The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-07-29


concerning the price "Leewizzy" would
bring in the market; and Bill had told
the story of what he had seen at the crib,
with sundry iocose additions, which ellie
tied peals of laughter from his master
But the orphan had won the young mans
heart by the childlike confidence she had
manifested toward him. and conscience
would not allow him to break the solemn
promise he had given her After a pro-
tracted conference, he agreed to pay eight
hundred dollars, and to come for Louise
the next week.
The appearance the sun, after long,
cold storm never made a greater change
than the announcement of this arrange
ment produced in the countcnance and
lmanners of that desolate child. The ex-
preston of fear vanished, and listlessness
gave place to a springing elasticity of
motion. Mr.. Noble could i'll afford to
spare so large a sum for the luxury of be-
nevolence, and he was we'll aware that
the Office of protector, which he had tax
en- upon himself, must necessarially prove
expensive. But when he witnessed her
radiant happiness, he could not regret
that he had obeyed the generous impulse
of his heart. Now, for the first time, she
was completely identified with the vision
of that fairy child who had SO captured
his fancy four years before. He never
forgot the tones of her voice, and the ex-
preston of her eyes, when she kissed his
hand at parting, and said, Il thank you,
sir, for buying me-"
SCENE III.
In world like this, it is much easier
to plan generous enterprises than to carry
them into effect After Mr.. Noble had
purchased the child, he knew not how to
provide a suitable home for her. At first
he placed her with his colored washerwo-
man. But if she remained in that situa-
tion, though her bodily wants would be
we'll cared for, she must necessarily lose
much of the refinement infused into her
being by that earl y environment of ele-
gance, and that atmosphere of love. He
did not enter into any analysis of his mo-
tives in wishing her to be so far educated
as to be a pleasant companion for himself
The only question he asked himself was,
GLOW he should like to have his sister
treated, if she had been placed in such
unhappy circumstances. He knew very
well what construction would be put up
on his proceedings, in society where
handsome girls of such parentage were
marketable; and he had SO long tacitly
acquiesced in the customs around him,
that he might easily have viewed her in
that light himself, had she not become
invested with a tender and sacred interest
from the circumstances in which he had
first seen her, and the innocent cOnfding
manner in which she had implored him
to supply the place Of her father. She
was always presented to his imagination as
Mr. Duncan's beloved daughter, never as
Mr. Jackson's slave. He said to himself,
"May God bless me according to my deal,
ings with this orphan! May [ never
prosper if | take advantage of her friend
less situation"
As for his protege, she was too ignorant
of the world to be disturbed by amy such
thoughts. "lIay [ call you Papa, as [
used to call my father?" said she.
For some reason, underlined to himself
the title was unpleasant to him. 1t did
not seem as if sixteen years of seniority
need place so wide distance between
them. NO." he replied, "you shall be
my sister," And thenceforth she called
him brother Alfred, and he called her
Loo Loo.
His curiosity was naturally excited to
learn all he could of her history; aud it
was not long before he ascertained that
her mother was a superbly handsome
quadroon from New Orleans, the daughter
of French merchant, who had given her
many advantages of education, but from
carelessness had left her to follow the
condition of her mother who was slave.
Mr. Duncan fell in love wi h her, bought
her, and remained strongly attached to
her until the day of her death. 1t had
always been his intention to manumlt her,
but from inveterate habits of procrastina-
ton, he deferred it, till a fatal fever at,
tackled them both; and SO his child was
also left to "follow the condition of her
mother" :" Having neglected to make a
will his property was divided among the
sons of sisters married at distance from
him, and thus the little daughter, whom
he had so fondly cherished, became the
property of Mr.. Jackson, who valued her
as he would a colt likely to bring high
price in the market. She was too young
to understand all the degradation to which