The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-24

hostess hospitable; Mr.. Harry usually invisible ;
Temple clever, genial and merry; little Rose
picturesque and diverting; and even poor pale
Alice a curious and interesting enigma and
study in human nature. Truly there might
have been many places less pleasant to waste
ones time in than Rochemaurice, batt, that one
felt there continually little like a receiver of
other peoples goods-we do not say stolen
but taken and not paid for. Herman could not
tell, for the life of him, to whom he chiefly owed
his good cheer and entertainment-to Colonel
Rochemaurice at the foot of the festive dinner
table, or Mrs. Rochemaurice at the head, or
Bill behind his chair, or Phyl over the kitchen
ire, or Sambo Sue, Dick, and Company, down
in the cotton-felds. 1t was all muddle,"
which he cleared for himself as best he might,
by paying fees quite as large as his fast-dwin-
ding purse could well spare, to the chambermaid,
and tootman, and groom, and every servant
who did anything for him and he felt as if a
burden was taken from his mind, as well as
from his ladylove's, when the last of his new
purchases leapt from the shore on board the
boat, and he sat with only feemen about him,
enjoying the summer twilight as well as the
mosquitoes would let him, and listening 10 so
much as he could understand of the gibberish
of his charges, as they chartered together like
SO many monkeys, in the joy of their hearts,
but with their cultural tones lowered, out Of re-
spect.
Ky dar de engine !" cried Lyd, catching
hold of Sally, with giggle, half of satisfaction
and half of fright, as the boat began to move
What make it keep such whoof -whoof-
whoofn 2"
Laws, chile dat ar's its breff, Don't 'ou
breave hard when on runs? All critturs does. !"
Man, said bright-eyed urchin of five or
six, =" Is ou free lady, now, like mistis? ?"
ayes, chile
"Why aint 'ou face white, den ?"
Bress de chile, dunno Spec it's cause dc
color won't come out. Wish twas like mistis'
every day, den would so! Yah, YAH"
!" know how de color got on, said the wag !;
Il harm de parson tell"
How dat, den, anyhow"
When Adam fall, he upset de blackin' bot
tie. Little Cain, rollin on de floor, splash him
all over. He so mad, he jump right up an kill
Abel. Den he sold, an sent right off to de
niger country. All de niggers Gains chilen,
an so dey has-to mind (de sugar. cane.'
GU shut up, Scip! Dat ar amt pous."
No, thought Herman, 1T certainly is not ;
but is 1t any more impious, or even absurd,
than some of the other so-called Biblical argu-
ments by which more learned men than Scip
undertake to defend Negro Slavery? How can
they imagine that negro, who has any mother
wit at ALL will not see through such stuff and
turn 1t into JEST or worse? How is it pos
sible to preach lies in the name of religion,
without making skeptics and scoffers? 2"
3" Ise bound to get religion now, anyhow
continued the last speaker /" cause now | dun
foun out dars God A mighty
I.awsy land, Tilly how stupid ou is !
Didn ou alters know as much as dat arp"
No, didn'. Pears like couldn' blieve a
word on it. But ebery day an night cher since
come to Rochemaurice, Use KEEP a sayin', God
Almighty, if dar is God Almighty, do, do
somethin noder for my chilens.' / Glib Him
His choice. | says: Lee me take car on 'cm
mesef, as ] used to mos times at de ole place,
or find EN- good mistises as II Farm eln, as nv
ole mistis Aspen'all done Earned me, or if 'ou'd
lievser put 'em right to sleep once for all under
g gggqgpa ,l SYhayy asF Xeas qeher
like she done had, pears like I'd mos as hevs;
an at last it done git to sort OBJ tune in my
head, an I'd chop to it all days long wild my
hoe, If dar-is a-God A-mighty-do, do
somethin--for my--chilens T. fought He didn
h'ar den, but specs now he did, anyhow"
SO there they sat and talked together, after
their uncouth fashion, while the boat ran down
the stream.
The boat stopped to take in wood at the next
landing, giving Herman time to run up towards
the house of Mr.. Clement Colonel Rochemau
rices next neighbOr. AS he approached, he
heard music and merry voices, and saw Ian
terms, rendered almost superfiuous by the lgh
of the broad moon, cleaning among the pines
A black lady and gentleman, dressed in thu
height of the (negro) ton, encountered him il
a sentimental promenade; and from them h
, he heard that Mr.. Clement was not within
| doors, but on wide lawn, to which they le'
the way.
This was, for the time being, a ball room.
| was encirced by the illuminated pine trees
| which he had before noticed. On one side wa
a table, decked with flowers, and apparent
well furnished with refreshments on the Other
band of fiddlers and banjoplayers. The com
i pany were, at the moment, executing rec
with much spirit They were all black, or We
low, bedecked, not to say bediZened, in hig
1 degree.
A little aloof from them, at the end whic
? answered to the head of the dancing hall, unde
a cluster of lanterns tied together to represer
a chandelier, and held out on high over ther
n by the projecting arm of a grand tree benin
h them, stood well-bred looking group, consis
n ing of the proprietor of the place and people
k with a few friends, and his wife and daughter
J. in their pretty simple muslin dresses, standin
o around him, looking on and laughing gail
anu III not hS dS any
n the chief performers. 1t was altogether prett
c and picturesque scene; one Of those whic
|, would, if anything could, give grace to tn
y institution of Slavery; one of those spectacle
e of benevolence, gratitude, and mutual good will
between owner and chattel, which, if exec
r. tons could prove rule, might prove that IL
i institution of Slavery was no evil.
r Herman was most courteously and cordial
e welcomed, upon the strength of Colonel Roch
t, maurices rather guarded and diplomatic lett
o of introduction, pressed to stay and see Il
e frolic through, and very sorry that he could no
gen @ dfn d sn 5ha hhf5 bis h 6apn
I. speeding the parting, rather than in wecomir
IS the coming guest; though he told Herman
Of aughingly, that he had come at the wron
j. time, and that he did not believe it would |
O. 10 the power of Wilbertorce and Clarkso
it themselves, with a select posse of Wende
ID Phillips, Garrison, 4 Company, to get tn
he 'qboys and girls away from their prosecutor
of while there was still any cake on hand, or C;
IN pering on FOOT Stepping forward, he made
ur sign u the musicians The music stopped
y, and soldid the dancers, with very long face
to Mr.. Clement, in loud voice, called out tn
m names q those of them whom Herman wishe
ut, to see. They came up timidly, and, as it seen
We ed, unwiingly. The Clements and their part
lg, Observation-Disclosures to little distance. tn
nd music strJsk up again, the dance RECOMMENDED
and all w'pt on as before
1t provd as Mr.. Clement had said. Hel
nal mans offe was heard by the negroes civil!
ole but coolly his statement, that they might az
&c. cept or Mt as they liked, only, with relief an
aI' gratitude. hey knew nothing about the Nortl
TN except some dismal stories that they had hear
ere about the old and the Abolitionists. The
trr we're happy They were gay; They wer