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

recognises under the term Or folks ." Our
folks at first thought il an odd and unneces-
sary addition to their well-trained domestic
establishment; but so thoroughly efficient was
Miss Ophelia in her conscientious endeayor to
do her duty by her eleve, that the child rapid
ly grew in grace and in favor with the family
and neighborhood At the age of womanhood
she was, by her own request, baptized, and be-
came member of the Christian church in the
place; and showed so much intelligence, actvi.
ty, and ZEAL and desire to do good in the world
that she was at last recommended and ap.
proved as M sSionary to one of the stations in
Africa; and we have heard that the same
activity and ingenuity which. when a child
made her so multiform and restless in her de-
yelopments, is now employed, in safer and
wholesomer manner. in teaching the children
of her own country.
CHAPTER XLIII-7he Liberdtor
George Shelby had written to his ni0tneS
merely 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, wiping his eyes and
rushing somewhere to get quiet.
There was 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 a cheerful hickory fire was dis
polling the chill of the late autumn evening
A supper-table, glittering 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 set his plate just whar
he likes it-round by the fire. Mass'r 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
mas2 I'll have it out And missis has heard
from mass'r George?" she said, inquiringly.
eyes, Chloe; but only "a line, just to say he
would be home tonight if he could-thats
ALL"
"Didn't 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-hes alters so fierce
for teln' everything hisself ! alters minded
dat ar in massr George. Don't see, for my
part how white people gently can bar to hey
to write things much as they do, writin' S such
slow, Uneasy kind O work"
Mrs. Shelby smiled.
"Pm a thinkin' my old man won't know de
now good she is too, and pert Polly is. She's
out to the house, now, watchin' de hoe-cake
Ps got jist de very pattern my old man liked
so much bakin'. Jist SIGH as gin him the
mornn' 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,
anxiously
Eyes, Chloe"
"Cause want to show my old man dem very
bills de perfectioner gave me. And, says he
sChloe, | wish you'd stay longer Thank
7, L.
coming home and missis--she can't do with
out me no longer There's jist what | telled
him Berry nice man, dat masJ'r Jones was
Chloe had pertnacously insisted that the
very bills in which her wages had been paid
should be preserved, to show to her husband
in memorial of her capabiiity. And Mrs. Shell
by had readily consented to humor her in the
request
'He 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 a fallin' 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 a better country"
There was passionate exclamation from
Mrs Shelby but Aunt Chloe said nothing.
The party entered the supper-room. The
money, of which Chloe was so 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--sod 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!n said she.
Chloe leaned her head on her mstress's shout
der, and sObbed out, " O missis! 'scuse me, my
hearts broke. that's all !"
al know it." said Mrs Shelby, as her tears
fell fast and cannot heal il, but Jesus can.
He healeth the broken-hearted and bindeth
up their wounds"
There was silence for some time, and oil
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
10 the surprise of all, he appeared among
them with bundle Of Papers in his hand, con.
tanning certificate of freedom to every one on
the place, which he read successfully. and pre-
scented, amid the sobs and tears and shouts of
all present.
Many however pressed around him. anx.
iously 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 to leave de ole place, and massr and
mis-is, and de rest
My good friends" said George, as soon as
he could get a silence, "there'll be no need for