The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-23


| augustine sometimes think YOU are not
far from the kingdom" said Miss 0phela. Law
| ing down her knitting and looking anxiously at
her cousin
! Thank you for your good opinion but it's
| up and down with me-up to heavens gate in
theory, down in earth's dust in practice. But
there's the tea bell-do let's go--and don't saw
now haven't had one downright serious talk
for once in my lfen
| At table Marie alluded TO the incident of
Prue. a suppose you'll think, cousin she
| said THAT we are all barbariansD
| III think that's barbarous thing said Miss
Ophelia but don't think you are all barba-
| rians7
"Well, now" said Marie IL know it's i'm
possible to get along with some of these crea-
lures, They are so bad they ought not to live
| don't feel a particle of sympathy for such
cases. If they'd only behave themselves it
would not happen"
But mamma" said Eva, the poor creature
was unhappy; that's what made her drink
"Oh, fddlestick as if that were any excuse !
Pm unhappy very often. Ipresume,D she said
pensyely, that Pve had greater trials than
ever she had. It's just because they are so bad
There's some of them that you cannot break
IN by any kind of severity | remember
father had man that was SO lazy he would
run away just to get rid of work, and lie round
IN the swamps stealing and doing all sorts of
horrid things. That man was caught and
whipped time and again, and it never did him
any good; and the last time he crawled off
though, he couldn't but just 60, and died in the
swamp. There was no sort Of reason for it. for
fathers hands were always treated kindly"
| al broke fellow in once" said St Clare
that all the ovcrseers and masters had tried
their hands on in vain y
"YOu" said Marie "wcll I'd be glad to
know when you ever did anything of the Sort
"Well, he was powerful gigantic fellow
e @:atiye-born African; and ha aIyaared to haye
| the rude ihstinct& ifeedUif IN MN 10 am.utfs
common degree. He was a regular African
lion. They called him Scipio Nobody could
do anything with him; and he was sold round
| from overseer to oyerseer, till at last Alfred
bought him, because he thought he could man.
| age him. Well, one day he Knocked down the
| oyerseer, and was fairly off into the swamps.
was on visit to Alf's plantation. for it was
after we had dissolved partnership. Alfred was
| greatly exasperated; but told him that it was
his own fault and laid him any wager that !
could break the man and finally it was agreed
l o'i"e IL SduSut INN L nave IllIl W OK
pertinent on. So they mustered out party of
some six or seven, with guns and dogs for the
hunt. People, you know, can get up Just as
much enthusiasm in hunting man as deer, if
it is only customary; in fact got a little ex-
cited myself thong h had only put in as sort
of mediator in case he was caught
"Well, the dogs bayed and howled, and
we rode and scampered, and finally we started
1 him Ha nd al IL 49,
kept us well in the rear for some time; but at
last he got caught in an impenetrable thcket
of game then he turned to bay, and | tell you
them to right and left, and actually killed three
from gun brought him down, and he fell
wounded and bleeding almost at my feet
The poor fellow looked up at me with manhood
and despair both in his eye. kept back the
dogs and the party, AZ they came pressing up
and claimed him as my prisoner. 1t was ali
| could do to keep them from shooting him. in
the flush of success; but persisted in my bar
gain, and Alfred sold him to me. Well, | took
him in hand and in one fortnight | had him
tanned down as submissive and tractable as
heart could desire"
"What in the world did you do to him ~
said Marie
well it was quite simple process ] took
him to my own room, had good bed made for
him, dressed his wounds, and tended him my
sell, until he got fairly on his feet again And,
in process of time, had free papers made out
for him, and told him he might 90 where he
liked"
sand did he go ?" said Miss Ophelia.
"No. The foolish fellow tore the paper in
| two, and absolutely refused to leave me |
never had Drawer, better fellow-trusty and
true as steel. He embraced Christianity after
wards and became as gentle as child He
used TO oversee my place on the lake. and did
it capitaliy, too. ! lost him the first cholera
| season. In fact he laid down his life for me.
For | was sick, almost to death and when,
through the panic, everybody else fled, Scipio
worked for me like giant and actually
brought me back into life again But poor
fellow he was taken right after, and there was
no saving him. never felt anybody's loss
moreD
Eva had come gradually nearer and nearer
to her father, rs he told the story--her small
lips apart her eyes wide and earnest with alb
sorbing interest
As he finished, she suddenly threw her arms
round his neck, burst into tears, and sObbed
convulsivcly.
Eva, dear child what is the matter !? y
said St Clare, as the chds small frame trem-
bled and shook with the violence Of her feelings
This child" he added, ought not to hear any
Of this kind Of thing-she's nervous
mo papa, | amt nervous" said Eva, con-
trolling herself suddenly, with strength of
resolution singular in such child. Pm not
nervous but these things sink into NM hedrtD
"What do YOU mean Eva ~
:" can't tell you, papa. ! think great
many thoughts. Perhaps some day shall tell
you.o
"Well think away, dear-only don't cry and
worry your papap said St Clare Look
here-see what beautiful peach have got
for you"
Eva took it. and smiled, though there was
-t;u .rri.-i.;-. 49,. .i-~ -
her mouth.
"Come look at the goldfish y said st. Clare,
taking her hand and stepping on TO the veran-
dab. A few moments, and merry laughs were
heard through the slken curtains, as Eva and
st Clare were pelting each other with roses,
and chasing each other among the alleys of the
court.
There IL danger that our humble friend Tom
be neglected amid the adventures Of the higher
born : but, If our readers will accompany us up
to little loft over the stable, they may per-
haps learn a little Of his affairs. II was de-
cent ROOM containing bed chair, and a
small rough stand, where lay Toms Bible and
hymn-book, and where he sits at present with
his slate before him, intent on something that
seems TO cost him great deal of anxious
thought
Tie fact was that Toms home-yearnings
had become 40 strong that he had begged a
sheet of writing paper of Eva, and, mastering
ND all his small stock Of literary attainment nc
| quired by mass'r Georges Instructions nc con-
ceiyed the bold idea Of writing letter and he
was busy now, on his slate, getting out his first