The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-31
80


He could not seek to change his guests pur
pOse-could not ask him TO remain; how could
ne do so, indeed, knowing that while he Staid
he would be exposed to daily and hourly in
suit He wished to order the carriage, but
Lincoln positively refused to avail himself of
It. saving that he would walk to the next vii
lace and send for his trunks. Mark then
pressed upon him the use of his own riding
horse and Lincoln, to avoid wounding him.
accepted it.
The young men then went down stairs; Lin
coin entered the parlor. to bid adieu to his
most gracious hostess" and Mark left the
house to order the horses for he was resolved
to accompany his friend.
In a few minutes they were in their saddles,
and on the road leading to c., little,
muddy miserable town. about five miles down
the river
Here the friends finally separated, but not
until Lincoln's trunks had been sent for and
had arrived, and Lincoln himself had entered
the stage that passed through the village
that night and was to convey him to some
steamboat landing on the Mississippi, by which
route he preferred to return North. They
took leave with mutual assurances Of remem-
brances and promises of frequent correspond
ence
u
returned to his home, and he Immediately
went to his room.
He arose the next morning, with the full de-
termination TO set Immediately to work
q" must plunge myself into action lest !
wither by despair" might we'll have been his
thought. His mother received him at the
breakfast table with freezing GOODNESS. He
told her respectfully what be intended to do
during the day She curled her lip, and beg
ged him TO proceed without remorse or fear, to
unroof the house that sheltered her head-that
she trusted Heaven would give her strength to
bear even that.
After breakfast he set out, and rode to
Jackson, to engage tho services of lawyer, to
assist him in making out the deeds and taking
the legal measures required ia emancipating
his slaves As the distance to the city was
full days journey, and be had business enough
to occupy the whole of the second day, he did
not reach home until the evening of the third.
He came, accompanied by a lawyer. They
were both tired and hungry but found no
supper prepared and no one to make them
welcome Mr.. Sutherland went out and in
CURED for his mother, and was told that that
lady desired 10 be excused from receiving the
official that had come to make her homeless
Mark sthed n sigh he ordered refreshments
sleeping chamber.
The next day was very busy, yet q very
trying one. On coming down into the break
fast room, Mark Sutherland heard with poig-
nant sorrow that his mother had departed from
the house, carrying with her many of her per-
sonal effects, as if for a long or permanent abb
sencc, and had gone to take up her abode at
Cashmere. In CONSERVATION at this act Mark |
Sutherland rushed out to institute further in |
quiries and found in front of the house a bag
gage-wagon, with Billy Boiling standing UP
in the midst, receiving and packing away
trunks, boxes &c, that were lifted to him by
two negro men in attendance.
" In the name of Heaven, what is the mean
ing of all this, Uncle Bllly2n asked Mark in
trepidation.
Mr.. Boiling stood up took his handkerchief
Ieisurcly from his pocket wiped his flushed,
perspring face replaced it, and answered.
4" 1t means, sir, that you have turned my
sister out of doors that is all it means"
But, Uncle Billy, my dear mother has per-
fectn-
"D--n it, sir, don't call my sister mother,
or me UnclO Billy You arc no son or nephew
Of ours we wash our hands Of you We cast
yon off! Wen have nothing to do with you"
"Why, Mr.. Boiling what is the -
villain, sir James, drive onp And clap
ping his hat upon bis head, Mr.. Boiling sat
down and settlcd tho last boA In los pIsce, ana
the wagon was driven off
Ii is impossible to describe the state Of mind
in which Mark Sutherland found himself The
distracting thoughts and emotions that whirled
through brain and heart excited him almost
to frenzy. He Immediately wrote an implor-
ing, passionate note to his mother, briefly allu-
ding to the independence he intended to secure
TO her, and duplicating her to return 10 her
own home He sent it off; and, in few min
utes, unsatisfied with that note, no wrote an !
other more a0ecti0natc more ardent more ,
duplicating and despatched that also.
And then, hafmaddened as he was, he ;
turned and set himself to his business. He !
caused all the slaves to be assembled on the !
lawn. He went out to them, and announced
his intention Of setting them free, and sending
all who were willing to 60 to the free States, to
Canada, or to Liberia. He explained to them
the good that must accrue to the younger and j
more intelligent and industrious among them,
who might emigrate and settle in the last. ,
named place This news did not take the ne.
croes the least by surprise They had heard
whisperings Of the cause that had broken off
their master marriage, and set all his family
and friends at fcud with him After closing his
little speech to the assembled slaves he singled
out some dozen among them-heads Of cabin
fames-old and steady negroes and he took
them with him INTO his library, where he ex.
planned to them mt greater length the great
advantages Of the plan Of emigration to Libe-
ria. Aud then he dismissed them to converse
with each other, to reflect, and decide what
they wished to do
Next, he left his study to go and inquire If
the messenger sent to his mother had returned
He found the man watching for him in the
hall. lie held letter in his hand Mr. Suth
erland eagerly snatched it, 1t contained few
lines, formally advising him that no further
communication would be received from him,
which was not preceded by full and complete
remuneration of his obnoxious plans. While |
his gaze was painfully rivetcd upon this note, |
the second messenger arrived bringing q letter
IN her hand He seized it, Il tvds has o,on, re-
turned unopened
g Did You see Mrs Sutherland, Flamingo2"
"Yes sir
What did she say
gave her the letter sir she took it. and
read the direction, and handed it back to me,
and told me to take it back to him who sent it,
and not to bring her another one"
That will dO-yOu may go,p said Mark,
and spasm of pain twtched his countenance,
az he tore up the letter and threw the irag-
ments away.
That is not all, sir-there is something
elscp
"Well, what new stab - he thought; but
he said
"Well, what is it,
Flamingo took from under his arm a small
packet wrapped in tissue paper and handed it
to him
what is this Where did you get this ;"
Miss Resale gave it to me TO bring to you"
"fou may 60 now, said Mr. Sutherland, as
he opened n door and nassed into tho narlor