The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-12-07

rOunu illn. W1UneTeu Oiu crOneS ana
rheumati tic ''uncles'' hobbled to the
doors to see him. Lusty young negroes
and negresses gathered about him,
eagerly discussing the prospects of "the
crop"
''Here they are," said Mr.. Dorion.
"Something more than hundred of
them. You see their disposition. All
that are able tc work are aching to
get into the cotton field to save de
crop"
Would you sell one of these slaves?"
Sell one of them? MeP Why, I'd
as soon think of selling one of my own
girls"
"Do all planters feel that wayP"
II can't say; likely not. / know of
many who do"
SIS it not true that at the slave
marts in New Orleans and Charleston
young girls are sold on the auction
block, and that mothers are separated
from young children?"
Mr.. Dorion answered with some
warmth:
"You said you didn't know anything
about slavery, my boy; your questions
show me that you have read great
deal about it. | suppose the things
that you speak of do exist; don't
know; they are just as strange to me
as though my life had been passed in
Siberia. Here is my south-right here,
among these people who raise bale
of cotton to the acre, and care for their
niggers as no white man at the north
could be coaxed or driven to do. We'll,
here we are, at the edge of the cotton
fields. Take look there!'
| looked, and saw the sight that
had already seen dozen times at a
distance on my way down the river.
Hundreds of acres bursting into the
snowy bloom of the cotton; mimic
snowstorm. with the contrast of deep
green foliage all about it, and azure
skies and unclouded sun above it.
The sight was one to remember for a
lifetime
Under the shade of broad-armed
oak at the border of the fields Mr..
Dorion sat down and famed himself
with his hat.
"See here, my boy" he said, 'I've
got something to say to you. want
TO talk to you like father Sit down
there and hear me-"
complied.
"When you came here, last night,
you were no more to me or to my fam
lily than any other traveller from the
north would be. You have been with
us but little while, and, I'm free to
say, you have grown on US. You are
lad of sense and spirit: | like you.
My wife told me this morning that she
hoped could keep you here awhile.
Now, don't you be too much fiattered
my lad. My wife is sensible woman
she knows that two of our daughters
are engaged to be married, and that
the other is likely to be, very soon. l
don't expect any danger from you in
that quarter. But my ovcrsecr is get
ting cranky; he is a northern man, and
he don't use the field hands just as /
would like The idea has been pass
ing through my mind all night that
would like to keep you with me, and
learn you all about the plantation and
the hands. Then, in a few months,
can dismiss the overseer and put you
in his place. You are northern born;
but l feel as if you would be sue
cess in that place What do you say?"
/ felt tempted. / hesitated, and
knew not what to say. Then l replied:
'You overpower me with your offer,
Mr.. Dorion. If it were not for my duty
to Mr. Bostock-'
He snatched me up impatiently:
"Your duty to Bostock? You owe
him none. Let me warn you not to
sacrifice your prospects to a mere sem
timent. The man that you think you
owe some obligation to is changed,
embittered man. Do not think that
he will receive you with the cordiality
that he showed you ten years ago in
your northern home. He may not
know you at all. l don't know what
manner of reception he will give you.
Have you thought of this?"
was silent. He was encouraged by
my silence, and went on:
''And think, for moment, what you
are exposing yourself to! You are seek
ing to link your fortunes to those of a
man who has clouded his life. He has
alienated all the friends that he made
here. There is fearful mystery hang
ing over his past life. do not know
you do not know-how you may be-
come complicated with it, if you persist
in going on. only say to you-shun
him.
l heard his words. / reflected; and
the temptation to heed them grew less
and less. recalled the poverty of my
life on the New Hampshire farm; my
yearning to be with him. when" 1
thought, did he need friends more than
now?" | was quickly decided.
81 am grateful, very grateful to you,
Mr.. Dorion," said, "But must stand
by Mr.. Bostock."
He looked hard at me, and seized my
hand
''You are splendid fellow" he said.
NyF''Fs q mJXfss