to spend the night; and Mrs. Stephens, finding them absent, went into the garden to see her old friend, Uncle Robin.

  "Well, Uncle Robin, you see I pay you a visit every now and then, and you never think of coming to see me."

  "Missis, I always moughty glad to see you, madam; an' I's bin thinkin' o' goin' ober to—what you call it, madam? Freedom Place—ah! dat's it—for som' time, but I does hab so much to do in de mornin's tendin' to de plantation, an' in de ebenin's fixin' my garden for de winter, dat I ain' bin had time, madam."

  "Uncle Robin, our place never was called Freedom Place; in my folly I called it Fredonia, but I want to change that name, now. I wish you would think of some pretty name for me."

  "Missis, Robin got moughty poo' head, madam, for dem things. Lem me see—lem me see—s'pose you call it Satefaction, madam?"

  "Uncle Robin, I don't think that would sound so well."

  "Well, missis, I bin tell you poo' nigger head ain' moughty good for givin' name to gentlefolks' greathouse, madam."

  "Suppose I call it Felicity, Uncle Robin? that means happiness."

  "Madam, if you is happy dar, I would call it Flissity."

  "I think, Uncle Robin, I never enjoyed more happiness in my life than I do now."

  "Well, madam, dat's jist what I tell you sometime back; der's much more flissity, madam, in habin' black folks to wait 'pun you dan white folk, anyhow."

  "Then you think Mr. Stephens was right, Uncle Robin, in purchasing slaves?"

  "Sure I does, madam. It does seem to me, missis, dat som' folks was born to wuck an' wait 'pun t'other som' dat wa'n' born to wuck. Now, missis, jest look at you small han' an' arm, an' den look at my Elce han' an' arm, an' tell me, missis, which you think was born to wuck; eberybody mus' say Elce. Well, dat bein' do case, whar de moughty difference whether dem dat's born for wuck hab black face or white face, madam? an' if de black face gib you mo' flissity dan de white face, you shou'd bin hav' um. Dat's what make me say Mas' Stephens right in buyin' nigger, madam."

  "But, Uncle Robin, some people think it wrong to hold human beings in a state of slavery. I once thought so."

  "Well, now, missis, I gwine ax you some questions, an' I gwine answer dem, too, as I go 'long, an' if I don' answer right, you stop me, missis. Was you wait 'pun by whitefolks where you com' from? Yes. Did de make you fire an' bring you water? Yes. Did de cook for you? Yes. Did de clean out you chamber? Yes. Did de wuck in you garden? Yes. Did de all sort o' plantation wuck? Yes. Did de clean Mas' Stephen' boot an' shoe? Yes. Did de do, missis, whateber you tell um to do? Yes. Is I right, madam, when I bin say 'yes?'"

  "Pretty much so, Uncle Robin."

  "Well, den, missis, dat's jist what de niggers do in dis

  By this time the Doctor and Mrs. Boswell had returned, and Mrs. Stephens went back to the house.

  "Ann, my dear," she said, "I have had a long talk with Uncle Robin, and I don't think I ever leave him without being edified by his conversation."

  "Mamma, you will find but few people like Uncle Robin, for strength of mind; I mean in his sphere. I am particularly struck with his very homely but forcible illustrations. If he had been well educated he would have made a considerable man, no doubt."

  "There are but few people as good as Robin, in this world," said the Doctor. "Mrs. Stephens, I suppose your shrubbery is coming on finely, at Fredonia."

  "Oh, Doctor, pray never let me hear you call it Fredonia, again; Uncle Robin and myself have just changed its name to Felicity. I was a good deal diverted at his calling it Flissity."

  "Well, madam, that's about as close as Robin ever comes to correct pronunciation. I don't know but that Flissity is the most euphonious of the two. I think I could have given you a better name still."

  "Doctor, let me hear it; I am not particularly fond of Felicity, and if you can give me a name more appropriate, I may adopt it."

  "How would you like Crosbia, madam?"

  "Oh, Doctor, Doctor, don't tease me any more with those Crosbys, if you please! Any word in the English language, no matter how beautiful, if it had the letters C R O S following in regular succession, would be shocking to me."

  The Doctor was told that Mr. Grattan had arrived, and went into the yard to meet him.

  'Well, my friend, I do from my heart congratulate you."

  "For what, Doctor?" said Mr. Grattan.

  "That you are to marry one of the most charming creatures upon earth—Miss Evelina Preble."

  "Why, is it possible, Doctor, that you have just heard of our engagement?, I thought you had known that a long time ago. Before you offer your congratulations, you should recollect that engagements and matrimony are two very different things, and that one does not necessarily follow the other, as I very much fear it will be in my case. I understand that old Mr. Preble is violently opposed to it, and neither would Miss Evelina or myself wish to act counter to his wishes."

  "Then, sir, you don't wish to be congratulated until after your marriage, I see."

  "If Mr. Preble, Doctor, were to withdraw his opposition, I might then be congratulated as the most fortunate and the happiest man in existence."

  "I now, sir, renew my congratulations to a gentleman who is made the most fortunate and the happiest man in existence, by the communication that Mr. Preble has withdrawn all opposition, and I have authority for making that communication from Mr. Preble himself."

  They reached the parlour door, and there was no opportunity for further explanation, nor had Mr. Grattan any idea to whom he was indebted for so great a blessing. From the devotional appearance of his manner, it was apparent that his first impulse was to return thanks to that Being from whom all blessings flow.

  Mrs. Stephens had not been to any place of worship for many months, never since she left Norristown, and she told her daughter she would like to hear Mr. Grattan lecture that night. When Mr. Grattan had heretofore lectured at Selma, it had generally been in Uncle Robin's cabin; but, as Mrs. Stephens was afraid to turn out at night, it was determined that the lecture should be delivered in the dining-room; and Charles was told to inform Uncle Robin and the other servants, most of whom came in and were seated around the room. Mrs. Stephens looked upon them that night, not as poor creatures, but as beings surrounded with comforts and gospel privileges.

  After the lecture was over, the Doctor and Mr. Grattan were left together, and the latter was informed of the manner in which old Mr. Preble had been brought over. Many were the praises lavished upon George for his noble conduct. Mr. Grattan determined to go the next morning to the Cottage, to perform the condition imposed by the old gentleman.

  On the following day there was a general breaking up of the party at Selma. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens returned to Felicity (as we shall hereafter call it), Mr. Grattan went to the Cottage, and the Doctor and Mrs. Boswell paid a visit to Major Scott's, the first since the affliction in their family. They found them alone, George and his wife being still with Evelina. Mrs. Scott was much more composed than they expected to find her. George's determination to remain, in consequence of Amelia's death, had in a great measure reconciled them both to that event. The Major gave them a minute account of Amelia's illness, Mammy Betty's violent grief, and of the manner in