The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-07-31


"My friend" said father Dickson, ~ fee
bound in conscience to tell you that think
your trade ruinous one to your soul. hope
you'll lay to heart the solemn warning
you've heard tonight. Why, your own sense
can show you that trade can't be right thai
you'd be afraid to be found in if the great iudg
ment-day were at hand"
Well, rather spect you speak the truth
but, then, what makes father Bonnie stand ur
for't?"
My friend, / must say that think father
Bonnie upholds soul-destroying error. I must
say that, as conscience-bound. pray the Lord
for him and you both. Iput it right to your con
science, my friend, whether you think you could
keep to your trade, and live Christian life."
"No; the fact is, it's I'D bad business
that's Just where tits. We ant fit to be trusted
with such things that come to us-gals and
women. Well, feel pretty bad, tell you, to-
night; cause know haven't done right by
this yer gal. ought for to have let her alone
but, then, the devil or something possessed me.
And now she has got fever, and screeches
awfully. declar, some things she says go right
through mel"
Father Dickson groaned in spirit over this
account, and felt himself almost guilty for be-
longing ostensibly and outwardly to church
the side of his companion, breaking forth into
occasional calculations and snatches of hymns.
After ride of about an hour, they arrived at
the encampment. A large fire had been made
in clear spot, and smouldering fragments and
brands were lyme os~a-s, .LA -.h:s- ~-l~-- o.
or two horses were tied to neighboring tree,
and wagons were drawn up by them. Around
the fire, in different groups, lay about fifteen
men and women, with heavy iron shaeldes on
their feet, asleep in the moonlight. At q little
distance from the group, and near to one of the
wagons, a blanket was spread down on the
ground under a tree on which lay young girl
of seventeen, tossing and moaning in disturb
ed stupor. A respectable-looking mulatto wo-
man was sitting beside her, with gourd full of
water, with which from time to time she moist
ened her forehead. The woman rose as the
trader came up.
SWELL, Nance, how does she do now?" said
the trader.
"Mis'able enoughp' said Nance. "She done
been tossing, throwing round, and crying for
her nanny, ever since you went awayi"
"Wel, I've brought the minister" said he
Try, Nance, to wake her up; she'll be glad
to see him."
The woman kuelt down, and took the hand of
the sleeper. emily, Emily" she said, wake
upl"
The girl threw herself over, with a sudden,
restless toss. 80, how my head burns! o,
dear o, my motherl Mother mother |!
mother! why don't you come to met"
Father Dickson approached, and knelt the
other side of her. The mulatto woman made
another effort to bring her to consciousness.
Emily, here's the minister you was wanting
so much Emily, wake upl"
The girl slowly opened her eyes-largo, trem.
IL he hor hopd
them, as if to clear her sight, and looked wist-
fully at the woman.
Minister minister " she said.
ayes, minister! You said you wanted to see
one,"
80 yes, I did I" she said, heavily.
"My daughterI" said father Dickson, "yon
are very sickl"
"Yesl" she said, every! And Pm glad of
it I'm going to die I'm glad of that, tool
That's all I've got left to be glad of! But 1
wanted to ask you to write to my mother. She
is free women; she lives in New York. I
want you to give nay love to her, and tell her
not to worry any more. Tell her 1 tried all ]
could to get to her; but they took us, and mis-
tress was so angry she sold me! forgive her,
too. don't bear her any malice, cause it's
all over, now! She used to say was wild
girl, and laughed too loud. I shant trouble
any one that way any more So that's no
matter
The girl spoke these sentences at long inter
walls, occasionally opening her eyes and closing
them again in languid manner. Father Dick
son, however, who had some knowledge of
medicine, placed his finger on her pulse, which
was rapidly sinking. It is the usual instinct,
IN all such cases, to think of means of pro-
longing life. Father Dickson rose, and said
to the trader:
"Unless some stimulus be given her, she will
be gone very soonl"
The trader produced from his pocket flask
of brandy, which he mixed with a little water
in cup, and placed it in father Dickson's hand.
He kneeled down again, and, calling her by
name, tried to make her take GONE.
"Whst is it3" said she, opening her wild,
Offering eyes.
It's something to make you feel better"
~ don't want to feel better! / want to diel
she said, throwing herself over. "What should
1 want to live for?"
What should she? The words struck father
Dickson 80 much, that he sat for while in
silence. he meditated In bis Aind how he
esuld reach, with any words, that dying ear,
OF enter With her into that land Of trance and
mist, into whose clopdy CIRCLE the soIl seemed
already to have passed. Guided by subtle
instinct, he seated himself by the dying girl,
and began singing, In q subdued, plaintiye air,
the following well known hymn:
Hark i, H. -