The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-03-20
For the National Era.
T FL e B R O T III e r S.
BY E. D. E. N. sOUTHwORTH.

Which let thy wisdom fear Hold off the hand,n
SHAKESPEARE
One morning, near the last of August-yet
stay Such mornings dawn unheralded by any
sign to warn us what the fated day shall bring
forth ere its close. Such mornings dawn as
other mornings do-the doomed men or women
rise as other people do, as you or arose this
morning, upon the dread day that unpremedi-
tated crime or sudden death shall FIX their NOR
tai doom forever.
That morning Mr.. Waring arose, feeling
rather unwell and irritable, which was no unu-
sual circumstance of late, for he was chatting
between two conflicting interests, one of which
called him away, while the other bound him
at home. He was very anxious, with his wife,
to leave the neighborhood of the infected city
but, in the present condition of affairs, he hest
tated to trust the plantation and negroes to the
care of the overseer.
| Valentine arose with the same heavy heart
that had marked his waking hours for many
days, yet dressed himself and combed his
raven black curls with the hahitnAi -~e5--l =
neatness anu Ueaury Irau Uecome second
nature. And it was curious to see how this
habit of neatness and elegance lasted through
all the darkest hours of his life.
Poor Phedra got up, and attended to the
arrangement of the house and the preparation
of breakfast, with her usual exactness.
Mrs. Waring suffering from the facilitating
effects of the weather, INDUCED herself in the
morning, and breakfasted in bed.
No foreboding was felt by any one; no token
in sky or air, or circumstance without, or pre-
sentiment within their hearts, warned them OF
calamity, crime, and sudden death, at hand.
That morning, after breakfast, Valentine stroll
ed listlessly out towards the public road lead
ing to the town. 1t was his daily habit 1t
had been commenced in the hope of meeting
some one from the city who might be able
to give him news of Fannie and her little
child. And though he never met with success
he still rambled thither every day, as well from
force of habit as from the faint hope that he
might yet hear Of them. He strolled to the
highway, met his usual i'll success, and, after
lingering an hour or two, sauntered dejectedly
towards home. When he reached a lane that
separated his masters plantation on the right
hand from Mr.. Hewitts on the left, his atten.
ton was arrested by the sound of a low voice.
He listened.
/" Hish-shl Valley, come here, here to the
gap"
The voice proceeded from behind the hedge
formed by thick growth of Spanish daggers,
that completely covered the feuce on the left
of the lane. There was a small broken place
in it, towards which Valentine sapntered indif
ferently. He saw on the other side the huge
head of gigantic negro, a jetblack, lumber.
ing, awkward, good-natured monster enough,
who belonged to Mr.. Hewitt, and who sported
\ the imposing cognomen of " Governor"
"Well, Governor, is that your What do
you want with me?"
" Hish-sh, VALLEY, don't talk 80 loud our
oberseer amt fur off. Brudder 'Lisha, he bin
out from town."
"wel2" exclaimed Valentine, with breath
less interest, bending forward.
Wen you hear from Fannie las 2"
"Not for two weeks. Why do you ask ?
Have you heard from her? Speak oh, for
Heavens sake, speak," exclaimed Valentine,
breathlessiy.
Fannie done got de feber,"
Brudder Iisha, he done bin ere dis morn
in, an tell we-dem."
ooh, Heavenl oh, when was she taken =?
Who is with her? Is she"-
"Dunno muffin tall bout it, 'cept tbs she g
got de feber. Brudder 'Lisha, he done bin
dere to her place, an heern it."
"Where is Elisha?"
"Done gone right traight back to town."
"And that is all the satisfaction you can
give me," cried Valentine, beside himself with
! distress.
"Yaw, yawi / trought how I'd watch arteF
you, and tell you-'long as you'd like to hear
it. Hish-shshl VALLEY, stoop down here close,
till 1 whisper to you"
"What now?" exclaimed Valentine, in new
alarm, bending his ear to the huge nsgros
lips.
Hish-sh-sh VALLEY, Tish hop it sour mn
oman as had de ydller .JeJer!"
"Wretch II"
An wish wedem's white niger oberseer
bad it tool"
! hat do you mean?"
:, An An wish dey bofe might dds long of it."
wretch l say again
Irufe, brudder dats me jes'l Use de
wretcn an wish how dis same wretch might
nap oe ieber long o. de oder two. and how
migns als long OF EN-, and how we might all
u " marsters troas, and have de case
ciueu whose wife dis oman is for to be-
Governor what do you mean to saw that
ne new overseer is tampering with your wife's
fidelity TO your" 'oN' VAC
\ g Hish-shl be amt fur of. Dunno what do
debbii you mean wild your Big words. but she
lub fine dress, an he glib it to her she No. 49,
putty, mos aohite, you know, an he sep, me