Year: 1871

nouseless, OF you would have come to her
help"


requested her not to exert herself; and.
as we proceeded, l learned that the Captain
and Billy, having been out early, had found
the female and child in the middle of a
group Of reapers, who had discovered her
at the entrance of the field, chilled and al
most deprived of sense, with the infant
wrapped up in her bosom, and they had in
part restored her to some degree of con
sciousness when the Captain arrived and
took the whole charge upon himself and bis
servant The negro bad used all the expe
dition in his power, and met US before we
! reached the house


Massa," said he, "you give me the pic.
annlnuy. I'll carry it, If you please"
The child opened its languid eyes as he
laid bold of it; and, looking in the ne..7's
face, screamed with fright, leaned towards
ifs mother, who soothed it with her voice in
vain, and nestled once more upon the Cap
tain's shoulder, clasping its little arms
friendly round bis neck.


Let him remain, Billy" said be. "I
think the young one loves me-"
In few minutes we reached the house,
where Mary received the female and child
with all a mothers care, while the Ca plain
and | looked on with feelings of satisfaction.
| babe him adieu, promising to call in the
evening.


The day on which had anticipated to
De 80 happy hung rather heavy upon my
hands than otherwise, and | longed much
for an interview with the Captain, expect
ing when an intimacy was established to
BE- much amused with his con versation, as,
from his appearance, be was no common
character; and be had already reused my
curiosity by some broken hints of his ad-
ventures. waited upon him and found
the female much restored and the negro
nursing the child, who appeared as much
pleased with his nurse as be had been
alarmed in the morning. After the first
compliments were exchanged, | learned
that the woman was the wife Of sailor,


md on her way to Leith to joih him. She
had journeyed on foot from Lanark, where
she had been living with her mother during
the time be bad been on a voyage to the
South Seas. Having got accounts Of bis
arrival in London, and bis being to be in
Leith, where be had got berth in one Of
the Leith and London smacks, and where
re wished her to come and reside, she had
set out, but come off her road to visit re-
lat ion she had, who resided in Colinton, and
with whom she had intended to stay during
the night; but, unfortunately, she found
that her relation bad been dead for some
weeks. The shock and grief bad great
effect upon ber; and having no other ac-
quaintance in the place, she had resolved
10 proceed to Edinburgh, as she calculated
there was sufficient time for her to do SO
before it would be dark, and the weather
was delightful.


Oppressed with her bundle, and sunk by
griet, she had ploddtd on in hopes of soon
meeting the husband of her love; yet still
her progress was slow, and the sun had set
for some time, and the shades of evening
had begun to thicken, she reached
Craig Lockhart but the spires Of the dis
tant city began to rise in view, and she
hoped soon to see the end of her toll,
when, from over-exertIon or some other
cause, she became sick and faint-her
limbs bent beneath her, and with difficulty
she made her way to gate, to be oft the
roadside, in hopes that the attacks would
loon go off and she would resume her way.
She tainted, and when she came to her
senses again, her babe was crying piteously
upon her bosom. 1t was completely dark
and, after stilllng her child, she in vain at
tempted to rise and resume her journey.
1t was far beyond her strength, and fear,
bordering on despair, took possession Of Der
mind. 1t was very chill and, covering
her infant in the best manner she could
from the cold, she, almost without hope,
commended herself to God, and, weeping,
resigned herself calmly to her fate. She
never expected to survive until the morn
ng. The tedious hours rolled on, she
knew not low her child slept soundly, and
her heart was in close communion with that
mercifui God who sustained her in all this
misery, until the voices of the reapers sound
ed upon her ears like heavenly music, and
hope once more warmed her breast; yet
she was, at their first coming up, SO weak
that she could scarcely speak-a symptom
that surprised ber, for she was unconscious
Of her extreme exhaustion, and her heart
was hale from the manner ln which she had
employed her thoughts during the cheerless
hours


These are almos' the words of the poor
creature, who now was able to move about,
and expressed wish to proceed to Lelth-
a step that would not be heard Of by the
Captain, who said be would not allow her
to depart until be had ascertained that her
husband had arrived and the name Of the
smack 10 which be sailed having been as
certained, we looked into the newspapers
for the arrivals and departures at Leith,
aud found that the Gar bad not arrived.
The grateful Margaret agreed to remain, to
the delight of the negro, who appeared as
fond of the child as if 1t had been his own.
At the Captains request, | agreed, with
pleasure, to stay for supper.


f" How | do love black Billy" said my
host. This is a new trait OF him be is
bold as a lion, faithful as dog, and yet
m ID as a lamb"


"Sir," said |, you appear to have a
great regard for your black servant; l
believe, from what | see, be is worthy OF
it,"


"He is not my servant" said he; he
is my friend yet it wonld grieve him to
zee any one do any little office fer me, be
sides himself. lie is as humble as he is good,
and if you knew bis bis, ry and mine, you
would not be surprised at what | now say
OF him."


Nothing that | know Of would give
me more pleasure" replied |, than 70
know a little more Of him and bis friend,
would be be SO kind as to Oblige me.


"With all my hear" replied the old
man, eff you have the patience to hear
me"