The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-03-22

] 70 SIM and sstatne- Hike "a. his ddAraepine
81 have. always. sid, continued Mr.
| rs to rum away, 4 woald never again have
ts.Je:.As=S - w.t. s:aa.. You, however,
have ceDe back 0f your own accord, and
this step shows that You have . good heart,
Up came Jim's head again, while honest
JOY at this assertion shone out from his two,
Though determined to adhere to my
first resolution, !" continued his master, al
wll'nOt deal hardly by you; but will my
self look out for a good home and kind
master for Your 8. $3.50 :
Again did poor Jin,'s head 60 down with
q spring, while an unmistakable groan pro
ceeded from the kneeling figure.
Will do even more" said Mr.. Dudley
kindly; "wbateyer amount your new owner
shall see fit to offer for you, will give over
to your own hands, so that in the course of
may be enabled to purchase, in an honest
way, that freedom you seem so much to
covet." 9''' -
This was too much for Jim's poor heart
to bear. 1t was the fear of this that haG
kept him thin, and that now gave words to-
lis sorrow and motion to his rigid limbs
Falling rather than kneeling at his masters
feet, he sobbed aloud:
" don't want to be sold don't want to
be free! l only want to stay in my dear,
dear, old home!"
Blanche leaned her sweet face against her
brothers bosom and wept too.
Z" Don't part with him, dear papa!' she
pleaded, g don't think he will ever leave
us again"
Here was another kind word to cheer his
sinking soul, and Jim rising to his knees,
with clasped hands and streaming eyes, ex-
claimed:
g You are right, miss Blanche !! If every
other niger in New Orleans was free,
wouldn't go with them. No! That l
wouldn't ="
II What an absurd contingency ~ whis-
pered Dudley to his sister. 1--WE can count
upon Jim remaining with us for a pretty
long time"
But poor Jim saw nothing amusing in his
humble plight, and drawing himself still
closer to Mr.. Dudley, while he nervously
grasped one arm of the velvet chair, he con-
tinued his simple pleading: z -
never knowed how dear everything
was to me until had lost, 'em all! Oh
massa, massa! let me stay hpme now with
Blanche's tender heart meleed within her
and again laying her hand on+her fathers
shoulder, she said: tf., ~
For my sake, papa, forgive him. can
not bear to have him sold " /
Mr.. Dudley was a kind ms{1 in spite of
his determined will, and felt sorely troubled
by the alternatives forced upon him. Jim's
sincere attachment to the family touched him
deeply, and his daughters tears brought
sympathetic drops to his own eyes. What
was he to do How keep his word in regard
to Jimf How >soothe the grief of his own
most cherished Blanche Suddenly mis- face
and drawing his daughter closer
to his side, he spoke again:.
am truly sorry for you, Jim; but / !
cannot change my determination never to |
own you again as my slave. Still, l think |
know of one person who will make you as |
happy as ever l did, and by transferring |
you to that persons care, / shall feel salts |
fed that your welfare is secured"
- Jim rocked his head from side to side in
II sort of hopeless Wild negative; but Blanche
some hidden meaning in her
ia iher's altered tone, glanced up to his face
with glad, inquiring look.
"Jim! Look at me !" said Mr.. Dudley, t
&c and mark my words attentively."
Jim stopped the rocking motion, but
looked up with a face most moutnful and
=
81 have already chosen your new owner,
and henceforth you are no slave of mine. I
trust that the lesson of the past may serve
rs teacher for the future, and that from
this day forth you will be wiser boy as
we'll as a more contented servant. Here,
Jim, is your owner! your new master, or
mistress rather, and l hope Miss Blanche
nay never again have occasion to complain
If her new slave, or feel dissatisfied with
Ter old father I"
They saw it all III a moment; and as Mr..
Dudley drew his daughter toward him. Jim
eized his other hand and covered it with
ears and kisses. Blanche clasped him round
he neck and thanked him with a hundred
lifferent endearing words; while Willie,
atching up his hat from where he had last
eft 1t, threw 1t up to the ceiling and caught
again with Hipl hurrah !" and father
oreveri" -. .'-",
Mr.. Dudley's hearty laugh rang out with
N nnn1istakAble satisfaction in il, and lay
ng mis- hand on Jim's shoulder, he brought,
linn up to q standing position: IL
You arc not looking very wen, boy n he |
aid kindly. ssYour young paissreoa muss look