The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-10-07

| ed suddenly checking his steps and folding
| his arms to gaze about him. It was wilder
ness of bloom and beauty in which the eye was
lost Here and there geranium or cactus
more magnificent than its fellows, asserted its
distinct individuality. Roses and jessamnes
encircled the garden, and intertwined all the
walks, like threads Of crimson and silver light.
A solemnly towering aloe, which kept guard
upon mound in the centre, was strewn with
| the scarlet blossoms of an overhangng pome-
| granate. which saucy breeze had shaken
upon its venerable head China-trees, with
their lilac-Ike perfume, the gladitschia, breath
| ing memories of colder climate; and the pure
blossomed, delicious orange. oyerhung the
whole The golden glow Of spring morning,
and the pearls of the nights dew, were spark
ling and playing on the picture, that seemed
but half real to the strangers admiring eye.
Is it mott" exclaimed Augusta, with de-
light and enthusiasm. I'll knew you would say
so. | only wish it uere, indeed, fairy-land, and
fairy, with one spell"-- she hesitated
'What one, beyond those at your CON-
mands"
"Can you fiatter, too? | shall begin to have
hopes Of you, them mean hopes that | may
yet gain that desired spell, that should bind
you TO this spot"
Henry's brow contracted little, and his
lips arehed.
"You are not angry?" plead the gentlest of
voices as little hand in its garden glove was
laid upon his arm.
Angry? oh no, Augusta but-you have in
troduced subject on which | wish to have
some very serious conversation with YOU May
ask it now "
"Surely, if you will let me bear my part in
| il, seriousness and all Perhaps you think me
a mere thoughtless child, Henry" she added,
crimsoning; but | do have a sober thought
once in while, and have reflected more with
| in the last six months than in all my life be-
fore. But come to the jessamine arbor-we
shall find seats there
| How dye Aunt Ruby ?" she accostcd the
heroine of the blue, turban, who, with her I'M
failing tub on the head and a child by the
hand, met them at turn. Augusta stopped
to pat the sooty cheek of the six year-old, who
was household pet, for her round eyes and
her rogaery.
"Save ye Miss Gussie!n returned Aunt Ru-
by bobbing courtesy, tub and all, while she
cast glance of qualification on her Sophy,
whose small teeth, at the moment, might have
been mistaken for a pearl necklace in an open
casket of ebony
! The jessamine bower was open toward the
house and river bank, of which it commanded
fine view, with glimpse Of the negro cabins.
Two rustic chairs of curiously-carved oak in
vited the early ramblers to sit down.
| al was, accidentally, ear-witness to quite a
discussion among your people, last night" said
Lester. "That woman whom we just met gave
her veto most decidedly against any possible
| They all feel 20. know They have taken
| nf / hohv vatI
don't believe they love me much better than
love them, after all Now you see," she said,
rather maliciously chow much you Northern
people know about slavery. 1t used to make
my cheeks burn, last year. to hear some of
your people inveighing against the wrongs of
the negro, and all that suppose none of
them would believe that, after first left home,
| cried myself almost sick, every night for a
month, at the thought of my old NANNY
Rubys sister or that, when came home this
year, was not half so glad to sec my own
brother, as the darling old creature!n
81 can well believe il" answered Henry. I" |
suppose you were going on to tell me, what
know equally well, that nothing could tempt
your nurse to leave her foster-child But
pardon me for putting the question, do not
wish to interfere with, these affairs of your
own--would she love you less or be of less
service to YOU if she were q free wonan?'
I" ] don't see any use in her being free, said
the young lady; "and, what is more to the
point don't think she would see any use in it
HERSELF
Perhaps not because. she has not the OPP
portunity Of viewing the question in all the
bearings of possible chances and changes. But
did not come here to talk Aboltionism to
you, at present | will only ask you few ques-
tons as we are on the topic, | was at the
quarters before met you"-
| "Then you saw their comfortable little cab
ms interrupted Augusta, triumphantly =" did
that look. like oppression? How many of the
Migrants in your swarming city of New York
would be glad of such a comfortable home, in
such an enchanting spot"
ASK the vagrant however, 10 barter his
liberty for the comfort and tho cabin" said
Lester, smiling, Z" and you would soon find
where he puts the distinction. But we are re-
curing to the old theme. was going to ask,
| how many i'm the quarters can read !b
"Why, the laws forbid that, you know ; al
though they are not put in force very often,
where o planter chooses to teach his own SER
wants. All in the quarters are brother Edgar's
people. Father left me only enough TO furnish
the house, because, he said, women were not
fit to be trusted with negroes. The house and
mammy's family are mine; the main planta-
ton and the remainder of the hands, my half
brothers property. Edgar does not think it
best to teach them-ndeed, he is very strict
about it, and has tried to persuade me from
teaching mine; but never could make it seem
quite right to neglect them.-Yet you have no
idea how little is accomplished by teaching
them. Nanny was 80 old when began with
her, that she was year in getSng through the
alphabet and never has gone far beyond that.
Ruby and Nancy can spell out easy chapters
In the Testament But Edgars people have
service every Sunday evening. One of them
old Milton-is sort of Methodist preacher,
regular saint, in their opinion; and they often
keep up their singing, and screaming and
praying, till near morning"
4 II wonder whether it ever occurred to him
that there is responsibility involved in per-
hitting an ignorant set of people to follow
their own blind impulses of religion, unguided
by the light that God has given"
at has occurred to me, certainly" said Au-
gusta, earnestly, sand am not at all sure
that brother is right. The more need, is there
mine, teach them as can, and try to do my
duty by them =" she inquired, glancing up 10
give her words full effect Would it be right,
in your view of circumstances, for me to leave
them to brother Edgar's neglect"
any dear Augusta, why should you leave
them q"
IL could not take them, certainly, she replied,
looking puzzled. They could not be TO me as
they are here and would never degrade them
to the rank of your free negroes at the North"
she went on, with n little spirit GAS to send
ing them to Africa, it would break all their
hearts Brother would never consent TO my
freeing them, and leaving them among his
hands and it would take force. can assure