The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-01


made her so multiform and restless in her de-
yelopments is now employed, in safer and
wholcsomer manner. in teaching the children
of her own country
CHAPTER XLIII-The Liberdtor
George Shelby had written to his mother
merely a line, stating the day that she might
expect him home OF the death scene of his
old friend he had not the heart to write He
had tried several times and only succeeded in
half choking himself and invariably finished
by tearing up the paper, wipng his eyes, and
rushing somewhere to get quiet.
There was q pleased hustle all through the
Shelby mansion that day, in expectation of
the arrival of young mass'r George.
Mrs Shelby was seated in her comfortable
parlor, where cheerful hickory fire was dis
polling the chill of the late autumn evening
supper-table. glttering with plate and cut
glass was set out, over whose arrangements our
former friend old Chloe. was presiding.
Arrayed in new calico dress with clean.
white apron, and high, well-starched turban,
her black polished face glowing with satisfac-
ton, she fingered with needless punctiliousness,
around the arrangements of the table, merely
as an excuse for talking little to her mistress.
Laws, now won't it look natural to him ~
she said "Thar-I set his plate just whar
he likes it-round by the fire. Massr George
alters wants de warm seat. O, 60 away! why
didn't Sally get out de best tea-pot-de little
new one mass'r George got for missis, Christ
mas I'll have it out And missis has heard
from mass'r George?" she said, inquiringly.
eyes, Chloe; but only line, just to say he
would be home tonight, if he could-thats
ALL
aDidnt say nothin' bout my old man,
s'pose?" said Chloe, still fidgeting with the
tea-cups.
"No, he didn't. He did not speak of any
thing Chloe. He said he would tell all when
he got home"
"Jes like mass'r George-he's alters so fierce
for tellin everything hisself | alters minded
dat ar in mass'r George. Don't see, for my
part, how white people gently can bar to hev
to write things much as they do, writin' s such
slow, Uneasy kind O work"
Mrs. Shelby smiled
"Pm thinkin' my old man won't know de
boys and de baby. Lor' she's de biggest gal
now, good she is too, and pert, Polly is. She's
out to the house, now, watchin' de hoe-cake
Pa got jist de very pattern my old man liked
50 much bakin'. Jst sich as gin him the
mornin' he was took off. Lord bless us how
| felt dat ar morning."
Mrs Shelby sighed, and felt heavy weight
on her heart at this allusiOn. She had felt
uneasy ever since she received her sons letter,
lest something should prove to be hidden be-
hind the veil of silence which he had drawn.
"Missis has got them bills!" said Chloe,
anxiousy
Yes, Chloe"
"Cause want to show my old man dem very
bills de perfectoner gave me- And says he,
sChloe, / wish you'd stay longer Thank
you mass'r,' says /. Il would, only my old mans
coming home. and missis-shc cant do with
out me no longer There's jist what telled
him Berry nice man, dat mas]r Jones was"
Chloe had pertinaciously insisted that the
very bills in which her wages had been paid
should be preserved, to show to her husband
in memorial of her capability And Mrs. Shell
by had readily consented to humor her in the
request.
aHe won't know Polly-my old man won't
Laws, it's five years since they tuck him. She
was baby den--couldn't but jist stand. Re-
member how tickled he used to be, cause she
would keep faln' over, when she sot out to
walk Laws mel"
The rafting of wheels now was heard.
@Mass'r George !" said aunt Chloe, starting
to the window
Mrs Shelby ran to the entry door, and was
folded in the arms of her son. Aunt Chloe
stood anxiously straining her eyes out into the
darkness.
o, poor. Aunt Chloe said George, stopping
compassionately. and taking her hard, black
hand between both his; "Pd have given all my
fortune to have brought him with me, but he's
gone to better country"
There was a passionate exclamation from
Mrs. Shelby, but Aunt Chloe said nothing
The party entered the supper-room. The
money, of which Chloe was 30 proud, was still
lying on the table
"Thar," said she, gathering it up, and hold
ing it with trembling hand to her mistress,
"don't never want to see nor hear ont again.
Jist as knew 'twould be-sold and murdered
on dem ar old plantations
Chloe turned, and was walking sadly out
of the room Mrs Shelby followed her softly,
and took one Of her hands drew her down into
a chair, and sat down by her.
any poor, good Chloc!" said She
Chloe leaned her head on her MISTRESS shout
der, and sobbed out, {" o missis! 'scuse me, my
hearts broke. that's all !"
81 know it,n said Mrs Shelby, as her tears
fell fast; and cannot heal it, but Jesus can.
he healeth the broken-hearted, and bndeth
up their wounds"
There was silence for some time, and all
wePt together. At last George, sitting down
beside the mourner, took her hand, and with
simple pathos repeated the triumphant scene
OF her husbands death, and his last messages
Of love
About month after this, one morning. all
the servants Of the Shelby estate were con.
yened together in the great hall that ran
through the house, to hear few words from
their young master
To the surprise of all, he appeared among
them with a bundle Of papers in his hand, con.
tanning certificate Of freedom TO every one on
the place, which he read SUCCESSFULLY. and pre.
sented, amid the sobs and tears and shouts Of
all present.
Many, however, pressed around him, anx.
iousy begging him not to send them away
and, with anxious faces, rendering back their
free papers.
ave don't want TO be no freer than we are
Yves alters had all We wanted. We don't
want 10 leave de ole place, and massr and
n,ssis, and dc rest +"
"My good friends" said George, rs soon as
he could get silence, there II be no need for