Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1913-12-12


who. frantic with grief. went to her to
entreat her to do something to save her
from being separated from her boy
The blow was almost as severe upon
the mistress ms upon the slave. But
she kept her head and sent susan away
assuring her that il there was anything
she could do to prevent the calamity
she would do It. but. knowing her hus
bands financial straits. she could give
no hope.
As soon as Sue had departed Mrs. st I
Clair sent for her husband. The Gus
tom Of gambling was so prevalent
among the planters Of that day that
she did not reproach him. She could
not but recognize that he had been
weak to risk the happiness Of fam.
lily whom both he and she considered
committed to their charge BY proyi.
dence. but she knew nothing was to be
gained by holding up TO him his sin.
and she knew he suffered keenly fol
what he had done. She began at once
to confer with him upon some plan BY
which sum might be raised to buy
back the boy. In vain they went over
everything they POSSESSED that could
possibly be mortgaged. All such prop
erty had been mortgaged already. Be.
sides. there was no time to negotiate.
New Orleans was the nearest place
where such matter could be attended
to, and to 90 there. make loan and
return would require several days
Sam came in just as they had agreed
that nothing could be done to save
his boy TO him. He looked anxiously
from one to the other to see If there
was any hope. st. Clair nodded to his
wife to speak for both.
"There is no time In which to pre-
vent the separation" she said "Your
master has received message that
Billy will be called for tomorrow. We
can only promise that if we can keep
a knowledge Of Billy's future where
abouts We will buy him back If it
should be possible"
There was no comfort in this for
Sam. He knew his masters proneness
to drift financially and believed that
he would get deeper and deeper in
debt. With a moan he turned away to /
tmpart the sad tidings to his wife.
The news that little Billy had been
sold and was to be taken away on
Christmas morning cast a gloom over
all, white and black. on the plantation
"Dis won't be no Christmas at all.
said one.
"Wha mars go sell Billy fo' to go
way on Christmas? He ought to bad
mo- sense than dat" said another.
"Yo' shet up, nigga" said a third
MARS wouldn't "a done dat IL he hadn't
had TO done it."
These criticisms. though plentiful
among the negroes. were not mingled
with much blame They all knew
their master and had perfect conf
dence in his Intentions.
As soon as St Clair had finished his
breakfast-a cup of coffee-he left the
plantation in order to avoid being pres
ent at Billy's departure About l0l
o'clock a house servant announced tc
Mrs. st. Clair that a man had come
for Billy. Mrs. St Clair went to a
Jewel box. where she found the re
mains Of her Jewels that had not been
pledged. Taking mental inventory
Of them. she could not possibly make
out their total worth at over $500. |
She sighed at not being able to find
anything more.
Taking the remnant Of property
that had been in her family for many
generations. she went downstairs. She
was surprised to find well dressed
man. not at all like one who might
have been sent for a negro boy. He
rose deferentIally as she entered.
.I am surprised" she said. ''at see
ing a gentleman. Are you the owner
of the hoy you have come fory'
''Yes, madam"
''aiay | ask who you areY' she added
curiously.
"A gambler. madam"
"A gambler9'
YES. madam. l am the gentleman
who won the boy from your husband.
This looked hopeful Mrs. 81. Clair |
produced her jewels and was begin
ming a speech as to their value when
the man interrupted her.
is your husband at home. madam
mo. expect he went away to get
rid Of seeing this poor family lose
their treasure"
Il did not notice. madam. when !
took Il bill Of sale from your husband /
that the property was to be delivered /
on Christmas day. l have come my
self 10 see Mr.. st Clair to impress /
upon him the folly OF playing cards
for money with professional gambler. |
I found him an easy prey Taking 4
out wallet he handed the lady roll 4
OF bills and paper. then added 4
There is the amount. madam. ! won
from your husband and there is the
bill OF sale for the hoy" The latter he
tore into bits aud threw them into a
fre burning on the hearth. II thought 4
Christmas would be a proper day. |
madam. to give this advice to your
husband ! found him a very attrac
tive gentleman and am glad to have /
had an opportunity to show my appre
citation of him. | bid you good morn
ing. madam
Put Mrs. st Clair would not let him
go. She sent negroes to seour the
country for her husband. and when he 4
was found and brought in sam and
Sue and Billy We're also sent for The
latter were not tolG Of what had hap
pened and came. sunposing that they
had been called for the parting.
That Christmas which opened 50
gloomily turned out to he the mcrriest
that had ever been known On the n.
Clair plantation.
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