Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-09-15

was "auteu anu nOt easy 10 raise. ES
yet he had made no costly present to
Grace: and that was one of the great
necessities.
For pride's sake Mrs. Brusle must
make her offering also to the bride, and
how it was to be done without selling
land or 'niggers' neither could guess.
The first was not to be thought of; the
world would know it. But who would
miss darkey or 80? Ned and Jack
might 60. and those heroes Julius
Caesar and Pompey also, and no one be
the wiser. In fact, as Ned had tried to
run away one day, that was excuse
enough for selling him in any eyes So
talked the mother and son, in confidence
over their evening meal one day, when.
dpropos of their resolve, Satan, or his
ambassador, came also among them.
A rough coated, burly man, witha gen.
eral air of being ashamed of himself,
and daring any one to find it out, was
ushered in with the surprising an
nouncement, "A gempleman, Massa;
and stood, trying to look as nearly as
possible like the description.
4 hope I don't intrude.' he said
and being asked to take seat, sucked
at his cane handle in silence while,
and then, despairing of introducing the
subject neatly, fell into it with a splash
as into pond.
A gentleman, friend of his, name
not to be known at present, but a gen.
tleman, wanted gal of theirs, by name
Honey He knew it was favor to ask;
but he made an offer worth something,
and he named sum which made the
mother dart quick glance at her son.
Not the thing to do when gentleman
had not spoken of parting with his peo-
pie, but he hoped no offence. There
was the offer-so much for the gal
Honey. That was what brought him,
and there he was Well, now?'
The mother looked at her son, and the
son at her. 'We must talk it over,' he
said. Excuse US moment : then the
two left the room together. Neither
spoke until they had shut the door of a
little room Upon them; then Madame
Brusle broke the silence: ~
Its just the SUN we want, Charlie. ,
Yes; but can we?'
4 shall miss Honey-she's capital
maid
Sam will be furious said Massa
Charlie
'It's wonderful offer. Who is it? l
can't imagine
The anonymous buyer was the Rev.
Oliver Huile, who had had call to
South Carolina, and was fifty ordering
his household.
She's girl who would command a
price,, said Charlie, 'but l never tho't
of selling her. You see, Sam is a pet
of mine, and he hasn't been used to
thwarting. l wonder whether he would
not take notion to Fan if this one
was sold ? | reckon we'll have to do it,
and be put the sum offered into words
again.
They made Madame Brushes eyes
glisten.
'We must she said; we've humored
our niggers too much, and they went
back to the trader arm in arm.
A few more words-then money
chinked upon the table-a receipt was
signed-'the girl Honey was made
over to the unknown buyer through
this his agent, and the deed was done.
Take her this afternoon as quietly
as you can, said Massa Charlie. The
fact is,-and he felt just one little pang
at his heart-'she has a husband on the
place, and l want to get him out of the
way. 1t won't Inconvenience you to
wait, hope?'
Not bit,' said the man. But You
are tender with your niggers. He'll
have another in week.
Massa Charlie was not so sure of that
as he appeared to be He gave the
trader cigar, took one himself, and
lounged away. In the hall he met
Sam.
Get yourself ready, Sam,' he said.
Pm going over to v, and want you
Sam bowed.
Soon, Massa Charlie p
Immediately
Sans light step was on the stairs in
/ moment; but before he reached his
OWN sleeping place, where his wardrobe
vas stored, he passed Honey at work
n her lady's room on tiny, secret, white
work of her own, and stopped and kissed
Ter.
She looked up with tear in her
'ye.
Il wonder what I'd do eff ther warn't
10 you,' she said. sDere me to be
uthin before l knowed ye! Now there
lint nuthin only you
Its Gurus. It's so with me too,
aid Sam and the haunting terror fell
IN him again-the terror born of the
act that "a niger couldn't even own
lis wife.
He whistled it off and dressed and
vent down to his master, a dandy of
he first water. Honey peeped at him
rom a window. Over the veranda the
raider looked at him also.
"A likely fellow he said.
YES said Madam BrusIe; 'Honey's
husband
oh, the gal, eh?' Then the trader
aughed, as at rich joke. Got him
ut o the way nicely, l say; he's not
he kind to make great row. l know
em, 1 do. No, this here'll take it
ool