The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-17

records of the Colonel's guardianship, it ap-
peared that, when Constance's majority began,
there were but twenty slaves on her plantation
| Of these, the Colonel had bought in ten, at the
sale; and he Immediately and very handsomely
offered to resign them at the rather low price at
which they had been sold. Seven others, he be-
ieved, had gone to Clement Grange, the plant
alton adjoining his, and would also probably be
readily given up, as the owner was a hereditary
friend Of the Aspenwalls. Herman had al
ready gone out of his way to buy Jake and
Nance, whom he had left in safe hands at Sa.
vannah. Thus only Jakes wife, and an individ-
ual called SAM surname unknown, remained
unaccounted for. Colonel Rochemarice said
that the whole lot had brought only about ten
| thousand dollars, at auction, and might very
likely be repurchased for fifteen. He feared
that they had been unavoidably neglected after
young Captain Aspenwall's death though he
had taken much care to 'mploy only the best
overseers he could get-rascals they were, all
Of them-and only the worst, who kasw they
were good for nothing, would sell their lives to
60 on rice plantation and there had been a
good deal of sickness and death among the ne
groes. 1t was to be regretted that Miss Aspen
wall had not, after she became old enough re-
turned to the South, to look a little aftervher
own property.
Herman thought so too, and feared that it
must be source of regret to her through life,
that she had suffered sentimental unwilling
| ness to return to her brothers home without
him, to interfere with the discharge Of her duty
to her dependents. He was somewhat relieved,
however, by the Colonel's adding, After all,
however, she must have left the plantation to
itself for a great part of the year at any rate,
or died; and it is doubtful how strictly the over
seers would have followed the directions of so
young lady behind her back even surprising
she had known what directions to give when
she was on the spot. | will send down q list of
the people directly, and have them brought up
here, for you to see. He copied the list, and
rang the bell. Rafe appeared.
"Drive wagon down to the east cotton field
| by the river Read these names to old Jack,
and tell him to send the boys and girls up
here" Rafe took the paper quietly, but with
flushing cheek and hasty furtive glance at it,
and withdrew. In about an hepr he returned,
and reported that the "boys and girls were
| assembled before the piazza.
will yen speak to them there, DIR. Arden :?
or would yon prefer 10 have them in here ?"
said the Colonel, condescenaing to the whims
of his guest, but involuntariiy casting Q COM
passionate look at the beautiful inaid woods
and Persian rugs of his hbrars tioor With
the very most benevolent dispositions towards
u ntru Vi cdttie WOuiu EdnCtS niiioch nave
cared to invite them to a conference meeting
in parlor?
"There, by all means, if You please"
every well, sir you shall have the field quite
| to yourself; but as you do not know these peo-
Pile, end do, you will pardon my suggesting to
you, as friend, that, before you say anything
to make them discontinued With their present
condition, prudence would dictate to you &c con
slider, for your own sake, how far they are fitted
for sny ether. honor your benevolence, and
that of my young coRsln but think you will
fnd-l trust not by painful exPe,lence--that
independence can be no boon to their unfortu-
.s.rstIaIIy ai- .L.... Tia 90 re
of master, they will not work, and must also
be without clothes and fg9d;"
"Very likely " thought Herman o4f Let
us ace yhat the effect will be, of giving each OF
| them a master l.: himself 1t will be himselfs
interest then to make each Gf them work; and
if he sees that, should not wonder if he I'D j.;
and kept them supplied, besides, with food and
clothes quite as good as they have now at the
hands of Colonel RochemaqFiee, who, on his
part, cannot be said to be wholly d'sin'erested
in his exertions on their behalf
He went out to them, and stood upon the steps
the piazza, with the iowery garlands that grow
form, looking kindly down upon them with his
snirited Young countenance all Illuminated with
glad and generous feeling. 1t was one of those
moments which Esht Up lifetime: de had
never addressed such an audience hetGre; non
had he ever seen such effect produced by has
most studied and eloquent Grafton, as was now
by the few simple words in which he told them
thar si.s;r young Mistress Constance had sent
him to see them, ...d to ask them whether they
we're we'll and contented as they were, or whether
they would rather go awaysand be free?"
They did not speak, at first. They seemed
TO have no rc-ds in their old vocabulary to ex
press their new emotions ~; their downcast
sdelong, shy, or sullen looks were lifted togene,
as if by one impulse to his face and, drawn by
its bright benignity ss e by magnetism, they
pressed closer to one another ana 10 re steps
listening and looking, as if they could trhsl
neither theis eyes nor ears and in their stolid
stiff visages, he conid-yes, he surely did-see
the first workings of soul, a little glimmerinG
hope, little gratitude, a little thought, begin
ming. Oh, that instant when man perceive'
: thai SONS hight word or deed of his has beer
a spark to kindis sglther'sajim mindl Thi:
was to Herman, what il was 10 Howe, ing Ehl
lanthropist, when first fash of meaning over
Lssrs Bridgmans blind mute face, told hin
thai bis hagsrsd words had reached her soul a
last, through its isag, black, soundless solitude
Herman went on, and explained to his hearer
that they would still have TO work. This we.
of the subject was less alluriug than the first
but as they looked round into each others faces
the seIse Of the murmuring meeting collected
itself into the aistinct answer, " Hab to worl
anyhow, mas'r."
eyes, everybody, who is good for anything
| does york in some way or other but, whel
you are free, yeu yill work for yourselves, you
wives, your husbands, and o. i,d-en, You vii
have all your time for yourselves and ali tina
yen earn in it will be your own"
Dat gosd apyhow, mas'r.'
" The more industrious ssi p2instaking yo
are, the more you will earn the more prnden
a and sober you are, the more you will save
J and the more you can save, the richer yo'
: will be, But if you are idle and wastefu
l am afraid you Will have to go hungry.
shall see that you all get iI,.G good places o
first, where you can earn if you choose but
n shall have to give away great deal of m
= money 10 pay for your freedom, and get you +
N the North; and after that shall be poor, AM
e have to work for my FANNY, as you will 70
Z yours. If you want to be your own MASTER
y you will have to feed and clothe yourselve.
IS Just es your master, Colonel Rochemaurice, ha
K. to clothe snl feed YOU now"
y" "Ky, let dis chile iope fog datl"
to "Don car, for de ole mans bigger, TAX
ly good car O. dis chile's niggerl"
1t "People say that you cannot but you mu
a try to teach them better. 1t would be sham
c. if such strong able-bodied men and wome
e. could not shift for themselves You choose
s, be free, then?"
ID "Yes, masr, tank 'ou mas'r."
lej Yes, masr."