Year: 1873

one, and could account for it in no other
way than a sudden fright, which had
perhaps been Occasioned by a slight cut,
which seemed to have been recently


made, Just above the elbow. My moth
ers first thought was that this had been
purposely done by Patty out of revenge,
though she had accounted for it by say


ing the child had fallen against one of
the glass doors opening upon the veran-
dab, and which was broken. This was
all the satisfaction they could obtain


from her, she pretending TO be very


much frightened herself That night


we were both severely punished for dar-


ing to do anything so openly DISC


bedient and sent supperless TO bed. The
next morning Maggie was better,
though she seemed quite unlike her for


mer self, while a wild, fierce light


burned in her heretofore mild black
eyes, and her little face seemed bloated,
which caused great alarm TO be felt for
/ her returning health. But as days
passed she continued to grow better and
better until at last she could run and
play with us again, but somehow at
times she seemed to act strangely. Not
long after this occurrence Patty, having
disObeyed my father, had been severely
reprimanded, and threatened with Sc
we're punishment if she ever did the
same again. She now seemed to hate
my father, and tried to avoid him in
every way. As for my mother, she
would not allow Patty in her presence
since the singular illness of our little
sister, and was constantly persuading
my father to sell her, and thus get rid
Of a person whom she really feared.
Patty always seemed to care more for
me than any the rest of the family, but
this could be easily accounted for, as
my conscientious scruples were not too
great to keep me from helping myself to
a ribbon or some trifing ornament care
lessly thrown aside by my mother and
handing it over to her.


"About a year after the occurrence I
have just related, my father, coming
across a gentleman from Kentucky who
was buying up lot Of slaves, sold Cleo
patra. That night when he came home
he sent for her TO the parlor, where he
informed her of the change about to
take place, and asked her if she was
sorry or willing to go. Never shall l
forget her look as she stood like statue
in the middle of the room. She was
rather good-looking mulatto, and as
/ the hot blood cOursed through her
cheeks, looked really hanssome-at
least so thought in my boyish mind.
First she linked her hands together and
gazed full three minutes upon the car
! pet; then she raised her eyes, and with
a smile whose peculiar strangeness
strnck me at the time, gazed first at my
father, then at my mother, then at US
boys, and at last her eyes rested for a
moment on our pet; then, throwing up
her arms, she waved a sort of frantic
farewell and rushed from the room, ex-
claiming huskily: Sold, hey? Will
ing? Yesr and disappeared without
asking any questions.


"'What a strangely acting creature y


exclaimed my mother. How glad 1
shall be when she is goner


" You may often wish to see me,
missy said Patty, who had entered
softly by another door, and placing 4
pitcher of water (her usual custom) upon
the table, left the room Immediately.


Nothing was thought of her words at
the time, though often enough have
they been thought of since. She was to
leave for her new home one week from
that day. Things went on as usual un-
til two days before the time fixed for
her departure. 1t was a lovely day in
the early spring. Our fine old home
stead seemed to look uncommonly
grand and inviting on that morning,
never to be forgotten. The birds sang
gaily upon the large trees as they
waved their branches to and fro in the
balmy breeze, tanning the little brook
which gurgled at the foot of our garden.
tstA ASASNAeAAg AtNoAANNN LtdliiS MY
mother remark how delightfully."- re-
freshing the air felt and how happy she
was as she seated herself upon the old
fashioned bamboo settee, which occu-


pied its usual place upon the piazza,


while Maggie played beside her with


her toys. While we were thus eniaving
the morning, carriage drove up. and n
gay party from the city came to spend
the day with US. Among them were
l three children about our own ages. and
l a little girl of three years. Taking nos
r session Of the older ones, we soon &c
4 eorted them to our play-room, which
was in the upper part of the house. leav-
D ing the little girl to be entertained by
: Maggie, who, delighted with a compan.
r ion, was trotting about full Of glee. Nv
D mother, thinking the children perfectly
safe, left them alone while she waitel
e upon her visitors within the house
l Some time, nearly half an hour, ELAPSED
5 ere they returned to the piazza, wher
! her attention was arrested by several
e dirty foot-marks upon the marble floor
r Seeing Minnie, the little visitor, stand
e ing there looking strangely astonished
r she asked her where Maggie was.


r Gone. Big lady down there give
: us ever so much candy, and look
e mamma, what lady give Minnie ant
\ She hold nm n o,oy red scarf sfIcb as xrar,