The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-10-09

stitching-days, and with keener light in her
deep black eyes.
How are you Eliza . said Fcsbrook coming
kindly forward.
NOT very we'll, master but l am going
home said Elva, ',o the long home prepared
for black and white; and there is something
want to tell YOU all before go, particular
ly the misss here : and Eva fixed her eyes
on the mistress she was said to have been so
much attached to, with look of such pierc
in. power as for once in Ter life struck that
lady spsechless. Did not YOU buy me away
from my husband sixteen years ago, when he
was sold far west, and never saw him more
Did moi you sell my only child away from
NE, till she died of fever on the edge of the
Dismal Swamp, and wasn't it all in the order
of Providence, or it never could have hap
pened You told me so, and was to be-
lieve it, and not repine. Now, I'll tel, you
something tina, mus. have been in the or Ter
of Providence, for it happened. too. |, vas
not my daughter that died on The edge OF
the Dismal Saamp-hut Your own, 1t vas
not your daughter that went in the carriage
and the finery 10 he married in Charleston
church-but minen
What do you say. woman . cried Mr.. Fos-
brook, losing all command of himself.
i say the truth and I'll tell you how ii
happened. The children were born on the
same day; and the missis sent me word that
they should get the same name, and be
brought up together; but l knew that my
child could be bought and sold as its faith
er and mother had been. The poor slave
WAS not used to be cared for, like the rich
lady, and could get up sooner; SO in the
I dead of the second night, when the monthly
nurse had taken too much peach-brandy, and
slept soundly.I crept into the room, and made
fair exehange-a black one may be you'll
call It. but coors don't show at that time of
life. | left my own child in the fine satin
covered cradle, and took Mrs. Fosbrook' s
BABY to the basket beside my bed. The one
was mine. and the other was hers ever after.
There is my daughter. the heiress of Fos-
brook Hail. she continued, addressing her
mistress; and yonder lies yours, in the
church yard oy the Dismal Swamp. That is
how the whites can make out blood and race !;
but il was all in the order of Providence, or
It couldn't have happened, you know and
Eva flung herself back with a burst Of
veugfui and triumphant laughter, that made
the root ring.
You wretch, it is all falsehood, Where
do YOU expect 10 go to?' cried Mrs. Fos-
brook.
Madam. it is most probably true.' said
ihe colonel. who had stood silently listening
at the foot Of the bed, like a man heart
stricken and admonished-'it is most pro-
hahiy true. Let the diving woman alone ::
the past can neither be recalled nor altered ::
and She has followed or example, In calling
our own sins and selfshress the works Of
Providence. Come away.
We all walked back 10 the drawing room,
and the ladies did no, faint. As for myself
ard every soul that heard Eiva's confession,
We felt convinced that it was true. Of course
in ia@. the testimony of a revengeful slave
would count 70: nothing: but We had all
eyes an memories. and their evidence was
TO. II Je -, aside as regarded poor sold
Ly,ty. a;J: lne fair fare which had been such
a cause Of jealousy and despite. Moreover,
The revelation could not he kept secret-it
Has too publicly made many Of the servants
had been within hearin-,, ard nobody lbl-
ed ii, though Fiya gould not be induced to
give any further particulars Perm .TS the
woman hid none 20 give: a, anv rate. she
spoke little after tina. wild laugh. but grai1-
ally suik and died, as The doctor had pre-.
dic,e1, an hour before sunset.
Her tale made I'd apparent ditil renee to
the Fosbrooks all things and all people re-
main. in their places were the SEM
! Or and tie junior couples, The fat her and his
son-in-law, the mother and her daughter
but ii went abroad, was canvassed in every
drawing-room and un every plantation, in
Charleston clubs and coffee houses, and
wherever the Fosbrooks were known. Ii
touched nothing visible, yet their lives were
changed, and the different effects we,e curl
Gus. Mr.. Fosbrook's steady and domestic
habits gradually forsook him; he took TO the
clubs. the gaming tables, it was said to all
manner OF dissipation, was never at home,
and believed to be virtually separated from
Mrs. Fosbrook. She continued to preach
| suppose nothing could alter the woman
bai she was left very much in the back
ground, for Fos5rook Hail became a lonely
mansion, shorn of It's splendor and retinue,
between her husbands extravaganza and q
step 10 v hich th= colonel urged him name
ly, the graduel emancipa,i lion of all his ne
'groes. The fact could be accomplished more
easily al that time in these days of fermeni
and civil war. 1t was managed hy Mr.. Eos
brooks sou-in-aw, Oh the estate which he
had married for. How much he regretted
the real heiress, ard the misfortunes which
had fallen upon her, for his sake, people
could only conjecture but certain it was,
tha; from being gay and careless, be became
serious man, resigned his commission in