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Lorsqua le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, i( es< film6 A partir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'images nicessaire. Las diagrammes suivants illustrent la m6thode. by errata led to ent une pelure, Fa^on d 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 ,:v' f»''^- '-'T*, pZ^ MjC ^ f?,-4j-^ i* J. Entered aocorcUng to Act of Congnas, in the year 1869, by HENRY A. YOUNG & CO., In the clerk's office of the District Court ofthe District of Jlaagachuwtts. (I«1»t«»t«^ 1 CHAFTEBI. Strange Gnests, ----7 CHAPTER n. The Story of » Clmmy Life, •,-•-... 17 CHAPTER m. A Broken PtomiM, •---....,'(! CHAPTER IV. The Sale and the Separation, --•....go CHAPTER V. Dave Hoggins "at Home," --..... 4$ CHAPTER VI. Dave Hoggins Receives his First Letter, ..... ge CHAPTER Vn. A VislDn and an Invitation, •----.. (a CHAPTER Vin. The Party and the Man of the Vision, - .... 77 CHAPTER IX. An Unwelcome Onest, ---.....07 CHAPTER X. Madam Leon, -----,..... uj 1 ▼i. CONTENTS. CHAPTEBXI. Gnat Erenta, -----•. ...jgf CHAPTER Xn. The C^p-Heeting Wedding, - •. . . . .146 CHAPTER-Xin. PKMhiog Jack ud Scriptur Bill, ■ . . . . . 161 CHAPTER XIV. Last Work of Preaching Jack, ---....177 CHAPTER XV. A Visit from Zack's Waster,' •-■.... igo CHAPTEP XVI. Huggins get rid of Zack, --.-....199 CHAPTER XVn. Gmit Chiinges, ---.......us CHAPTER XVin. Fleebig Before the Tankeea, - • - . . .-930 CHAPTER XIX. Good News ftom Zack, --•-.... 943 CH.»JTER XX. Entertaining Soldiers, --•-.... ftgf CHAPTER XXI. Deeper in the Wildemesa, - - • . .. .871 CHAPTER XXn. A. JoyM Snrprite, .. -983 CHAFTmXXm. fathering at Home^ .....^..aoQ OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. CHAPTER I. STRANGE GUESTS. ■jirOUGHT we see do minister, missus ? " asked a lu. genuine son of Ham-, as he presented himself with his wife at the parlor door. The minister was not in, and the lady and her guests were a little startled by the sudden appear- ance of the sable pai*r, redolent with smUes, and lavish of bows and courtesies. The man was tall and stalwart. His head, small, round and closely shorn, sat literally on his broad, high shoulders, giving his whole figure the appearance of a colossal clothes-pin. There was no mingled blood of the races in his veins. He was black, actually black; but a kinder and more agreeable face one rarely sees, be the complexion what it may. 8 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. \ ^ Hia wife was small and frail, about forty years old. In any other company she might have been called *' black but comely," but beside him her color faded, and she was only *'a little brown woman." Her features were not cast in the Guinea mould. Her nose was small and straight, and her thin lips, which only half hid two rows of small, white teeth, were fixed in a sad smile. Her eyes were soft and kind, and her low voice had a plaintive tone which at once won the hearts of the ladies. The strangers were offered . seats, and invited to ' wait for the minister's return ; but they hesitated, evidently afraid of using too much freedom. " We's mighty disappointed not to see de gen- Tman," said the man, who had introduced him- self as Zack Cameron, '' because we come on busi- ness — mighty important business to us." ** I suppose you want to be married," said the lady, smiling. Then he broke forth into a genuine African laugh, which proved contagious, and the whole little party joined in the mirth, whea ho found voice to say : " Bless yer heart, dear missus, we's been mar- ried dese many years, good ; and all de money in dis country couldn't onmarry us, we's so mighty STRANGE QUESTS. )rty years have been 5 him her ttle brown ist in the id straight, I two rows sad smile. ' ff voice had hearts of d invited to* ty hesitated, dom. see de gen- oduced him- ame on busi- s." i," said the line African the whole ea he found 's been mar- de money in so mighty well satisfied wid each other. Ha, Weza?" he cried, looking down at the little woman for con- firmation. • ■ " Yes, Zack, dat's so, sartiii ; tre wouldn't change, not if we had de whole world to pick from ; " and turning to the ladies she added, " Yer can't reckon how kind and lovin' dis man has been to me in all dem awful years. De Lord knowed what was a comin' on dis, poor, weak heart, and so he send dis groat, kind man for me to lean agin. I believe, ladies, dat dis Zack is de very best man de dear Lord ever made on his arth." This compliment sat very well on the proud husband, and he looked down at the little brown woman with a patronizing smile, and then said, '* Yer musn't believe all she says 'bout me, ladies, she's only a poor weak woman." **I'm sire you are strangers here," said -one of the ladies. " I never saw you about town." *' Yes, missus, we's strangers and pilgrims, both in dis town and on de arth. I 'spose yer can tell by our clothes" — the) were clean, but miscat, and uncouth to the last degree — " dat we's from de South — that mad place dat's gin you all so much trouble as well as us." *' How came you here ? " asked the lady of the house. r 10 OtJT OP THE WILDEBNE8S. «*Well, missus, when de war was over we felt 's if our liberty was too good to be true, and we got to surmisiu' of evil. We was feared dat somebody 'nother would betray us into de hands of de Phil- . istines. We felt like mice dat's just got out of de trap alive ; we wanted to get dat trap out of our sight as well as off of our feet. We had lost heaps o' our friends in de war; dey was either dead, or scattered hither and yoa, and we two was most alone or. de arth. So a gentleman coming Noith offered to take us along with him, and let us pay up our passage by workin' on his place ; and df t's what w^'s at now, missus, in dis town." " And I suppose you are happy here ? " asked the lady. .jf 4^ fn^^^ 'y " Well, yes, missus, as happiness goes on dis arth. We's bound to be happy anyway, come rhat's mind to. De Lord reigiia, and dat one thought is enough to make any poor child o' his'n happy ; isn't it ? " ,* " It ought to be." '< " We's bound to put it through here till de po- litical yarthquakes and tumultses is over, and we gets a little ahead in life. And den I Teckons we'll go down* home agin. Oh, oh, oh! dese east winds makes us shiver, and we dreads de snow to wado through ! and 'side dat, ladies, it's a blessed thing to Hve 'mong yer own folks." STRANGE GUESTS. 11. we felt 1 ve got jmebody de Phil- . )ut of de ttt of our had lost as either , two was a coming n^ and let lis place; lis town." ,?" asked aes on dia pay, come dat one ild o' his'u till de pe- er, and we l*reckonB ! dese east de snow to '8 a blessed ♦« Yes, yes, Zack, dat's sartin ! " echoed the little brown woman, who had kept her admiring gaze fixed on. him during.this speech ; " it is a blessed thing to live 'mong your own folks ; " and she wiped away her tears with the corner of her faded blue apron. ,1 »< " And what can the minister do for you ? " .asked the lady. 1111*1 • »; " Well, missus, we heerd he was goin' down to our parish, and thought dat may be, as matters was a setthn' down a little, he could hunt up our folks dat we lost down dere, " replied Zack. " Yes, yes, dat's true, Zack ; dat nigh 'bout killed me, '' again echoed Weza. " Yer see, kind missus, she has got two boyg •♦ somewhere or nother down dere in de wilderness, and if yer a mother yer understand how poor weak women feel 'bout dere children, and fathers, for dat matter, too. You remember how old Jacob took on 'bout Joseph, when he thought de wild beasts had devoured him up, and how Rachel wept and wouldn't be comforted no how, becase her chil'en was killed ? Oh, I tell you, ladies, moth- ers' hearts is tender things to handle rough." "Yes, mothers' hearts is tender," the little brown woman repeated, with her eyes still fixed on her sable hero. ■ « It 0; 12 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. Ul " Dem two boys isn't my sons, but dey're hern, and she's in trib'lation 'bout dem. She suffers for dem, and I «>uffeis for her. Sbe dreams 'bout 'em, and cries in her sleep, and I can't rest no how till she can nu. So I wants to get dem hunted up somehow or nother. We's got heaps o' friends sold off to save lolling dem, just afore de war. Dey're among the sugar canes somewhar. I don't kuo\(r whar dey is, but de Lord know, and he can pint right straight to 'em so dat de minister can find 'em. Yon know, missus, de Book says, ' De eyes of de Lord are in every place, beholdin' de ev:? and de good.' My people is either in Georgy, or else in Floridy, or Lou'sanuy, or in Texas. Jim, dat was brung ip near by me, an' most like my brother, he was in Texas, a herding of cattle, last time we got wind o' him. But ye tell de minister if he'll hunt up one or all on 'em, I'll pay him well for bis trouble ; and de Lord, who loves dem all as his believin' children, will pay him full measure, ten times, heaped up and a runnin'-over. Yer tell him if he'll do dis little job for us, we'll pray for him while we lives, dat de Lord would bless him in his 'uaskets and his stores, in his farraly and in his own dear soul." The lady felt sure the minister would gladly aid the poor wanderers, but the effort seemed to her ,r ii^ \ STRANGE GUESTS. 18 re bem, iffers for ,out 'em, , how till mted up .' friends de war. I don't id ho can aister can Bays, ' De loldin' de in Georgy, in Texas, most like 5 of cattle, ye tell de I'll pay who loves hiin full [unin'-over. us, we'll (rd would I, in his gladly aid led to her hopeless, and she asked, " But how would a stran- ger go to work to find your friends ? " •*'■ Oh, let him give it out in i^pbtin', dear missus. Dat's de way to find out what yer lost down dere. Onco I was in a meetiu' in dat city, and just arter dey had sung de benediction, de minister was axed to give out dat a woman had lost her henkecher ; and bless you, it wasn't a minute afore a little boy fetched it up. Dere's a colored preacher down dere got a mighty big crowd of a church, — Bill Aiken. Now let de minister ax Bill to speak out arter sarmon, and say, ' Is dere anybody in dis crowd dat haS met up wid Rooa Le Rue, dat got scattered in de war ? or wid Dr. Percy's three women ? or wid Dike and Sampson, de sons of de Doctor's Weza? or wid lame Jim dat Widow Waters owned ? " Well, my good man," said the lady, smiling at the amount of work laid out for her invalid hus- band, " you must let "me write all this down, for I can never remember the names." " Yes, missus, I'll do dat, cheerful," replied Zack, with a patronizing bow. " May be Bill would ax, *Is yaller Dave in dis crowd dat bor- rowed ten dollars of Zack Cam'ron, when de regi- ment was dismissed ? If so, he must forred that same to said Zack to buy boots wid afore the snow comes up North.' " u OUT OF THE vnLDEBNESS. " Yes, yes, dat's true, Zack ; dere will soon be snow here," reiterated the little brown woman, v drawing her thin ^l^wl more closely about lier. • ^' But are you sure Bill Aiken will ask all these questions \}i meeting ? " asked the lady. :>' " Oh, yes, he'll ax 'em. He's a mighty feelin' sort of a fellow. But, if he refuse, why, the min- ister must just make him do it. He must threaten to turn him out of de church for contempt o' court ; dat's de way Bill hisself does to sich as don't do his bidding." " But my husband has no power there, not even a vote in that church," said the lady.' • • "Well, well, dat's queer. A larned doctor of divinity got less power den black Bill Aiken dat sweeps do bank and makes de fires week days, and only preaches of a Sunday ! But if nobody in dat crowd knows where any of our peo,^'» is, den tell de minister to go to old Aunt Sally's candy shop, in St. Cyprian Street, and ax her. Dere ain't nothing in de whole creation dat she don't know in de way of news. She keeps de run of every livin' creetur, bond and free. De church mothers (deaconesses) sot out once to have her turned out of de church for a busy body ; but bless yer, de next time dcy wanted to know de news dey went to her demselvea — de poor weak women. So dey ,/>ViAC;A|.---?(;-*^,- BTBANQB GUESTS. 15 1 soon be I woman, it her. ■*nr I all these ity feelin' , the min- it threaten ntempt o' to sich as 5, not even doctor of Aiken dat days, and ody in dat is, den tell andy shop, Dere ain't ion't know in of every eh mothers turned out BBS yer, de rs dey went 3u. So dey let her off, and Bill give his reasons in a sarmon. Ho said de church was a body made of many members, some was legs to run, others was hands to work ; ' most o' you women,' says he, ' is ears to hston, and Aunt Sally she's de tongue to talk I don't know as it's any wickeder to talk den it is to listen.' " "^""^ ^"^^y "^^8' ^o doubt, got de run of all de scattered ones by dis time ; and she'll tell de min- ister 'bout our people," " Yes, yes, she'll tell him 'bout our people," said Weza, "and may be de Lord will heal my heart yet." " We should hke to hear about your troubles, httle woman," said one of the ladies. ^eza dropped her head, and replied, "I'm a mighty poor talker, I'm so bashful, but dere is a heap to tell, and Zack can talk powerful fine.." '' If you'll come in some evening and tell us all alK,ut your life, I'll give you a new dress," said the lady of the house. "Dere, dere, now yer got her, ladies," cried Zack ; .you've touched de spot now, for she, like all de rest of de poor weak women, is mighty fond of fine clothes. I'll feteh her in some night a purpose to talk of her life, -poor little woman." " ^y life hasn't been whgt slaves call a hai-d 16 OUT OP THE WILDEHNESS. one, ladies," said Weza, " for no man ever laid a lash on me, — never. But de partin's, and dc sei>- arationb, and de longin's, and de achin's, and de dreams, — Oh, dat's what wore me up." " Yes, dat's it, missus ; she's such a lovin' cree- tur, she can't be happy no how without somethin' to love ; and 'em boys — she wouldn't know 'em if she met 'em — and yet she yarns and yarns arter 'cm in a way dat's pitiful to see. And if de good Lord spares me to get ahead a little, I'll find 'em if I tarns up every State in dp Union a tryin'. De Lord knows where dey is, and he'll let me know." ft- •iX.i^ '■'■¥ ■ iff^M rer laid a id dc sep- B, and de avin' cree- Bomethin' know 'em and yarns And if de le, I'll find an a tryin'. e'U let me CHAPTER II. THE 8T0BT OP A CLUMSY UPE, ZAOK was as good as his word ; ho did bring the little brown woman to the minister's one even- ing soon after their first visit there. But he made a slight mistake in his errand, for instead of en- couraging her to tell the story of her life, he spent the fflne in giving his own. He explained his course by saying, that, as they were twain as wyll as one, it took two stories to make it all out, and that he, having been born first, and moreover, being "de head of de woman," thongiit it but proper to begin the tale. His argument was quite satisfactory, and with a beaming face Zack related the story of what he called " a mighty clumsy sort of life." " My missus," he began, « said I must ha' been named in sport for * Zaccheus He ; ' but I never heerd my mother' say so. I was about five year old when she and I was sold with a gang to go 17 '3 18 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. from Virginny to a sugar plantation in Lou'sanny. She was just my color, and a powerful big woman. She held up her head like she owned aU de planta- tions round. She never make free wid- nobody, nor sing songs, nor dance wid 'em. At home she carry de keys and give out stores and de like, and I never knew why she was sold. But I remember hearin' her say den, dat no one should ever hear a groan or see a tear 'bout it, but jist only de dear Lord. J: .» f " A goin' down de coast, dey had high times, fiddlin' and dancin' to keep up dere courage and make 'em forget all dey had left behind. But she sot off from de rest ; and when dey got through she would sort of preach to 'em, and read oif of a book she kept in a roll, wid other things, in her pocket. She would tell 'em 'bout Jesus, how h© loved de poor and de mise'ble, and how he died on de cross, and how he rose again, and how a cloud received him out of sight, but dat he was livin' yet up dere, and stoopin' down to listen to hear when anybody calls on him. De wicked ones in de gang said she was too proud to dance wid field hands ; and one bad man called her ' De queen o' Sheby ; ' and den de rest call her so, and finally she went by de name of ' Sheby,' always, 'stead o' by Carline, on de new place. THE 8T0BT OP A CLUMSY LIFE. 19 "When we got to de plantation, dere was a great panic dere wid de small pox ; and de worse cases was in de mansion house. De massa had got a doctor to give medicine, and a minister to pray ; but dey had no nurse dat knew any thing about de sickness. So after a few days, wid de leave of de overseer, my mammy put on de white turban she brou; >t in de roll wid de book, and taking me by de hand, marched up to de big house, and axed for de lady. And says she, ' Madam, de Lord sent me from Virginny to help yer in de hour o' need! Take me to dem sick chil'en and yer go to rest. I've heerd dat yer is one of de massi- ful, and de dear Lord says dey are '^ blessed, for dey shall find massie.* Yer have listened to de cries from de house o' bondage, and de Lord has heerd yer cry now dat yer are in distress ! Yer chUdrm i« whole from dis hour ! " " ' Dey canH live," says de lady. ' De doctor has give 'em over, all three — my beautiful boy, and my sweet little twin daughters. How can I live if dey are taken ? ' " * Is any thing too hard for de Lord ? * says my mammy. ' He has sent me here wid dis message, dear cretur, "Dey shall not die, but live;" so don't yer dare to doubt him ! Go and rest and give dem OUT OF THE WILDERNE9SS. into my hand; but my child, dat is as dear to mc as ycrs is to ycr, mu$t atay in dig house.' Dc lady looked a little skeart at first, but soon axed ' Are you de woman they call ** Sbeba," dat I've heerd on ? ' " And from de hour my mother took dem chil- dren in hand dey begun to mend ; and she was ever after de queen o' Sheby dere, I tell you. She reigned in dc mansion house ! I come up a mighty favored boy, widout much to do but only to play with the chil'en. When de little twins got big enough to go to school, I used to take 'em dere — a mile oflF to another gen- 'I'man's gov'ness. De two didn't weigh half as much as I did ; and sometimes 1 would draw 'em in a little coach, and sometimes carry one on each arm, in a big basket, and agin I'd give 'em turn about on my back ! We used to have high times a singin' and laughin' through de brakes. How dem two little ones loved me, and I loved dem ! And as for young master, dat was 'bout my age, he loved me like I was his brother, and I worshipped him ! 'De people all thought my mammy was a prophet, and I reckon she was. De wicked ones was awful 'feared of her. De family had a kind o' vineration for her, and she 'bout rule de plantation. dear to Imt soon >ba," dat lem chil- sh© was ou. She )ut much . When school, I ither gen- 1 half as iraw 'em e on each 'em turn igh times es. How ved dem! ay age, he rorshipped ay was a eked ones J a kind o' plantation. Trite STORY OP A CLUMsy LIFE. 21 If dere was trouble 'tween de poor Hold hands and de overseer, she'd march down dere and look into It; and den she would go straight to de missus and warn her against brinpng down de cuss o' heaven on de place by winking at de oppression of de poor dat was cryin' day and night to de Lord. Den de missus -oh. she was de lovin' woman! she'd go to her husband, and she'd plead wid him and give h.m no peace til. he'd go down and put a rein on de ovcrseer-a bad, cruel man from de North ' " My mammy sot up a meetin', too, and used to preach, and pray, and sing. She always wound up her sermon with something like dis: Do Lord iZ heerd de cry of de needy and dem dat has no helper, and has put on his garments dyed in blood. He 8 gettin' ready de .word, and de spear, and de battle-axe, and de chariots, and de horses for de day o' slaughter! And soon yor'U hear de roar o cannon, and de drum, and de bugle; and den yerll know de great and terrible day o' de Lord has come for dis nation- de day in which he will reckon wid 'em for de blood and tears, and groans of our people! Aiid dat day is near. I hear de sound of war a'ready in de still hour when all but mo IS sleepin', and when I's pressln' the Lord to hasten on, and cryin', 'Why tarry de wheek of dy chariot ? ' J 4- 22 OUT OP TUB WIL. :BNE88. "Such like talk roused do overseer when he heerd it, and ho told de massa, and niassu told de missus dat she must stop Sheby ; and den de mis- sus begged my mammy not to talk so to de people. But she said she had a message to deliver to black and white ; and dat her time was short and she must tell it. So den de massa he speak sharp to her; and he took his sarmon and Aw prophecy. Says she, * Yer better flee to God, and lay down yer wcpons o' rebillion, for dere's an awful reckon- ing ahead! And den turnin' to me, she said, *Dis boy will be a free man, by right, not by runnin' off; because de Lord will break evc.y chain and let de oppressed go free ! Stand still, my son, and wait for do salvation o' de Lord, and don't run like a coward. Dis, proud nation, having beaten and cast us into prison, may yet be forced to go and bring us out with dere own hands for fear of de judgments of de Lord ! Perhaps dis righteous soul,' she said, pointing to de missus, ♦ may save dis house ; but de desolation cometh, and dese swamps and brakes shall flow wid de blood of de nobles ? not my little lambs dat I saved from de pestilence, for I've got dem hid up safe under de wing of de Almighty. Now, massa, yer let me alone, and go humble yerself before do Lord, and pray for massy in dat day — for it's ' '< '''.Ji "•■!:r iii l i ^i'» i i ii j i iiruLVu'' ' i''t"ft^<* THE STOBT OP A CLUMSY UPB. lien he told de de mis- people, to black ind she sharp to rophecy. lay down I reckon- she said, ,, not ly sak ev< y tand still, Lord, and ^n, having be forced hands for irhaps dis le missus, in cometh, ►w wid de [at I saved lid up safe jmassa, yer before do —for it's coniin' as sure's dere's a God above us ! As for me 1 shan't see it, for I shall soon be out of de wil- derness ! ' " Slie was consid'able of a kecr on 'em, for talk she would, among our own hands and other folks' too! I reckons dat was why she was sold from Virglnuy ! " De planters round said she'd kick up an in- surrection if she wasn't shut up quick. First, massa took sides wid her, and said she teached de people to bo patient and obey dero masters in de Lord. But his neighbors said dey'd shoot her if she wasn't sold right off! Missus was nigh about wild. She was afeared of God, and she told massa she wished he hadn't a slave in de world ; dat she'd rather be poor and please God ; and dat she would not have de woman dat had saved her children's lives sold. She said, 'If Slieby goes, I'll go too ; for I believe God stays where slie id ! ' But in de midst cf de rumpus, God took de matter into his own hands. Missus went into de nursery one uight to speak to her, and dere she was on her knees before de children's bed, — dead. De dear Lord had come and led her safe out of de wilderness I Very soon after dat, de little girls both died, of de scarlet fever, in one week. Dey was hid up safe under de Almighty wing, as she said dey would be. -J^ 24 OUT OP THE WILDEBNES8. i " My poor misaus was nigh heartrbroke ; but she kept sayin' may be, as Sheby had said, dey was save.} from de evil to come; and she vowed she would take care o' me for Sheby's sake ! " I was so strong and big, dere waa notLing I couldn't do ; but I never was put into de field. I minded my young massa's horses, and rode wid him, and drove de carriage, and so on. Dey tried very hard to make me a butler, or waiter, or some- thin' like dat; but I broke every glass dish I touched, and spilt de gravy on de company's clothes, and trod on dere toes when I went to pass tea in de parlor. So missus got discouraged ; and said she didn't know what to make on me no how ! But I can tell you I found enough to do one way or another; it took one man to wait on my young gen'lcman ; and he must always have me at his heels. If any body interfered wid me, he'd hit 'em a lick in de face 'fore dey knew it ; and so I can stand up dis day before de world, and say, ' Here i . a slave that was never struck by no man.' I was as good-natured as a kitten ; but I had a buried feeling in me dat would never tak^e a blow ! I believe in dem days, 'fore I knew Christ, and had his spirit, I'd have murdered any man dat would ha' tried it. I was always a tender-hearted man, particular to little chil'en and \)00t weak women. ■4 THE STOBY OP A CLUMSY LIFE. 25 loke ; but . said, dey she vowed - ike! nothing I de field. I cl rode wid Dey tried Br, or some- lasB dish I company's yent to pass iraged; and me no how 1 one way or m my young e me at his me, he'd hit it; and so 1 ,rld, and say, k by no man.' but I had a r takp a blow I (T Christ, and any n»aw ^^^ tender-hearted ,nd i)Oor weak *' Well, well, de years rolled on, and master and missus both died, and my young massa bad all de jilantation and de people Ibi- his own. Den ray woid went a good way, I tell you. He fixed up de <]uarters, and added to de rations and de clothes, and give more holiuays ; and den we got a new overseer dat had a heart into him. And we never got so much work done 'fore by de same hands. And de thorns and de nails was took out of slavery dere for dat year, on our plantation. ^ \r; " But it does seem as if men can never ' let well enough alone.' My young massa went up North lo de springs; and dere he foil in wid a lady dat had Ijeen to a boardin' school somewhere or nothor. She was a rich man's daughter from do coast o' Ploridy ; and didn't dey strike up all of a Huddent and get married? He'd never seen a blessed one dat belonged to her. He mought ha' found whiter ones workin' on many a plantation ; and such an eye as she had ! Why, it seemed to cut right into yer when she looked at yer. De long and de short on't was dat she was a tarnia- gant and a fury .in shape of a lady. Strange enough, dere were -slaves on do plantation dat knew her — had lived nigh by her — and dey said her father was a wracker off de coast; dat he 'lured ships on to de rocks by false ligiits, and 'i^wiiw*ijijin-M|i,i,t, ""■" 1 Mim ti'^immmjinj^j^i, \ » i 26 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. when dcy struck he had boats and men all ready to plunder 'em ; and dat he had laid up heaps, and bags, and barrels of gold, and diamonds, and everyting. " Well, she begun with young massa ; and I tell you, she trained him up handsome! He was mighty easy to begin wid, and when she'd got her heel on him, she took de house servants next, and denrde field hands. She driv off de overseer and overturned all we'd done for de comfort of de people. She sot an evil eye mighty quick on me. But I looked her right back in de eye as long as she could stan' it. I drew myself up, and looked very savage, meanin' to skear her if I could; and she told de massa she was 'feard o' me ; I was so big and so black she knew I'd kill her some day. " But he give me a great character, and told her I was the importantest man on de plantation, and and dat de whole consarn would go to ruin if I wasn't dere. " Well, dere was hard times in our house, I tell you ; dere was more tears shed den dan ever be- fore since it was built. She would strike her maid wid whatever come handy, and throw cheers and 'uooks at de women and chil'ren. De young massa saw it all, but ho was trapped now, and eouldn't help hisself. Once he said to me, ' Yer R I THE 8T0BY OP A CLUtlST UFB. 27 ;ii all ready » heaps, and nonda, and ; and I tell ! He was he'd got her Is next, and verseer and aifort of de uick on me. e as long as , and looked '. could ; and le ; I was so some day. and told her mtation, and to ruin if I house, I tell dan ever be- l strike her throw cheers \. De young cd now, and to me, ' Yer see how it is, Zack; make things as easy as yer can for de sei-vants, and give 'em a cheerin' word, poor things.' ,ti ?,;.,., " One day wlien massa had gone off to a 'lection dinner in de city, she come out on de verandy wid ' de knife in her eye,' as de women used to say, and called out, ' Whose baby is dat screamin' sp?' " She made de woman bring de child to her, and she slapped it in de face over and over, and o' course it screamed more. De mother run, sayin', ' De baby's sick,' and she chased iier, and struck de baby a big blow on de head. I saw lier from de carriage-house, and at Srst I thought she bein'only a poor weak woman, I'd let her slap her temper out, and may be she'd feel better. But when I saw l,er run after de woman, I thought she meant to kill de child, so I run too. I come up behind her, and I took her little wrists right between my thumb and forefinger, and held her tight. Den I told Dely to go into de kitchen and nuss up de baby with camphire and such like. Young-missus turned round, and when she see me she screamed like I was a tiger, and tried to get away; but I held on, and de liousc servants was all a pecpin' • out o' doors and windows, liopin' I'd kill her, and don run. But I was just as ca'm as I bo this ■■■i ^^^^ II ""■ — ^- OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. minute. I held her till she got quiet and begun to cry, like any poor weak woman. Den I let go on one wrist, and led her back to dc house by de other. I threw my voice down very low, and says I, looking mighty savage, ' Go to your room, missus, and stay dere till massa come home, or dere'U be trouble here.' She flew in and locked de door behind her, as if poor Zack had been a murderer after her life. She forgot dat she'd nigh about taken dat baby's. " I went to de stable den and harnessed a hoss and set off for de city to meet massa, and ride home wid him. And as we come along together, I told him all about it, and showed him jus^^ how I held her. * Dat's de livin' truth, ' says I, <* whatever she says ; and I did it to save you bein' de husband of a murderer." " ' Yer did just right, Zack, ' says he, * and I thank yer. But how am I going to put through life dis way ¥ Sometimes I wish I was dead, Zack; but ^er de only man on earth I'd say dis to. rs give my whole plantation to be back where I was before I ever saw her.' " And when we got home he went into de kitchen to see de baby 'fore he ever went near her ; dat was his mother's heart in him — and he stroked it and whistled to it ; but it didn't look up. THE 8T0RY OP A CLUMSY LIFE. 29 )egun to ct go on B by de and says ir room, lome, or d locked d been a iat she'd ed a boss and ride together, , jus*^ how ' says I, you bein' le, ' and I ut through vras dead, 'd say dia \/o be back lit nito de went near — and he lu't look up. ' Del},' says he, ' I'm sorry for dis from do bottom of my heart. Don't cry ; it'll brighten up to-morrow.' " Dely sobbed and sobbed, fit all de words she said was, ' If he dies, massa, I'll jump into de old well. I couldn't live to 'member dat my sick baby was murdered in my arms.' ■ " And I tell you it would a brung tears out o*^ Northern eyes, that can't see no good thing in a slavcliolder, to ha' seen dat splendid young man sit down on a bench in de kitchen, and take de baby on his knee, and feel its pulse, and give It drops to bring it to. But dere it lay like dead, and he had to leave it at last wid Dely and old Hannah, for de night. " As we went out of de kitchen, Dely said, • 0, Lord, I wish I was out of do wilderniss, lor I'm sick and tired of dis yere life ! ' " I never heerd what passed between massa and missus 'bout de baby or me, but very soon arter de baby died, massa told me dere would be no peace while I stayed there ; and dat I must go up river to his uncle's for a year or two ; ' We'll call it selling yer,' .says he, 'but yer and I understand each other, Zack ; and I hope we shan't be sepa- rated long.' " And de next week I went up wid my massa to 30 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. Col. Leon's plantation ; and dat was a lucky trip for me, for it was in dat neighborhood I first saw dis dear little brown woman dat has made me so happy dese lont years." f'. sir lucky trip I first saw dade me so CHAPTER m. i 'm ftl» A BROKEN PROMISE. THE little brown woman came to the parsonage very often after this, " for a comfortin' word in de wilderness." She told her story, and received, beside her new dress, the sympathy of every htart there. At the time when Zack was carrying his master's children in baskets or on his back, always busy but; never at work, " Weza " was in the adjacent city, a child at the house of Dr. Percy, where her mother was a favorite slave. As she was well treated, both in the kitchen and in the parlor, there were " neither nails nor thorns " in her lot, till she came to years of understanding ; then she felt her fetters, for although they were soft, they were strong. " Weza " griew up a gentle and active child, with whom the most exacting mistress could scarcely have found fault. It is,, then, little wonder that as the white children of the house dropped one after 31 32 OUT OP THE VnLDEBNESS. another into the grave, she became a humble pet in the family. When she was about twelve yearis old her mother loll sick, and knew that her end was near. She sent for her master and mistress, and holding her child by the hand, she said, "Massa, I've got a few words for yer, afore I leave die world. What de liviu' woman wouldn't dare to say, de dy- in' woman may. No man can be angry wid a feller creetur dat's a struggliu' wid de last enemy, and dat's all I can battle wid to day. Ye've always held me up as an example of contentment to yer people when dey got restless. May be yer thought I was as easy in de halter and de collar as yer bos- ses and yer dogs. But that isn't tme. My innerd soul has rebelled against slavery from the hour I first felt de chain ; and de older I growed de deeper dat chain has cut into my soul. Ye've been kind • as fur as good words and good victuals and warm clothes has gone, but ye've been cruel to my soul, massa. Yer shut me out from de knowledge of de Lord Jesus, and I might as well been brung up in Africa fur all de religion I ever heard on till Massa Lorton bouglit old Job, and so brung God into dis street. Old Job has got de Scriptur' all burnt into his soul, and he can't open his mouth but de fire comes out. I've got de Gospel light in my soul now, and dat makes de grave shine like heav- A BROKEN PROMISE. 89 lie pet in ^earb old end wm resa, and " Massa, lis world, ly, de dy- id a feller lemy, and 7e always mt to yer ir thou}2;ljt ts yer hos- My innerd he hour I de deeper been kind and warm } my soul, L'dge of de •ung up in ,rd on till brung God criptur' all mouth but ight in my like heav- en, and look so beautiful ! When do great day come, and de Lord ax me, ' Who led you to glory, Molly ! ' I must say, ' Not de rich man dat put a soft chain round my neck and hold me by it ; not de pleasant lady wliosc babies I nussed and laid in de coffin ; but an old plantation nigger, all worked out, dat was bought by his sou's master out of pity. I'll liave to tell dat yer two dressed up in silk, and satin, and broadcloth, and earings, and gold headed cane, and velvet prayer book, and sot oif 'mong a gay crowd every Sunday morning to see 'bout gettin' yer own souls saved wid masses and high music ; and left us black folks to get a big dinner for com- pany, like we hadn'f any souls. For all ye've done, massa, I mought be going out into de black night, 'stead o' steppin' into de river all alive with glory, and seein' the Blessed One, as I do dis minute, a waitin' for me on 'tother bank." " Molly," said the doctor in a subdued tone, '•* you surely are not cursing your kind master with your last breath ? " *' I'm a blessin' 'stead of cursin' yer, massa. 1 want to save yer from believin' a lie. Yer may think 'case yer 'lowed no lashee laid on, but ruled by sellin' folks off when dey didn't please you, dat de great Lord will a'most thank yer for your good- negs when* yer stand before him. But I tell yer, r 34 OUT OP THE WILDEBNKtjS. l)c'll bring yer square up to tic mark, and lay de sins of our ignorance on yer soul dat has kept us in the dark. He'll say, ' Go 'way, yer dat shut out de light from de souls I made, and 'most made 'em think dey was cattle of de field, and at the same time he will call up old Job, but you won't know him, may be, for de glory dat's round about him ; and he'll put a crown on his grey head, and he'll say, ' Come up higtcr, yer blessed old man.' He'll put a weddin' garment on old Job, and a ring on his finger, and kiver him all over wid shinin' glory, so dat yer'll wish you was old Job 'stead of de rich and fine Dr. Percy. " But dat day haint corn's, massa and missus. Dere's yet left time for repentance, and my advice is dat yer heave away yer fine music religion dat has no Christ into it, and go sit down and larn of old Job de way to de lovin' Jesus. I'll pray for yer wid my last breath." " Thank you, Molly ; " said the doctor, kindly, " and now tell me if I can do any thing to make your mind easy about poor little Louisa." " Yes massa, yer can do dat." "What is it?" " Give my little Weza her freedom, and teach her dat she's born for a woman, and not for a pet kitten. Will yer make her free ? " U m^i A BROKEN PROMIRR. 86 id lay de 8 kc|t US t shut out made 'em the same n't know tout him ; and he'll n.' He'll 1 ring on lin' glory, tad of de i missus. J advice is in dat has irn of old iiy for yer ir, kindly, g to make and teach t for a pet " Yes, Sally, I will for your sake, for you've been a good and faithful woman to us." " When will yer do it. Now ? While I Uves to know it ? " " No, Sally, I can't do it now ; but I will just as soon as I can without making trouble among the other servants," replied the doctor, wiping a tear from his eye. " If yer could look into eternity, as I do now, massa, Oh, how glad ye'd bo to get the whole on 'em off your hands. Dey'U be a heavy drag on yer soul I tell yer, in that great and terrible day." Then she turned to little Weza, and said, " Well, den if it's de Lord's will, I must leave dis child still a slave. But mind, massa, ye've promised a dyia' woman to set her child free. In de meantime I ax.no more favors den slie's had ; and I die easy dat no lash will never fall on her shoulders while she's in yer hands. My head's tired and swims now," she said ; and then her mind wandered back to the day she entered the vessel at Richmond, sold to go South away from all she loved. " All aboard now, eap'en," she murmured. " Pull up de anchor quick, and let's get away from de sight and de groans of my old mother on de shore. Good-by, old Virginny home." '*0%'^kC 86 OCT OP THE WILDKRNESS. • Trie faithful nurse had uttered her last words, aud slept away her few remaining hours. It was some time bcfi)rc the doctor and his wife got over this scene. For several Sundays they stayed away from mass and gave no dinner parties, being almost afraid of the gay dress aud the hollow forms against which poor Molly had warned them. But a change of seasons I rought a change of garments, and the warning did not attach itself to the new ones. Then they returned again to their own services and to their Sunday parties. Weza grew up in the house, pcrfonning a little Tcry light labor which ■ was scarcely more than play. She ran errands, polished the silver, fed the dogs and kittens, attended to the canaries, and watered the flowers. But she was not taught any thing which would make life easy when its burdens should fall on her. When almost* a child, she was married by her master to a young mulatto, also belonging to him, and life seemed as fair before her as before any young slave. Soon after her marriage, she asked her master to do as he had promised her "mammy," and to set her free now. The answer was, " By-and-by." But before " by-and-by " came, a little slave l)oy was born in the house. With the *~-***?i^*S'%?S1¥SS?^?^^S5&^~'"^ A BROKEN PROMISE. 8T t words, his wile ys they dinner ess and )lly had rought a did not returned • Sunday .' t,. g a little )re than r, fed the ries, and ught any jurdens by her to him, is before iage, she uised her answer ' came, With the bkth of that child, Wcza woke to a real sense of what slavery was, and her heart was crushed beneath a sense of injustice and wrong both to her- self and her child. She felt that had her master Aillillod the pledge made to her dying mother, this bal)y would have been free. Again, after tender care of her mistress through A long illness, she repeated her request, and again was told that her papers should be made out " by- and'by, when it could be done without making trouble among the other sejfvants." But before the arrival of the promised day, she held another little slave in her arms. Her husband felt as keenly as herself the cruelty of this delay. He had no hope of freedom him- self, but he had gloried in it forhis children. He had neither the wisdom nor the meekness of Weza to help him bear this wrong. So he spoke to his master, and received a stern rebuke for his inso- lence. In reply, he said morosely, that he had always vowed no child of his should ever be a slave, and that he would bury those babies alive rather than have them remain in bondage. Of course no such insolence could be allowed ; and as the doctor prided himself on the fact that he had never caused a slave of his to be whipi)ed, he took the less merciful course of selling him on • ii IT 38 OUT OP 1HE V.ILDEBNESS. I i the block. The first, hint poor Weza had of t]^ quarrel, was the word that her husband was f?;one with a " gang " to Texas ; and that was the last she ever heard of the father of her children. And the years rolled on amid light tasks, brightened by the love of the two little mulattoes, and by an occasional promise of freedom. Liberty had, however, less charms for her now that she had slave sons, but still she fancied that once free herself she could soon earn money to purchase them. •^'.«t^v v. - ;, ■ P-" v.^i ;i,*l' J:»Ai' „.. ,.,,..■•■■.,-, --<-.A. ,Jitt'>?; m' -( ,[ --,H -t .'4' ;«',<^;.J ^■: 'ic^^ .i.^' ', t ^'-J 'J^JSt^'ji. >u- ii jjji i»|i a i;ii »i i» i:i^ p< «iy «< < j jj )i ^jy^^^ r »y ^ jj i ^«JiV.ijy i ■ ,.d' ^ ' CHAPTER IV. ' THE SALE AND THE SEPARATION. . ONE of Wcza's boys — while they were yet littl: more than babies — swept the doctor's office and answered the door bell ; and the other, a hand- some child with the roses shining through his tawny skin, rode with his master and held the horse while ho was calling on his patients. If they had been his own sons lie could scarcely have been prouder of them, and nothing gratified him more than hearing them praised. So Weza still ha, That night, when his mind wandered, he called out, " Bring me my Jiat and my cane ; I must go." His wife and other attendant assured him he was too ill to walk, but still he ca'.';/.', 'Take me to the court, to the judge, any \,hr-i Vatican get Woza's free papers! Didn't I prui.ifltj Molly? How can I look her in tiie face there in ♦^he awful THE SALE AND THE SEPARATION. 41 m, that ike out tender oung — ed from I. Con- i soul, r ill lul- tone for but you I can't (vould bo ill down plied the t wc can lie called I must him he iTake me lat I can Molly 'i lie awful unknown world, with this broken premise on my hand ? Seiid for old Job, I want to ask him how they make light to shine on the grave;" Old Job had been years in his grave, but he was not forgotten. The rich and wise man remem- bered that he knew how the dark valley could be lighted and the cold stream crossed. Though dead, old Job was speaking still. The doctor could not rest for thoughts of that broken promise, added to all else that lay upon his heaii in that solemn hour. Then his wife, hoping to relieve his mind, pledged herself that she would surely see to the free papers if ho did not recover; and thus calmed, he fell asleep, never to wake again. The doctor's estate passed into the hands of a nephew, a well-meaning, gay young fellow, who never had dreamed that slaveholding or slave sell- ing was cither unmanly or sinful. He despised the man who was cruel to his horse or his negi"o, and resolved that the people who had fallen into his hands should be well treated and made happy. ^ This young George Percy soon came, to settle up tlie estate ; and his aunt thought she had nothing to do but to tell him that Weza and her boys were free by the word of her husband. But he looked on the statement just as a young Norlli- erncr would when told that part of the property 09 42 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. which was legally his must be thrown into the sea or the fire. He had no idea of casting away fifDeen hundred oi- two thousand dollars, because liis undo had told him to do it. " If," he said, " this had been a matter of con- science with my uncle, he would have attended to it in life. He held on to the woman and her boys as long as he could, so you surely cannot exjiect me to make a sacrifice for his conscience which he would not make himself." And who could gain- say his reasoning ? ,, , (.;. , .f:.,^i.^ Little Dike won the heart of the young man at first sight, who thought ho was pleasing poor Weza by telling her that he was going to keep him for a j^et boy, to hunt, and fish and drive with him. The result of young George Percy's visit was a sale of the property, including the slaves belonging to the Percy estate ; the widow keeping those she had brought with her, that she might return them *to her old home and their relatives. And so, after all the promises of the dead to the dead and the living, Weza and little Sampson were, one bright summer morning, with thirty others, exposed for sale in the slave market. All the horrors of plantation hfe, which she had heard descrihed, rose before her, and she begged George Percy to i&i.':-*J THE SALE AND THE 8EPAR\TI0N. 43 Bcll herself and her boy to one man ; which he proniified, if possible, to do. When her turn came to mount that block which had been like the scaffold to hundreds of agonized heai'ts^ a man came up, and said to her, " I want a nurse. Are you kind to children ? " .. •• »; *:'«»^ " I'd bo kind, sir," said Weza, " to any livin' cretur' ; but it takes happy folks to make little chiren happy. I'd rather work harder, so as to have no time to think ; for my heart's broke." " Well, I don't want you. I've got homesick folks enough about me now. I'm after a merry- hearted woman for my nursery," replied the man, as he gave a shoi*t whistle and passed on. ' ' < -■■' The bidding began on " a faithful, Christian woman, born and brought up in Dr. Percy's family, and her boy, Sampson." > ' - * Some one made a bid, and then the work went . on, poor Weza being too faint to see the faces about her. Presently she heard the word, " Gone," and the boy, pulling her skirts, shrieked out, " 0, mammy, dat awful ole Frenchman from do big plantation in B. parish has bought you widout me ! " And at these words she fell fainting on the block, and was taken up by the man in attendance, who gave her water, and spoke cheerily to her — this was part of his business. ..<.-.. .. . .. i. u OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. That afternoon, with twenty otliers, Weza sailed up the broad river towards the plantation, whoso owner, fearing neither God nor man, used his slaves up fast, and was, therefore, constantly re- placing them. She proved the poorest bargain ho had ever made in the slave-market, for she fainted at her first task in the field. The overseer, whoso duty, he said, was " not to nurse up feeble women, but to get all the work he could out of tough ones," pronounced her worth- less for field work : and told her there was luck before her, as she must be sold again. Weza plead with him to try her one week, as she had lost track of little Sampson. The child knew where she was, and she had a faint hope that some merciful person might have bought him who would write to her owner about him. " If I go away," she said, to the overseer, " I'll lose dis boy forever and forever." > >i But the man " couldn't be bothered ; " and to pacify her, he said tlicre was a small planter there from higher up river, just now looking aer a woman for housework, and he'd give her a good name to him, and so keep the run of her, and if her boy was ever heard from, he'd let her kuow. He was not a brutal man ; he spoke kindly to her, and said, " Trust me, now, to look up that boy." W< l ff i»|i.i THE SALE AND THE SEPARATION. 45 Mrs. Percy had parted with Weza with many regrets and some twinges of conscience ; but these were not strong enough to draw the purchase money from her own private purse, and thus to fulfill her promise to her dead husband, and wipe that stain from his memory. She had, however, given her a trunk well filled with clothing for her- self and her boy, into which Weza had put all the little keepsakes she and the children had received at Christmas and other times, with half of a torn New Testament which old Job had given her mother, who, as well as himself, had been able to read. The tnink, however, was missing when she leached the Frenchman's plantation, and she set off with her boorish new master — who seemed to occupy a middle ground between the planter and the poor whites — with nothing but a clean dress and two aprons, tied up in one of her gay turban handkerchiefs. " O, Lord Jesus," she whispered, as she followed the heavy tread o? Dave Huggins to the boat, " come down and lead poor Weza out o' dis wil- derness ? I's got nobody else now ; let me lean full on dee, God o' my mammy ! " MHM i *^f s > OHAPTER V. DAVE HUGGINS "AT HOME." H ■ >' ^ L THE crazy little steamer La Belle, after utter- ing several ludicrous shrieks, landed half a dozen passengers at " Sandy Bend," back of which lay the Huggins plantation. Weza, with her little bundle in her arms, followed Dare, as with heavy steps he ploughed up the sand, leaving deep fur- rows behind him. She walked much of tlie way with her eyes closed, and her lips moving in silent prayer. She did not mean to be heard, bu' once she cried out, " 0, Jesus ! " laying her hand against her throbbing heart, when Dave turned round, in a little surprise, and exclaimed, "A swearin', ha ? Well, now, that overseer lied, for he gin yer a character for a Christian. Yer must quit that, for it only wastes yer breath without do- in' uo good. Nor I don't 'low no drinkiu', nuther, on my place ; 'cause if the folks {Vb that habit, they'll steal my gin, and besides, the/ won't work 46 DAVE HUGQIN8 " AT HOME." 47 "£s.i<.H, 80 well. I'm a powerful moral man, though I don't go to meeting. I have a religion of my own, though my neighbors don't know it, 'cause I kteeps it to myself ; and I won't have no wickedness about me. It don't pay." These were Dave Huggins' moral principles. " I was only prayin', massa, to my brother Jesus," replied Weza, with a sigh. " He's de only one dat can stick to me now, and I been axin' Him not to quit me for one minute, fear I goes wild 'bout my boys and my friends to de doctor's." " Pho ! pho ! " cried- Dave, cheerily, still plough- ing up the sand, " you'll soon get over this and forget 'em all. Them that's been sold a dozen times don't mind it a bit." Weza made no reply, but followed on till they turned from the road into a lane which presented a very sudden change. The pine rails, which had once formed a fence, lay scattered on the ground just where they had fallen from time to time, as' their props decayed ; and the deep cart ruts, with weeds springing on either side, told that little use was now made of the lane, either for business or pleasure. They soon came in sight of the house, and Weza, struck by its contrast with her old house, exclaim- 48 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. c(l, forgetting herself for the moment, " My goody, sure, dis isn't dc mansion house, massa ? " " Yes, and it's the biggest house, on the ground floor, in all this parish ; only it wants a little Bx- in' up," replied Dave, triumphantly. .. " A little fixin' up ! " It wanted pulling down for fire-wood, rather. There wasn't a firm shingl^^ or clapboard on it. The roof of the verandah was propped up at one end, where the original pillars liad given way, by two unhewn pine trees, stripped only of their piost prominent branches. On this verandah was a settee — a missing leg having been supplied by a butter-tub — and two bottomless chairs. A brolcen cart in the last stages of decay lay on the lawn, with its rusted irons under it. A carryall, once a fine affair, reclined gracefully on the grass where the lost wheel lay, with several openings for air and light in the leather top. Seated most insecurely within this vehicle, were ' some half a dozen little blacks, eating corn cake and molasses, and enjoying a most painful ride of pleasure. • ' ' • * • < Dave stamped his heavy foot on the rickety thill, making the whole structure shiver, and cried out, " Cut off, there ! Home with ycr, and tell yer own master he must provide wagons for yer . to ride in ! He is rich enough, dear knows ! " " My goody, a?" II the ground 3 a little Bx- puUiiig down ' firm shingl*^ erandah was iginal pillars ees, stripped es. On this having been buttumless !;e8 of decay inder it. A laccfuUy on i^ith several eather top. ihicle, were corn cake uful ride of he lickety ', and cried r, and tell ns for yer >W8 ! " "V DAVE HUGGIN3 " AT HOME." ,! Mi'»'» 49 The children scrambled out, tumbling over each other, heels over head, losing their corn cake and bumping their crowns. Tlic driver, a confident youth of seven summers, replied, with a sardonic grin, " Our massa got heaps o' carr'gcs, but he haint got no tumble-down ones for chil'n to play ' take jaruey ' in. He aint rich 'npugh to keep sich-likc a one as dis. He ! he ! he ! " Then he took to his heels, the others scampering after him, over a sick-looking corn-field. Dave growled out something about " a gun," and threw two or three clods of earth alter the^. Young Africa, nothing daunted, shouted back from what he considered a safe distance, " He, he, he ! Dat's one of de gims yer hears tell on, but never sees. He", he, he!" Dave, however, took no notice of this taunt. They now overtook, near the house, a pale mu- latto boy, seated on a white horse which defied de- scription, — a caricature of that noble animal. Be- fore Tiim, and resting on the neck of the meek brute, 'the boy held a bucket of water, which slopped over at every step, drenching both the horse and himself. He turned round with a pleasant smile, and holding the pail on with his left hand, gave his right one to Weza, and cried, " Hillo ! mighty glad to see yer. Hope ye's well," and the tri moved on together. "There, now," cried Dave, proudly, "see that >u mmi «0 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. contrivance for gettiu' water from the spring. That boy's mighty lame, haint got no use of liis legs, and all he can do he has to do a hossbaclc. I've gill him that hoss for his own, and 'tween 'cm they do a mighty heap o' work," he added, looking proudly at both the horse and his rider. " I reckons they go down to the spring twenty times a day." When they reached the door, Weza took the pail from lame Obcd, and when she saw the small sup- ply of water it contained she wondered that he did not go forty times instead of twenty. v t, >' . Dave threw oj)en a door, and exclaimed, « Well, old woman, I've fetched what yer want this time, I reckon. Old De Grow's overseer tells me this woman is a mighty fine Christian ; that she cooks like an angel and r^ver runs off; yer couldn't hire her to go, 'cause elicves in de cuss on Canaan, and dat it would ...^ to get rid on't. Now speak to her civil, for she's mighty down in the mouth about some boys she's left : and let's see if we 'can't get a decent meal o' victuals for once." ^u The lady to whom these remarks were addressed occupied two chairs, lolling on one, and stretching out her limbs on another. In her mouth she held a pipe, which was not removed when she said, as well as she could with clenched teeth, " Glad to see yer. Hope yer tough, and good natur'd, and "'iy^ DAVE HUOOINS " AT HOME. 61 the spriiif^. • use of his a hoasback. 'tween 'cm cd, looking " I reckons I a day." ok the pail small sup- that he did •1, « Well, ; this time, Is me this she cooks uldn't hire •n Canaan, !»fow speak the mouth f we can't * addressed stretching 1 she held } said, as rlad to see ir'd, and cheerful, and willin', and smart, and that yer hate company, and keep clear o' meetin's and sich like. Take a cheer. Got a pipe ? " • This was uttered with such monotony of voice and such lustreless eyes that Weza at first thought the woman half drunk ; but she soon saw that it was not so, and replied with a trembling voice, " I wasn't never 'lowed to smoke, thank yer, missus." " Put down yer bundle and go out in the kitchen and get dinner, then. Be mighty quick, for I'm a' 'most starved. Yer'U find corn-meal some'hers out there, and bacon, heaps 'ont, a hangin' round," she said, by way of orders. " If there ain't no wood split, yer can pick up corn cobs, I reckon." " How many for dinner, missus, and where'U I lay the table ? " asked poor Weza in a tremulous tone. -; ' ' -^ " Him and me's all the ladies and gentlemen there is, and we have our table sot right here by my cheer," replied the mistress, from the side of the pipe. " We've got a dinin' room to the man- sion house, but it wants a heap o' fixin' up ; and then it's a heap a trouble to git up out o' yer cheer and go into another room every time ye eat. So I have this table hauled up to me, and a cheer sot for him." ■m -fe' ^^ 62 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. " Has yer got the rheumatiz, missus ? " asked Weza, compassionately, r-'' ~ . SP " Well, no, guess not 'zactly ; but my jints is kind of weak and tired all the time ; so I likes to sit still mostly, with my Ug& up in a cheer," said the lady. This statement was strictly true not only of Mrs. Kuggins herself but of her husband, and, indeed, of every thing they owned. He sat in one chair, she sat in two. The few men they owned sat down in the field half the time. Obed, the lame boy, sat on his horse, and the horse, once the star of a circus, retained the one trick of sitting like a hound on his haunches. Obed had acquired a strange facility of holding on to his friend under all difficulties ; so that a young gentleman on the next plantation had playfully named the united pair "The Centaur." Several carts and wagons belonging to the plantation had also taken perma- nent seats on the grass. The verandah roof, as we have stated, sat on pine logs, and the settee sat on a butter tub ; while the mansion house — Huggins clung to this name as the ghost of its former gran- deur — looked as if it were making an effijrt to sit down also. The owners and their whole establish- ment could have said from the heart, with *' Cheap Jack," " Our favorite posture is sitting down." >, DAVE HUGGIKsi " AT HOME. 68 ?" asked ny jints is > I likes to lecr," said )t only of )and, and, sat in one ley owned Obed, the 3, once the of sitting 1 acquired lend under an on the the united id wagons :ea perma- roof, as we ttee sat on — Huggins raier gran- sffort to sit J establish- h « Cheap 3wn." This physical inactivity 'was not without its blessings to the slaves of Huggins, several of whom had deliberately walked off, feeling quite sure that he would not have the energy to chase them, although he would shout after them about " my •run." Smart blacks had been too much for him ; and he had lost so much by them, that he had long since come to the conclusion to buy cheap such as could scarcely better themselves by run- ning off. So his working force now consisted of three old men, a young one with a stiff leg, and two half grown boys in the field, with the cripple Obed, and Weza for the house. The last had been bought to fill the place of " an ungrateful creatur ' who had run off after having had a present of a red calico dress, and a pink turban at Christmas." Dave Huggins labored under the impression that he was the scion of a noble but fallen house, and that he must in soitie way keep up its dignity. As he had not energy to vie with his neighbors, he threw all his deficiencies into the descending ficale of " bad luck." The truth was, he had no reputation to keep up, having been in his best days — if he ever had such — the overseer of this place. The plantation had long been a bill of expense to its former owner, who had sold it to liim and gone North, years ago, to educate his ♦;4 1 54 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. } family. The decay, which |iad been going on there for two generations, advanced rapidly when Dave, now his own master, married one of the " poor whites," a woman too lazy to breathe — if she could help doing it — and devoted his time to the pipe and gin bottle. While he had a great de- sire to be a respectable man like Col. Leon, his neighbor, he could not rouse himself to plan, or carry out work on the plantation. When he occar sionally woke up to see his low estate, he would say, mournfully, " If I'd only a married Madam Leon, I might have been a gentleman by this time." When Mrs. Huggins couldn't get tobacco enough, or had to rise from off her chair for any thing, she would sigh, and say, " If I'd a married Col. Leon when I was a gall, I mought a had whatsomever I wanted now, and been a lady, too, as well as *■ Madam ' that holds her head so high, and don't ax us to her dinner parties." They both seemed to regard their elegant neighbor and ■liis saintly wife as in some way rcsjwnsible for Iheir " ill luck," .and comforted themselves by calling them " nalwbs " and " dukes." Still, when the colonel sent Dave new corn seed or samples of sugar cane, or when he chatted with him a moment in the road, he was greatly flat- tered, and usually boasted of it at home, saying, i DAVE HUOOINS " AT HOME. 56 " Well, I tell yer, he's a real gentleman. There's something in Wood, after all, for them Leons al- ways was a sort o' noble. I've heern tell that their great grandfather took dinner with the French king once." , ■ * . ■ V . 1 *' * ,* . . i - r ... » . . ^ * 1 ' ,- 1 , i'- " . \ • 1" * • J , ., . . ,= r ,.' „ T,t- - ' ' • ' ■ . .Jr. ' ,,K ., ■' J .* -i -i.MtjS^,! ' ' .-' ' - 'i-M- '■• 1 • * • 1 ■•»*.» .^-,„ .,'-. «'y^K ' '» ! iM- i •- .*. /U, ■ , ?';; "(*■"! ,1 * ..« r '■ ' - . , t , J - ' '^ ' t^ ' *i ■' ,' 'i • ^ * • ' ' Jfkii' .' CHAPTER VI. DAVE HUGGINS RECEIVES HIS FIBST LETTER. WHAT Dave's establishment lacked in style it made up in plenty. There was little variety in the culinary department, because they never had a cook ; but bacon hung from every beam in kitchen and shed — the smoke-house having taken a per- manent "scat" in the form of loose boards, and shingles — and an overflowing corn bin invited both slaves and poultry to come and partake ; which they did with equal freedom. And this generosity was the planter's boast and pride. His one argument on tlie subject of right and wrofig, which was then shaking the nation, was, " Let them meddlesome Yankees come down here and see my niggers cat, and I guess they'd quit abusin' slavery ; I'd like to see the one o' 'em that would take this lot off my hands and feed 'em as well as 1 do for the work they'd get ! " That man couldn't have been found at the North ; M lETTER. in style it tile variety ' never liad I in kitchen ken a per- boardsand bin invited d partake ; And this pride. His and wrofig, was, " Let n here and quit abusiii' that would d as well as t the North ; DAVE HUGGIN'S RECEIVES HIS FIRST LETTER. 57 and Dave's working force would probably have been provided with hospital accommodations here. He was tinily a philanthropist, in his way. He was too generous to starve, too good-natured to scold, and too lazy to whip them ; so that his gov- ernment had resolved itself into this threat: " Ycr'U see me a fetchin' out my gun." This gun was a myth, a fabulous creation of his own brain, and occupied, among Bre-arms, much the position which " Mrs. Harris " occupies among women. Weza cooked the first rude dinner and laid the cloth without an additional hint from her mistress. While " hunting up the dishes," as she had been told to do, her poor heart throbbed with the pain of homesickness and bereavement, and the tears stole down her cheeks. Mrs. Huggins saw the drops between two whiffs of her pipe, and said, kindly, " Don't fret ; life's full o' botherations, any way, whether yer rich or poor, black or white. I lost two boys once myself, without their beiu' sold, — they died with snuffles-like, a wheezin' and wheezin' till they died. I felt powerful bad, first go off ; but I soon got over it, and now I never think on 'em 'less somebody speaks on't. Chil- dren's a heap o' trouble, any way ; and if yer hain't got 'em, they hain't to be looked after. ■■■i / miw 68 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. ■ There was forever somethin' to be done for 'em ; corn cake to be spread with molasses, and then heir faces to wash, and — all creation. It was a mighty bother, too, to keep the run of their shoes, and as to stockin's, I never could keep two o' one color on mine ! And yer children would ha' been forever gettin' splinters in their bare feet, and ycr'd had awful times takin' keer on 'em, 'sides doin' yer work." ''•" ' " But missus, I could work myself to death for one sight o' my boys, or even for a word from dem ; dey's so dear to my heart. I believe it's a bleedin', for I thinks I feels de blood a tricklin' down." " Oh, keep, up heart, and when quarterly meetin' comes, yer shall go to't, if 1 have to make the hoe cake with my own hands, yer shall ; for I like yer looks, yer so feelin' in yer way to tired folks ! " " Please, missus, moughtn't I go to de Lord's house once of a Sunday to git a few words to lean my soul agin durin' de week ? " asked Weza. " Well, no, I'm 'feared not, for yer master's got powerful sot agin the meetin' near us. Col. Leon sot out to git it painted, and he come to see ♦hat lluggins would give towards it. But Hug- gins said he never wore the paint off, and so wasn't goin' to put it on. He said he never once leaned (1* DAVE HUGGINS RECEIVES HIS FIRST LETTER. 69 for 'em; and then It was a Ejir shoes, wo o' one 1 ha' been and yer'd ides doin' t to death i?ord from lieve it's a a tricklin' rly meetin' ike the hoe r I like yer •oiks!" de Lord's rds to lean aaster's got r us. Col. come to see But Hug- nd so wasn't once leaned up agin the clapboards, as some folks did ; but al- ways dot down on the grass afore and »ifter meetin'. The colonel he got riled, and said iluggins was mean. Now Huggins is a powerful high-spirited man, and couldn't stan' that; so we've left the Presbyterians and goes to Methodis' meetin' quar- terly — that's once in three months ; and it saves a powerful lot o' time, besides yer Sunday clothes, not to go so often. My best silk looks five years younger since I quit goin' every week, and my parasol that's got a slit into it, don't let the smi on my head, neither, when I don't use it," said missus. Weza groaned, but made no reply. * *' Yer massa will let yer eat as i^oh as yer want, day or night ; but there's two things he's down on, — goin' to meetin's and havin' company. It gets yer all stirred up, and makes yer uncon- tented with yer own liome. And yer can get religion just as well by yerself, as if yer had a paid minister ;to get it for yer. I'm mighty glad yer a Oj^-istian, 'cause yer want heaps o' patience here. Yer the only sound one on the plantation, and there'll be heaps put upon yer. We've been awful unlucky in havin' so many of our people get old and lame." She forgot tlioy had all been bought so, at. low prices. ^ ssas. 60 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. Hero Dave came in, dragging his feet heavily along, to ask if dinner was not ready. Seeing Wcza's tears, ho asked, good-naturedly, " What's the matter ? Aint you had enough to eat yet? " " Yes, thank ye, massa, plenty ; and there's heaps there when I'm hungry agin," she replied. " Well, well ! " cried Dave, in surprise, " when a body has enough to eat, I can't see for the life o' me, what they can find to cry about." Such was Dave Huggins' idea of the vast capacities and the deep longings of the immortal mind. Weza found it true, as Mrs. Huggins had sug- gested, that she would need grace in her new home. She was really at the liead of a private hospital, and her coming to the plantation was like the .advent of a cheering and healing angel. She relieved poor Obed of many a long, wet ride from the spring, and put his clothes in order so that he was not forced to tie them on with rope-ends. She fed the hogs — whose name was legion — to ease the ycJuth with the stiff' knee ; and for the old men, who wrought in the field or not, as they 1 (leased, she sewed, and talked, and " preached " — they called it — about " de dear Lord Jesus, dat was all and in all to her soul now." But her talking was very meekly done; it was her pure, patient life, 0!id her whispered prayers, that broke DAVE HUOOINS RECEIVES HIS FIRST LETl'ER. Gl , heavily Seeing " What'B yet?" ' I there's epUed. " when a he life o' such was } and the had sug- hei* new a private 1 was Uke gel. She ride from so that ho rope-ends. 3gion — to for the old t, as they preached " ord Jesus, ' But her , her pure, that broke as a sunbeam on the dull, slow, lazy life at the Huggins plantation. Weza had been some weeks' in her new home, toiling hard to perform her own duties, and to aid llic less favored, and not an unkind word had Allien on her ear. : ■ o; •• : , '? A remarkable event occurred one day on the iliiggins plantation : Dave received a letter. Obed and the horse had not been to the post-office for a year, for their owner lived as independent of mail arrangements as did the fowls on his place; but the colonel's Jim had shoufcjd to .the " cent- aur," on the road, that he had brought down a letter for massa Huggins when he went for the mail. Obed possessed himself of the mysterious treas- ure, and in his haste to deliver it and to hear the news it contained, he actually slapped his horse with the palm of his hand, under the vain delusion that he might thus quicken its pace. • * When Dave took the letter in his hand, he ex- claimed, " Who on the face o' natur' could have writ me a letter, and what can it be about? I don't owe nobody nothing, and I haint got no- body to die and invite me to their funeral." Then he peeped into the end, much as one would into a serpent's retreat, but all within was blank or dark. ■■I f 02 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. Then he studied the handwriting ; he was not an expert, and all writing looked alilic to him. Still looking seriously at the paper, which was a ruled leaf from an old account book, he asked his wife, " Have yer got any folks any where that could die ? " " No, not as I know on. I had a sister once, yer know, and after the old folks died she went off to Texyas, or some of them wild countries. But she wouldn't know where to send for me if she was dead," replied Mrs. iluggius, not at all disturbed by the sad suggestion. ,-.»;,* ,.jMr jaj " Well, it beats all ! " cried Dave. " Who can have writ it ? " " Why don't yer open it and find out ? " was the sensible suggestion which Mrs. Huggins sent forth from the side of her pipe stem. But Dave enjoyed the excitement of suspense; so he tantalized himself a while longer, before he put on his brass-bowed spectacles and broke the red wafer. When he did so, his wife actually rose up, crossed the room and looked over his shoulder, although her youthful training had been so neg- lected that she could not read writing. Let us not be misunderstood. We do not affirm that Mrs. Huggins was an illiterate woman for one of her class ; for she was not. She could i-ead the Bible DAVE HUGOINS RECEIVES HIS FIBST LETTEa. 63 — if she wanted to — and was mistress of. tho almanac in all its diversified lore of sun, and moon, and tides. Alter studying and deciphering the hieroglyph- icH a few moments, Dave whisiHJred " It's from old DcGrow's overseer, about Weza's boy. Ho says he's had a letter from the gentleman that bought him, and ihat the boy is only a plaything in the house, aud is as happy as if he never had a mother. ' He — is — dre-dressed — up like a pup- py,' " read Dave, " no, tain't jnqypy ; p-u-p*p-e-t, puppet, and the — ladies — call him the — Black Prince. So— tell — yer — little — woman — I have let the gentleman — know — where — slie — is, — so that if he — ever — comes — this way — with the boy -^ he can hunt her — up.' " But it'll never do to let her know this has come, or she'll take advantage and run oflF. If she should ever get powerful troubled about him I'll tell her on't," added Dave, in a confidential tone, to Mrs. Huggins. So Dave crumpled up the rude letter and put it in among the Innumerable contmits of his deep pocket, as a kind-hearted grandmother stows away sugar plums for the future comfort of some troubled child. Mrs. Dave settled back into her m 64 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. old 'poature with the remark, " She's a mighty nice little creatur' and very feelin' toward tired ■folks, and we must keep her at all hazards." * ■ !U,i--- ■h>ttJ'«riMM»/.MiMllte CHAPTER Vn. A VISION AND AN INVITATION. THE evening of the day on which tlie -letter was received, Huggins and his wife heard an ani- mated voice holding forth in the outer kitchen, intennipted occasionally by such exclamations as, " Well, now, dat's mighty strange ! " " Praise de Lord ! " » Hallelujah." " Got company, sure's I'm alive ! " cried Dave, rising ; " for none of my folks talks off like that ! Fetch me the gun ! " Of course, as Mrs. Huggins knew he had no gun, she did not essay to obey orders, but retained her comfortable position in two chairs, enveloped in a delicate drapery of tobacco smoke. Neither did Dave wait for her to obey him, but went out with considerable animation to the kitchen to take aim at the intruders with his in- visible weapon. But there were no intruders there. 6S ■■■i 66 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. His own family were all seated, some on up- tuined corn baskets, otliers on blocks and benches, while the lame boy reclined at his ease in a nest of corn liusks. With open mouth and eyes they were listening to the usually shy and quiet little woman, who was relating to them some wonderful event. "Who's been here for company ?" asked the master, gruffly. " Nobod} , massa," replied all in one voice. ■ " Who's this a preachin', then ? " he asked with a searching glance, for he thought there was some neighbor's slave there who had hidden at his approach. " Nobody," replied Weza. " Dat was only me a talkin', cip.^sa." " Yer makin' suchlike noise as tliat ! I didn't know there was so much noise in yer. What was yerasayin?" ■ ' *"." . '• • f . -. • lui '' 0, massa, I've had such a mighty power come over me," cried the little woman, " dat I couldn't hold my peace. 'Pears like somebody else was a talkin' with my tongue, and sajriu' things dat's too high for me to speak ; and do more I talk, de nioi'o de great words and big thoughts pours into luy soul. 'Pears like 1 had wings now and wanted to fly away ! " A VISION AND AN INVITATION. 67 *' No, no, yer mustn't talk about rnnnin' away. I don't 'low that, and besides, yer a Christian, Weza, and yer surely wouldn't cheat me out of the price I paid for yer." -■ ji as '<■■._- " No, massa, yer welcome to de poor frail body, and I'll sarve yer faithful wid dat ; but de soul, dat aiut bound ! Dat flies on wings hether and yon, up to heaven and back to earth, and far way off to de chil'days when I had a mammy dat loved and sarved de Lord, and dat gin her poor bashful little child up to him to take keer on, when she went home to Jesus--" - ' •j " Why," cried Dave, " yer ve got a heap of re- ligion, little woman, as much as if yer'd been owned by Col. Leon and got Scriptur' larnin' from madam every Sunday night with her black folks ! She's been 'cused of larnin' some on 'em to read, sly ; but I can't believe that ! She's too good a woman to break the laws of the land. What were yer preachin' about ? '' he asked. V " Why, massa," cried Weza, smiling through her tears, " I see de Lord Jesus last night, and he held my hand in his and talked wid me, oh, how lovely ! I was tellin' dese ones on't." " Pho, pho," cried Dave, " that's all stuflF! Black folks that has religion always sees sights and such like in their sleep, and thinks it's real." J ' .1 1 ii .m»j j < wwnwiwp^wwi L C8 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. " No, massa, not all ; I ne\'er see de Lord afore. He did trull/ come to me last night and whisper such lovin' words, dat I cried 'cause he wouldn't take me home wid hira den, — my Brother Jesus ! massa, ax him to visit yer." " What did he say ? " asked Dave, taking a seat and looking at Weza in surprise. " He said words beautiful enough to make a whole heaven out of,'' replied the little woman. " Well, go on," said Dave, " I like to hear stories whei> such good behaved folks as yer tells them." ":"■■-*':'.,;:■■-;;:• '^..^ . v " Well, massa, I was a layin' in dat great empty room wid my eyes wide open and seein' of do stars' through de window, when all of a sudden I heard de sweetest music, like it was miles off! Oh, it made me think of my home up yonder, and de tears roll down and I say, ' 0, Brother Jesus, take me and my boys where dat music is ! ' Den, massa, all de big room look like it was a forest full of great pine trees and I was feared I couldn't find my way out. De pine trees sing round me, and de far otf music come nearer and nearer, and de stars shine through do branches. All in a minute a great light shine round ; and in de midst of de light, wid do crown on his head and de wounds iu his hands, dere stood my brother ; him dat was A VISION AND AN INVIT'nOf. 69 once a sufferer oa de arth and so knows how to feel for us. Den#I went up to him, and I says, * Lord, I'm in de wilderness here, and I can't get out ! ' Den he took ray hand in his and clasped a long gold chain — like my other missus wear round her neck — on my wrist and told me to look round 'bout de wilderness. I looked, and it was full of a company dat no man could number ; and massa, heaps on 'em was held by a chain like mine, and all the chains was gathered up in his heart. I looked way off in de dark corners to some dat was hanging back. De chains was very loose and some on 'em was down in de dust all dimmed ; but dey was dere still ; and our loviu' brother dat loves unto de end, he still held or., even wlien some on 'em tried to break loose from him ! Den I saw my little boys and hesps more I knew, all bound to him by gold chains, and he led 'em on safe. Dey sometimes stumbled and fell, but he drew 'em up and on after him. " Den I cried, ' Oh, take me out of dis wilder^ ness ! ' but he say, ' No ; but I will lead yer through it, and by-and-bye out of it, and take yer home to glory ! ' But he said, ' Yer most travel on patient and faithful and praying, and give yerself up for others, like I did. I've got work for yer iu 70 OUT OP THE WILDEBNE88. dis wilderness.' Den I say, * All dat I will try to do for Jesus ! ' " Soon I saw one powerful great man dat look mighty cross, and I was feared of him and tried to get far away from him. But my brother Jesus read that in my heart, and he point to de great man and say^' He too is bound by a gold chain to my heart and I love him wid everlasting love ! I give him to be yer shepherd, to comfort yer poor, weak heart here and to help yer on to glory I' When I look at de big man again, his face was covered with kind smiles and he held out his hand and say, ' I'll take keer o' yer poor, weak little woman ! ' And den I felt like I had a whole garishon o' sogers a guardin' of me. 'Feared like de Lord and his hosts was all about me. " I talked with him till de light broke, and den de wilderness vanished off ; 'and my brother went too, sayin' still as he left me, ' I will lead yer through the wilderness and out of it and home to glory ! ' And I feel de gold chain round my hand yet and him drawing me ! " Dave made no reply, and encouraged by his si- lence, the little woman said, " I been tellin' dem . dis and all 'bout my life when I was at home, and dey been tryin' to pick up do little religion dcy Mto A VISION AND AN INVITATION. 71 once had, and we was just goin' to say our prayers and sing, when yer come in, massa. Mought we go on ? " ■ Pho ! pho ! " cried Dave, " yer've been dreamin' and I reckons yer've talked enough for this night ! and don't yer go teachin' my boys to read, Weza, mind that." ; " Two on 'em can read as good as me, massa ; but it won't hurt 'em. Dey'U work just as faith- ful," she replied. " Well, I never larnt 'em that," replied Dave, with a nod of satisfaction, " and so can't be held^ responsible for it ! If they'd never tell on't, so's to stir up the neighbor's blacks, they mought take old books out of two chests in the garret to 'muse themselves o' nights, for all I care." ^*' Mought we have a Bible, massa? I lost my piece of old Job's dat he gave my mammy when I was sold," said the little woman. Your missus has got one that a trampin' par- son gin her, and she's so choice on't that she won't even read it herself. It's got gold on the kivers. I don't believe she'd let yer touch it with one finger," replied the master. " Mought I ax her, massa ? " inquired Weza. " Yes ; and if she'll lend it to any body on artli, she'll lend it to yer, little woman ; yer so pleasant, «rs5 72 OUT OP THE WILDEBNES8. and need so little looking arter," he said patron- izingly. Weza tried the experiment, and to her joy was allowed to cover " the Book " with bi-owu pajjcr and carry it into the kitchen, her mistress remark- ing to her husband, as she disappeared with her treasure, " We never had such peaceable creatur's since we've had a house ; and if they don't go to dances, nor drink, nor go to meetin,' the least we can do is to wink at their readin' the Book a little. It can't hurt 'em ! " After this speech, Mrs. Huggins filled her pipe, lighted it, and then settled herself back into her chair " to rest." With their new liberty the tongues of the folks in the kitchen were loosed, and they told of their early life, and friends, and of their thoughts of God and eternity. They sung sacred words, with- out regard to metre or rhyme, to the airs of old plantation songs, and thus lulled their master to sleep when he had sought his pillow. When wonders once begin they seem never to cease. It was not long after fV.e arrival of the letter, which Dave had told Obed was " an order for four pigs," that the Colonel's Jim rode up to the Huggins mansion house and asked for the niissus. That lady gave orders Uiat he should mmmsm A VISION AND ^N INVITATION. 78 id patron- r joy was ►wu paper )s remark- with her > creatur's )n't go to e least we 9k a little. her pipe, k into her f the folks d of their oughts of ords, with- tiirs of old master to f 1 never to val of the "an order I'ode up to ed for the he should rido round to the end of the house, where slie could speak to liim from the window without get- ting out of her chair ! He did so, and handed her a note, saying, with a grin of delight on his sable face, » Dere's a billet my missus wrote yer, and she wants yer to read it and tell me the answer ; yer needn't stop to write it," added the roguish boy. "Thank yer," said Mrs. Huggins, her cheeks flushing with pleasure. « Tell her I'll come" if Huggins will, and that I've been nigh 'bout pos- sessed to git to one o' them parties for a long time." " Don't want yer," said Jim, gruffly. " Oil, it's only for men folks, ha ? Well, that's too bad ; but still I'll let Huggins go, for the Colonel's sake. I think heaps of the Colonel — he's such a gentleman," replied Mrs. Huggins, a little crest-fallen. "Don't want Massa Huggins, nuther," replied Jim, not very respectfully ; " and we won't let him in if he comes." " Well, then," said Mrs. Huggins, looking anx- iously at the closed note, "tell yer missus I'm obleeged to her, but I couldn't make up my mind about it till Huggins comes in. Then I'll let her J^ 74 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. know." So Jim rode off to repeat the joke to his friends, i- : _ *f v When Dave came in and heard there was a note from Madam Leon, he called the brass-bowed spec- tacles into use again, and read, that on account of the industry and good behavior of her people during harvest, she had promised them a party in the 'kitchen, and desired Mrs. Huggins to let her people, and especially her new woman come to it. This was quite a blow to Mrs. Huggins' aspirations for high Hfe ; but the note directed to herself — the first one she had ever received in her life— acted as a healing balm to the wound. She meekly ac- cepted the compliment offered through her ser- vants, and said, " They mought as well go, I sup- pose ? " " Well, I don't know 'bout that," replied Dave. " Weza'U get acquainted with the Colonel's wom'en, and then there'll be trot, trot, from one plantation to tother all the time. Weza's easy now that she's got yer Bible and leave to talk religion to the men ; but she'll see how the Leon blacks is dressed up and made on, and she'll get oneasy here and Ihiulc we ain't grand enough." " Well, and now 1 think on't, the creatur' hain't a stitch to wear," said Mrs. Huggins ; " she's wore out the t\:o gowns she Ijrought with her, and I've M. ■'^-^tlf-.i^- ^ .W- A VISION AND AN INVITATION. T6 i.e to his IS a note red spec- account jr people I party iu let her ome to it. spirations self— the fe ^ — acted neekly ac- 1 her ser- go, I sup- ilied Dave, il's women, plantation i that she's to the men ; dressed up e and thinlc aatur' hain't " she's wore ler, and I've been too tired to go to town to buy any since she came. She will look like a beggar side on the Leon girls ; and they'll think we're too poor or too mean to keep her decent." The word « mean " touched a sensitive spot in Dave's heart. " Yes, yes," he cried, " the Colonel called me mean once about that meetin' house, and now I'll show him if I be ! I'll go to town to-morrow, and buy the winter clothes for the boys, and new boots ; and they shall go and look as good as any body's niggers! We can't buy women's clothes ready made ; but yer can give Weza one of yer gowns and buy yer another, ha ? " " Yes, that I'll do," replied Mrs. Huggins ; " and I'll put her in such trim as shall make the Leon women blush ! Call her in." Dave did as ordered, and when poor Weza heard that she was going to a party, she burst into tears, and said, " 0, missus, I thank you, for I'm power- ful lonesome here, and will be so glad to see a woman's face for once." "Yes, and I'll dress yer up right smart in my own clothes that I wear to quarterly meetin' ; and I'll let yer carry my peacock fan and my pocket handkercher." Tliis latter article was a luxury never indulged in by any one there except on fes- tive occasions, such as quarterly meetings and 76 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. funerals, when Mrs. Huggins appeared out in the changcal)le silk in which she was married, and her snufi-eolored crape shawl, embroidered with flowers iu all the hues of nature. She had forgotten, when making this generous proposal, that her own wardrobe was reduced t<» the red and green silk, honorable for age, the one she Iiad on, and a thin pink muslin, somewhat faded by time and wear. • . i The next two days little was thought of by these grown up children, who lived a hermit life, but the social joy before them in Madam Leon's kitchen. \:. i'v ;-:.^i i.^'.v.kip; .1 1 CHAPTER VIII. • THE PARTY AND THE MAN OF THE VISION. mHE day of the party came, but alas, the rain J- fell heavily, and a raw, cold air drove all who were not pressed with outdoor business, round the fire ! The sable members of Dave Huggins' fam- ily watched the clouds, hoping against hope, and prophesying, against all signs, that it was goin' for to clear at noon." Obed remarked" jocosely that weather made no diflerence to " great men that always rid a hossback," and that he should go " if de mud was up to his bosses' eyes." The old men said they'd never made any but stolen visits to the Colonel's folks, and that go they would, rain or no rain ! The youth with a stiff knee begged a ride behind Obed, and the half-grown boys " liked rain " they said, " better'n sunshine." But poor Weza trembled when she thought of the long walk tlirough deep mire in a pink muslin and Mrs. Huggins' slippers, twice too big for her, tied on by a twine which was fastened at Uie heel ! 77 '3 ^" Jfe «, 78 OUT OP THE WILDKKSESS. f Tlie men were in high spirits* over their new clothes and shoes and gay cotton neckorchiefs. They felt that these were to give thriu a new position in society, for hitherto they had been obliged to stay at home, even from quarteily •.;..••. - ■■J meeting. As they sat round the kitchen fire when they should have l»een at work, 1' .e opened the door suddenly. " Come, now, yer lazy fellows," ho cried, " is this the way ye'rc a goin' to pay mo for thrm splendid clothes? Off to yer work, or yer shan't go a step to the dance! Weza, yer missus wants yer. ' ' ' Mrs. Huggins wanted to say she thought Weza " had better give up the visit, as she mought take her death of rhumatiz ; and wors'n that, Mrs. Leon might think they were either poor or mean or shiftless, to let a woman walk so far without an umbrelly in a summer muslin ! " "0, missus dear, don't please say one word 'bout me not goin', else I'U either go crazy or die. I must go ! " '« Well, then, if you must, you must, I suppose," replied Mrs. Huggins, too tired to argue the point ; " but be sure to tell 'em our best boss was lame, and that our wagon was to the wheelwright's, and lit Weza ^ht take rs. Leon mean or thout an ne word ty or die. suppose he point ; vas lame, ght's, and THE PARTY AND THE MAN OF THE VIRION. 79 that ycr wouldn't wear a thick dresa and shoes nor c:u ly an umbrelly, all I could say to yer ! " Weza did not pledge her.sclf to repeat thi» beau- liliil fiction, but she was so afraid Mrs. lliiggiim might get energy to change her inind that she be- gan her preparations soon after dinner, resolved to .slip off and liide till the time came. Toilet accom- modations were rather saant at the " nmnsion- lioiise." On a bench by the door stood a pail of water with a goiud dipper in it, and against the outer wall, secured by the heads of four large nailsj was a piece of looking-glass to accommodate such of the family as regarded personal appearance. One of the blacks accommodated another by pour- ing out water from the gourd, wliicli was caught up and thrown over the face and bands. Tliia was called " washing," on Huggins' plantation. A difficulty now presented itself in the way of I)oor Weza. There was no white skirt to wear under the thin pink muslin; but that was a trifle compared to stayirtg at homo wlien her heart was nr,'.;.,'!! to speak to some woman. So she arrayed lit'iit- f as best she could, in the dress which was i ' t! j big for Ijer and in which she had taken a di^ tuck with green thread, the only available C'...jr. She saw the blue linsey skirt through the thin fabric, and whispered to lierself, " What J^ 80 OUT OF THE WTLOEBNESS. would my old missus say to see me lookin' dis way ! But I'm bound to go ! I feel like I'll hear somethin' 'bout my boys, or somebody ! I feel like I was goin' to a preachin' more'n to a dance ; like I was goin' to meet Jesus, 'stead of poor, tired creaturs like myself, tryin' to kivcr up dere sor- sowr wid nonsense ; I feel like dis is goin' to be a mighty night in my life ! " She had no reason to hide till the hour of the party, for Mrs. Huggins called her in, and after surveying her a moment, said, " Yer look mighty nice — all but yer dark petticoat; and yer as pretty a little woman as any lady can send there to-night. I've been up-stairs to a chist I haint opened this three year and found this here green scarf and blue bow of ribbon for yer! And if yer'll open that drawer yer'll find the handker- cher " — the Huggins pocket handkerchief — " and the feather fan. And I do believe," she* added, with more kindness than truth, "the rain has settled into a drizzle, and that aint nothin' to mind!" It was still pouring in torrents and the mud was ankle deep. " Now," said she, " that I think c I't it, I do believe there's an arabrelly in a corner I ehind the old loom, among a heap of trash the last master left here. Go up and hunt it." Sure enough, that garret supplied an umbrella, ''n .^^-.^^■.i;..-^.-„-<:.4r..».' thf; PAiiTY ak; the man of the vision. 81 »okin' dla I I'll hear ! I feel a dance ; )Oor, tired dere ser- in' to be a aur of the and after ok mighty d yer as lend there it I haint here green ! And if ) handker- ef_"and the* added, I rain has nothiu' to bs and the e, " that I ibrelly in a ip of trash mt it." umbrella, half of which was sound, so that with a pair of men's boots, which Weza drew on over Mrs. Hug- gins' slippers, she was equipped for the walk when she made her appearance down stairs. " Now remember every thing yer hear, to tell me," said her mistress. " Yer'U set) madam, for she's among her people, mostly, when any thing's goin' on. She's always on hand to the buryiu's and the marryin's ; and she looks after 'em when they're sick and old-, like she was only a nigger herself, and no big lady. She'll speak to yer, no doubt, for she's civil to everybody's blacks ; and she mought ax for me. If she does, tell her I'm a real lady, that I don't turn my hand to work but sit still in a cheer, mostly. Tell her I don't need to work ; the master's got so well off — got such heaps of pine wood to sell yet oiF his land ; and tell her, too, how't I give yer a Bible to read in the kitchen, 'cause I was so beset to have yer all religious ! If she offers to come over to see me, seeiu' I'm weak in the jints, make her set a day, so we can have the place cleaned up first and be ready for her." Both Mr. and. Mrs. Huggins weat to the door to look after the little brown woman, as with the two boys she set off, one half of her umljrella flapping against the side of her head at every step. ai, i ii]^ju tmmBmsi I 82 OUT OP THE WILDEUNESS. The other members of the family had preceded them. " Now look out ypr dun't make no 'quaint- ances," Huggina called after her. " Dou't ax a livin' crcatur' to call here. Well, that's sarchin' after pleasure, ha," he said to his wife, as he saw the trio plodding through the mud ; but I'm afeared that ain't the worst ou't ! We'll hear of the roast pig and the cliicken pie and the fancy trashes madam will give 'em, for the rest of our lives! and I'll bet my head, afore she lets 'em off, siie'U give 'em all a trainin' in religion, —she's so awful bigoted ! " "Well, I do say," replied Mrs. Huggins, "that if I had a married the Colonel when I was a gal, and was missus of all his fine things now, I wouldn't come down so low as to teach niggers every Sunday night in my kitclien ; not I ! " " Me neither ! " cried Iluggins. " If I was so bigoted that I would have 'em laru religion, why I'd hire one of them low bred, ignorant Yankees, Ihat has to do it for a livin', to come down a pur- pose ! It's their business, and I soy let every man stick to his own trade ! I'm amazed at the Colonel for a sulferin' her to do it ! I'm too high sperited to let yer larn niggers ! " and ho cast a look of mingled pride and tenderness at his wife, who ao- THE PAnTY AND THE MAN OP THE VISION. 83 preceded 'quaiut- m't ax a t sarchin' IS he saw in afeared the roast jy trashes our hves! off, she'll ) 80 awful ns, "that vas a gal, ;8 now, I jh niggers !" f I was so igion, why k Yankees, own a pur- every man the Colonel a;h speritcd a look of ifc, who ao- khowledgcd liis coinjtliment with a capacious smile, taking care it didn't endanger her pipe. " That's so, Huggins ; I hold to evcryhody keep- in' his own place ; and I say the place of ladies that lives in mansion houses and whose husbands own acres and acres of pine land, is to sit still in Ihclr cheers, mostly. A lady mought as well be poor and have to arn her bread as to be always a worryin' about cuttin' out clothes and a mixin physic and larnin' religion to the people ! " " I tell yer what I (hink madam is up to," said Dave ; "she's sot out to git a high seat in heaven. Them Leons was always bound to be on the top o' the hea[> wherever they be ! " ' • " Yes, may be," 'said Mrs. Huggiiw, taking out her pipe to fill it ; " but I beUeve what I once heerd a minister say, that every one has got to look out after his own individual soul ; so I needn't look after our black people's souls — supposin' they've got souls. But I'm amazed at the Colonel, that he don't put a stop to her doin't ' "Pho! the Colonel!" cried Dave; "he's the easiest creatur' that ever lived. She's got the upper haiid of him, mostly. They do say there u'.n't a liviu' thing goes on over that great plantu-, lion that she don't poke her finger into. If there's a row 'tween the , overseer and the field hands she IHK 84 OUT OP THE WILDEONKSS. holds court and hears for and agin, and gives sen- tence like a judge. That's why Blaters was driv' off. She took sides with the people and said he was rough and overworked 'em, and he had to walk back to Obi' quicker'n ho come down. Let the old Colonel enjoy his company and go huntin' and fixiu' up meetin'-houses and tendin' 'lections and readin' books, yer may do 'l)out as yer like with him. The wonder is that the plantation hasn't turned itself upside down, or run off som'ers." " It seems to stand, though, and things do look fine there, for all," replied Mrs. Huggins, with a sigh, as she thought of the contrast between "the easy Colonel's" plantation and her '-high spirited" husband's. The two boys and Weza, after awhile, conquered the mud, and in n very moist state reached the Colonel's plantation. As they approached the large kitchen, which was now brilliantly lighted by j)ine knots, ihey heard the buzzing of voices and the peals* of lauglner. Then Weza's heart failed her, and fearing to face the very people she had so longed to see, she drew back to hide herself be- hind the boyt:, and said, " I's feared to go in ; I'll have to go back again, I's so bashful of strange folks." Jusv then a very jUreat and very black THE PARTY AND THE MAN OF TUE VISION. 85 ves sell- as driv' said he bad to rn. Let I huntiu' 'lections yer like lantation run off s do look 18, with a the rited'» een 8pi jonqucred iched the • iched the lighted by voices and eart failed she had so herself be- go in ; I'll of strange very black man, with arms ~*Jr'i^''^i*it*'Ji^r-v!WAins£ ;i'.'j,)i^.i|*''>'rt-i'w:';"»-. BriB JOtOl^tm r 92 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. Red Sea, and of Pharaoh's fate. " See,uo\v," he added, by way of comment, " if he didn't get come up wid handsome for oppressin' of de Lord's people. Mind yer, now, I don't say a word about dese times nor de Pharaoh dat lives now. It's about de dead one, and it's alius safe talkin' agiu him, for he's gone wid his hossmen and his chariots and can't chase us if he wants to, so we'll give him his dues and take warnin' ourselves how we dare to fight agin God and his people. Friends, dere's no work in dis world dat pays so poor as dat, 'cause we loses all our time, and is sure to come off beat in de end. My dear mammy died on her knees while she was at prayer, a axin' de Lord, no doubt, to do his own will wid her, — and he done it. She wae a prophet, and she fore- telled dat de Lord was a comin' down from heaven wid a heap of angels, and wid de sound of a trumpet, to shake dis arth to its foundations byme- by, and dat den we — all dat's in trouble and sor- row, yor know — would be brung out of de wild' ness wid signs and wonders and plagues like Pharaoh had onto him. De last words she said to me was. ' De great and terrible day of de Lord is at hand. Don't yer run out of de wild'ness, like a coward or a thief, but stand still and wait for de salvation of do Lord.' And so I will, Lord help iiiMti^'- ' !,uo\7," he 't get come de Lord's irord about now. It's talkin' agiu n and his to, so we'll ' rurselves his people, iat pays so ime, and is ear mammy yer, a axiu' wid her, — id she fore- from heaven sound of a itions byme- ble and sor- of de wild' )lagues like ) she said to f de Lord is I'ness, like a [ wait for de 1, Lord help THn PAUTY AND THE MAN OP THE tlSION. 93 !ue. When dat day comes, if dere's one of you dat wants a strong arm and a big fist to help yer out, call on me, for, thank de Lord, he's gin me both, 'sides a lovin' heart and a good temper, if I do say it myself." Zack's speech was well received and frequentl7 applauded. It was an honor to listen to him, standing as he did in a mysterious relation to Massa Leon, and being, as he was, well supplied from some unknown source with clothes, pocket money and jack-knives, and always at the head of some work and showing little regard for the overseer's authority. Had Zack not been a good man, he would have been a very dangerous one on the estate. When he ended his talk, they all sang to a lively tune, " We'll join de army of de Lord, And fight for yunder crown." Tlien the old saint Cleo told her "sperience," which of itself would make a- book and teach heavenly wisdom to the wise of this world. Another and another related the story of his life, each one acknowledging God's hand in leading him through the wilderness, and expressing a firm hope that he would lead him out of it and up to glory. There were songs of praise and pleasant ^.^uiailiM^ 9i OUT OP THE WILDEBNES8. p. tales of other days, and words of hope for time to come ; and, mingled with all these, was sucii laughter as might have led one who did not know their hearts to say there were neithei " thorns nor nails "in their lot. During the evening Madam Leon came in to say a pleasant word to them. In her arms she bore a load of bundles containing a new dress for each woman, hostess and guest. To the men she gave jack-knives and gay cravats, saying that she knew they would rather have them than garments. She asked the strangers about their masters' families, and sent a message that she was going to open her Sunday evening school to all the colored people around, and hoped they would be allowed to come and learn about Jesus. She said, " I'm your friend, and I want to do your souls good. I waiit you to be happy here, and I want you all to live with me in heaven." After saying a few words of sympathy to Weza, of whose troubles she had heard, she shook hands with each one and then loft them to their enjoyment. " She's a woman to be worshipped if any on 'em is," said Zack, as she passed out. " I'm de man dat cat) tell a saint when I sees one, 'case I've seen BO much of dc tothcr kind. I believe do Lord o' glory loves dis one, and is fast a fittin' her for do THE PABTY MAD THE MAN OP THE VISION. 96 ir time to was BUCii not know ;horns nor 5 in to say I she bore s for each I she gave she knew jnts. She }' families, open her red people d to come I'm your i. I wOiit all to live few words !s she had ) and then any on 'em m de man e I've seen io Lord o' her for do kingdom. 'Pears like 1 must go down on my knees afore her when I goes whar she is. If she was a Catholic she'd been called a whole saint 'fore dis time." Although the dance had naturally turned into ' " 'sperience meetin'," when they separated, long after midnight, all were perfectly satiefied with the entertainment. When Weza was getting ready to go Zack asked, " Mought I hilp yer through de mud, little brown woman?"- Weza told him she had " her own folks along," ■but he cried, " Pho, what's three old uien, and two cripples, and a couple o' half growed slips to get a poor weak woman through dis mire ? I's goin' any how, to take keer on yer ! " And he did go : and during the walk the inno- cent Weza told him that the shepherd in her vision was just like him, and that he had a gold chain to bind him to the great Maasa that loved him ; and he was pointed out as the one to help her out of the wilderness and up to glory. " Well, den, I'll do dat, so please de Lord ! ' cried Zack, " for ye're only a poor weak woman, and does sure lieed some stout arm to lean agin. I'll keep my eye on yer, though." 96 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. And he fulfilled his promise iii a way that made Dave Huggins lament bitterly that he had allowed Weza to go to that party at the Goloael's. .vi.! iiat made d allowed CHAPTER IX. AN UNWELCOME GUEST. IT'S juBt as I told yer, old woman," cried Dave Huggins, as angry as he had energy to be; " look out o' that *are window by yer, and see if I aint a true prophet." Mrs. Huggins did look out, and there, with a stout set of cedar bars between them, stood Zach and Weza talking together. " Mighty fine work this," exclaimed Dave, " for two Christians, a breakin' of the Sabbath this way, beside the twelve commandments into the bargain, which says, ' Sarvants 'bey yer masters in all things, which same is well pleasin' unto the Lord.' I larnt that forty years ago of my p-and- rnother ; and see how I remembered it so's to do my duty by my sarvants. That sly little woman's been a doceivin' of us all this time, 'pearin' to care notliin' for company, nor nothin' but her two boys and 'ligion. Didn't I tell her not to make •T . hMI 98 OUT OP THE WILDERNBSS. oiio 'quaintancc to the party, and never to let rae catch any of them Leon blacks over here, or I'd fetch out my gun ? And now here's that great fellow that don't seemed to be owned by nobody, big enough and black enough to be a Guinea pirate, a prowlin' about, and a plottin* of my life, for all I knows." »< Mought be he come of his own 'cord, without her axin' of him at all,'' said Mrs. Huggins, " and then 'taint no fault o' her'n. She's a mighty nice little woman any how, and powerful feelin' and tender of weak folks. Ye mought throw a few stones at him, but look out and not hurt my little- woman," added the philanthropic lady. Huggins drew his chair up to his wife's, and whispered, " I wouldn't throw a stone nor even a liash word at that fellow for the valley of the whole plantation, — for betwixt us^ I'll confess that I'm feared on him. He's the proudest, pompous- est, boldest creatur' I ever laid eyes on with the name of a slave ; and I only wonder he hasn't riz and murdered all the Leons at night. He will do it yet. T'other day I met him a haulin' fence rails, and I axed him a passin' if he thought it was four o'clock. And what does he do but out with a great silver watch as big as my fist — just like he was 1 rich planter — and shame me by tellin' me. AN UNWELCOME GUEST. 90 re, or that great by nobody, inca pirate, life, for all ord, without ggifls, " and mighty nice I feelin' and throw a few hurt my littlo- ^y- A As wife's, and ne nor even a valley of the confess tbat idest, pompous- 011 with the he hasn't riz He will do [ulin' fence rails, ight it was four out with a just like he by tellin' me- the time. If I live to go down river I'll buy a wntch, I will, as big as that one ; for mine's been good as dead this five year." "Obed says," replied Mrs. Huggins, "that he 'blongs to a mighty rich young man down river, that wanted to get rid on him for some reason or nother and darsen't sell him. He sent him up here for safe keepin*." " Feared of his life, I'll warrant," said Dave. " Darsen't keep him, and darsen't sell him ; so he turned our place into a pintintiary and sent him up here for his own safety. He'll git up an insurraction hero, and we'll all be murdered, else lose our black folks, some night." " He seeras to be helpin' peaceable enough," said Mrs. Huggins, calmly, by way of apology for Zack. It took more than suggestions of insurrec- tions and murders to disturb her equanimity when her pipe was full. Dave ventured to peep out of the window again, and there was our honest friend Zack feeding the bogs, while the httle brown woman and the stiflF- knced boy leaned ov^r the bars and looked on com- placently. " Isn't that alarmiu'," cried Dave, " to see him a takin' of my matters right into his own hands ? Ha?" »",■■ -?r r 100 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. " There's no great crime in feeding of hogs, as I see," replied Mrs. Huggins, determined not to be disturbed by any fears real or imaginary. " But they aint his hogs, so what business has he a meddlin' with 'em ? " asked Dave, in a fretfiil tone. " Done it to help Weza, I s'pose. She always does it now to save IHck. She tries to save every- body but herself; and I tell yer them wrists o' her'n is powerful weak for heavy lifts ; and that's why he's a helpin' of her, and I'm glad on't." " And he'll go back and tell that I haint got a sound hand on my plantation, he will ; that he had to come over here to help ; and then ire Colonel will call me ' mean ' agin. I suppose he'll think it's as ' mean ' to let a little woman like yonder one feed hogs and split wood as it is not to paint meetin' houses," cried Dave, looking deeply wounded. " Phc " exclaimed Mrs. Dave, " ye're a gettin' yerself all riled up for nothin'. I don't care ef he does come and help and go home and tell on't ; and I don't care if they do say ye're mean ; like's not if I'd married the Colonel when I was a gal, and yer'd a refused to help paint the meetin'-house I mought a said so myself. Don't talk no more, it tires me to hear yer." AN UNWELCOME GUEST. 101 hogs, as I not to be less has he n a fretful She always save every- n wrists o* ; and that's on't." haint got a ; that he had . the Colonel e he'll think L like yonder J nob to paint )king deeply ye're a gettin' don't care ef and tell on't; 5 mean ; like s a I was a gal, B meetin'-house talk no more, it • Dave, getting so little sympathy where he had a right to look for it, was thrown upon his own resources for consolation and wisdom in the matter. He peeped out of one window and then out of another. He opened his mouth to call Weza in, and then shut it without uttering a sound. He walked the floor a few moments meditating on a plan ; when suddenly he opened the door and went up the broad old staircase, now seldom used at all. He found his way to the garret, and from the heap of broken chairs, old boots and hats, books and saddles, where Weza had found her umbrella for the party, he drew out two guns which had been fine pieces in the days of the old master, and which still looked very fierce. Their outward ap- pearance was as terrific as ever, but they lacked the soul of a gun. These he bore in triumph down stairs'to exhibit, thinking thus to alarm the in- truder. With one in each hand he walked round the house, not appearing to see the group at the bars, but expecting that at sight of him Zack would run over the corn-field ; when he would point one of them at him and threaten to take his life if ever he showed his face there again. What was his surprise, then, to see Zack leave his friends, and walk deliberately up to him. Had the guns been 102 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. loaded, Dave would have run now ; but as it was,, he felt uncommonly brave. " Good evening, Massa Huggins," said Zack. " What ye " doin' wid two guns ? Le's see 'em, please, I's a powerful fellow at firearms," con- tinued he; "been a great gunner bnd hunter in gineral, from de cradle, most; and I'm great on repairin* guns, too. Well, 'pears like I'll have business here, for dese is only de shells of guns, but over'n our shop on t'other plantation we've got heaps of things to work wid. I'll take dcm home for ye, sir, and fix 'em up to-morrow or next day. Mighty nice weather, sir." As he smiled, and showed his great white teeth, Huggins became reassured. It could not be, he thought, that a villain's heart could be hidden by such a merry face. But although he let Zack take the guns to repair, he was as firm ad ever in his resolution " not to have him prowlin* about the plantation." Zack was quite independent, saying, as Huggins turned to go in, " I dropped over to see yer folks arter de preachin', and I reckon I'll take a bite of Bomethin' with 'em 'fore I goes badk, wid yer leave, Massa Huggins." To this proposition Dave said, " Well," in no very gracious tones, but Zack wasn't sensitive; and •MM AN UNWELCOME GUEST. 103 ,8 it waB,. aid Zack. , gee 'em, pas," con- hunter in great on , I'll bave A of guns, ition we've I take dem . ■morrow or white teeth, not be, be i be hidden he let Zack firm afl ever rowlin' about g, as Huggins see yer folks take a bite of »a(5k, wid yer 5II," in no very sensitive; and now, quite at his ease, he added, " As yer people don't go to the mcetin', I thought it might please de Lord, my great Ma8sa,1f I come over and re- peat what I heerd from de preacher dis day." "Got heaps of religion theirselves," growled Dave. " If yer missus thinks her folks is the only ones that gets Sciiptur' larniu', she's mistakened, for they aint. My wife has giv'n our folks a mighty nice Bible, and sot Weza a teachin' on 'em religion. There's tliree on 'em can read for their- selves, too. I never teaohed 'em. They kind o' kotched their larniu' from Miss Huggins and me, I reckons ; " and with this disclaimer he walked into the house, leaving Zack quite at home on the place, a self-invited guest at supper. Huggins' dormant energies were aroused for once. He was grieved, frightened and angry, as he walked back to his chair ; byt Zack was master of the situation, and had matters all his own way in the kitchen. After Wcza had prepared -upper for her master and mistress, and cleared it jway again, there was talking and reading 'and singing and praying in the kitchen, and as much freedom exercised there as if the happy creatures owned not only themselves, but the whole world too. There were times when this class were lifted above poverty, pain and oppression ; when they forgot '^ 104 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. themselves and all their outward circumstances, and were men and women saved by grace, and standing face to face with their Lord and Master. Then they envied no one, feared no one ; but were safe and happy under His shadow, where alone the high and the low can hnd rest and joy. And this was one of thoso timep vrhich they called " standin' on de mount.'' "Here we ifi now, .brothers atd sisters," said Zack, " wid oui' feet plar.ted firm on Mount Zion, a talkin' to de blessed Master Jesus, and hearin' him answer us. 'Pears like dis was a greater time for us den dat was for de holy 'ciples when de dear Lord take dem on do Mount wid him, when dere 'peared Moses and 'Lias a taikin' wid him. He was transfigured afore dem once, and his gar- ments shined liked de light 'fore dem OTiee. He is always transfigured in our eyes ; his garments al- ways shinin' like de light 'fore us. He stays on de Mount no more hungry, no more tired, yet he comes down to us, and talks wid us like we was Moses and 'Lias. He looks out for us like we was kings, and he's gettin' places ready for us up dcro 'mong de many mansions, and bymeby he'll come and take us home to glory. Does we envy any body ? No sir. Does we wish we owned two plan- tations, Uko dear Massa Leon, but had no Christ ? AN UNWELCOME GUEST. 105 jumstances, grace, and and Master. B ; but were re alone the r. And this Bd"8tandin' listers," said lount Zion, a i hearin' him ater time for ivhen de dear m, when dere ivid him. He and his gar- a onee. He is 8 garments al- He stays on •e tired, yet he lis like we was us like we was for us up dcro leby he'll come es we envy any owned two plan- had no Christ 1 No, no, no. Does we wish we took life easy, and was our own massas like massa Hugglns, and had uothiu' to do but eat and drink and sleep like dem folks I just been feedin' out in de pen ? No, no, no. We's willin' to wear de thorns on our head like he did. We's willin' to walk a little while like Jesus bisscif walked on de 'arth, — poor, and tired, and without a house like de birds and de foxes, and no purse o' money, and not even our liberty to go and come as we please. We can 'ford, friends, to drink cf de cup he drink of, and to be baptized wid de baptism he was baptized wid ; yes, more den dat, we'g willin'^to die like he died, and lie in de grave a little while like he did ; 'case bymeby we'll rise and reign wid him in glory. Now I'll sing one o' my dear mammy's down-river hymes, and you may jine in de chorus, dat goes like dis : "'0, glory, glory, glory! De happy day shall rise, When we shall meet our Jesiu, ■ Singin' ' glory • in de skies.' " " 0, yes, brother," interrupted the little brown woman, " it's easy wearin' thorns on yer head, and slecpin' like de bii^ds and foxes ; easy 'nough goin' to prison or to death ; but could yer sing ' Glory, glory, glory,' if de thorns was in yer heart ? If yer had two pretty boys, one dat yer couldn't get to, ■'wyiiyrtjMiiMi^liiwrtiini^ ..-tmUti ■■■■■■ ■ 106 001 OP THE WILDERNESS. and t'other one lost forever and forever somewiiar in di8 great wilderness, could yer look so happy and sing, ' Glory, glory, glory ? ' " " Sartin," replied Zack ; " do bigger and de sharper de thorns, de louder I'd sing of dc glory dat's beyond ! If things went all our way here we'd be mighty shy of heaven and keep mighty still about do glory dat's ahead! We'd be sat- isfied to hang on here forever ! Jesus knows dat, so he lets de thorns be put on to de head or into de heart, just whar we needs 'em most ! He knowf.d what arthly love was, well as t a do ; and he was tempted in every pint like we's tempted ; and he pities us, and when he sees fit tie'll remove de thorns ! Now try for to trust him wid yer boys, yer poor, weak woman, and bimaby he'll show yer what he's been a doin' for yer all dis time. De very best way to take de pint* off o' dem thorns is to keep all de time lookin' ahead and singin', * Glory, glory, glory ' ! " " There, now," cried Dave Huggins, " I've stood this ere noise as long as I can ! " and opening the outer door, he called to Zack, " What time is it, I'd like to know ? I reckons ihat watch o' yern is rmi down ! " " Well, Massa Huggins, it's ten o'clock," re- plied the good-natured fellow, ".and I reckons yer -rfMMl)Mm#jft^hH4tiitiM AN UNWELCOMB GUEST. 107 and de de glory jiay l»ere f) migbty I be satr nowB dat, id or into lost! He do ; and tempted; I'U remove d yer boys, II show yer time. De m thorns is ind singitt', " I've stood opening the t time is it, ratch o' yern o'clock," re- [ reckons yer tliinks it's 'bout time folks dat haint got no passes should go home! Good-niglit, massa; say good- night to missus for mc, please, and if yer ever wants a good turn, jist call on dis boy wid de strong arms, sir." Dave couldn't help calling out "good-night" through the darkness, and felt not a little relieved when he heard the heavy steps of Zack falling on the sod as he walked toward the lane. " There, now ! " cried Dave to Mrs. Huggins. But ho might as well have addressed the "cheer " as the lady who sat in it, for she had long been in blest oblivion. "There, now, yer can't quairel with that feUow if yer want to ; and it's too bad ! I shouldn't ought to have let him oflFthis way with- out forbiddin' of him to come here agin ! " The truth was, that Dave, now relieved of the . wholesome fear Zack had inspired, wanted to quar- rel with somebody. Mrs. Huggins was asleep, and couldn't interfere in behalf of her favorite, so he called in a stern tone, when sure that Zack was out of hearing, " Weza, come here to me ! " TH little woman had never heard him speak in sucx a rough voice before ; &iA remembering that she had been forbidden to make any acquaintan- ces at the party, she trembled violently as she 108 OUT OF, THE WILDERNESS. crossed from the outer kitclion to the door where he was standing in the darkness. " Well, massa ? " she asked meekly. " What did I say to yer 'bout them Leon nig- gers a comin' over here, ha ? " growled Huggins. " I didn't ax dis brother, sir, and didn't know he was a comin' till I see him," she answered. ♦' Well, now, this ere's only a beginning, I sup- pose ; but I'll put a stop to it. Don't yer ever look at that fellow nor speak to him while I ovm ye ! Do yer hear ? " " Yes, massa, I hears," replied the little woman, trembling in every limb. " And will yer premise on yer word as a Chris- tian that ye'U obey yer master in all things ? " *'0, massa, he's been so kind and massiful to me. He's so pitiful, and he's got power with de great Jesus above, — 'pears like He does whatever Zack axes him to do ; and he's promised to keep at Jesus, day and night, like do widow keep at de unjust judge, till lie send me some word about my poor boy ! " " Then yer won't promise, ha ? " " O, massa, dem chil'eu is so dear to my heart ! " she sobbed out ; " how can I. 'fuse to speak wid him dat's cuUin' on God day and night for dem ? 'Pears like dem two childreu stands right 'twixt .^MwJfcOiWiil ■Mlhiliii ^1^ as ft Chris- nasBiful to rev witb de 3S whatever >ed to keep keep at de d about my mybeart!" speak wid ht for dem ? right 'twixt yer so AN UNWELCOME GUEST. 109 me and my great Massa, sometimes, and hides Jesus from me ; and I can't stand dat." Oh, very well, just as yer like," replied Dave sarcastically. "I see yer don't care nothing for yer missus and me; we've been so cruel to ^er; we've starved yer, and whipped yer, and abused " No, massa, dat's not so ; ye've been kind to mc ; and de Lord knows I prays day and night dat he will bless ye for it ! I'm such a poor weak creatur' that hash words would break my bones as easy as hard blows ! " " Yer want to be taken down river and sold, I reckons," continued Dave, in irony. " It's mighty nice to have a change once or twice a year, and yer might run agin yer boy somewhar or nother. There's a man roui\d now, makin' up a gang for Texyas; that would be a pleasant walk, with plenty of company." At these words the little woman fell down at his feet in the darkness, and cried, '* 0, massa ! Let me sarve yer in de field or any whar. Give me half food and half clothes, but don't sell me ; for if yer do, my boy'U lose track of me forever and forever I And Massa George, dat's got my otlier little one too, he'll lose me, and 111 be like Rachel dat wept herself to death "jout her children ! " .M....JU F L 110 CUT OF THE WILT)ETiNESS. " Will yer promise then not to speak to that fel- low, nor any other of the Leon people, nor any body else that comes here spyin' round my planta- tion, as long as yer belong to me ? " *' I can't promise dat to-night, massa," sobbed the poor, comfortless creature. " Very good, then. That Zack was a pirate once ; he used to sail to fureign shores, and trap vessels and rob 'em, and then burn 'em up crew and all ! . '.nd he's Leen a highway robber, too ; and he's raised seven insurractions and hilled two or three masters, till at last they couldn't hire no body to awn him ; and so his master sent him jp here for his own safety. Now, if yer> as a Christian woman, that makes ))elieve to love tho Lord, can choose him afore yer kind massa and missus, yer may ! " *' O, massa, dat can't be true ! He's as peaceable as a kitten ; and Madam Leon tells her people if dey'U all follow Zack dey'll be faithful to de Colonel and reach heaven bymeby," she ventured to reply in a whisper. " T'jat's to flatter him, 'cauce she's feared on him," said Dave. "No, sir; when dey went off, he slept in de mansion house and kep' all de keys and — " " That's enough, now ! I don't argy with nig- AN UNWELCOHK GUEST. Ill hat fel- lor any planta- • ' sobbed a pirate iiid trap up crew ber, too; Ued two ; hire no t him ip n\ as a love tag assa and peaceable people if 'ul to de ventured feared on lept in de r with nig- gers! I lays down my laws and that's an end on't ! Yer may go to bed now. I'll talk to yer in the morning, and tell yer 'bout a letter I've Imd from little Sampson's owner ! I know all about ihe boy, and if I was to try I could get him here to see yer ! " Weza shrieked in her joy; but her master checked her by adding, " Now ye'll get yer pay for not promisin' what I axed yer, for I sha'n't tell yer a word. Zack can pray it all out, may be !" " Please, massa, mought I speak to missus afore I goes ? " asked Weza, weeping bitterly. "No, yer moughtu't! If that driver that's round here calls afore I'm up, tell him to wait, us I've got business to do with him!" And he closed the door and went in. The distressed little woman sat down on a bencli by the door and placed her hands despair- ingly over her heart. She closed her eyes, and asked help of Him who giveth wisdom to the weakest and upbraideth not. And a cahn peace stole over her heart as she communed with her " Brother Jesus." The light disappeared from Huggins' window ; and in a few moments all but herself were sleep^ ing. Then remembering that the Colonel's house was full of guests who would probably be late in wmmM /' T' " 112 OUT OP THE WTLDERNESS. retiring, she sprung up, and as if by inspiration, resolved to run over the fields and throw herself on the mercy of the gentle mistress there. Without any covering on her head or shoulders, she set off in the chill evening air to seek a shel- ter ; and as she pressed on through the darkness, she started at every motion of the trees or at the barking of a distant dog. And as she went she prayed for strength and pity. I l CHAPTER X. MADAM LEON. MADAM Leou was a tall, graceful lady, with a pale, sweet face, far too young for such silvery curls as hers. But she, amid all her riclies and comforts, had seen deep sorrow. She too had tuod " the wilderness," and its thorns and hriars had pierced her feet. She had passed through floods - and flames such as encompass few women in the quiet walks of life. In maidenhood she had been stung by family mortifications as well as by the death of those who had brought the cloud upon their name, and who weft yet very dear to her. In later years death had made sad havoc among her treasures, laying mother, sisters and little chil- dren in the grave, and she had borne her sorrows alone. Her father believed only in " fate," and had encouraged her to bear bravely what must bo borne in some way. The Colonel, kind and tender, had — after she became his wife — striven to draw m V4 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. licr mind from death by leading her into guy life, hoping to niaice her forget her dead idola by re- placing them with living ones. Journeys, parties, dress and jewels could not heal the spirit God had wounded. There were none of her family, none «f her associates who understood he case ; and as blow after blow fell on her defenceless head, she became convinced that God meant to destroy her. The gay minister whose church they attended at a distance, tried to console her, as the Colonel did, by drawing her mind . still farther from Him who held the rod. He preached on Sunday, and tallted of the consolations of religion in the week — if oc- casion required ; but most of his time was spent in riding, hunting and feasting with his few wealthy neighbors, apparently -as regardless of their souls as if he had never heard of God or eternity. He was a blind leader of the blind. One evening, years before our story opens, this man being the Colonel's. guest, and the " missus' " heart being borne down by restless longings for peace, she gathered her large family for prayers in the long dining-room. The clergyman satisfied himself by calling down blessings on "the basket and the store " of his friends, and by praying at the servants, thus giving (hem incentives to obedi- ence and threats against rebellion. When ho and guy life, >l» by re- , parties, God had , none «f ; and as head, she stroy lier. iidcd at a ilonel did, Hinci who md talked ik — if oo as spent in >w wealthy their souls rnity. He opens, this " missus' " ongings for r prayers in an satisfied "the basket praying at ves to obedi- 7hcn he and MADAM LEON. 116 the Colonel left the hall for their cigars, *' missus " asked old Cloo what she thought of the prayer. " I thinks," replied she plainly, " dat it is like de chaff which do wind driveth away ; like steam, and froth, and fog, and mist, dat yer can't get a hold on ! It never went higher den dc ruff o' do house, missus, dat's sartin ; and it won't bring down no answer of peace into yer soul. I's a better doctor for yer den yer graud doctor; and I's a better minister den dig huntin' and fishin' and billiardin' gen'l'mao is. Missus,^! must keep my place, and not go preach to a fine, high-born lady ; but let me speak out once for my Master and tell ye • dere is a "balm In Gilead and a physician dere. If yer'll only jest go dere, yer'll come bright out of all yer troubles. Den yer'll shine like a star in de firm' ment forever, and change yer tears for songs o' praise to de Lord dat love yer and led yer up out o' de wild'uess, and dat will save yer with an ever- lastin' salvation. 0, missus, dear, yer lookin' de wrong way for peace. Do ye 'spect life to spring out of de grave, or p^ace out o' rebellion ? No, 110 ; just take a hold o' dat hand dat's a beckonin' to yer, and yer'll soon find yerself on de road to glory. 'Tain't no use fightin' agin God, and it aint no use tryin' to buy 'ligion wid good works and Bich like. De Lord is a dealin' wid yer iu J .j=suujaA 116 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. maasy, liko a mother deal wid her bad child to bring it down. But she loves her child all de more for she try to make it good ; and so de deai' Lord deal wid yer dear heart. 'Cause he love ho chasten, so de good book say." " O, you happy old woman ! " cried the rich lady. " How I f^nvy you your peace and joy ! " " So well yer may, missus dear ; for I wouldn't change crowns for no queen on arth. Now yer send Tom hossback over to de judge's to-morrow, and ax mought ' Preachin' ^Jack ' come over here to see yer. I knows dat's mighty humblin' to proud natur' for a rich lady to seek larnin' of a poor black man ; but poor natur' has got fo bow down some way, and dis way is as good as any other. I know de way, de truth and de light as well as Preachin' Jack does, but I haint got ' de gift ' like him. Now I 'spects dis fine clergyman here for a gerCVman, but for a Christian, — pho ! he aint got no more 'ligion into him den our tort'shell cat has. Now, dear, I's said my say dat's been a burnin' in my heart a long time and dat I've been axin' de Lord to gin me a chance to say. If yer can stoop down in de dust to get it ye' 11 find . peace to yer soul." Madam Leon did stoop to the dust. She sent for 'Preachin' Jack', and through a few simple •■*--..., ^4.j MADAM LEON. 117 child to d all dc , de deal ,e love ho rich lady. I wouldn't Now yer to-morrow, over here amhlin' to arnin' of a • got fo bow ood as any de light as int got ' de clergyman .ian, — phol Lm den our my say dat's pime and dat liance to say. 5t it ye'll find Bt. She sent a few simple words from him, the veil was removed from her eyes, and she ceased from her great efforts for peace, gave up her rebellion against God, and found rest to her soul, — rest which, although it had now aiid then been ruffled, had never been broken, but had flowed on like a broad, calm river. Being isolated from spiritual Christians, thig lovely woman had not scorned communion with the lowly members of the Lord's fold in her family and around her. By the indulgence of the Colonel, winking at what he did not approve of, she im- parted while receiving instruction. Her Sunday evening school became a joyous festival for her large family, many of whom had now been brought to 'esua by her efforts for them. She also read a chapter in the kitchen every evening after tea, and ■ called on one or another of the family to pray, after which they sang their rude melodies of praise to God. If there could have been such a thing as extracting " the naila and thorns " from slavery it would have been done on that plantation. Madam Leon, always forebearing and pitiful, be- came doubly so after her union to the compassion- ate Saviour, She thenceforth charged hei- heart with the sorrows and the sicknesses of her people, and watcLed for their souls as one who must give 118 OUT C>'^ THE WILDSRNESS. account. And yet, brought up amidst slavery, and having seen little of its worst features, her con- science never accused her, nor did she at that time make one effort to break the chain. But shall any one dare to say she was, therefore, not a living and a loving disciple of the Lord Jesus ? Never. She did not dream of raising her sable friends to a so- cial position among their whiter brethren, and yet she would have washed their feet in imitation of Jesus, and in obedience to him. Such was the woman into whose family Zack had been introduced by his master, under the feint of a sale, to please, or rather to appease, the mad- spirited woman to whom he had blindly linked himself in the bond which only death can sever. Such was the woman to whom poor Weza flew in her anguish, with a stronf; assurance that she could help h<3r. ' ' It -was late on the Sunday night after Zack's de- parture from the Huggins plantation, that Colonel Leon sat on his broad, fine verandah, with three or four gentlemen, chatting of politics, and of the crops, and testing cigars. In the long avenue which led from the house through an orange grove to the road, a heap of corn-cobs was smouldering for the inconvenience of the mosquitos that swarm- ed about. A pretty mulatto boy ran between that MADAM LEON. 119 avery, and I, her con- ; that time b shall any , living and 'ever. She ads to a 80- en, and yet mitation of family Zack ler the feint se, the mad- indly linked 1 can sever. Weza flew in tee that she • cer Zack's de- that Colonel vrith three or », and of the I long avenue orange grove is smouldering as that swarm- 1 between that and a distant shed with a basket to replenish the fire, which, when stirred up, cast a wild liglit over the party on the verandah, the glossy foliage and the boy, who, liaving slept half the day in tlie sun, was now wide awake, and eager to hear all that was said. At length the fire waned, and the little foes ap- proached the house and gained access to the parlor, where the ladies were singing songs in keeping with the hour. A complaint was made by them, when the Colo- nel called out, in a voice terrific to one who did not know him, " Prince, keep up your fire there, you lazy young dog ; jou might as well be in bed — where you ought to be— as here." ;j But Prince, who was leaning against a pillar of the verandah, didn't move, but mumbled something between his teeth. " Why don't you start ? " cried the Colonel, in still ^ercer tones, but with a most unruffled man- ner. ' " 'Case Ps feared, massa ! Can't Jim, or Ceaze, or some o' dem bold ones, bring de cobs now, please ? " "Afraid!" cried the Colonel. "The. truth is, the women in the kitchen, and the ladies in the house, pet and doddle you up till they're making a ts ■■I mm lao OUT OF THE WILDEBNESS. fool of you ! You won't bring the price of a dog when you're a man." " Dey say Fa mighty smart, 'stead of being a fool," replied the little fellow, grinning. " I reck- ons Mammy Cleo wants me to fill her snuff box now, in a mighty big hurry ! Can't I go send Ceaze, sir ? " " Tell me first what you're afraid of with half a dozen gentlemen close by you ? " And the colonel took him by the curls and shook him playfully. " I heerd a sound, massa," replied Prince, open- ing his fine eyes and setting his lips apart, as if to show his white teeth off to the best advantage. "What kind of a soimd? Music from the parlor, or praying from the kitchen ? " asked the gentleman. '' Nether, massa ; but a sob-like, and a groan- like, and a rustin-like, and a moanin", and a creep- in', and a whisperin', and all kinds of easy noises, like ghosts in de graveyard, and when der's dead folks about ! Til run and hide if Ceaze don't come ; and den de 'squiters will eat up all de ladies!'^ And with this terrible threat the independent young gentleman took to his heels and was soon safe under the wing of Mammy Cleo, with whose authority neither blacks nor whites interfered. She took the discipline of all the children into her ff^ MkaMl>M*>i MADAM LEON. 121 8 of a dog }f being a " I reck- snuff box [ go send ^th half a the colonel ly fully, ince, open- irt, as if to utage. froai the ' asked the id a groan- md a creep- sasy noises, der's dead ion't come ; de ladies!'^ independent ,d was soon with whose interfered, ren into her own hands ; and the result was, there was little which went by the name of discipline among them. But for all tliat, they were good and pleasant chil- dren and less given to lying and tlieft than most of their class. There was no premium set on tliese vices by the Colonel, by either whipping or starv- ing them ; though they swarmed like hungry, locusts. As to " madam," it was true, as Iluggins had said, " she kept a sharp eye on the overseer and had a finger in every thing that went on on ' the plantation." Tlie little mulatto's departure was not a mean desertion in the face of the foe ; for he at once sent a subRtitute in the person of the keen-witted little feno*r who was driving the pleasure party in ' " Massa Huggins' old tumble down car'age," on the day of Weza's arrival there. He now came up, armed with a stick longer than himself, saying to the laughing gentlemen, " I's two years younger as Prince is, but 1 isn't half such a goose ! I aint afeared o' sights nor sounds nor nothin' that can't hit me a lick ! Don't believe he heard notliio', only he was mighty sleepy and want. to go to bed. I's brave ! I can kick hot coals wid my bare foot and lift corn-cobs up when dey all afire. Harkee, massa, what's dat noise 'mong de trees, ha?" And reaching forward his head, the brave hero ft» 1 Ni i rolii l ir 1^ OUT OF THE WILDEBNE6S. peered in among the bushes, looking the very picture of horror ! And not stopping to kick or pick up the coals, he followed Prince ! " I heard something myself then," said the Colo- nel, rising and going towards the spot whence the the sound came. "Hallo, there!" he cried. "Who's this, and what are you hiding for ! Matty, is that you ? " " No, massa," cried a weak voice, " it's none of yer happy people, but a poor sheep of de Lord Je- sus', wanderin' heart-broken in de wild'ness ! I felt just like He told me to come here to yer inis« BUS, and tell her my troubles and she would listen for Christ's sake, 'case I was his'n. I got here and darsn't go up to de house till de company was ^one in and de lights was out, and de music quit, den I was goin' up to call her and fall down on my kmies and bog her to make Massa HU(i,gitis tell me where my boy is ! 1 can't live if 1 don't know mighty soon ! Have massy on me, massa, and let your blessed missus come out and speak to me, way from de fine company," cried Weza, clasping her hands as if in prayec " Come out here, my woman," said the Colonel ; " you surely haven't run off from fear of your mas- ter 7 I should as soon be afraid of an old sheep ! It isn't in hiu. to be cruel. Whatever's the matter MADAM LEON. 128 you '» none of e Lord Je- d'neBs I I to yer mis- ould liHten )t here and ^ was^one quit, den I 1 my kn«)es me where )w mighty d let your way from her haud» te Colonel ; f your maft- old sheep I the matter between you, he'll sleep off his anger. But co.ne with me if you want to see madam. She's the friend of all, thank Heaven ! And she keeps her- self in business too," h€ added to his guests, with a smile. The poor, trembling woman was led into the hall, and the lady, when called, left her guests and came out to meet her. " Ah, my poor little woman," she said, " is this you ? I hope nothing has gone wrong with you and my neighbors. Gome with me to my own room and 'et me know if I can help you." The " little brown woman " told her whole his- tory to the lady, down to the hour when Massa Huggius revealed the story of the letter, and vowed that she should never see it and never know where her boy was. The lady asked, " What did Mrs. Huggins say ? " '' 0, missus dear, massa wouldn't even let me speak to her, and said maybe I'd never speak to her on arth agin. Dere's a driver round arter a gang, and I's feared he'll sell me in de morning." Madam Leon smiled. '* Keep your mind sasy, my poor woman, about being sold. There's no driver about. Although we never sell our })Cople, we hear every thing that goes on among those who do ; and I know there's no truth in this ! Beside, M OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. you're the only person in that house to get the food ; and they like you too well to sell you. Go home now and go to bed quietly, trying to trust your boys with God, and I will ask the Colonel what he can do for you. Be sure Mrs. Huggins will take your part ; and as for your poor massa', he's more afraid of her than you are of him. I will shield you from being sold ; for if they offer you, the Colonel will buy you rather than hare you sent off far from your children. Surely, my little woman, you can trust your boys where you trust your soul, can't you ? — with the tender Saviour ? '* Weza burst into tears ; and smiling through them, she said, " Yes, yes, angel of a lady, I can, and I will too; and I'll go home and love old massa and missus, and love my hard work, and thank de dear Lord for dem all ! " Then the lone creature set off with a far lighter heart over the corn-field for home ; and that night she slept the sleep which God g^vetli to his be- loved. The next morning poor Dave looked far more like the humbled party than Weza did. He had unwisely related his last night's work to Mrs. Huggins, who was more stirred by it than she could have been by one of the " yarthquakes " she had always talked of. She had actually taken her MADAM LEON. 125 [) get the you. Go r to trust le Colonel I. Huggins or massa', )f him. I they offer ft have you fy my little 5 you trust Saviour ? " ig through ady, I can, id love old work, and I far lighter 1 that night . to his be- jd far more id. He had >rk to Mrs. it than she quakes" she lly taken her pipe out of her mouth and laid it beside her plate at the breakfast table that she might scold without lundrance. " Mighty hard on me, a poor, tired woman and stiff in the jints too ! Mought ha' let my little woman alone when she's the only decent one I've had for seven year! But you must go scoldin' ab6ut her 'ligion and 'cause a man spoke to her, and tellin' her about that letter, and a frettin' of her in gineral." *' I didn't ! " Dave ventured to say, but it was said much as a whipped but unsubdued boy replies to ]iis father. " I knowed he'd go home and tell that our fences was do^n and our carts broke and our bosses lame and our house runnin' down and every thing ! And I don't want nobody a spyin' about and tellin' my family secrets." " Family secrets ! " cried Mrs. Dave, scornfully. " I guess the Colonel's got eyes ! He couldn't live within ten miles of us and not know that I've gin up tryin' to keep things straight, 'cause yer haint got no ambition. I tell yer our secrets is all out doors. If I'd a married the Colonel when I was a gal, things wouldn't a' been iu this bene condition ! " " Umph ! " growled Dave, " if I'd a married Madam Leon when I was young, things on that 126 ■ OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. plantation wouldn't 'a' looked as they do now, — no, no, that isn't what I mean. I mean things wouldn't 'a' — 'a' — looked, — " " Pho ! " cried Mrs. Dave, " I reckon that's it, whether yer mean it or not. They wouldn't 'a' looked as they do now, sure! They'd W looked used up in gineral, mostly, I reckon." Dave was just trying to right himself on the sub- ject, when Mrs. Huggins dropped her hands and threw back her head as if smitten with a sudden palsy, and exclaimed, " As sure's I'm sittin' in this cheer" — a surer thing couldn't be — "there comee the Colonel's smart car'age with him and her and two of their companies comin' to call on me. Where shall I hidfi ? No, Huggins, you go hide ; Weza, bring mo my changeable silk gown and crape shawi, and my bonnet and parasol and fan. No, no, not the bonnet nor parasol nor fan. folks don't need them to see company. Pick up the dishes! Fly, now!" that's it, didn't •ft' looked ,n the sub- hauda and , a sudden tin' in this [lere comer ad her and ill on me. 1 go hide ; gown and ol and fan. fan. t'olks ick up the CHAPTER XL GREAT EVENTS. ^pHERB are great events in the history of every X family, and such was this visit of Colonel and Madam Leon to the Huggins mansion. Mrs. Huggins had barely time to throw on her changea- ble silk and hide its unclosed front with the gay crape shawl, but not time to arrange her elf locks, before the carriage stopped at the door. The lord of the mansion was in his shirt sleeves, their elbows bearing evidence that Mrs. Huggins was stitf in lier fingers as well as in other " jints." His slip- pers had been manufactured with a jack-knife from a pair of old boots, and bore strong nroof fhat " reconstructing " was not recreating. " Ketch up the odd things that's lyin' round and fling my pipe out of the window, Weza, for Obed says madam thinks iv's a shame for a woman to smoke, and don't even let her black women do it ; and when they knocks tell 'em yer'U come in aud- 197 128 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. Bee if I'm home, 'case I wouldn't like them to think I dressed up a iturpose fur them," said Mra. Huggins. It was the middle of the forenooon, and quite a proper time for a call. The " companies " sat ia tiie carriage, while the Colonel and his lady came in just in time to catch a glimpse of Dave's elbows as he fled into the back entry. They must have been a little surprised at the style in which their hostess was half gotten up, but more so when she ex- pressed regfet that she, " bein' uncommon stiff in the jints that mornin', should have such a late breakfast and been ketched with this here old gown and shawl on." For although there was no social visiting between these two families, they often mot at funerals ; and the lady had never seen Mrs. Hug- gins in any other dress, summer or winter, but the one just spoken of so scornfully. After the usual civilities were over, the Colouei asked, *' Can we see neighbor Huggius this morn- ing?" " Well, yes," replied Mrs. Dave, " he's about some'ere or nother, a seein' arter things. He lins to be up with the sun, a lookiu' arter these lazy creeturs. I tell yer. Colonel, it's mighty hard ruu- nin' a plantation without an overseer. The nig- gers shirks so under the gentleman hisself — at OHEAT EVUaiTS. t39 Itcm to aid Mrs. • [ quite a " gat ill idy came 's elbows »ave been ir hostess a she ex- ►n stiff in ch a late . old gown I no social often mot Mrs. Hug- er, but the le Colonel his morn- le's about He has these lazy y hard ruu- The nig- liisself — at least ours docs, mostly. Weza ! Weza-a-a-ah !" she added, at the same time thumping loudly with a chair on the floor. The little brown woman appeared, looking very shy. The excitement of this great event, on which she felt sure that her destiny hung, brought color even to her dark cheek. " Weza," said her mistress, " take your master's coat out to him - — he's some'er's off on the planta- tion a lookin' arter Ivis men — and tell him no mat- ter what he's a doin' of he must come in, for Colo- nel Leon and madam's here. And tell him he's been out so long it's time he had a rest." Weza took the coat from a press and went into the front entry, and in an incredibly short time — considering how far off her master had been — he appeared, shiniug as if he had been scoured with soft soap. His full gray hair stood up in strongly defined ridges, having been combed with his big fingers, there being no adequate toilet arrange- ments in the back entry. Ho gave his guests a very dump right hand, and said to each, " I'm proud to see yer, and I hope yer find yerselvea well." After they had chatted about the crops and the wood which Dave was selling to the river-boats, ii OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. tliu hoHt rose and asked, *^ Have brandy or gin, Colonel?" " Oil, neither, thank you," replied the gentleman, with an arch smile. " Among the bad habits this good lady broke me of twenty years ago was that of drinking gin. She told me then never to touch it, and I haven't dared to do so since." •" Yer drink wine, don't yer ? " " Very seldom. Once in a wliile at a public din- ner, when she's not there to watch me, I do take one glass ; but I call myself a temperance man," said the Colonel. " Well," replied Huggins — quite at his ease on a theme of which ho felt himself master — " so be I a temperance man — on my own hook. I've been axed agin and agin to jine pledges, but I tell 'em I c»n be a temperate man without no oaths. I'm an American citizen, bom free. The first article of faith in the Constitution of the United States is, * All men is born free and equal ' ; now, if I signs away my liberty to drink gin when I'm a mind to, why, then, I'm no longer ' free and equal,' but a slave to a temperance 'siety. I call it an awful thing not to be free and equal in a country whose' articles of i'aith says, every man's free and equal. But I'm a temperance -man, for all that ; for no man alive ever say me so tipsy that I didn't know GREAT EVENTS. 181 jentleman, habits this ) was that r to touch public din- ,, 1 do take ance man,' his ease on 5r — "80 be . I've been I tell 'em I hs. I'm an st article of 3d States is, iw, if I signs n a mind to, equal,' but a it an awful ountry whose' se and equal. hat ; for no [ didn't know what I was about. I con drink, and drink, and drink, and yet walk as straiglit as yer do. Now that's more than these temperance 'sietics can do. If they should drink a tenth part the gin I do, they'd stagger like a spent top, they would." When Dave had thus defined his jwsition on the temperance question, the Colonel changed the sub- ject to negroes ; and after a moment he said, " I hear you are trying to sell this little woman we just saw. My wife wants one about like lier, so we thought we'd drive over and make some in- quiries," " Sell her! " exclaimed Mrs. Dave, " I'd as soon sell him" and -she pointed at her husband with most unconjugal coolness. 'J Excuse me," said the Colonel. " I was in- formed that you said there was a driver about here making up a gang for Texas, and that he was. to call on you this morning, when you were to sell her. I hadn't heard of the driver before." " There, now," cried Dave, " that ere's the work of Obed. Him and that boss o' his'n is doing heaps of mischief by cairjnng news from one plan- tation to another. I suppose they was sittin' about some'er's in the dark last night when I was for- biddiu' Weza to steal bacon and chickens to give 13f OUT OP THE WlLDERNEiiS. to the boatmen she's got acquainted with and that are forever prowlin' about." " Never see a boatman on the place, and don't believe she ever stole a pin," said Mrs. Huggins. " Did yer threaten to sell her ? " " Well, I just hinted that if she didn't walk straight and keep strange niggers off my plantation I mought be driv' to rash measures," said Dave. " If you've any such thought," said madam Leon, " my husband will give you a hundred dollars more than you paid for her 't " ;.» ; >.j(;,j,>Yf " I wouldn't take a thousand," cried Mrn. Dave. " I feel like I'd bought a mother and a sister and a darter and a sarvant all in one. She's the only real bargain Hugging ever got ;■ and he wouldn't have got her so cheap at auction. She was on a plantation, and couldn't stand the hot sun. She was born a lady's maid, and that's what makes her 80 valuable -to me ; she can dress my hair so beau- tiful and wait on me in giueral. The rest of our niggers aint wuth their feedin'." " Yes," said Dave, " she's right. I have bad mighty bad luck witli hands. See how old my three men is and how lamo them two boys is." " But you know," suggested the Colonel, " the men wern't infants when you bought them, and the others were always lame." ""^llMi-n ■■ ""■fOXIWMWpPPW**- GREAT EVENTS. 188 and that nd don't Hugging. in't walk plantation I Dave, iam Leon, ;d dollars VIri. Dave. ister and a 3 the only e wouldn't e was on a , sun. She makes her air so beau- rest of our I have had ow old my ays is." )loncl, " the lem, and the "There's Obed, I couldn't give liim away,— rhoss and ail," cried Huggins, mournfully. " ^id you give any thing for him ? " " Well, no, not a big price, and I wish I hadn't took him at all. He's gettin powerful sharp now-a- d;i vs. When he goes to the spring he takes a jour- ney round tellin' family secrets. I do believe he sleeps a hossback and was woke up by me advisin' Weza." " Well, neighbor Huggins, my news didn't come through Obed, at all. But of course the woman is youis, and you've a right to keep her. I'm not the one to worry a neighbor." " Thank ye Colonel, ye've always been civil to me," said Dave. *' You've had a letter about the poor woman's boy, haven't you ? My women told their mistress how distressed she was about losing him when she was sold," said the Colonel. " WfeU, yes, f kind of a letter," replie ' Dave. " Tliere wasn't much in it, and what was in it wasn't worth tellin'. So I didn't read it to her and had forgot all about it." " But you will ten her where the boy is and write to his owner surely ? " asked the Colonel. " You and I had mothers once, Huggins, and w^j must feel for other poor mothers. You can make —.-...„...■,, f,.., , tf-y„ ; ^ Mm OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. this liarmlcss creature as happy as a bird by roading that letter to her and promising her a trip at Christmas to see the boy." " I'm afeard she'd get uneasy," replied Dave. " She'll surely bo uneasy now. I find the best way to keep my people easy and to get woric out of them, is to make them as happy as I can. And I've always thought that was your plan too, for I never heard a cornplaint of ill treatment or hard fare here," said the gentleman. " If I may make so bold, Colonel," said Dave, " I don't like that powerful great fellow of yours com- ing round here. I mought as well own up that 'twas 'bout him that we had the quarrel last night. He's been round here a beatin' religion into my folks like he thought they was heathen ; and has got round this woman by a promisin' to pray for her boy, that he mought turn up some'er's. Next thing he'll put her up to runuin' off, too," said Dave. • " No he won't," answered the gentleman ; " he promised his mother when a boy that he'd nevev steal himself, and I'd take his word as quick as I would Judge Bacon's. If he. wanted to run ho could do it any day, for I don't own him and shouldn't spend my time hunting him." Tlie Colonel smiled, and added, '* I'll send him over OBEAT EVENTS. 186 reading trip at )ave. the beat •k out of And I've : I never anl fare Dave, "I >ur8 com- t up that ast night. I into my ; and has ) pray for r's. Next too," said inau; "he he'd nevpv quick as I to run ho (I him and m." Tlie I him over to-morrow, and if you want any saddles or harness mended you may call on him. There isn't much 1.C can't do. And now, before we go, let me beg you to tell this woman about her child, and to answer the letter for her." " I ain't much of a writer," said Dave, by way of excuse, " and our ink is so dried up and our pen 80 rusty that I had a mighty job to sign Capt. Carr's rdbeipts for the wood last week." " I think it's always l^st for us rough men " said the Colonel, » to pass this ♦ woman and baby- business ' over to the ladies. My wife's quite good at keeping up correspondence for her people, and if you like, she'll write to the little boy's mistress for your wife." " i'hat suits my mind, now, Colonel," said Mrs. Huggins. " I was never in favor of hidiil' up the letter. Now, Huggins, you give it to madam, and she'll write and get a letter back; and that'U make my little woman mighty happy," she added kindly. Dave began to feel in his almost unfathomable pocket. He brought out treasures by the handful ; lumps of tobacco, chalk, nails, twine, buttons, sus^ pender-buckles, jack-knife, gimlet and screw-driver. He coolly remarked, as ho poured them out on the table, « If a man don't carry about his things with dm : ■ 1 136 OUT OP THE WILDBHINESS. him he never has 'ein when he wants 'em. Well, that letter aint here ! " and to prove it he turned his jiocket inside out. " I must 'a' lit my pipe with it." Tlie letter was gone ; and as a last hope of get- ting a clew to the boy, Madam Leon took the name of Degrow's overseer, and promised Mrs. Huggins, who really seemed interested in the matter, to write to him for the gentleman's address. * She wrote, and the reply was, " The gentleman's name was either Jones, or Smith, or Hill, or Hall, or some such short name ; but the town and county I've quite forgot." And again oblivion closed over the hopes of the poor lonely Weza. After this, the dullness of Weza's life on that plantation was broken only by an occasional chat with a passing slave or a long tramp to quarterly meeting. All intercourse with the Colonel's ser- vants had l)cen forbidden, and the acquaintance with Zack broken up by Huggins' repeated threat of selling her. He had either a terrible dislike or an unconquerable fear of the fclluw, and after he got his gun back, sent word to *' Massa Leon " to keep him at home, or he'd have liim shut up for trespassing. Now and then, after Zack had been to "the river" transacting business, the little woman would receive through Obcd, a gay turban, — ,— — ~«. ».a;:'SMcr"-- ORrUT EVENTS. 187 a pair of sho'es, or a big sugar heart covered with silver spangles; but she had to hide the delicati love-tokeus, aud so could not enjoy displaying them even in her own narrow circle. One morning, to her amazement, she saw the offensive visitor walk up very boldly towards the house and tap at the door. Huggins himself opened it, when Zack stepped in. Taking off his hat, he politely asked Mrs. Huggins, who sat smokmg in her « cheer," « Mought yer little brown woman and de men go to de camp-meetin' seven miles off, widMassa Leon's people? Mammy Cleo . and heaps more of our way o' thinkin', dat has no preachin' 'bout dese parts, is goin' to have a three days preachin' wid de communion and a baptism, like de real Jordan kind, in de old grove on de' judge's plantation. Massa Leon's give all his l.eople dat loves de Lord leave to go up and praise him wid de heart and de voice. He 'lows me to take de big lumber wagon and de mules to drive de women and chil'en. Missus said she'd take it as a compelment if yer'd let Weza go one day, at least, with our women." " She may go," said Mrs. Huggins, from the side of the pipe, " for yer missus' sake, for I sha'n't soon forget the honor she done me by that visit." "We'll have that party business over agin, iii»i«iWMIIilillM>|iillhi^ 138 OCT OF THE .WILDERNESS. then," grumbled Dave, "and all my frettin' and 3boldia' will be to do over agin ; for comiiany a ruuuiu' I won't have." " Tell ycr missas my woman may go, but I can't say about the boys ; that'll be as their master says," remarked Mrs. Huggins, as if she had not heard her husband's objections. " Yer don't know what yer believe," said Dave to Zack. ''The 'ligion that gets up the biggest noise is the 'ligion for ycr." " Massa Huggins, I knows what I b'lieves and why I b'lieves it," replied the man. " Well, ihen, let me hear yer say yer creed," said Dave. ■ -. . " Haint got no creed, massa." " Haint got no creed ? Then how on arth do yer know what to believe ? " asked Dave. " I believe just what de'Lord said, no more, no lecis ; and I's bound to follow whar he leads, if it be through -fire and flood," replied Zack boldly. " But yer haint got larnin' like a parson, to know what the Bible means," said Dave, warming up with the spirit of controversy. " Massa," ro[)lied Zack, " my Lord tells me dat his orders is so plain dat a wayfarin' man, do' a fool, can't miss 'cm. I s'pose I'm a ' wayfarin' man,' though I don't profess to be a fool. I tell 'ktte^ GREAT EVENTS. 189 n' and pany a I can't master lad not id Dave biggest eves and • creed," th do ar more, no 8, if it be Birson, to warming \s me dat I man, do' wayfarin' ol. I tell yer what I told my dear missus ^ast Sunday night ; dcre's more danger of folks losin' heaven through larnin' den through ignorance. De wise of dis world gets so sot up by dere larnin' dat dey thinks dey's got ahead of de Master liisself. Yer don't ketch dem wise ones when dey's sick goin' to Jor- dan to wash and be clean. No, no. Dey has "rivers of dere own dat's better den his Jordan ; so dey turns dere back on him and sets up on dere own hook ; and fine work dey makes on't, too." " Then yer go agin larnin' as well as creeds in yer 'ligion, ha ? " jwked Dave, now a champion for theological education. No, sir, I only goes agin false larnin' dat makes men wiser den God. Our brother Paul dat was a great larned scholar, said, ' My larnin' has not made me mad, most noble Festus ; ' but desis proud Pharisees 'bout us can't say it." *' Well, well, Zack, 1 think there's 'ligions enough in the world now without yer black folks settin' up a new one," said Dave. Zack laughed outright. " Why, Massa Hug- gins," he said, " My 'Hgion's de oldest Christian 'hgion dat is. 'Tis de one dat Jesus and his 'postles sot up, and men's been tryin' and tryin' to improve on't ever since, but dey can't make it out. i'' ia...-^ .^-.^^^.jr.^.^^^j^ igiiiim' ' 140 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. f' I It has as many white folks as blacks belongin' to it." " Pho ! " cried Dave, scornfully. '' It's mighty likely if yer Uigion was as old as that, that I shouldn't 'a' come across it some'er's. I've lived in Kentuck', and Oeorgy, and Alabam', and here ; and every body 1 knew was always Presbyterians, or Mcthodis', or Church-a-Englanders — (except black folks ; and do yer s'pose they know more'n their owners 'bout the Bible ? " " Mought be they do," replied Zack' " for dee things is hid up from de wise and prudent, and is revealed to babes, — babes mean unlarned folks. O, Massa Huggius, if yer would only come to de camp-meetin' yerself and missus, yer might get a blessin' to yer own souls. Jesus, de Master, will sure be dere, and whoever comes will have a chance to touch de hem of his garment ; and dat touch takes away sickness, and sori'ow, and sin, and changes poor weak sinners into shiniu' saints, and lifts dem up to a throne." " S'pose there will bo any white folks there ? " asked Dave. *' Sartiu ! Missus herself is goin', and so is her niece Miss Julia. Dey aint ashamed of de Lord, nor of de poor of his flock," said Zack. " We mought shut up one day and go, and that GREAT EVENTS. . 141 would save gcttiii' any thing to eat at home," said Mrs. Huggius. ''If madam aint too proud to go, we needn't" be." "No," replied Dave, somewhat softened, "we needn't, sure ; and then I could see about them mules the old judge wants me to buy." " Well, then, Zack," said Mrs. Huggins, " make my manners to yer missus, and tell her' I'll let my people go, and come myself and bring the massa with me. Tell her I aint proud when it comes to 'ligion; — though in every thing else I holds myself as good as any other white folks." " Well, thank yer both." said Zack, who saw that Dave was bei^g thrust rather too much in the back ground for " de head of the woman," " and I'll come here next week and fix up all yer carts and harness and saddles and such like ; and dat'U make up any time yer people mought lose." " Hope yer don't think I can't hire'em mended ? " said Dave, still watchful of his dignity. " I knows yer can, but I likes to do a neighborly thing now and den," said Zack with a smile. The vision of a " gineral clearin' up " completely overcame Dave's prejudice, and he was quite genial. This encouraged Zack to go a step further. " Den, sir," he said, making a low bow, " I's got another message from missus. I'a mdde up my 1 i ', iiyri'ttliti 142 OUT OF THE WILDEHNESS. mind fur to have a wife. De great Master, who manage all dese things for his chiren '^icared to yer little brown woman in a vision-like, and showed her me, — a great ugly black* fellow dat she was 'feard on. But he said, ' See, he's got a shepherd's crook, and he'll help yer on to glory.' So, wid yer leave, I'll take her, and do as de great Massi^say ; and more, if ye aint'too proud to take this black hand, I'll lielp yer and Missus Uuggins on to glory too, for I's got de power " for de work in my soul. I feels it." The sublimity of Zack*s assurance' quite over- came Dave, and for a moment he seemed stunned by this strange patronage. <' I thought this would be a mighty nice time for a weddin' 'mong all de other ord'nances of de Gos- pel. Missus, who has her people married 'cordin' to de Gospel and not slave-fashion, will give Weza a mighty fine outfittin'." " Massy ! " cried Dave, who had now collected his senses ; 'Mf I lets yer marry her, next thing ye'll run off together — yer've got a powerful long rope for a slave." *' Dat's HO," said Zuck, laughing heartily ; " but I haint no object in runnin' off; and I'll risk dat poor weak woman runnin' off widout me. I's as free as I ^anU to be, and has as many comforts as 4\ GREAT EVENTS. 14$ I could am if I lived in Besting or tlicm other free plucca. Here is my hand, Massa lluggina, and uiy word as a man dat feai's de Lord, dat I'll wait till ho hring mo out of dc wild'neds wid a high hand and a mighty arm, and wid signs and woif- dcrs like he did de chil'cn of Israel." " .Somebody'U marry her if he don't," suggested Mrs. Huggins, in aid of his plea ; " and if they live fur off they'll keep her cverlastin' oneasy." '' Dat's 80, missus," said Zack, " and 'tween you and me, de judge's Noah, dat drinks powerful, tellcd once dat he's bound to have her. And Ab'm. dat robs yer hin-roost, he's mighty took up wid her. Better gin her to an honest man dat fears de Lord and will look out arter yer interests, — jnendin' yer carts, and such like." The last motive was all-powerful. " Thump yer ' cheer,' missus," cried Dave. And in answer to* the rude summons Weza appeared, the picture of terror, not knowing what she was to be accused of now. ' " This fellow wants for to marry yer, Weza," said Dave, with grave dignity ; " and his massa ■ and missus and yer'n has thought the matter all over and gin consent on conditions that yer, as a Christian" — this was Dave's unfailing argument J .Jfi. K 144 OUT OP THE WILDERNE8H. — " promiso mo that yor'll never run off while I own ycr." For five minutes in her life Weza was a white woman. Wherever her color went to, it was gone; and her agitation alarmed Mrs. Huggins so that she laid down her pipe, rose from her " cheer" and brought her a mug of water. " Poor thing," she said kindly, " I'm sorry for yer. Ye clar woke up a frettin' ai-ter them boys." Poor Wcza soon got breath to make the promise, and to say that now she should have some one to help her bear her " worry," and that she had taken one step towards getting " out of tbo wilderness " in the Canaan. And the happy pair withdrew t ..e arrange- ments for the camp-meeting wedding and to thank the Lord for his help ; and leaving Dave to grumble out his forebodings, and Mrs. Huggins to defend them and to prophesy good from the ^udden event. ■f'n''flf ; " this was her sacrifice in the matter. A jovial company it was that filled the lumber- wagon and set up a shout of welcome as Weza came towards them, escorted on one side by Obed l W(WT!Willl the bride lieir break- latter need , dressed in or for the jial esteem, 5t handker- yhich fancy ler hands as hining tone, jQ mo some mought as ess de good md I'll luve days. And, to de camp- ed as well as md proud as eats all dis." said Mrs. to . see you tter. the lumber- ,me as Weza side by Obed THE CAMF-MBEn:iNO WFDDINQ. 147 on the white horse, and oij the other by the stiff- knoed boy on foot. Zack, who, perched on a high seat, drove the mules, invited Weza to sit be- side him, but she declined, and the women all said she must " have her own way dis time, 'cause it was de last time in de world." When she was seated on the corn-husks among the others, Mam- my Cleo, who occupied a little rocking chair to case the jarring, gave orders to " unkiver dat ar corn-basket and show Weza what missus and Miss Juley done for her honor and glory dis day." The basket was uncovered, and there was dis- played a most gorgeously ornamented wedding cake. Two white sugar doves in most tender proximity, with pink chenille around their necks, and silver feathers on their wings, surmounted it. Beneath this bride's cake was a heap of pie, and gingerbread and apples, and Weza was informed that three other baskets were as well filled, " for missus meant to set zamples to de barbarous plantere 'round 'bout how dey ought to deal wid dere people, like dey was born of de same blood as dereselves, and had a right to be married as pure, and holy and 'spectablo as if dey was free and white." " Yes, yes," cried Zack, looking down from his high perch, with his ivories glistening in the sun- •i 148 ODT OF THB WILDERNESS. light, <'Dat same missus is a bright and shinin' li^ht unto de Gentiles ; and through iier de thorns and de nails is took oat of slavery on dat planta- tion as far as dey can be while de cuss lasts anywhar. Now, fricuds, set up de song of jubilee, and sing it right smart, and bymeby, when dis business is over, we'll sing de marriage song wid de shout of ' Glory Hallelujah' onto it." "Preaciiin' Jack," whose deep, earnest piety had brought down many a blessing on his master's house, and who had in his simple way led Madam Leou to the cross, had now grown very old. His abundant, crispy hair was like snow; his form tottered and his vpice trembled ; but his hair was a crown of glory, and his remaining strength of limb and voice was still used, as it had long been, for tiie glory of God. His day of toil was over, and he was now enjoying such peace and rest as God giveth his beloved when the shadows gather about them. His owner, in justice — he thoughtMn generosity — had provided him with a little cabin to himself, and his fellow slaves felt it an honor to minister to his few wants. Before the early bell rang for labor old Jack always sat in his doer with clasped hands ; and such as could do so, halted a moment on their way to the 6eld, and knelt on the grass while be uttered a prayer ■•Mi THE CAMP-MEETIKO WEDDING. . 149 slunin' thoriiB plantar 33 lasts jubilee, heu dis ong wid !st piety master's 1 Madam old. His his form hair was length of had long f toil was cace and shadows Istice — lie iim with a plaves felt Before always sat Ih as could the field, id a prayer for them and cpmmcndcd them to the dear Lord. And in the evening, when toil was over, he held " [Hjrpetual prayer meetin' " in his cabin. Never a night but a score or more of dusky forms were gathered there to hear of heaven and to praise Uim who had opened its shining doors for tliem. These little meetings were the subject of sport to the young folks in their masters' families, and of very little account abroad. But among the lowly group there walked One unseen by their poor vision, sliedding abroad his gifts of patience and peace and joy ; One whom — had they known him and tlieir need of his pity — the masters would have entreated to turn aside and abide with them. It was firmly believed among all the blacks, and by not a few of their owners, that Preachin' Jack had power to bring Jesus down whenever he called upon him, and many instances were related, in good faith, where dying men and women had been raised up from the hour that Jack had called on the Master in their behalf. He had, therefore, become a sort of bishop over the blacks of the region, and any especial honor they had to bestow was considered as his just due. Madam Leon felt a tender love for the old man who had tauglit her that wisdom to which the : -..-.^ .^■■^-. .^.w.--^.. ^, —-,-«.»•. l^' I 160 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. proud world cannot stoop. " Zack," she 8oid, on the morning of the camp-meeting, " I want Father Jack to marry you. There will be plenty of noisy fellows there who will talk, and shout, and make a great show of themselves, and who may seem to you better men for the ceremony. But I want you to have this old man's blessing as you start anew iu life. You may depend, Zack, that his prayers will avail much in getting that little woman out of the wilderness she talks so much about and in helping you both on toward heaven." A " black camp-meeting " was a new thing, and all who had " a gift " — and many who hadn't — had come to talk and preach. But old Jack was bishop, and when a good number had gathered, he called them to order, saying, " I'll 'pint myself moderate of dis meetin' and give cmt de articles of faith by which I means to rule it. I shall preach de first sarmon myself, and it shall be Christ and him crucified. Den iu de evening I shall commit de ceremony of marriage in de legal form and covenant. Dat was de first place whar a miracle was performed, when water was turned to wine ; but we has a greater miracle here — we don't want no wine ! To-morrow some other brother may preach ; Dave Montgomery, if he walks humble in de mean time, and don't tip his hat on 1 tmmmmm J_^ said, on ; Father of noisy id make seem to rant you art anew I prayers sman out it and in hing, and hadn't— Jack was therod, he myself irticles of il preach imst and 11 commit form and a miracle to wine; vre don t er brother he walks lis hat on THE CAMP-MBEnNO WEDDING. one side his head ; or defe Sam, if he'll promise not to preach hissclf 'stead o' de Master, — as he UBual does. But Joe Simpson and Phil Hunter I puts out of do ministry altogetlior, 'cause on ac- count of dere stealin' poultry from dere massas. True, dey says, ' Massa' takes all my time and powers and only gives me what dc hosses and mules has, — feed.' True, brothers and sisters ; but daVsfor dere masters to settle on dere oum * count wid de great Massa. We's de light of de world, and we's got to set zamples o' holy livin', 'voidin' de 'pearance of evil. De day o' reckonin' is a comin', I sees it wid dcse dim old eyes ; and dere will be business enougli for dc Judge 'mong de miglity, de ricli and de larned, widout yer poor, ignorant black folks takin' up his time. No man sliali preach to dis meetin' dat don't live up 'ligion in de Bold and in de kitclien, as well as in de meet- in ; and no man shall preach dat don't think more of Christ den he thinks of hisself. Now, chil'en, dese two days is gin to God, and see if yer can't get hold of de skirts of his garments by faith, so as to fetch him down to us. We'll know he's here, for we'll smell de myrrh and frankincense in his robes, and we'll taste do honey from do lulls and de grapes from Canaan. We'll hear de music of heaven when de doors opens to let hit# out ; and » >i| l, ii ili '* . » lW[iy » jiJ ii r^ ' jp|M^^ ^ I II ir j i j li n ii i i ii j 1 1 . , I i j I « i gtli iigMjjjjgigjtigljjl^^ 152 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. we'll see de glory iu our souls if not round dis here grove. " Now sing of Calvary. Oh, dat's de place dat makes de heart ache and de tears flow. Sing of de dark night when our backslidin' brothers fell asleep and left Jesus to fight alone wid de powers o' darkness. I'm ashamed of 'em, and my tears falls in de dark night to think of derc meanness, and I can't hardly forgive 'em yet to go desart my loyin* Master dat way 'stead o' standin' shoulder to shoulder wid him agin do devil. But take care, take care, old Jack, ycr only mortal yerself, and mought a done the same. Ye mought even have said wid Peter, ' I never knowed de man.' Thank de Lord, brothers and sisters, dat yer haint been left to yer Own selves for salvation, but dat de Lord has provided one mighty to save unto de uttermost all dat calls on him. Lets us hel^ to make up dat all." " Now sing till de rocks ring and de trees of Labanon clap dere hands wid de swellin' dereof. Sing up, as if it was yer last chance dis side o' glory ! " And they did his bidding. "Db very night He was betrayed, He went a little way and prayed; De sleepy 'ciplee dvy lay duwa ^ To rest demiielve!) u|ion do ground; Chonu. — I'll let ycr know befbre I go, Whetlmr I love de Lord or not THE CAHP-HEETINO WEDDWa. 158 dis here )lace dat Sing of hers fell )0wer8 o' ears falls 88, and I aay loyin' ulder to ake care, rself, and iven have ,' Thank aint been it dat de ) unto de 18 help to trees of in' dereof. 118 side o' " If I'd been dero like lovin' John, I'd leiui my head His breast upon; Nor like old Peter broke my word, Like if I didn't love de Lord. I'll let yer know before I go, Wheth,er I love de Lord or no ! "I loves Him wid my deepest soul, I loves Him part, I loves Him whole! I loves His prison and His grave, I loves Him mighty for to save ! And now, my brothers, I've lot ydr know Whether I love de Lord or no ! I love, I love, I love Him so. To glory now I wants to go!" The forest echoed back some twenty verses of this hymn, each new one pledging the singers more firmly to love the Lord, and carrying their zeal up till they were ready to cut loose and soar away from earth. " Now, chil'en," cried Preaching Jack, " I's goin' for to preach to yer, and most like it'll be de last sarmon I ever utters, for de bosses and de chariot wid de hossmen dereof is just overhead, and I's every day a listenin' for de rumble of de wheels. My text dis day is one word Chbist. De sarmon will have three heads onto it. D|^ first is Christ, dc Rocond is Christ, and de third is Christ. I liaHii't heard nothin', nor felt nothin', nor loved uothiu' for many a year but Christ ; and I's not ImI 154 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. coming down now to meaner things. He's de chief among ten thousand and do altogether . lovely, and if any of yer's got grand and wants a grander 'ligion yer can quit dis grove 'fore I be- gins, for yer'U get nothin' here but de old, old story, dat will be talked and sung arter ' We've been dere ten thonaand yun, Bright sbinin' m de sun.' " Now I's ready for to Ibgin do story dat makes de angels stare and hold dere breath in wonder ; and mind, I don't 'low no whisperin' in sarmon time, and no bowin', nor smilin', nor wiukin* to each other; but all to be circumspectable and sober minded, like dey knew whose presence dey was in." And old Jack preached ; find we can say for him what can't be said of all wise ministers of the Word, he stuck to his text. He brought forward Jesus in the prophets, Jesus in the manger, Jesus in the miracles, Jesus persecuted and betrayed, Jesus crucified and slain, Jesus risen and alive, and to-day reigning in glory and yet dwelling in the lowliest heart. It was a sermon which drew tears from the eyes and groans from the hearts of his humble hearers. Now and then one of the more excitable among them would swoon, causing THE CAMP-MEEIINO WEDDING. 155 Ic's de ogctlier V wants a re I be- old, old at makes wonder ; L sarmon rinkitt* to ;able and jence dey y for him re of tlie t forward ger, Jesus betrayed, and alive, elling in |bich drew hearts of me of the in, causing a great tumult. Tlicre was leaping, and shouting, and shaking of hands, mingled with the singing of impromptu lines as : " When old Peter wm ainkin' down, De Mkvin' power to him was shown ! Keep me Ax>m sinkin' down ! De chntch was built when de angels moaii|^— 'Twas Jesus lay de comer stonei Keep me from sinkin' down! . ' - ' > 'j O, what yisions has I seen — Wid His blood He washed me clean; Keep me firom sinkin' down! De shinin* doors is open flung, Our souls is into glory brung, — We're safe from sinkin' down I O glory, O glory, O gloiy ! We's got de Master's hand! Whoever sinks, our fcet is fixed On Zion's mount to stand." • After the second sermon, the text and headif of which were the same as the first, there was a great scattering of the hearers who lived near by. They hastened away to ask leave ** for to come back to de torchlight weddin'." The intermission was spent in singing aud ohouting and praying and exhorting. As soon as tlie stars were out, the Leon women spread their dainties on a loose barn door which the judge's people had provided, and iij mil I I'l.n j ii l i iH i UXM l l i : ,, iihiijiiiii^ 156 OUT OF THK WILDEBNESS. " all de near 'lations " — which meant every body that knew Zack and his fellow servants, for Weza was a stranger — gathered around the board. High torches blazed from each corner of the table and from a keg in the centre, while the whole was graced by gaudy garden flowers and laden with Madam Leon's bounty. Father Jack and the other preachers were to be seated on barrels at each end of the table, to " say blessin' and to sarve." Then all the guests stood up in a group, and Preachin' Jack, with both liands extended, stud, " Yer twain dat wants to be made one flesh in zample of de priests and proplicts and holy men of old, and Sarah and Rebekah and de mother of Zebedee's chiren and de blessed mother Mary, Stan' up afore me." Zack, dressed in coarse white, with a rainbow cravat, and Weza, looking like an animated holly- bock, came forward and stood before him ; while their friends formed a wide circle about them. "Now, chil'en," said the old man, "take hold of hands, while I pledge yer to mutual obedience. I will now make a few -desolatory and purile re- marks on matrimony in general, and dis case of it in particular." And he did so, beginning at Adam and Eve, and coming down to the present day and hour. " AH dem zamples of holy men mmm H THB CAMF-MEETINO WEDDING. 157 ry body r Weza board, le table lole was jn with he other iach end » )up, and ed, sud, flesh in loly men ) mother er Mary, rainbow cd holly- while em. ake hold bedience. )urile re- dis case inning at present loly men and women has sarvcd dcrc day and gincration and fell asleep. It is wid yen dat's alive and awake dat I's got for to deal now. Zack Cameron, docs ycr promise me hero, afore do Lord and dis yore heap of witnesses, for to love, honor and obey de woman you holds on to by de right hand? Ila ? " " Yes, fatlicr, I does promise dat and as much more as yer pleases to ax me," replied Zack, hold- ing his head very high. " Will yer promise to be de head of her as our great Master is head of de church ? Ha ? " " I will, to de best of my 'bility, sar." ♦' Will yer promise to live wid her — if ever yer get a chance to — and wid no other woman till death do yer sunderate ? " *? " Yes, dat I will, and longer too, father," replied Zack, " for I hopes to live wid her whar no man can separate us, in do house above, in do great family of de dear Lord, dat we both loves and strives humble to sarve." "Well, dat's all very good," replied the old patriarch, "but yer mustn't talk so much while I'm a marryin' of yer, or I shan't get through to>night. " On t'other hand, Louisa Huggins, do yer promise to take dis big fellow dat yer holds on to 158 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. by de right hand for to be yer lawful married husband ? " Poor Weza's heart had wandered from the scene where all were gay and happy, and she was " off in de wilderness " hunting up her boys and accus- ing herself of giving her love to another. She burst into tears and made no reply. *' Pardon her, father," said Zack, pitifully, " for she's only a poor weak woman." • " Well, well," exclaimed old Jack, " women's mighty strange things, any way. Pcy'll comyash sea and laud for to get a husband, and den when dey got him fast by de hand afore de altar, dey'U bust out cryin' 'sif somebody was marryin' 'em off agin doro will ' Come, wipe yer eyes now, and look up br:,Tht, little woman, for wid such-like a man for a hupbaiid yer can l^ok any body in de eye, anf^ "■: :o a frownin' world. Leave de tears and lb oighs for 80 women dat can't get no hus- bands. E- 36 fv ! aem dat's got bad ones and can't get rid on 'cm. I can tell yer dere's heaps 0' women here dat would clap dere hands and laugh if dey could be a standin' whar yer is now. But de dear Lord, dat 'fiicted yer wid one hand, has blessed yer wid de other, and saved dis noble great sarviut of his to fill a place better den sons and darters to yer. Now tell me if yer will take dis ttMHtt THE CABtP-MKETINO WEDDIKO. 169 man for yer lawful married husband? 'Case if ycr don't want him, I'll stop short hero ; for it takes two to make a bargain." " I willj-sar," sobbed ^Weza, " wid all my heart, and I thanks de Lord for do chance. Dese tears is 'bout my boys d^t's off som'eres in de wild'noss whar I can't get 'em." .' • ""•'•'.'.' ••..'» v. " God bless yer poor heart ! He owns de wild'- noss and de waste places, and has an eye on all dat's gropin' 'bout in 'em. He's got cfem boys by do hand — a leadin' of 'em round, and bymeby, when he's ready, he'll fetch 'cm to yer. But yer look out how yer fight agin liim or he'll lead yer about forty years, like d6 chil'en of Israel, afore ho gives yer de blessin'. But I've wandered from my subject. Will yer promise to love, honor, and obey dis man, and to live wid him as de laws directs, and wid no other man, till death do yer sun- derate ? " " I will, sar, and thank de Lord for givin' me such a strong arm to lean agin in my weakness," said Weza. " Dat's good, den, so fur," said preaching Jack ; " and now, 'fore I pronounces de bands, let me ax if either of yer has any remarks to make to de company ? " Weza shook her head, but Zack smiled and re- icMh .»-& 160 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. plied, " I got nothing to say but to raise my Ebenczer, and thank de good Lord for my luck, and to hop? dat all de boys will get as good a wife, and be as kind to her as I vows to be to dis poor Weak woman." » • •• ; ^is-v-*;* " Brothers and sisters," said old Jack, turring about- to the company, " if any of yer has a word of exhortin', or would like ..i tell yer experience, I'll halt a little." Zack's cfhick eye caught Dave Montgomery in the act of beginning, and he cut him off by saying, " Moughtn't yer better say the benediction first, fftther, and have a prayer-meetin' arterwards ? Dese people all looks hungry to get hold on de weddin' supper." " Dat's true," replied the old man. " Den in virtu of dese mutual promises to love, honor and obey each other and do laws of de land — when yer massas will 'low yer to — I declai'e yer upon heaven and arth, tind all dese witnesses, for to be husband and wife. And de Gospel do saith, ' What God jines together let no man put assun- der ; ' and I adds, of my own wisdom, ' dat he .dat does put dssundor will have to answer for it.' Now, friends, de marryin' is over, and yer may all kiss de bride, arter I, yer futher in de gospel, sa- lutes her with a holy kiss.'* raise my my luck, )d a wife, dis poor "'■:H,-* •VJ. i'» '"- ■'•'<'<—'■>■ '■^k'^ ■;'^' .-:MT-r\ <'^--ji- Y" vS , tiirrting IS a word ^perience, ;omery in )y saying, tion first, terwards ? )ld on de "Den in lonor and d — when rcr upon for to be do saith, lut assun- at he.dat )r for it.' ir may all gospel, sa- CHAPTRR Xni. PBBACHINQ JACK AND SCBIPTUR' BILL. WHEN the marriage ceremony was over and the barque matrimonial was fairly launched, old Jack s^d, by way of an additional blessing on the happy pair, "And now chil'en, go forth and take yer place 'mong de nations of de 'arth, and may de blessin' of Moses in de bush rest upon yer dis time, henceforred and forever more." There were many little parties gathered in the grove, each of the number having its own caterer ; and we very much fear that the hen-roost and lar- der of many a master paid tiibute to the feast. Fires blazed and torches glared ; the men plucked and dissected the chickens — showing the haste and secrecy which they had brought them — and tho women put on their pots and cut bread and cake, and bacon to fry. It looked like the witch scene in Macbeth. But their merry laughter and cheerful chattering 101 162 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. dispelled all thoughts of the dark incantatious of sorcery. Such a feast was partaken of as is rarely seen — in style at least — and then, under the command of Preaching Jack, the tables were cleared and the place made " right decent for a prayer meetin'," " None of yer pots and kittles left standin' about here, nor yer burnt brands lyin' hither and yon, nor yer victuals left loose about ! " he cried, like one having authority. " And yerseives must be neat and orderly afore 1 begins. If de President of dese United States was a comin' here to-night, , what flutterin' dere would be to clar up do place and to see dat every turban was on straight, and dat all de aprons was clean ! And what is de President, whose bfeath am in his nostrils, to de company dat's promised to be here to-night! Don't never dare to come careless into His pres- ence, chil'en. If yer too poor to 'pear before him wid jewels, and purples, and tine linens, and badgers' skins — like do temple of old — yer never too poor to honor him wid neat dress and decent places. " Now 'fore do meetin' begins, I have do honor to 'nounce 'fore dis 'sembled universe, dat Scrip- tur' Bill will preach at ten o'clock to-morrow. Obed Uuggins, that's always goin' up and down PREACnmO JACK AND SCRIPTUR' BILL. 168 a!U' *^o and fro in de arth, like our great pergenitor, brung word — wherever he got it — that W9 mought suspect Bill for de mornin' sarvice ! I hopes yer will listen to him wid reservation and respect, 'cause he's a stranger. He comes to misrepresent de Methodis' posuaslon. Of course den dere's a chance dat wid all do truth he'll give us, he'll add a little error ! When he speaks what yer b'lieve, ye may say ' Amen ; ' but if he gives utter to any false doctrine, den keep still. Don't contradic' him on de spot, but leave him in my hands and Til settle him arf'r meetirC /" ■ ' Scriptur' Bill ' was a noted man among the black Methodists of the region. He got his name from a habit he had of using Scripture language as far as possible in his common conversa- tion. But much as Preachin' Jack loved what was like Christ in the spirit and words of his clerical brother, he had somewhai against him- — and rarely did the tw 'ueet without having a theologi- cal encounter, as well as a smart brush about minor matters ; but they always parted in love, and that is more than can be said of all wiser religious controversalists. Tiie evening service was what might bo strictly called an " experience meeting," although we must 164 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. I admit that much of the talking savored not a little of gossip ; for in telling their own experience and their feelings afterward, many took occasion to bring in what " massa," or " missus," or " de overseer," or some fellow servant had done, and thus the air was let in among the family secrets of the neighborhood generally. If at any time bare- faced disloyalty was expressed, old Jack would speak out, sometimes saying, " Whist, dere ! keep to de question ; " or he woxild ask, " What says do Bible 'bout bein' ' subject to de powers dat bees, ha ? " or, " Who give yer dis time for to praise and pray in ? Heaps of black folks can't come here ; yer dat can, use yer liberty well ; and leave dem same powers ' wid dere own Master to stand or fall down." Zack and Weza, as the great characters of -the day, had been appointed to speak; and both told of their early life, their religious feelings, their visions and tlieir deliverances ; and in winding up, poor Weza, in a trembling voice asked " de prayers of dis crowd dat de Lord, who had brung her such mighty helper dis day, would comfort her heart by a letter or a word from one boy, at de least." Old Jack began to ask her questions, when Mammy Cleo interrupted him by saying, " 'Taint no use a pray in', brother, for dem boys. She's de PBEACHIKG JACK AND BCBIPTUB' BILL. 166 lot a little 'ience and casion to • or "de ione, and secrets of ime bare- ck would ere ! keep at says do dat bees, to praise ui't come and leave r to stand ers of -the both told ngs, their inding up, ie prayers 5 her such r heart by 9t." ins, when , "'Taint She's de one to pray for, dat she be willin' to have de great Massa's will done. Once I lost all my chW'en by my old massa a dyin' and we beiu' sold to Tom, Dick and Hairy, whoever had money enough to buy us ! Well, I sot up my will, and I thought it moughty hard I couldn't hold de reins of de uni- varse and drive ! I fit; and fit, and fit ! And just as long as I fit, de great hand was laid on me to keep me down. But bymeby I spent myself und hadn't no strength left to fight wid. Den I fell down at his feet for dead ; and I said, ' Lord, all I has is dine; do as pleases dee wid my chil'en; only bring dy own glory out o' my black cloud and I'll be satisfied ! What's me and what's my father's house, dat I should bid de Lord of heaven how lie should deal wid us ! And after dat I was 80 hungry and thirsty aft«r de Lord's presence and his glory dat my chil'en didn't seem to be nowhars ! And den I got word of two dat was alive and thtee dat was gone to glory ! And I tell yer what it is, Father Jack, as long as dis little woman frets at God, just so long he'll head her off — husband or po husband. Dis brother Zack looks like a powerful big fellow dat's of some con- sequence ; but bless yer, he aint so big as de dust in de scales in de eye of him dat made liim ! He can't fotch newp o' dem Iwys no more den he can ijbmmmmmm^l 166 OUT OF THE WOiDEBNESS. make a world ! She's got him, sure, but she'& just as pendant on de Lord as she was afore ! S'pose yer jines in prayer dat she — poor chile — may grow subjected to de will of Christ in all things, Father Jack, and we'll say de ' amens ' to it." He prayed fur Weza, appealing to Him who felt the power of Mary's love afid sorrow, to pity and to bless her ; and such tender and earnest appeals followed as quite lifted their poor subject above her grief, and the peace of God soon filled her soul. ''And to-morrow, chil'eu," said old Jack, « some of de white folks will be here — yer massas and derc families, dat yer bound to honor, if yer can ; — anu yer must let dem set on de boards, 'cause doy aint used to squattin' on de ground, and can't do it so handy as yer can. And yer needn't groan and howl for de sake of makin' a show of yerselves, nor do any thing else dat's savage-like. And mind, every thing yer do dat's foolish or 'dio- alous will be sot down agin de Master! If yer caper about, and hoot, and fall down* — when de Spirit don't do it — dey'll say, 'Dat's all dero 'ligion does for dem ! It don't keep dem from stealin' poultry," and here he made a dead pause and turned a withering look on Joe Simpson and Phil Hunter, the two preachers he had " put out of de ministry " for the crime now delicately hinted »ii'ifirt as they passed ! " The truth was, " missus " had made him come ; for unwilling as he was, he hadn't energy to resist her demands. Mrs. Huggins was there, painfully conscious that her attire was the same Madam Leon had seen her have on about house and of which she had heard her speak so scornfully. Her bonnet was on one side, bringing the few soiled and mashed roses, whose proper place was on top of her head, directly over one eye; and her shawl, all ablaze with rainbow-hued flowers on a snulF- colored ground, was worn in the easiest possible style, the corner being on one shoulder, while one end was neav her bolt and the other trailing on the ground. She looked so uncomfortable — as if not at home among either whites or blacks — that the kind-hearted Madam Leon took her under her own care, chatting with her before the time for service, and seating her beside herself when that hour arrived. * Scriptur' Bill had come early and had been some iiMffrtatiffam-Bai lllltnr >1 170 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. time on the ground, exhorting, admonishing and rebuking, before Preaching Jack appeared. As the Old man tottered towards liim at length, Bill held out his hand, exclaiming, " Grace, massy, and peace 'ie unto yer, Father Jack, and upon all de Israel of God." " Dat's a good prayer, brother Bill," replied the old man, looking sharply at him,' " but I wish ye'd keep as close to Scriptur' in yer loctrines and yer dreK<» as yer does in yer words. Where does yer fi'id de command for de preachers of de Gospel to V ear a white cloth 'Iwut dere necks, Im ? " Dar aint no color 'signed for neckcloths, is dere', father?" asked Scriptur' Bill, in a concilia- tory tone. " I reckons de fust of de perfession hadn't no ncckclotlis, no how ; I reckons our brother Peter didn't pay much 'tention to de clerical riggins wlien he girt his fisher's coat about him. Ha ? " I reckons de brethren hadn't no white cravats when dey wjih a men din' de nets afore dat power- ful haul of fishes ; and I re kons de dear Massa hadn't no sich Uke gear 'bout him when he girded his blessed sell' with a towel and washed de 'ciples' feet. No, no, no. When de cruel Jews parted his raiment, dere was no sich nonsense jaong it as dat, Bill.'* sxm PBEACniNG JACK AND SCBIPTUR' BILL. 171 )onishing and l»peared. As \t length, Bill ;e, masHy, and I upon all de I," replied the ut I wish ye'd trines and yer 'hero does yer of de Gospel ^8, ha ? " neckcloths, is , in a concilia- ion hadn't no brother Peter erical riggins lim. Ha ? white cravats ,)re dat power- dear Massa len he girded led de 'ciples' ew3 parted his ^ODg it as " De times and seasons were different den, brother," saiti Scriptur' Bill, apologetically. "Pho!" cried old Jack. "Men was sinners den like dey be now ; and de Lord's sarvants was bound to bo humble and set a zamplo to de flock den as dey be now, and no more. May be Judas 'Cariot, dat was a time-sarvcr, always a tryin' for to ploase dc grand folks, wore a white cravat, and de fashion t ime down from him. But de night he betrayed our dear Jesus I reckons he pulled it off; for he di'.ti't boast den — as I ve heerd o' yer doin' — dat he was a clargyman." "If eatiu' meat makes my brother to 'fend," replied poor Bill, meekly, " I'll wear no more white cravats while do world stand." " Now dat's like a Christian," replied old Jack. "If yc'U pull down dat sail o' pride, ye' 11 cripple Satan in de right hand. Ye see, while dere aint no more sin in white den dere is in black, a wear- in' dat thing is a foUerin' dem dat's sot up rules and fashions dat ain't in Scriptur'. De nex' thing, ye'U want a gown, like dat man preaches to de Court House ; and dc nex', may be ye'U want to shave de top of yer head like a popist monk, or wear a coat down to yer heels like a priest. A.h, Bill, Bill ! I believe yer born agin and dat yer'll reach glory yit ; but yer'vo got a weakness, Bill. w^ 172 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. I Yor've got a notion that yer can improve on do lioid's plan. No, no, no. Ho, de Lord of heaven and arth, come meeic and lowly, a workin' wid his hands and ridin' on an ass. He pick out poor fishermen for to be his company and to preach his gospel, and he go homeless and hungry ; and when do end come, he lay down in a borrowed ~ave. But bless ye, dcm dat comes arter him, ^^nd bears his name, and call theirselves his sarvants, is so grand dat should he come back like he did afore, dey wouldn't speak to him. Do you 'spect if he should come back hero wid his feet all dusty from de journey, dat grand clargymen would ax him into their pulpits to sit down aside o' dem? I reckons not. Dey would turn de cold shoulder on him, and den he would say, 'I'll go to de lost sheep of de house of Israel,' and turn right in here to dis camp — he would." Before Scriptur' Bill mounted the platform the white cravat had vanished. After singing a most spirited hymn, Bill rose up and said, "Dear beloved and longed for, — I'a very happy to stan' up dis day and speak unto yer de words of truth and sobe'ness. I shall give yer no 'laborate 'scource, but throw a few hints at yer that yer can carry home and work up ; and den I shall improve de subject by an 'count of de dea4^ rovo on tie I of heaven tin' wid lu8 k out poor preach his ; and when wed —ave. , und bears vants, is so 3 did afore, 'spect if he dusty from uld ax him >' dem? I shoulder on to de lost m right in )latform the Bill rose up d for,— I's iak unto yer lall give yer hints at yer ; and den I of de death PREACHING JACK AKD aCBIPTTTR' BILL. 178 and funeral of Aunt Zena, dat yer all knowed for a mother in Israel. De last words she Haid to me was, ' Next time yer preach, Bill, magnify de grace of dc Lord by showin' l>ow easy he led me through de dark river and let mo into glory.' And I'll do it at de close cf dis yere exordium. " My tex' is in ' Ax' — ' Ax of de 'postles.' Dis book is called 'Ax' Ijecaso de words in it. cut so deep into de licarts of de Scribes and de Pharisees and de Rulers. Don't yer know it says, ' i)ey was cut to de heart, pierced to de heart,' Ac. ? " Dese wicked men hardened dere hearts like de never milestone ; but de Gospel ' Ax ' cut into 'em. Dey made chains and stocks for de feet and de hands of de Lord's holy ones ; but de ' ax ' severated 'om. 'Nias and 'riophira, dey built up a big lie, and thought dey was to get great glory from it; but dis 'ax ' of truth cut through .it, and slew dem too. Our dearly beloved brother Paul, while he was feaal of Tiirshish, was struck down wid ail ax in de f'"<'Ui ji voice ; and dat laid his pride low ar mat-f h" n a humble child like de rest of uB. *'Brotbp' r '3r, :,( t up his pride, and ho wa'n't feuiu\ V;w ,. . ; thin' but what he thought best. But he fell asleep -~ hito a vision-like — and dis ' ax ' fell on. him, and Ida pride was cut in two, 1 ^mt 174 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. and he was glad arter that to eat any thing he could get hold on honestly. After dis de Jews bound demselves by an oath dat dey wouldn't eat or drink till dey fust killed our brother Paul. De ' ax ' of Providence cut dat oath in two, and dey ate and drank as long as dey lived. " Dis ' ax ' has two edges ; one is de edge of ven- geance, and dat slays de King's enemies ; de other Oder is de edge of Providence, and dat cuts de soul of de believer free from every thin' but Christ. It cuts every chain and link, and even a string dat binds us to dis world; for Jesus says we shall have nothin' dat's dearer to our souls den he is." And so the preacher went on for an hour and a half, giving examples from the days of the Egyp- tian bondage to the present time, of the wonderful blows given by this ' ax.' His rhetoric was of the rudest style, and his figures were often sadly con- fused; but this did not offend the taste nor outrage the sense of his humble hearers. And intermin- gled with all that was offensive to the more re- fined in his audience, t lere was an ingenuity that amused them as well as a fervor that subdued all criticism. Bill, however, did not soar on one of his wildest tiights that day, being evidently under some restraint from the presence of Preaching Jack, who was always watching for heresy. Ar- PREACHING JACK AND SCBIPTUR' BILL. 175 (ly thing he lis de Jews wouldn't eat r Paul. De Yo, and dcy edge of ven- B8 ; de other cuts de soul t Christ. It a string dat ys we shall len ho is." I hour and a of the Egyp- [\e wonderful ic was of the in sadly con- 3 nor outrage nd intermiu- the more re- agenuity that c subdued all IT on one of idently under Df Preaching heresy. Ar- miiiianism being the^old man's horror, he felt it his duty to be always on the alert lest it might cvcep in among his flock unawares. On the outskirts of the little grove there were now quite a number of white men come as spies or scoflers ; and it occurred to Bill that lie might catch them by a little holy guile. So lie said, "Father Jack, wid yer leave, I would oppose dat we hold a debatin' s'iety as de afternoon sa.'vice, and let all men of one blood, of all de nations, give dei'e 'pinion 'bout 'ligion, and how dey 'spects to get to heaven. * Let derc be light,' says de gospel, and if anybody here has fetched a brighter torch dan mine to light up de valley and de shadow, dere will be liberty for him to hold it up. Infidels, Ma- hom'dons, Jews, Gentiles, Ilotetots, Arabs, Meth- odises and Baptises will all be on equal footiu'. Den when de 'scussion is over we'll vote which has got de best of de arg'mcnt ; and de majority shall rule, as is ' done in decency and order ' in all 'pub- lican governments on de artli." « Whist, there, Bill ! " cried the old man. " Do yer mean to say dat if dera outsidei's dat never see de Lord shall outnumber us, dat we's goin' to give in to do devil ?" No, no ! dere's no niajority work in dis business. If all's on do devil's side but onl); old Jack, he'll stand up. like a rock for his beloved ' 176 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. "■"♦ Massa Jesus, and say, ' Do' qjl men forsake dec, yet will I never forsake dec.' I 'proves of de 'batin' s'icty, but no majority shall draw me 'way frqm him my soul lovo. De bigger de 'jority agin him, de harder I'll try to bring dem over to de minority." ■ S'-'i^ L ce dec, yet de 'batin' way frqm Elgin him, ninority." CHAPTER XIV. LAST WORK OP PREACHING JACK. SCRIPTUR' Bill's " batin' s'icty" proved one of the most amicable discussions that ever graced the annals of controversy — the combatants being all on one side. They could not find a man to oppose the groat truths of icvelation, the few whites wiio scoffed at them being too ignorant to give any reason for their unbelief. This was a source of some disappointment to Bill, for having suggested the debate he felt a little pride in seeing it go warmly on. He could not help showing a little chagrin at the dne-sided nature of the m'bvc- ment. "Well, friends," he said, "if I believed every man on dis yere ground was* heart, body and soul on de Lord's side, I'd shout for joy till I made dc anthems ring wid de arches dercof. But I knoww better ; and so I wants every man for to show his colors and give a reason of de hopes dat's in him. 17T 178 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. I'm a Christian, born agin, a new creater', old things passed away. I knows dat I's passed from death unto life, 'case I loves de brethren. And 1 ain't ashamed on't. I glories in de fact. I talks 'bout my big hope by de daylight, and dreams 'bout it when I's sleep, and many's de time I rouses at midnight, and leaves my bed and goes out under de stars, and looks up to Uod wid my soul so full of dc glories of 'domption for lost man dat I can't speak, but only lot dc tears of love run from my eyes, Dat's de way I feels 'bout my hope, and I persuraes dat skeptaclo folks feels just 80 'bout dere hope, and if dey does, let 'cm boast on't. Massa Huggins, if T mought make so bold, I'd ax yer to say a few words 'bout ycr principles. It's told dat yer a skeptacle, and so fur in life I never heerd one of that persuasion tell his spe- ricnce." Dave was not an orator, anc' whatever weak- nesses he had, hearing himself talk in public was not one of them. He was sitting on a stump quite near Scriptur' Bill when the gauntlet was thrown down at his foot ; and bo was so startled by it that ho sprung up as if by a >slioclc of galvanism, and turned liis hack on the speaker, growling out a few words nobody could hear. Then Father Jack came forward and addressed LAST WORK OP PREACUIKO JACK. 179 •cahu"', old jaased from 3U. And 1 ct. I talks ltd dreams de time I d and goes rod wid my "or lost mail of love run 3 'bout ray js feels just t 'em boast ike 80 bold, r principles, fur in life I 2ll his 'spe- tever weak- i public was HI a stump ;auntlet was 3 startled by [ galvanism, growling out d addressed him, saying, " Please, massa, tell dis poor crowd if dere is any more joy in denyin' de Lord of glory Jen dere is in leanin' on his bosom, and washin' his dear feet wid tears, and cryin' ' My Lord and my God.'" " 1 reckons," replied Dave, surlily, " that I haiut been a planter and my own master all these years tp herd with black folks at this late day. But if . yer wants my 'pinion 'bout ligion it's just this; that yer too ignorant to know the meanin' o' the wox'd, and that the white folks ought to get to- gether and settle which is the true 'ligion, and then make vor all believe it, and quit this ere , noise, and stay to home and work ! " — and leaving his hearers aghast at .such statements, he walked I off. " Well, if dere's no more to bo said agin de Lord," said Bill, " s'pose yer put de vote, Father Jack, and see how de case stands ? " Ti)c vote was put thus : " All yer dat don't be- lieve man's got no soul, or dat if dey has souls all goes to one place arter death, or dat de Lord Jesus was only a good man, and dat we's good men too, hold up yer hands agin de King of Glory. Yer dat wish yer'd been dere to drive dc nails and do . spear, and to cry, ' Crucify him, crucify him,' and to put vinegar mingled wid gall tc his sweet lips, mm 180 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. and a parted his raiment — lookin' sharp to get yer share on't; yer dat would like to have writ ' Dis is de King of de Jews,' over his head, and put de purple robe on him, and smote him, and mocked him, and spit upon him — 0, Lord, if dere is one such wretch in dis yere ordance, have mercy on his guilty soul ! — I says, if dere is one sich black-hearted creatur' here, let him hold up his hand now agin him dot loved us v. id an ever- lastin' love, and dat giu himself for us, and pur- . chased us wid his own blood." This remarkable way of putting a motion had a moving effect on his excitable hearers. They wept, and groaned, and cried out, " No, no, dear Jesus! I'll die wid dee, jet I will not deny dee ! He is de Lord ! lie saves us from our sins ! He's waitin' for us now in glory ! Come, dear Jesus, and take us. home! We's right homesick arter dee ! Put dy en'mios under dy feet, and reign King over de nations like as dou now reign in our souls." . " Well, den, do scoffin' side of de house hab voted all dey will," cried old Jack, with a smile, " for dey's all clared out. Now yer dat will have ray Jesus for to reign over yer, now and hereafter, up wid yer right hands." Not only thoir right hands went up. The audi- L LAST WORK OF PBEACniNO JACK. 181 p to get lave writ ead, and lim, and Lord, if ace, have re is one hold up an ever- and pur- )n had a B. They no, dear lot denjr our sins ine, dear liomcsick feet, and low reign )U8e hab a smile, vill have lereafter, riie audi- ence Bprang as if with one conHent to their feet, talking, and laughing, and weeping, and shouting, and calling on Jesus by every endearing name to look into their hearts and see if they did noi; love him and long for his glory. Madam Leon and Miss Julia rose with the rest ; and the judge and his wife unconsciously followed their example, hardly realizing how far behind this poor throng they were in all that goes to make up the real hap- piness of life. The judge always said he felt safe as long as he could keep hold of old Jack ; for he'd get him into heaven by some means. It was several minutes before quiet was restored, aad then Jack said : <' Dat question is settled for all time in dis part of Jo world — even on our brother Bill's s'gestion — for de 'jority has ruled right for orifce. Now go off wid grateful hearts and eat yer suppers, and den, after a short prayer meetin', we will all dispense to our sev'ral homes to be more lovin' to each other and more faithful to our masters den ever before ; for de nearer we gets to de Lord, de faithfuUer we'll be to dem qs has de rule over us in de flesh." Father Jack's " short meetin' " was lengthened out three hours ; and it was one never to be for- gotten- in that region. The Master mnnife»ted himself there with great power, convincing of sin 182 OUT OF THE WILDEBNESS. and granting pardon to those who had not known liiin before ; and giving new joy and fresh assur- ance to the poor pilgrims who had long been grop- ing after his guiding hand and following his voice amid the storms and the darkness. As the moon rose high and lighted the grounds, old Jack said, " Dear chil'en, the time has come for us to sunderate, and I would spread my hands over yer and call down do blessin' of him dat led Israel through de wild'ncss, dat he will go wid yer and be a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day." They all rose, and he said, " Dear Jesus, dis is my family, my chil'en. i has come to de end of my days dat's liee'n few and evil ; like to our father Jacob, I wants to bless dem before I dies. Blessed shall dey be in de house, in de field, by de way- side, and everywhar. Blessed be dere chil'en, and may dey be a seed te sarve dee. Blessed be dere massas in dere baskets and dere stores, in dere houses and dere lands, in dere oxen and dei^ asses, and in de stranger dat is widin dere gates. To de nmssiful do dou show massy ; and if .any is onmassiful, bless dem by forgivin' and lovin' dem. And bless dis great and wicked nation. I sees dem a standin' now on de shore of a sea of blood. De waves rolls up and cry out for dere sons to LA&J? WORK OP PBEACHING JACK. 183 swallow 'em up. De holy ones is a cryiu' to God, ' Sparc,' and a pleadin' wid dee to roll back de wavea of vengeance. But no, de 'pressors beckons 'em back and throws dere own beautiful sons into de sea. Dey is rusiiin' madly on to dere own destruction, but God is mightier den dey, and he will bring good out of evil and peace out of war, and reign over de whole arth in righteousness. Amen and amen. " Now, brother Bill and Luke, take me up to de mansion house, and not to my cabin. I's weak and faint, and I's got a word for massa 'fore I goes home to glory. I wants my missus now, like a sick child wants his mother." The judge and his wife received old Jack very tenderly, the latter mixing a reviving cordial for him. "Don't you know, daddy," said the judge, pleasantly, " 1 told you it would take only one more camjhmeeting to make an end of you ; and I'm afraid I spoke the truth." " Dat's so, Massa Henry," said the old man, addressing him as in the days of his childhood. " I knowd de end was near, and I wanted to go up wid a shout ; nnd now I's got my staff in my hand, and has come to bless ycr 'fore 1 crosses over Jordan. Send Luke and Jess away while I 184 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. tells yer and missus what de Lord has showed me in a vision dat's comin' on dis yere country, dat yer may repent, and believe, and flee from Sodom widout lookin' back. Yer've been lovin' and kind to yer people, but foi all dat de Lord has somewhat against yer." His fellow slaves quietly withdrew; and what he said to his " owners " none ever heard. He talked long to weeping listeners, while all others in the house were sleeping. Then he sunk back exhausted in the great leathern chair, and said, " De long day breaketh, I must be gone." His fellow servants, being summoned to his side, saw that he was dying. It was too late to remove him to his own cabin, but the family were not hor- ror-stricken at the thought of his dying where he was. Little as they themselves regarded God or his claims on them, they believed in their hearts that old Jack was an heir of glory, and that his crown was just above him ; and they felt it an honor to serve him. As his friends wept around him at break of day, the old man looked on them for a moment, and then said, as if suddenly waking from a dream, " Weep not for me, but weep for yerselves and yer chil'en ; for de days of darkness cometh, and dcy shall be many. De chariots of Israel and de boss- LAST WORK OP PREACHING JACK. 185 men dereof," — and with tliese words the released Bpirit soared away from the house of bondage, leav- ing a mantle of forgiveness and love upon those who watched its happy departure. % . In the morning Weza found Mrs. Huggins greatly, subdued in spirit, weeping while she asked questions about the prayer-meeting which was held in the grove after her departure. "Oh, goody me ! " she cried, " I haint got no comfort. There's them poor ignorant black folks so happy they was most wild with 'ligion and a wantin' to go home to God, while here am I, white, and a planter's wife, a livin' in a mansion house, just as mise'ble as 1 can be. I'm so feared of death that I can't take no comfort, and don't get over anybody's dyin' for a week, fear I'll go next. And this hero camp-meetin' will keep me worked up a thinkin' of my sins and sich like, till somebody else dies, I reckons, and that will stir me up worse and worse agin." " O, no, missus," said Weza, cheerfiilly, " dero won't be nobody die soon, for nobody's sick 'bout here now. But if yer will sense me I'd like to tell yer de way to get a peace dat can't be broke up by anybody's death." " I know what yer goin' to say— that I must get 'ligion, but it's no use a tryin'. Huggins is nobody t J V p>5 #> % ^Jfc ■y.^*^^ W ^^' •> IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 »■■ IIIM 112.2 I.I m m 1.25 1.4 2.5 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation i\ '^1 ,v ^9) .V 1. •^ \\ «■ ^ "' <<^ ^o^ "Q ^ «.^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 871-4503 !»- I iMliH*«'Wlib»**Ml o f/i CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques f.„ | i ij. 'mm mm r -iftJ-'IVfimifM^K ' ' .M^ v^P^j^iWI^g'tiipggi^^'^^ v 186 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. to help luc on, and I don't know how myself. I used lo make u{t my mind every liviu' Sunday that I would sure get 'ligion fore ii»e next one. JBut I i)ut it off and off, and Huggins got sot agin the Colonel about paiutiu' that meetin'-housc, and we quit goin', and that turned my mind off. So now when I goes to quai-terly meetin' all I thinks of is the dresses and bonnets, and seein' whose black folks is the best dressed, rnd slch like. But yesterday I had them old fec'.ina' come back agin, and I'd half a mind to tell Madam, only I thought she'd think I'd been stealin'-or somethin', to feel 80 wicked." " No, miasua, she knows what db fceliu' is when de Lord stirs up de sinner; and she'd be do very one to show yer de way. Zack could do it, but course yer would rather larn of a lady den of a poor colored man."' "Huggins is such a high-spirited man ho wouldn't let me larn of either. He'd say madam would iiet me down for ignorant, and that it would be stoopin' to talk to Zack. But I do hope to goody nobody will die while I feel this worried way." At this moment the " centaur " passed the win- dow and cried out, " Here's, awful news, Wcza! Who jhink yer is dead dls mornin' ? " ■V 1 ) I day )ne. • sot ■! use, off. 11 I eiu' ike. )ack lin', hen I very but • of a ho dam ould to rricd wiu- ^oza! i \_ m Last wobk op preaching jack. 187 Both women ran to the door, when Obed, almost white with fear, cried out, " We's lost Pi-eachin' Jack. He's gone up to glory like he said he would ; and now who'll ax de Lord to pity and pave us ? " and the poor fellow gave vent to his feelings in a flood of tears. • Mrs. Huggins staggered back and leaned against the wall, aftd with her hands clasped tight, ex- claimed, " This liere will be the death of me ! It can't be he's dead, Obed, when he was so 'live just last night." " He is," sighed Obed, " for on my way to de spring I just rode over to de colonel's, and de judge had sent for Zack for to get up a big funeral for him. Luke said how dat dere was a cheriot made out of fire come down arter his soul, and he got into it joyful and went up, a leavin' only his body behind. And de missus cried like she'd lost her father, and said his prayers for dat ar house was ended now." "0 deary me," exclaimed Mrs.. Huggins, "it was in my heart lo ax for his prayers 'fore I come away last night, but I thought it mought look mean and 8toopin',to Madam. But oh, now I wish I had, for may be he'd have prayed and got an- swered when .he was so close to heaven." • " Jesus is just as near to us now, missus," said mL~ r 188 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. Wcza, " as he was to old Jack last night. If jcr ax for yerself he'll sure hear, and answer, and bless yer." " I wouldn't care much if I was only sure T wouldn't die of a suddint," sobbed "Mrs. Hoggins. 'Ligion gives a body a safe feelin', 1 reckons." '= *' 0, missus," cried the little woman mournfully, " yer oughter care if ycr was goin' to live forever. Yer need de comfort Jesus gives to carry yer through de wild'ness ; for it wont always go easy wid ye ; and, above all, yer oughter seek de honor and glory of God more den yer own comfort." " Be they goin' to have a mighty big funeral, Obod?*' askett Mrs. Huggins, whose elastic mind had sprung from the sad subject of death to the great gathering it would occasion. "The judge set such heaps by Jack, and then he's always proud of doing the biggest things for Us people. I shouldn't wonder if he invited all the white folks about, and had everything as fine as if Jack was white." " Why," cried Obed, " Luke reckoned he'd put up a headstone for him, tellin' ' Well done, good and faithful sarvant ' onto it, as a zample to do rest on us to work smart like Jack use to when he was young." " Well, Weza, yer mought cs well have all my m^jttWniH^tHi Ji < 1 .' t--' ■ ' ycr . « and re 1 ins. » ^iiy, \ sver. • yer easy 3nor Bi-al, aiud ' tho idgo , LAST WOUK OP PUEACHING JACK. 189 things brushed up smart; for if other white folks go, I'll go too. And I'll see if I can't get yer niassa to let yer all go, — though there's been such loss of time by tho camp-meetin' that I 'spect he'll growl like a bear when I ax him. Ho thinks 'ligion and funerals is a mighty hindrance to work, and that, twixt the two he can't get nothing done on his plantation year in and year out." I ■ •^1 "im H' :. .'.i. jjf,, ,.*.8C ,, .-,,,* ,', JL CHAPTER XV. A VISIT FROM ZACK'S MASTER. ' THE months grew into years, and still the little woman toiled away cueerfuUy^ daily thanking God for the great gift of the " strong heart to lean agin," and looking hopefully forward to some news from her boys. One day Zack's master, while on his annual visit to his uncle, the colonel, rode over to see Huggins, and to ask some questions about Weza, in whom, for Zack's sake, he felt an inter- est. Huggins was very nervous at sight of him, fancying he had come to spy into or to meddle with his affairs. He had decided on meeting a haughty young nabob who would either scorn or ridicule him, and resolved to be out of the way on his arrival. But as usual, he was not smart enough to carry out his plan. The gentleman rode up on horseback while he was still at his breakfast. Huggins had two sound "cheers" taken to the veranda, and going out, he braced 190 1 '■-->' -si ,_ . I • little nking " ' 3 lean news lile on • - 3 over about • inter- f him, aeddle ' ting a orn or e way smart klcman at his leers " braced • - A VISIT FHOM ZACk'S MASTER. 191 himself against the assault he expected, with his brows knit in a terrific manner. The gentleman met him most graciously, not casting one glance at his disordered garments, nor yet at his premi- ses, till Huggins himself began to wonder " where on arth he put his eyes." He spoke in a subdued tpne, and took the offered seat. After the ordinary preliminaries he said, " I suppose you are aware, Mr. Huggins, that Zack is my man, and not my uncle's ? " " Yes, so the Colonel told me," replied Huggins, gruffly. " Did he tell you why I sent him up here ? " " He said you did it for yer own convenience, and I had my suspicions at first that yer was afeared of yer life — he is inch a savage-lookin' fellow. But since he • married my woman, I've given that up, findin' him peaceable and good- natured." The gentleman smiled and said, " Parting with this man was one of the trials of my life. No money could have bought him from me. But my wife took a terrible dislike to him from tlie hour she came to my house, and could not bo happy while he was about. Thus, for years, I have kept him here, and no one knows how I have missed him. My wife has. recently died, and I have com© 192 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS, I for Zack to take charge of my plantation ; and as it ia against my principle to separate husband and wife" — that was all that had prevented his doing it nearer home long ago — '.' I came in to ask if you would sell the woman." " No," said Huggins, with decision, " I can't ])art with her ; she's so good to my wife, and don't have no company a I'unnin', and keeps the men's clothes together, and is a good woman in gineral, mostly. And if I did want to sell her, yer wouldn't be willing to pay the worth of her." " I will give you a hundred dollars more than any of your neighbors will name as the market value of the woman," said the gentleman. ■ i ' ■<' " 0' course my neighbors would go agin me, and put her value down to help yer," said Hugging, sourly. • .. ^, " I don't know why ; all but my uncle are strangers to me. But set your own price and perhaps I will give that. I want the man, and he is not willing to go without his wife." " Ha ! " cried Huggins, " I'd like to have him tell me that if T owned him. I'd break his ' will ' or I'd break his neck, one or t'other." i. ;«. * If the stranger had not heard of Huggins before he might have thought him a monster of cruelty, and have given him a lesson on mercy ; as it was, \ A VISIT PROM "zACK'S MASTER. 193 he only smiled, and said, " I have, no desire to bi-euk either hia will or his neck, and so I came here to see if I could get him home in an easier way without worrying either him or his wife." "Missus!" called Huggins in at the window, "do you want to sell yer little won, an for a hun- dred more than I paid for her ? " " No, yer knows I don t, and I reckon that rich folks might have better business timn a worryin' me when I'm so miae'ble in health anJ so stiff in thejints. Aint there no women left in the world but just only my woman ? " " Two hundred more ? " continued Huggins, in a tantalizing tone. " No, I tell yer. Didn't I settle that ar when the Colonel wanted her ? " * " Three hundred more ? " " I reckons yer better quit auctionin' her up that way. I'll git hysterics if yer don't stop." This was a new accomplishment "missus" had acquired, by which she could bring Huggins to terms when the plea of " stiflf jints " failed, and she was too tired to talk. "Pour hundred? Zack's owner's here, and wants her." ; . " Don't care if the king of England wants her ; he sha'n't have her and there's an end on't," cried '?■ ssss 194 OUT OP THE* WILDERNESS, (( missus," removing a supporting boot-jack and let- ting the window down with a crash. " It's no use talkin', sir, she says ' no,' and she's as stiff as a mule when she's once sot on a thing," said Huggins. The gentleman looked troubled, and said, ad- dressing the window in a loud tone — for Mrs. Huggins herself was invisible — " Madam, I will giv< you a new horse of your own selection, if you will let me 'ake the woman." *' I -.yon't ! " was the prompt reply of Mrs. Hug- gins, " so yer can clar, now. I never had no peace nor no rest in life till I got this little woman, and I'll keep her till I die, see if I don't." "I doubt that, madam," rep' i ad the gentleman. " I. think none of u^will keep our servants till we die, unless our lives shall be very short." " Why, sir," asked Huggins, animated by alarm ; " there aint no more news 'bout that ar muss in Congress, is thar ? I haint seen a paper for two weeks, but my men gets all the news, and I over- i.oars 'em tellin' it to each other, nights, mostly." (j " There's nothing new, but the thing is moving on, step by step, and I have no doubt it will end in war," replied the stranger. Huggins threw up his hands and uttered an oath, a thing he never did except when awfully i '. ' ■ ii V li^f ~-«-H'it-'^^^^'<^'l'''l'''ih«f''"t^'rr . WiMylriiW'itW'ftiit'^- mmi A VISIT FROM ZACK's MASTER. 195 ^red an awfully excited and off bis guard, for he was not a profane man. " Suppose worst coines to worst," ho asked, " whar will the fight be ? I hope the Yankees will take us on our own ground. The blacks would stand by us to a man, and we'd grind the •North down to powder, wo would." Hero Hug- gins rose up, set his teeth firmly, clenched his great fists and shook them vigorously, as if he held every man of the free North in their grasp. " I don't believe the slaves will stand by us, friend," said the gentleman, " and I shall despise them if thoy do. If I was one, I'd make common cause with the North, if I had to shed my last drop of blood in the fight. We're a barbarous race to hold our fellow men in slavery here in the nine- teenth century. My only wonder is that God has not wiped us off the face of his earth. I have felt this ever since I knew right from wrong, and heard the subject discussed in the parlor or. one side, and in the kitchen on the other. I always meant to liberate my people when I came into pos- session of them. But I married, and my wife's views were not like mine : so the matter has slipped along. I have been told that Zack's mother, a noble woman, whom they called ' the Queen of Sheba,' had a revelation of what I think iiSd i.. 196 OtJT OP THE WILDERNESS. is now coming. She told my mother that God hud promised to hide her safe from it, hut that Zack would see it ; and she'bound him over when a l)oy never to run off, but to stand by his own people in the evil day." " Then Til warn yer he'll play traitor if there's trouble, and jine the Yankees, he will," cried Hufigins. The gentleman made no reply to this, but said, "If that prophecy is fulfilled, you'll lose your woman ; so you might as well sell her for a high price and save any risk of the money." " That's true, but I can't mar-'ge niy wife no how ; and the truth is I'm afeared to try. And Weza aint good for much, neither," said Huggins, by way of reconciling the gentleman to the disap- pointment. " She was sold off from her two boys when a Dr. Percy's 'state was settled up in the city, and she's awful mise'ble at times, and can't hardly work, thinkin' 'bout *em." '' " Did she belong to Dr. Percy ? I know his heir well. That young mulatto of his used to set up the pins for us when we were playing together. Did Percy never write to let the poor mother know that he had sold her boy ? " " He don't know whar she is," replied Huggins, " for she's been sold twice since ti>e doctor's death. *"ii I I ■ II .* ji rw Ti P ''A4i m ni «.» n) MH i ij i > I |ii ji i j I III ; J r ii) ^J^m)iii)mt^iitt»k^^^iflitti^ 204 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. And with this weak fiction on liis lips Dave went to the side door to meet Zack. But that independent son of Ham was armed with his savage look, which ho could j)ut on or off at will ; and without even a '' good day, massa," he called out in thunder tones which shook poor Huggins' very soul, " 1 want to see my wife, massa." " She's a — a — gone — to the a — Bend — a — tea — buy shoes." " Massa Iluggins, she's a gone nowhars. I can tell by yor eye she's in dis yore house. Can yer make me believe dat when her pour little heart's a bustin' 'bout losin' me, dat's all she » got in de world, she'd go otf for such a paltry thing as shoes is, 'stead o' havin' a last word wid me ? No, sir, yer can't fool me dis way. Call her out here, will yer, please ? " — and the scowl Zack put on was enough to terrify a braver man than his antagonist. ^ In nine cases out of ten, a slave addressing any planter in this independent ityle would have been slipt on the spot. But Zack knew his ground and his man, and had come prej 'ed for a little harm- less artiace, hoping to accomplish by fear what hi^ master hod failed to do by money. He knew that fts Huggins stuad alone iu that neighborhood, and f -^« ' ii i i n, i ' l f i 'i i |) ii 'l >i »yfjir|'iW » 'jW i )i. HUQGIN8 GETS RID OF ZACK. 205 was a laughing stock for both whites and blacks, his course would be regarded as a good joke by all ; and that his master and tlie Colonel were at home waiting to hear of his success. ^ He got off his horse aud hitched hm to a post, and Iheu said, looking Huggins in the eye, " Call my wife. She's mine, for do Lord gin her to me, aud I'll have her, too, 'fore she's much older." Huggins opened the door of " missus' room," and asked, " Has Wcza got back from the Bend yet ? " " Yes," said " missus," between the puffs of smoke, " she's been back half an hour. Go call her. Zack, come iu, poor fellow. I'm right sorry for yer and Weza ; she's a'most v,ild, and if I wasn't so mise'ble I'd make Huggins sell her to yor master." " Dat ar would be fur yer mterest, missus," re- plied Zack, " for yer won't have her long, no way. But settle it to suit yerself. My part of de bar- gain will be a heap better den yer'^. Dere's a war just 'pon us, and Massa Linkum, what's got hold of de reins, he'll drive powerful, I tell yer. Dere's been heaps of talkin' and prayiu' 'bout him dat yer haint heerd on ; and de Lord lias clothed him wid iron and brass aud put de 'vengcr's sword into his hand and a woman's heart into his breast ; and now he's goin' forth a conquerin' and for tg ^'*'ii>ijl%iii,if>ijiiiiii ^"~"~"— :"f|f''; i ' i 'iimrr i ' i i i r ii -A 206 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. conquer. His work — what de Lord made him 'special for — is to break de fetters of de slave and to set de 'pressed free. De black folks says he was born wid a ' glory ' round his head like de Virgin Mary and her child and some of do 'postles. Any how he's de great Moses dat's to d'liver out of de second bondage by turnin' de rivers to blood, and slayin' de first horned, and such like judgment on de Pharaohs and de 'Gyptians of dis day." " The papers tells that he's low-born and bred," said Mrs. Huggins, " and it must be so, for I've heerd that every thiu's as true as the gospel that's put into newspapers." " Den dere's some hard things 'mong us. De judge takes a paper from de North, de Triboon, and dere's hard talk agin de South into it. Luke gits de readin' on't 'fore de judge does." . ; " 0' course that's full of lies. Every paper and everybody lies there to the North. But our pa- pers, that's all true, says that this yere Lincoln was low born, and aiut no way fit to rule over gen- tlemen ; and {hat he was brung up in a log cabin and never lived in no mansion house in his life ; " and the mistress of this mansion house drew herself up in conscious superiority over Abraham Lincohi. " They mought better a pitched on Hug- gins for President," she continued. "He never .....J-^ HOGGINS GETS RID OP ZACK. 207 |5 J lived in a log cabin, and he wouldn't a worried the South this erg way ; and he'd a let 'em just move ou as they was mind to, and the Noi-th too, for all he'd care." This was too much for Zack, who was well posted up in public iu„tter8 through the slaves that . went to the post-office. And forgetting for the moment the sad errand on which he had come, he burst out laughing. Mrs. Huggius smiled too, not seeing the point of the jolce. " I don't wonder yer laugh," she said. " The idea of gittin' a President out of a log cabin ! " "Missus," said Zack, solemnly, "we got a greater den he out of a stable once. Look how low born de great Deliverer was in de eyes of proud man. But half de univarse bows to him now, and t'other half's got to do it yet. De babe in de manger, de man o' Calvary, he is de King o' Glory. So God does his big work by dem dat's poor in dis world.'' • " Why, Zack, yer talks a'most like Preachin' Jack uoe to," said Mrs. Huggins, in surprise. "Thankee, missus, but Vs in a big hurry dis time. Will yer please to call Weza, wharever she is?" .o.^v.- -■:.■:/. ..W'.. .;,,,. ,..,..rr-- . .-,.-.?•. " I sent Huggins to call her long 'go ; and there 208 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. ho is now just a slioutln' from the bottom of the stairs. A body can't get a thing done in this yer world "thout they up and does it thciiselvcs. Now, Zack, yer tell her to be cheerful and con- tented, and I reckons when Christmas comes 'bout agin we'll sell her to yer owner. Mought be I'll be smart, gin that time and have a new woman to fill her place." But this prospect did not elate Zack very much. He saw the die was cast. " Dcrc she comes," he said ; " I hears her slow step on de stairs— poor little woman." Wcza en- tered the door he had opened for her, and with that livid look so striking in those of her race when suffering, she sank into a chair. Zack folded his arms and threw back his brawny shoulders, straightening himself up to his full height, and looked at her pitifully. " Lord of heavens ! " he cried, "isn't dis ycre'a sight to make de angels groan ? A great man like me wid a immortal soul and a lovin' heart into him, to stand here and see de woman dat God's giu him for his own, caged up like a poor mouse, and can't lift a finger to loose hci. Can it be dat I's a man, dat I's born una brung up in free 'Merica ? Mought be I's only a brute all dis time, and been dreamin' I's a man wid de love of man into me. No, no, no! dcre's a soul inside o' me, and a soul inside of dat dear HUOOINS GETS BID OP ZACK. 209 little woman dat I'd a gin my life for. God made us all right; but man, starred up by de devil, lias put us whar we be. But, dear Lord, his breath is only in his nostrils, and dou can carry him 'way wid a flood and set my people free." The entry door was open on a crack and Hug- . gins' left ear was quite visible there ; so Zack con- tinued this soliloquy for his benefit. Then lie said, « Massa Huggius, open dat ar door wider ! I'll just say yer may thank God dat I's a Christian — dat I's born agin — dat old things is passed away and all is new inside o' me ! For if I didn't love Jesus and seek for to honor and glorify him, I "believe in my heart I'd kill de man dat wouldn't let my wife go when he's offered a big price for her ! But every one dat walks arter him has got to wear a crown like de Jews put onto his dear head, and has got to take a cross up hill on his shoulders, like he did. Dis yere partin' is my crown o' thorns and my cross full of naUs, but de dear Lord will ease de crown wid his hand and lift one end of de cross for me ! And what I can't do for to comfort Weza's broke heart de Lord will do ! Madam Leon send me over to say she want Weza to come and eat supper wid our folks, case she's goin' to have a partirJ supper for me, wid a turiiey, and pies and sich like. Mought she go, missus ? " ■ *i$i^w i ;jj^ij« rn m 'i sto OUT OP THE WILOEBNESi. " Will ycr promise to bring hor safe back to me arter supjxjr, on yer word as a Christian?" asked missus. " ^artain, missus, I will ; as suroVi I love de Lord and strives to please him she shall be here by ten o'clock ! And I'd wish to say for my dear younp massa, dat he don't force me to go home. He needs mo very much, and he say if ho can't make no tarms wid ycr 'bout Wcza,* bymeby he'll let me come back agin. But I tell yer, I'll be round 'bout mighty often to see if she's got hap- pier, — poor little woman ! " Weza asked Zack, meekly, " Moughtn't I stay long enough just to get de supper ready ? " " Yes," replied Zack, " dough yer don't look, like doin' nmch now but lyin' down in yer coffin ! I'll go out and talk farewells to de boys in de field while yer gittin' ready." When he was gone, Huggins caroe in from the entry, teig-iblc in wrath ! He denounced the colo- nel as " an old nabob," his guest as " a cussed abolitionist," Zack as " a highwayman," Weza as "an ougrateful creatur," and Mrs. Huggins as " nobody at all " for consenting to let her off." " Did yer think I was goin' to git all stirred up a talkin' and arguin' ? She'll come back all safe, I'll promise ! " returned " missus." UUOOINS GETS BID OF ZACK. 211 " Yes, and they'll tell there Uwut her goin' to the Bcud for shoes, and liko's not they'll say I lied about it and tfiat she was in the house all thcj time ! " said Huggins, tender of his character for veracity. " Coui-se they will," replied Mrs. Huggins, calmly, as if lying and being called a liar were a thing of every day occurrence, and of very little moment any way. When poor Weza was arrayed for the sorrowful visit, she. walked by the side of Zack, who led the horse, till they reached the end of the lane ; then he lifted her on to the saddle, put the reins in her hand and walked on at her side. " That are'b 'dikerlous ! " cried Kuggins. " He's as tinder o' her as the Colonel is of Madam." "Why didn't yer say as tinder as yer be of me ? " whistled missus from her teeth, which were still shut on the pipe stem. " Course he loves her like white men loves their wives, and why shouldn't he ? She's more lovabler than many a white woman, I'm sure." " It always roused my spent terrible," cried Dave, " when he come over here to feed my hogs and split my wood and to clar up the place in gineral. It looked like he thought I didn't look after matters sharp ! " -«, i7\a«* ;u:, ^ ;(.;,, 212 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS, " Humph ! " died Mrs. Huggius, with a sarcas- tic smile. She saw the deficiencies about the plantation as plainly as anybody Tlid ; but as she didii't mean to exort herself, she had long ago re- solved not to worry about tliem, " Well, I'll be rid of him now and have nothing to worry me, — if this talk of war don't ! " ex- claimed Huggins. "If it comes, like's not I'll have to shoulder my gun and go off as capting ! They say that the chevelry is all to be officers, and the poor whites and the blacks is to be the jBghtin' sogers. Tiiey say the blacks will fight fierce for their homes and their country ! " " They don't disturb women folks in time o' wars, do they ? " asked missus. " Not in gineral, they don't," replied Dave ; " but Daniel Philips, that's been to the North a huntin' up runaways, and knows how furious they be up thar, — he sa s how't they'd pour down on us iike the savage horges used to pour down in Europe on the 'fined and civilized nations! He says they'll stick at nothin' ; that they'll rob us and burn our houses and cany off all the hand- some women." " Oh ! oh ! oh ! goody gracious ! What will be- come of me, then ? " cried Mrs. Huggins," shudder- ing, and realizing for the first time the horrors of a ■■iiltiit-ilrrflir'iitlirtp' ■i'lied Weza. dere never he wanted ie world on 11 soon quit laater went 8, sellin' of; 'd stay long gone a fort- ■ tbought on t no money : how much ick ; besides i groan. *!• •8. Huggins, STer ought to Christians is ;hat, p'r'haps s as not he'll sickly down lought's well master to let ;e'8 Luke's a fust rate black man, and his wife, dat b'longed to de Hunter's 'state, has just been sold off wid her two children." Weza could not bear this. It was laying coals of fire on her wound, and she cried, in a tone Mrs. Huggins had never heard before, " Missus, yer's as cruel as do hangman ! If yer aint car'ful yc'll drive me to de crazy-house. Please don't say 'Zack' while I lives; but don't think I'll ever forget liim. If I loses him forever here in de wilderness, J'U have him bymeby in heaven and never lose liim no more ! I's goin' to bear dis as well as de other trouble patient, for Zack says de Lord is a tryin' of me like de silversmith try de silver for to make it shine bright. I promised him dat I would whisper to de Lord every liour of de day what my brother Job said to God when de devil and every body else bothered Ijim ! 'Do' dou slay me yit will I trust dee ! ' I's bound for to love Jesus, whether he does liice I want him to or not. I's a poor, small little thiag in dis big world o' his ! " As the days and weeks wore on, a deep gloom settled on the minds of the planters. The negroes caught whispers of tlie war and grew restless. They met in. groups to tell and to hear what Iiad been picked up in the families or at the store, and mm- i >ll-rliiiiirin • .t-.WInii.iri;, T-. 'f-i^..^. j l H H aW i lt md r 222 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. If 1 po8t-officc ; and inany who had been regarded by their owners as guiltless of all learning were now caught peeping into newspapers and cominittiug like wicked acts. Of course the masters took alarm and were devising methods by which a stricter watch could be kept on them. It was pro- posed by some to forbid their going to meetings of any kind, or even to the customary merry makings. This the Colonel, influenced by his wife, strongly opposed at first, but he was overruled by his neighbors, and new fetters were placed upon the blacks which did not set easily. They were for- bidden to meet for prayer or praise, but they atoned for this loss of privilege by exercising their gifts in loud tones at home ; the kitchens, the barns and the fields resounding with calls on Jesus to » ride on swifter in de golden chariot, and to deliver his chireu out of de horrible pit and de miry clay." When the first gun ^SJR fired at Sumter they almost heard it. They knew of it as soon as their masters did ; and they began laying plans for the future when they should be free. Panic seized those negroes whose relatives were divided among several masters. Every movement of the whites was watched with neiTOus interest, and war, rather than work, was the theme in man- sion house and cabin. ' " yarded by were now omraittiug stcrs took which a t was pro- leetuigs of f makings, c, strongly ed by his 1 upon the r were for- , but they cising their tchcns, the lis on Jesus •iot, and to pit and de .8 fired at lew of it as egan laying lid be free, atives were y movement )us interest, sme in man- OREAT CHANGES. 223 -■ Six months had passed away since Zack's de- parture, and tlie time when his master had prom- ised to send him up for a visit was at hand. Weza counted the hours and grew clieerful with hope. But the Colonel, dreading tiie budget of news lie would bring, and the effect of his freedom from re- straint on the others, wrote to his nephew forbid- ding the visit. This gave great offence to the gen- tleman, but he had a wise reason for suppressing his feeling. Instead of replying by letter, he made his appearance most unexpectedly one morning, leaving Zack, who was his travelling servant, at Uuggins' plantation to make a new appeal for his wife. " Uncle," he said, « I'm worn out with this con- troversy, and dread a long civil war. I've se- cured my personal projKjrty and am going abroad. I've come to make a bargain with you." " Ail ? to take your place off your hands, is it ? " asked the Colonel. " No, it is to exchange a member of my family for one of yours. My man will bring far more money in the market than the person I want from you. Will you take Zack, whom you know to be a good man and give mo — Miss Julia ? " "My dear fellow," cried the Colonel/' I have suspected this befoie. I will give Julia to you ■.'i; . ■'-^ -fi^llnm-lffi-ii'HiM'ti 884 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. with all my heart ; but 1 don't want Zack ! He is, as you say; a good uian ; but he knows too much for me in those times. We're hushing up every tiling from the blacks, but Zack knows as much as you do, and so will bo dangerous here. What will you do with your other servants ? " " I have given Dely and lier boys to her hus- band's owner ; Mary and old Nancy and Sue have gone to Uncle John's ; and I've let out the field hands to my neighlwr Davis at his own price." " Tom, you're crazy ! " cried the Colonel. " No sir ; the rest of you are crazy. I'm the sane man to save what I can and make off while I can." /.i ' "And do you think this a manly course ?" asked the Colonel, gravely. " Suppose all should run, who would fight the battles of the South V " " Nobody, sir ; and that's just what I want ! There is nothing to fight for. The hot heads among us have set up a shadow, and they ask us to fight for it. I don't care to stay here and be shot, and neither do I intend to stay and shoot you and my other honored uncles. This Government satisfies me, and why should 1 risk my life in tiy- ing to destroy it? I have anticipated Mr. Lin- coln's probable action by virtually freeing my GREAT CHANGES. 22> k ! He is, i too much 5 up every as much an jre. What to her huB- d Sue have it the field price." iiel. . I'm the off while I J . t ■se?" asked hould run, \i V " Eit I want ! hot heads they ask us lere and be d shoot you jroverniucnt ' life iu ti-y- ;d Mr. Liu- freeing my people. Shall I leave Zack here, or take him down river again ? " " Take him away, my boy," said the Colonel ; " if he talks no worse than his master does, he will do mischief here." " It sliall be as you say. If I could move ti.at . old stone post, Huggins, I'd buy Zack's wife and set them adrift to shift for themselves. And now I will find the ladies and see if Julia's aunt will hasten and get her off before these barbarians, of whom Mrs. Huggins is so much afraid, steal her for her beauty ! " At that time ladies cared less for an elegant and varied trousseau than for personal safety, and so the gentleman and his ycung wife were very soon on a ship bound for Cuba. Zack was inquiring about the different regi- ments, having resolved to " figlit for de Lord and fi-eedom." But before taking this step he went up to visit his wife again. In his usual indenendent way ho told Huggins that slavery was dead to all in- tents and purposes, and that Mr. Lincoln was only waiting a little while, for prudence's sake, to make out all the free papers. Ho said lie wanted to fietUe his wife in a little room of her own before he went off But Mrs. Huggins threw herself into ' I'ysterics, and Huggins, pale with fear, ran into ji njLiJiii%i|iii m w m.,.M 226 OUT OP THE WILDERNKSS. the next room, turned the key and talked about his gun. Weza refused to follow Zack, because she had given her .word to remain until she became free ; and she felt that Jesus was watching her to see if she kept it. " Well, dat's mighty good in yer, little woman," cried Zack, " but yer ain't yer own master, mind ; for de good Lord has sot me over yer to be de head of de woman; and yer only a poor, weak creatur', at best. If I takes yer off, ye've got to go." Here Mrs. Huggius screamed with fear. The Colonel and the judge, with their families, had fled for safety into the very bosom of the foe at Washington ; and she and Huggins were tho only whites left in the neighborhood. « Missus," said Zack, " I wants my wife to have a little rest and to visit some of my old friends and hern down below. As she won't leave yer 'case on account of her word, I'll take her for a week; and when I've gone she may come back if she's fool enough to ! " "Yer may go," gasped Mrs. Huggins, "but who'll git 1 meal of victuals while yer off? " '' " I'll tell de boys to do de housework and wait on yer too," said Weza, trembling iu every limb. OHEAT CHANGES. 227 3e she had icame free ; her to see Ic woman," stcr, mind ; ijr to be de poor, weak e've got to fear. The irailies, had f the foe at 3re tho onijT wife to have old friends 't leave yer 'te her for a come back ggins, oif?" )rk and wait ivery limb. "Hurry up, dar!" cried Zack, a little sharply, to Weza, who fancied she should be hunted and punished lor running off. " Go up stairs nnd get yer clothes." At the sound of his changed voice " massa " and " missus " darted into opposite rooms and barricaded , themselves in. Weza, then, according to orders, went up stairs and tied up a very small bundle, which she threw out of the window to Zack. On coming down she stepped to tlie door of " missus' " prison and said, " Good-by, missus," in very trem- ulous tones. " Good-by," sobbed missus. « If yer don't come back in a week, Weza, I'll turn infidel and sceptic, and I'll say there ain't no such tiling as 'ligion, and that church-member folks is all hypocrites, and that ihe Bible isn't no truer than Robinson • Cruser, — I will. And I'll say that the wickedest, lyin'est, and stealin'est people ever I knowed was . them that prayed and sung sams ! " " 0, missus, never say dat, for de Lord lives, anO. he is true and lovin' wh-cever we does," said the little brown woman. Mrs. Huggins, who now saw the happy pair departing, called out after them, " I'm in a fit, •— a hysle-ic ! 0, o-o-o ! I can't breathe ! The sava- ges is comiu' ! I hear Qieir guns ! I'm all alone v- ■:^ »*#?■ "1" "' ' I ' - '- i r if 228 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. with no womankind about me to protect mo. Them sogers will carry uie off and make a harem out o' me, like the king ol" the Injees does out of all his good-lookin' women ! " And> then she burst into a fit of violent weeping. Huggins was listening, but dared not leave his retreat till sure that Zack was gone. In a moment her tone changed, and he heard her talking calmly. Zack, leaving Weza at the bars, had ran back to the house, and going up to the open window, said, " Oh, missus, I forgot som jthin' I brung up for yer ! " And he drew from the pocket of his blouse a pipe he had bought of a Dute!iman in the city, as a peace-offpring to Mrs. Huggins. The china-bowl represented a head of Punch, his face lighted with an ecstatic grin, while the metal cover was a gay red cap ! When he handed it to the distracted lady it produced a wondrous effect on her. The hysterics fled, and she gave herself up to full sympathy with Mr. Puuch, laughing merrily, and asking Zack how it was made and what it cost. " I do say," she crie^^ "that ere will keep me 'mused till Weza go»K • :!'; and rU never forgit that of yer, Zack! i li {••wt her well to pay ye fo't, I tell ye ! " And agaiu she laughed long and loud, as if there were no sorrow nor fear hang-v.g over her. What was civil war to i .» , m . ^).., j i |Kil'"l ' 1 gaWitfiw* "^ i\ » . MP . FLEEING BEFORE THE YANKKES. 231 I. iles ou foot, on the boat, ion that all vas hard for to go where 1080 owners atched with resolved to eoua cause," others hold- travelling at Id have dis- )uly amused e great city i been sjyent. learch of her IS brought on de. . After some days, they found an aged woman once owned by Dr. Percy, but who retained no love for the name, as she, too, liad been cheated out of freedom promised for faithful service in a time of great domestic sorrow. She fancied she could tell Weza all she wanted to know about the little boy who went with " Massa " George. " Bless yer, yes, honey ; " she said, speaking as she would to a troubled child. " I know heaps 'bout him, and a little prince he was, too, for a slave-boy. Yes, yes, dear. First, Massa George, as mean, and stingy, and small a soul as ever walked 'bout in a handsome body and fnie clothes, he took him home when de property fell to him. He tuk every thin' he could lay hands on, even to the doctor's clotljes, and a paper of screws and nails that he hadn't no use for and had to heave away ; well, he tuk him 'long when ho went home, honey." "J knowed dat, myself, amity," replied Weza, " but what come of him after dat ? " " Oh, dat's what you want to know, is it ? Well, we heard dat he love him just like he was his own son. He play with him, and dress him up, and teach him to sing and fuldle — and de dear knows what all! But biinoby a lady from de rice coun- try was up dere, and she fell dead in love with de „r..in^.a,. --.;^-^v^,f | ifa..j-;i.^..:i,j..^-ay|j| 232 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. chile, and say she must have him for to make sport for her company. She offer a heap of gold, big as a bushel l)asket, I reckons, for him, and Massa George up and sold him ! He would 'a done de same if it had been his own chile ! And dat's « what come of de little beauty ! " " And where did de lady live, aunty ? If yer can tell me dat, 1 can hunt him up yet," said Weza. . ' " Yea, honey ; she live in a place dey call Flo'dy, whar dey kills black people off in de rice swamps. But bymeby she got marriedj and move up, furder North, to whar de savages lives dat's making dis yerc cruel war on us," — and here old Prudy winked at her guests, confidentially. — "Whether she sold de boy or tuk him 'long, is mor'n I can tell yer. So dat's what come of de chile ; and I hopes it will give yer a thread for to find him by." ' Old Prudy had gossipped faithfully all her '"e, and she usually kept the run of the sold and t. o dead ; but fate was against her in this case. She was a dumb oracle to poor Weza. " Now, Weza," said Zack, one day, " first busi- ness, den pleasure is my rule. I gin yer a long rope to search for de boys, and Ps helped to de best of my 'bility. We can't find no trace on 'em. FLEEING BEFORE THE YANKEES. 233 to make p of gold, him, and Id 'a done And dat's ? If yer yet," said dey call in de rice and move lives dat's 1 here old sntially. — I 'long, is lome of de thread for II herJ'e, d and ti o uase. She first busi- yer a long Iped to de Lce on 'em. Now s'pose we put 'em back into de hand o' do dear Lord agin, where we trusts our own 'mortal sperits and our lives, and spend de rest of yer fur- lough — as do sogers say — havin' a good time. I wants yer to visit my massa's scattered-' bout-peo- ples, and to see all de shops and de big ice-cream saloon, and go to de black churches whar dey pray so loud yer can hear 'em a mile, and to see de- wild beasts — if dere's any 'bout just now. Try to 'member what I always tells yer, dat it's one thin' to pray widout ceasin' for what we wants, and it's another to tease de Lord for it, and to fret at hir if de answer don't come just hi our way and time. Now cheer up, little woman, and be happy. Think what marcy from de Lord dat yer husband, 'stead o' breakin' his back in de rice • swamps or de cane fields, is goin' to be a soger of deLord! 'Fore yer go back Til have my blue clothes and my gun, and look as grand as anybody f I reckons I'd make poor Massa Huggins shake in his shoes if I could go up dere wid U. S. on my belt and a gun over my shoulder." II What does U. S. mean, Zack ? " asked Weza. "Why, chile, is yer so ignorant as dat?" said the wise Zack, looking pitifully down on her. "I heerd massa and missus tell about some black folks dat run oflF and fit wid de North ; and •"■"^ "^'"if'^-'ifj i im t i. MM fcirtm-r' n i-ffi'r n r" - -'^rif Ti ii nftri^ j i^ 234 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. ^;, dey dress 'em up and don put, great letters, U. S., for ' ugly sarpints,' on derc belts ! Doy said dat was all dc thanks dey got for leavin' dere kind uiussas and jinin' dereselves to savages." Zack laughed heartily at Weza's simplicity, and replied, " I'm 'feared dey'll see ' ugly sarpints ' ©n every black man's belt 'fore dis yere war ends ! " And then he explained the signification of the letters, and how the country got the playful name of" Uncle Sam ; " and Weza looked up to him in admiration, as to a very great and wise man, and thought that, with all the troubles of the wilder- ness, she was yet the happiest woman iu the world ! These gala days had flown at last, and the time had come for the " contrabands " to be armed and equipped. Weza looked proudly on Zack as a " Union soger," and was escorted by him in his new dignity to the boat, loaded down with little packages containing presents of a very simple character for herself and her mistress. Among these was a pair of shoes for " missus ; " who had told Zack in confidence " that her feet was clean on to the ground, but, for all that, she'd rather had the fuuny pipe than even a j)air of new shoes, for a present ! " Zack took the hint, and supplied the demand from a little purse las master had given him at parting. ^Bi^i*jL • '*^*^if,.J^ fTW ■;. ■ :/■,,;■■ ^ FLEEING BEFORE THE YANKEES. 235 ttors, U. S., oy said dat I* dcre kind iplicity, aud sarpints ' en var ends ! " tioii of the layful name p to him ill e luan, aud the wilder- Duu iu the iid tlie time armed and Zack as a him in his with little k'ery simple )8. Among ; " who had it was clean ihe'd rather ' new shoes, nd supplied master had " Now, Weza," he said, on the deck of the boat, before saying the last farewell, " dese is no times for chicken hearts, either 'mong men or women ; and I don't want to see no tears in ycr eyes 'bout my goin'. If we lives to get througli dis ycr war, we'll be somebody ; and if we dies, den our people dat's left will be somebody ! Ts goin' to fight for de Lord and for my j)cople, and not for self only ; and I don't want to have him see yer a grumblin' 'bout it ! If yer'll say, even now, dat yer'd ratlirr stay here, I'll get yer a little room and settle yer ; but if yer'd rather go back to old missus, go, and stay till yer tired. Whenever yer wants to, yer can leave and come down, and I'll keep de run of yer through Luke, dat can write; and I'll send yer money, too ; and de less yer cry de more I'll love yer ! De Lord bless yer, dear chile. Good-bye ! " And he ran off lest his lieart might fail him. The little woman pursued her journey alone and in tears, though her grief was not the boisterous grief of other days. She felt that in giving up Zack she was helping on a mighty work for her people, and this gave strength to her heart. When Weza reached the " mansion house" slie saw a wonderful change ; it seemed to have suf- fered years of decay since she had left it. The front windows were closed up in the radest pos- ""^~-'--'"' - j ■in ii ii fiii i M i i ■■M r 236 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. sible manner with bits of broken l)oard and fcnoc- raila. Ploughs, rakes, harrow, wlieelbarrows, oUl wagons and cart wheels, and finally a bedstead, w^re heaped upon the ricketty verandah to V»ani- cade the front door. The end door was plugged up l)y a grindstone which the little woman could not pass ; so she selected a long ])olc from a lot of nibljish in the front yard, and with it gave several smart raps on the window of " missus' " room. They woke an echo that frightened the little woman. Such shrieks and groans she had never heard before ; but it only took a moment to assure her that they were but the hysterical demonstra- tions of Mrs. Huggins. " Don't be skeart, missus, it's only me, yer own Weza, dat wouldn't hurt yer for de world. What on arth has happened since I been gone ? Has do sogers been long by dcae parts ? " Mrs. Huggins managed to climb over her bed- stead, which had been pushed against the window, and drew out a nail that had been driven in ovei" the lower sash, — a poor defence indeed against a savage horde, such as she was looking for ! " Clomb right in here, yer dear little woman," sobbed Mrs. Huggins. " I vow I'm more beat to see yer than I would be to see an angel ; and a moughty sight pleaseder ! I never believed Zack "1 FLEEING BEFORK THE YANKEES. 237 3 I and fence- arrows, old a bedstead, all to l»anl- ras plugged omau could om a lot of favo several lus' " room. I the little B had never snt to assure demonstra- me, yer own jrld. What le ? Has du rer her bed- the window, 'iveu in ovei* ed against a for! tie woman," aore beat to mgel ; and a elicved Zack would let yer come back, for all yer promising ; no more did Huggins. Como in and take a hold on me to keep down the shakin' ! 1 haint eat nor slep' nor notbin' but jist only smoke and shake, narvous-like, for eight'n forty hours; and in all that arc time yer poor master haint been able to do nothin' but jist to drink a little gin and shake too ! Sich times as we've had here ! Why, the old Rivohition, they tell on, warn't nothin' to 'em ; and them that jjut through so much for freedom then can't hold a candle to us ! If ever this yero horrible war's over, we're goin' to 'ply for a piu- sion to pay us for all we've done." "Why, missus, what has happened? What have yer done ? " cried the little woman, with real sympathy ; for though she prayed for the downfall of rebellion, she didn't want any body she knew to fall down with it! "What have yer been a doin' here ? " " Why, don't yer see ? We've been a lumberiu' up to keep the Yankees out, and a sufferin' all sorts o' fear ! If folks don't git pinsions for bein' skeart like this and for luggin' furnitur' round till they're most wore up, I don't know what they will get 'em for! If the North beats, they ought to pinsion every man, woman and child to the .South while they lives, for the trouble we've took a .5 Vff^^. •mtf 9W OUT OP THE WILDEHNE88. gcttin' up this ycro war and keepin' out o' dan- ger while it's goin' on ! " Woza smiled at this reasoning, and repeated hor question, " What was all dis yere rubbage brung 'bout de house for ? " u Well — I'll — tell — ycr all 'bout — it — when I've filled— a — my pipe — a," sobbed Mrs, Hug- gins, wiping her tears on the uplifted skirt of the changeable silk, which, with the crape shawl, she had donned several days before to receive Yankee soldiers in. She had heard they -respected ladies more than women ! After smoking a few minutes, with her head thrown back on one c' lir and her feet resting on another, she grew c ^nough to tell her tale of woe. " Well, one night jist arter yer left, that hateful, contimptible Luke o' the judge's come drivin' up here in a gig with Scriptur' Bill. They took all our men into the corn-house and haranged 'em for half an hour, as bold as if there warn't no gentry-like within hearing. Scriptur' Bill swore 'em on a book, and all we heerd was that they wasn't to rob, nor burn, nor 'stroy us, nor the place ; but to show theirselves peaceable citizens and good Christians ! But I makes sartin he whis- pered some evil in there ears that wo didn't hear. tu Ti FLEEIHO BEFORE THE YANKEES. 239 ut o' dan- ipcated her »age brung it — when Mrs. Hug- ikirt of the shawl, she ve Yankee cted ladies her head resting on her tale of hat hateful, i drivin' up [ey took all ranged 'em warn't no Bill swore , that they us, nor the ble citizens tin he whis- iidn't hear. I 'spcet that they was round dnimmin' up a regi- ment of U. S's. to kill us and burn the plantation up ! '* The minute they was gone, Obe came in, and says he, ' the North is a marchin' down on us, and we must get off into the woods moughty quick arter dark, and hide evcrythin' wo got there, or they'll steal all we own," says he, — '* the villyan ! '' " So at it we went. They hauled all the corn and the bacon and the clothes into the woods and hid them while I packed up here ; and then they come back and said we must fly for our lives to a place they'd found wliar we'd hide up safe till daylight. But 1> w to get me there was the ques- tion, I was so stiff in the jints, and I hate to move 80 ! One of the men 'posed that I ride a hoss- back on Obe's boss, and he'd bring it back for Obe — scein' that t'other boss was dead and the mule stole, — but I didn't know how to ride a hossback, and didn't want the trouble o' holdin' the reins, if I did. " So Huggins — he's a power- ful genus when there's any contrivin' to be done — he got a lot o' rope and mended up the old broke-down gig. One wheel wouldn't turn, but only dragged along, and the whole cousaru went bumpyty-bump ! bumpyty-bump ! enough to shake the life out of a poor weak woman like me ! Yer I- 1 ''i^ '\-: . M- M« j ipiii« ^j iii i,.B iiiii> ^ iii B iyiii ^^ ii ,jL,i ^i tgi,. ii . , || l ll tfJ ||^ ^^^^w^ ■ Mw^ ■■ H,^^.u||l; ' '1^M l ^ p j^ ^ l 'fy J !' % K-i 240 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. never see such a lookin' set as we was, tho' I dressed up jist as if I was goin' to quarterly ineetin' or funeral, in these yere things, and I Imint had 'cm off since ! I wouldn't go round tho road, no how, 'fear we'd meet sogers ; and when they sot out to coax me, I went off into hysterics, and they soon come to my tarms, I tell yer ! I can always bring yer master 'bout, that way. So Obe and me got into the gig ; and as I couldn't sleep on the ground, they piled up a feather bed and pillows and blankets and goody knows what all, in front of us and most a top on us, till we could hardly see daylight over the heap ; and then we set off over the old cornfield, the rest a follerin' of us ! Such a lookin' set I guess yer never see ; and the way that are old gig scraped and groaned, and the way that boss limped, and tho jigglety way Obe driv, it was awful! We broke down twice and had to bo tied up agin ; and the 'mount on it was, the men and their luassu 'bout carried us, boss and all, they had to do so much liftiu' and boostin'. " Well, when we got into, the woods, the things was tuk out, and I concluded artcr all, that, as may be the ground was damp, I'd sit still in the gig. The mcM and yer massa lay down on the ground, leavin' Obed mi the gig with me to keep 'CWiifeiiiHtirftfi 'ih vas, tho' I 3 quarterly igs, and I » round tho and when ) hysterics, ell yer! I it way. So s I couldn't feather bed mows what us, till we ) ; and then 3t a foUerin' ■ never see ; lid groaned, the jigglety broke down I the 'mount bout carried ;h liftin' and s, the things all, that, as it still in the [own on the me to keep FLEEING BEFORE THE YANKEES. 241 watch. He didn't onl,arness, so's to be ready to start any minute we heard the Yankess a eomin ! "Well, I and yer massa fell asleep, and we slop hke stones till towards mornin'. I woke u» feelin' awful stiff in the jints and faint for a smoke. I looked up, and there was yer poor massa on the ground asleep -him that has slep' ma mansion-house so long -and not another livin creatur' within sight or call ! I woke liim and he looked about, but they was all gone ! " Obe had ontackled the old white horse, and put the eends o' the shafts on two stumps and rode off; and there was me, sittin' up high and dry, a mile from home ! "Well, we looked about, and them thieves had loaded up well with all they could carry; and where the corn and the bacon was hid we haint found to this day, and never shall ! I believe in my heart that that are stiff knee, too, was all a mmbug, for the fellow walked as smart as any body that night ! "' " Well, dere, I can't believe our men could be 80 trechus ! " cried Woza. " If dey wanted to go why didn't dey say so and walk off like otlu^r' black folks? But dis yere was none of Scriptur' Bills dom's!, More like he heerd o' their plans and come over to make dem 'have dereselves. If u "*".' -'.'g ■'■".. ! Ilillllllll tm 242 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. . I'd been here I'd a told ycr ycr couldnt keep 'cm, for dcy's all flockin' to jine de regiments ; but I'd looked out to have no sich-like work as dat, — poor missus ! " said Weza. This word of sympathy opened anew the flood- gates, and " missus," biting hard at her pipe stem, sobbed and sniffled ; and dropping her silk skirt, caught up a corner of her flower-decked shawl for a pocket handkerchief, and rubbed her poor eyes, already red with the tears of a week. "And sich a — tug as" we've — had, gittin' — the things — back, and — blockadin' — the house up, — and — and — yer massa — don't b'lieva there's ever been a livin' ' Yankee ' 'bout at all ! " sobbed poor Mrs. Huggins. s I. Ti Mmibtm, 1*4^^, t'^ in , -i I , keep 'em, t8 ; but I'd as dat, — r the flood- r pipe stem, r silk skirt, id shawl for ■ poor eyes, d, gittin' — — the house 'hev9 there's ai!" sobbed v^;i'h:>-i ,,^yt(.i*pii,-S^. -'-'-"'f ., CHAPTER XIX. GOOD NEWS FROM ZACK. mHE scales of society were fairly turned now in J- the region of which we write. The Colonel and the judge, with others of less importance, but who were yet the superiors of Dave Huggins, had, with their families, stepped out of the ascending scale, and thus sent these poor creatures, laden with mortification and poverty, down, with a bump, into the mire of society. These gentlemen had not fled from terror of their own. slaves, as many masters had done, but rather from feu- of tl.e Yankees, and from weari- ness of the uncertainty tlmt Imng about every thing at home. They had no heart to put in the ground crops which aliens might gather, nor to feed a troop of blacks who would walk off at will to fight against them. Old Clco held the keys of the parlors and closets for Madam Leon, to whom 8l»c was as faithful as the magnet to the pole. She looked and unlocked the corn and. the sinok^ / 243 \ '"'"''"'^ • 'Ht-llWifiilliit'iifi ¥ jliniiliiiii iiiiiiiiiin L«|i|ili.j jtamm ii 2/kk OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. ■I houses, and gave out supplies according to orders. " Freedom or no freedom, I will stick by yer, missus," old Cleo iiad said. " Massa's had all de corn out of me, and he's got to house up de husk ! But I'll be faithful to yer, and look out dat others is ; but yer musu't spect me to hold in de boys if dey wants to go fight. Dcy looks on de Yankees like ten thousand Moseses dat's comin' down hero into Egypt for to say to de hard old Pharys, ' Let my people go ; ' and if, after all de plagues and cusses de Lord has sent, doy won't do it, and de people walks off a carryin' de gold and de jewels with 'em, why den don't blame me ! I warn yer 'fore yer go, dat if the time comes, and de Lord calls, and our folks goes, I shall stand on de ve- randy and wave a handkcrcher, and shout blessin's artcr 'em in de name of de Lord o' Hosts ! And more, if de sogers come down on us a himgry and thirsty, I shall feed 'em and drink 'em out o' yer corn-bin and coffee-pot, — I shall ! So now don't let nobody call me a thief nor an unfaithful." ♦' Cleo," said her mistress, " I'm not afraid to trust you ; do the best you can with the people an^ the food ; and if we ever come home again, you shall be tenderly cared for in your old age. You know my feelings in this matter — I would not turn xaj hand, if by doing it I could place Matftl'>MX:i«/. iMWifi lliril>> m-^ 111 ! MlHiMl)! !■ liW ■ to orders, t by yer, tiad all de ) de husk ! dat others de boys if e Yankees down here larys, ' Let [agues and it, and de [ de jewels I warn yer id de Lord I on de ve- lut blessin's osts ! And hungry and 1 out o' yer 1 now don't hful." ot afraid to the peovlo home again, ur old age. r — I would could place GOOD NEWS FROM ZACK. matters back where they were before this trouble. Ood rules in the storm as well as in the sunshine, mammy, and I only desire that this great talamity may work for his gloiy and for the good of your people. " All the silver and valuables are put away in a safe place ; but if it is in your power to do it, I hope you will -take care of the furniture and the cari)et8, so that the house may be neat and comfort- able when we return. And one thing more, mam- my, don't let Zack's wife starve." " All dat I'll do, dear," said Cleo, " and 'ceive yer back wit) open arms, and have a powerful sup- per cooked for yer, too. I'll promise for de women dat dey'll stay alid wait on dear missus, even if de men's all 'way, as I spects sartaiu dey will be ; for when God calls, folks has to step quick ! " * And accoj-ding to this promise, Cleo allowed no servant's foot in the parlors or chambers. She carried the keys of the store-house and pantry with great dignity, while she dispensed their treasures with a mothe-ly hand. She and her people were now in the upward scale, and looked down pitifully on their poor white neighbors. They came and went at pleasure, having meetings, parties and rides, — when they could find any animals to draw them, for each departing hero had helped himself irifrrHniiiiirjyiiit «Hj l m i i"lii l ilH — wmtM 24d OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. f h K :^ to somebody's horse or mule, and those that re- mained were sorry looking steeds. All tliis time Huggins and his wife and Weza had been living on very light fare. The poultry had been dispatched, after the loss of the corn and bacon, and before six months had passed — after the flight of the men — they came to absolute beg- gary. At first^ Huggins borrowed from small planters and even poor whites ; but that game was now played out, and the larder was empty. There was still a little money which came in from time to time from the sale of pine wood to the boats and for the washing Weza did for the boatmen. But that had to go mostly for gin and tobacco, " to keep up the sperits in these yere horrible times." As Weza used neither of these delicate luxuries, she fared rather hard in the division of the money, and, but for the injunction of Madaja Leon to Cleo, she would have starved, gho had a free ticket to her table as long as the corn, bacon, and poultry-should last; but the walk was long and she was weak and weary. All the work now fell on her. She was forced to draw logs from the pine grove by' a rope, and chop and split them for fire wood. She had to gather wild nuts and corn shucks to feed the half-starved pigs, and do the work of the house — such as it was. She ^feii k, W i ^ i, a'^w' i ^ i n ,ii i i " . H «« i\.fi i > i -.if* . irf <» * i iW^lr i GOOD NEWS PROM ZACK. 249 ro 8 goin' lO for teu my head run off igcs, 'case reedmen ! itations o' ind build and hare ipers, and 1 of dat, * kin' a fool res bright rd to me, days 'go, ' and he's what all!" rd to me, obody nor iey 'spects old head! post-office, \ had yer, 1 round to pick up black soldiers better'n Luke or Scriptur' Bill does ! " " I's goin' to wait for yer, Weza, so's to have company 'cross fields," said the boy. And the • imaginary warrior sat down on the step as she turned to go into " missus' " room to ask leave of absence. " Don't ax her, Weza," he called after her ; "just tell her yer goin'. Yer got no more need to ax her den she got to ax yer. She aint yer missus, 'case yer a freedmen now ! " " Don't yer be too peart, chile, but 'raember dat pride goes afore destruction ; and dose poor 'flicted white folks is do Lord's creatur's as well as us. He don't 'spise 'em, no more mustn't we ! " But for all this expressed humility, Weza did hold up her head a little straighter and speak in a little more confident tone when she entered " mis- sus'" room, where that lady sat in a semi-conscious state beside her lord, wlio, being fully awake for once, was gallantly holding her pipe into her mouth, lest her teeth luig'at relax their hold and the fire drop into her lap. "Missus, I'll set what dere is on yer table now," she said, "as I'm goin' over to de Colonel's.' Luke's seen Zack, and he's got a message for me. i If I don't come back to-night don't be worried, I'll » mlic can't live I Our enemies that fit agin us in the Rivolution, will see the flag o' the free a dragglin' round in the mud now, and crow over us ! Oh, the poor black folks that we loved so, — what will come on 'em, with no massas to feed 'em and take keer on 'cm ! " And while Huggins' patriotism and philanthropy found vent in these heroic words, " missus," hav- ing laid down her Punch-pipe carefully on the window sill, had slipped off into a hysteric fit, or soniethlug resembling that as nearly as she could manage it, and was shrieking at the full power of her iuuf.rs " Oh — ■ that arc wicked — President ! He's jined handu — with — the Yankees — and took — :ti'ies agin us — in — a-a-w-a — ah — in this — yere war ! Oh-oh-oh ! It was our war — oh-oh-oh ! We got it up of our own selves, we did ! And arter we — got it — all — nicely agoin' — they — come — all I'igged up — in soger clothes — they did — and took it — clean out o' our hands and begun to fight ua, they did ! Oh, oh, oh ! Tliat ^.«M.M — *. ill I UK GOOD NEWS PBOM ZACK. 258 wasn't what wc got up tho war — for ; it — was for to tight them ; and to stop their — breakinj; up a free — government ; and now see what tlicy've done; mined us chevohy and — turned all — these j)Oor — creatur's out to starve in the roads or to cut our throats, oh, oh, oh ! " At these last terrific words she cast a look of horror at Weza and shrieked out, " She wants to kill me ; don't let her Huggins, don't ! " Dave evidently saw little that was savage in the mien of Weza, for he made no reply except to ask, " Hadn't ye better take a little assefidity, or a bit of opyum ? " Weza laid her hand gently on " missus' " shoul- der and said, " Yer know, missus, dat I wouldn't harm a hair q' yer head, and dat 'stead o' yer stayin' here to save me a starvin', I left my hus- band down below, agin his will, to come back and take keer o' yer ! And I mean to do it. yet for the Lord's sake, to show yer dat I fears his name ! Yer never 'bused me, and I won't forsake yer ! If I should, ye'd starve to death, sartin ! Who's walked to de river, hot or cold, a luggin' clothes back'ards and for'ards to wash, so's to git a little money for yer ? Who's hauled all de fire wood, and chopped and split it, and waited on yer, hand and foot, so's you haiut got out o' yer cheer wftrt rtiiniih^iMwaa*! 254 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. no raor'n in ycr best days, missus ? Think o' dat, and don't call mc ongratcful and say ye'rc afeaied o' my killing ycr ; for it aint true ! " The sudden shock produced by the news of emancipation, being over, Mrs. Huggins' better feelings resumed their sway. The fit being a counterfeit one, was easily gotten over, and smiling a most ghastiy smile, and holding out her hand, she said, " \\ 11, if ye'ro truly a goin' to stick by, I'll forgive yer, tor arter all it isn't yer fault that yer free, but that are Mr. Lincoln's ; and what better manners could a body expect of a man that was brung up in a cabin 'stead of a mansion-house? I'll forgive ye for bein' free if yer wo .'t go over to the Colonel's to glory 'bout it and to crow over us!" " Yes, missus, I shall go. If I can I'll come home to-night, but if I'm too tired I'll sure be here 'fore ye're up in do moruiu'," said Weza. " Well then," cried the elastic " missus," with. a smile, " take a bushel basket over with yer, for old Cleo might like to compliment me with half a dozen eggs. Tell her our poultry is all eat up and so can't lay us any, glad as they'd be to do it." Weza smiled and took the hint, and in a few miiMMai««MiMiii»«iiifcimi ■» I o' (lafc, ) afeared news of 9' better being a i smiling er hand, to stick yei" fault and what man that )n-hou8e ? ;o over to irow over I'll come re be here 3," with. a 1 yer, for with half all eat up iy'd be to in a few ^.. nr^ GOOD NEWS FROM ZACK. momc'its she and her iceen-witted companion set off dowii the lane. Tlicy had gone but a few steps, however, before they heard a shout, and looking back, saw Mrs. Huggins waving her husband's vest at them. "Tell Cleo, " slic cried, "that I'm dreadful mise'blQ and haint got no appetite for liome victuals, but when a neighbor sends mc iu any little delicacy like, I have a powerful appetite! Tell her we've got lots to eat at home, but that strange bread and cake and pie or even bacon, if At's a piece of a pig I wasn't acquainted with, tastes mighty good ! Madam used to have pre- sarves and pickles and jellies and such like, if she didn't take 'em off with her! Make my compli- ments to the women, and tell 'em I'm moughty glad Mr. Lincoln has sot 'em all free. Tell 'em I tliink a heap o' him and that I've seen his pictur' in a newspaper and call him a powerful handsome man ! I'm moughty glad he has beat iu this yere war; and I knew he would, for such handsome men always get their own way ! Couldn't you find a bigger basket than that to take, in case Cleo sends mc three or four fresh laid eggs that she don't want ? " Weza smiled, ami replied that this one was largo enough ; but her " peart " young champion laughed "♦'■""ifuiiili'ij tiVi OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. i heartily, and said, " I reckons Massa Linkum's job will rout her up out of her cheer or else she'll starve ! Our folks says yer got to go over dere and live, filse yer'U starve too ! " " No, I couldn't do nothin' but have a good time wid yer ; but here I can take care o' two poor crca- tuv's dat de Lord made, and dat he pities ! And may be dat way I can do a little for him, chile. But when my husband comes, I shall go to him, dough dere was a mountain of Hugginses piled up 'tween us ! De Lord gives Zack de first claim on me for all any body ; but still I'd feel like I ought to arn money to feed dese poor helpless creatur's, " said the little woman. ; ' ' ,. ■U.['.,(i -i£'\ dq's job I she 11 jr dere )d time )r crea- ! And I, chile, to him, >iled up iaim on [ ought itur's, ' CHAPTER XX. ENTERTAINING SOLDIEBS. WHEN Weza entered the colonoi's kitchen, the' scene reminded her of her first visit there. The sanie grand " mammy " in a white turban sat in the old arm-chair giving orders to the same stirring matrons in gay head-gear, who were bak- ing and Broiling before the blazing fire. The jame number of little blacks crept or toddled about tlie floor, stumbling over each other and pulling wool at pleasure. Only the strong men were missing. They liad " gone to help Massa Linkum." ■ Weza dropped into a chair, weak from weariness and want of nourishing food. Well, honey," asked old Cleo, " how does yer feel arter dis mighty news o' freedom, ha ? " " I feels I'd like to use my lib'ty oud go hunt up Zack," replied the little woman, sadly. '< I'd foUer de sogers if I knowed which way to go, and asr ■A^ 17 258 OUT OP THE WILD32BNES8. I'd tell Massa Linkum all my troubles and beg him to let me keep sight o' my last friend ; and he'd do it too, — de dear, tender-hearted man dat he is ! " « Well, keep up heart, honey," said old Cleo, " and yer'U see and hear wonders bymeby. We 'spects grand company to eat dis sUpper, — a hand- some young leftenny from de Bosting country, and four sogers in blue — U. S's, yer know," she added, with a knowing wink. '• Dey's round 'bout here on some business of Massa Linkum's — Lord bless him ! Scriptur' Bill come 'long widout dere axin' him, I guess, to see dey didn't do no mis- chief 'bout here, — but Luke, he's de leader on *em. Dej-'re arter blankets and bacon and hoss- feed and such-like, and if dere's any to' be had, Luke will spy it out ! He haint never forgive his family's being sold, and he sot it down agin de wliole Southern country! He vows hisself de enemy of every man dat has one dollar 'vested in human flesh, 'case one's held up t'other and kept up slavery. We on dis plantation knows less 'bout de cuss den most on 'em ; but we must help on de good work all de same. Dat's why we's bringin' on de best we's got to feed Massa Linkum's men for him." " Well, but tell me 'bout what Prince says. If ENTERTAINING SOLDIERS. 259 I beg him and he'd ,u dat he old Cleo, eby. We — a hand- intry, and 3W," she >und 'bout 's — Lord idout dere o no mis- leader on and hoss- o' be had, forgive his n agin de hisself de 'vested in r and kept } less 'bout tielp on de 's bringin' turn's men says. If we's all free, why don't the sogers go home and we go whar we's mind to ? " asked Weza. * "'La, honey," cried old Cleo ; " it's one step to take a chicken out of de hawk's mouth, but it's another to put an eend to de hawk, so he shan't fly at de brood agin ! And dat's what de sogers is at now. We's free, for sartin — dey bring de news ; and Bill had prayers wid us, and we sung and shouted to de Lord for an hour dis mornin' I When yer buries me yer can sing, She enter heaven widout a chain, For Boul and limb was free I Shout glory, Hallelujah ! But be. sure to say dat I spent my life wid de colonel and madam, 'case I'm proud o' dat!^^ " What's de good o' being free if I can't Ua'C wid Zack ? " asked Weza, mournfully. " You can live with him, honey ; dis war's goin' to be over quick, now ; and den we'll all meet our friends agin and have a little heaveil'down here 'fore we go home to de big one above," replied Cleo. " Here ! " cried a stout matron, " dat dear crea- tur' is about starved. Don't wait for de supper, give her a cup o' coffee and some bacon and eggs." And so Weza was served bountifully at a little 260 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. tabic ; and the effect produced on her spirits was wonderful. Hungry people can never face the ills of lif# bravely. When one has great things to do or dare he should be well fed before his mission is made known to him. Many an exploit has failed l)ecau8e entrusted to a man faint from toil or hunger. As wine and oil -make the heart glad and the face to shine, so do the more substantial blessings of the board strengthen the courage and raise the hopes of weak man. Weza had scarcely finished her meal when the tramping of horses drew all the women to tlie door. Tliere was a gay, boyish-looking officer on a good horse, and four mounted privates behiqd him, while Scrfptur' Bill and Luke brought up the rear seated on one mule, and a sorry specimen of the despised race he was, too ! ' ' ■; " Sit in yer saddles, gen'l'men," cried Cleo, *' and ride round to de front. I'll onlock de big door and 'ceive yer Ar, like I told missus I would. Massa Linkum sha'n't never say dat Mammy Cleo took his boys into de kitchen, nor yet into de eend door, when she held de keys of de mansion house ! " The parlors were thrown open and the white folks let in, but Bill and Luke and all the sable — - '>»|>«W« ^jirits was lis of lif* to do or nission is has failed m toil or eart glad lubstaiitial urage and when the » tlie door. 3n a good iii)d him, p the rear len of the Uleo, *' and y door and d. Massa Cleo took eend door, use f " the white the sable ! ENTERTAINING SOLDIERS. 261 family were kept in the big hall, " to save de car- pets." " Well, aunty," cried the boy-lieutenant, " we're starring ; can you give us some supper ? " " Yes, thank de Lord, I can, and I can send a few pounds of real Java coffee to Massa Linkum when yer go back to him." They all labored under the delusion that Mr. Lincoln, whom they had sainted by the'ir love, was every where at once ; ruling in Washington, recruiting in Boston, and fighting at the front of every battle. ." Well, I'll carry the coffee to him," said the young man, smiling ; " but let us have the supper now." In a few minutes they were seated, according to military etiquette, at a sumptuous supper for those days, having four waiters to a man, , " Aunty," cried the lieutenant to old Cleo, " sit down here and pour my coffee. I want to talk with you so as to tell Mr. Lincoln about you when I see him. .How do you like the war ? " " I don't like blood nor sorrow, no way, chile ! " replied Cleo; " but when folks will pull a house down spite of all dere friends says, I'm glad if it falls inard and destroys dereselves 'stead o' fallin' outard on de peaceful ones dat's try in' to save 'em. But de innocent must suffer wid de guilty, always ; 262 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS, . 80 heaps o' holy blood has been shed wid dere own, but do Lord has 'venged it, and now it has brung do blessin', and it shall be told on while de world stands, and arter dat, too, — dis blood o' de • martyral Do yer love de Lord, honey?" she asked, looking earnestly into the kind brown eyes before her. . • ' A blush tinged the embrowned clieek of the youth as he replied, with a forced smile, " I love my country, aunty, and I couldn't rest till the curse of slavery was removed from her, that she . might hold up her head among the nations." " Well, dat's very pretty talk ; but I axed yer do yer love de Lord ? " Every eye was bent on the young man, who quailed beneath the searching glance of this poor old negress. " Come, now, aunty," he said, " don't question me too closely. I came here to get some supper, and not to say my catechism." "Do — yer — love — de — Lord — ^ sonny ? " per- sisted Cleo, in an emphatic tone. "My mother does, and she^s praying that I may," said the young man, solemnly. . • « " Well, den, dat means yer don't love him yer- self. ITow dare yer go into battle or how dare yer sleep, till yer ^^^ peace wid him ? Dis freedom ve him yer- lOW dare ycr Dis freedom «■ dere own, , ms brung ; i de world 3d o' de • %:, ey?" she ►rown eyes i.-. ek of the e, " I love ^ 9t till the r, that she lis." . [ axed yer ■ man, who f this poor 't question me supper, 1 c .,> ■ - -- . 1 nny?"per- ing that I ENTERTAINING SOLDIEIW. 263 dat ye've got for us is a powerful thing ; but let me tell yer, sonny, it wasn't so hard for us to be in slavery to man for a little season as it is for yer to be in bondage to Satan forever ! Now dat yer got us free, tarn about and pity yerself, chile, and fight wid de big enemy o' eouls till yer is sot at liberty, too ! " . " That's juat the way my motlicr talks," the young man replied, " and I thank you for your advice. As soon as supper's over, I want you to give me all you can out of this house for my foor Yankee boys that are suffering hunger and naked- ness for your people. Can you give me some blankets for our horses ? " " Mouglit be a few old ones," replied Cleo. " How about bacon ? " " I'll go halves wid yer, but it's drawin' to a close, I tell yer." "Chickens?" " Take 'em all and give dem to Massa Linkum." " Any horse or mules on the place ? " " Our l^pys didn't leave not a single huff when dey went. Took all we had and borrowed two more," replied the old woman, with an arch smile. "Any beef left?" " Yes, got one cow to feed dese babies, and dat yer can't have, no how ! I'll fight for de babies, ■■■■ 264 «UT OF THE WTLDKRNEflB. u for Ts bound dey shall live to know what freedom 18 t" " What have you got, aunty ? " "Well, I's got a heap <>' old Java; massa bought two whole bags short time 'fore he go." "That's what our hoys want more than all. Any tobacco ? " " Yes, derc is some, and yer welcome to it, for it's nasty stuff, any way ; and Christian sogers from such a country as Boating is ought to bo ashamed to use it ! It's bad enough for poor ig- norant black men -missus never let her women touch it ; yer may take what dcre is and welcome." " You have plenty of imrpets here. They would make noble blankets for horses and men," replied " the officer. "Yes, but dey won't, do'. 1 hold de keys m dis house, chile ; and Yankee or no Yankee, yer under Cloo's thumb now. Me and my women could manage yer if yer sot out to master us ; and Scriptur' Bill and Luke wouldn't dare to raise a finger to help yor! But 'member, I've fed and drunk yer — dat is my massa's enemies — so be grateful, and don't be too graspin'. Be a man, if yer aint a Christian ! " " So I will, auntie," said the youth, smiling. « And now where are you going to put us for the t freedom \ ; massa go." than all. s to it, for lan sogers ight to be or poor ig- ler women welcome." rhcy would n," reitlicd de keys in fankeo, ycr my women ter U8 ; and B to raise a ve fed and lies — so be 5e a man, if itli, smiling. Lit us for the ENTEUTAININO SOLDIERS. 266 night ? We've got more work to do in this neigh- liorhood to-morrow." " I'll put ycr in the best beds. Yer, dat is de gou'l'man of de lot, shall have de big company- room, and I'll settle de others mighty comfort'ble. De house — all but my missus' room — is at yer 'sposal ; but yer got to mind me ! " The young officer and his men were now re- freshed and in very good humor ; so they smiled, and promised to obey her as if she were their colonel. " Is dere any Christian 'mong dese men, son- ny?" asked the old woman. "That tall fellow there — 'long Dick,' the soldiers call him — is a real saint, aunty. I often hear hiui reading and praying, and exhorting the men in camp. You don't want to keep him here, I hope, for I can't spare him." " No, I wants him to have a prayer 'fore we goes to bed. Scriptur' Bill, liere, can pray as pow- erful as any body, but may be yer and yer men would have more respect for a white man's prayer ; so we'll ask dis gen'l'man for to lead us, and den we'll sing, J ^ i ' De yeftr of Jubilee has come, De Lord has brung his people home.' " -.-s '!i=fS!P 266 OtTT OP THE WILDERNtSS. " Well, the boys will at«y and help you, aunty," said the young man with a side look at liis soldiers, " and I'll go out and look round the place a little." "No, no, honey, yer won't look round 'bout no place, while we's cryin' to de Lord to have massy on yer and to set yer free f>- u de slavery of yer massa Satan ! Sit right down dcro in dat arm- cheer, and 'member dat yer in de presence o' de Lord de Judge, well as a lot o' poor black folks." The lieutenant had taken up his cap to go out, but he laid it down again and said, pleasantly, " Well, if yer' re at the head of the troop, aunty, I must submit." Long Dick, although somewhat daunted by the presence of the officer, read a Psalm, and then prayed fervently for the country, the President and the dear ones far away ; and at length, growing bold at the mercy seat, he offered a most tender "petition for their dear young officer, who had treated them all with a brother's kindn. 3^;, asking for him the richest of earth's blessings, and above all the salvation of his soul. Ho had begun to pray for those before him whose fetters had just beeu brolcen, when Cleo interrupted him, saying, with true loyalty, " Stop dere, brother, yer forgot to pray for de massa and missus of dis house, %4s« jTOU, aiinty," his solilicr!*, the place a ind 'bout no have massy laveiy of ycr in dat arm- rcsencc o' do lack folks." ip to go out, 1, pleasantly, roop, aunty, I unted by the m, and then President and igth, growing I most tender er, who had »dn. 8s;, asking igs, and above had begun to tters had just [i him, saying, ler, yer forgot of dis house, ENTERTAINING SOLDIERS. 267 dnt's been like a father and mother to ys deso long years ! Ax do Lord to bless dom wid every blessin' dot's worth havin', hero and beyond. Missus is a saint on arth now, ))nt massa, he's much cumbered 'bout his crops and his money, and he's rebellious agin dis yere war, do he knows in his soul dat it's just and right ! Pray de Lord to bring him down humble to his feet, aqd to reward him for his kind- ness to us and to all do poor 'fTlicted black folks on other plantations." Til is episode caused no mirth, and scarcely a head was raised till the soldier, tims instructed, ended his fervent prayer. When Cleohad gone off, candle in hand, to show the lieutenant to his room, Luke delivered his message from Zack, and gave Weza a five dollar bill from him, with charges to keep it for her own comfort and not to feed her missus with it. " Don't forget, Luke, " said one of the soldiers, *' that you are to take us to the ' mansion house' you t/.ld us of. If we get nothing else, we'll have a.mu: " lort I'd like to set those old bones to w';k riliiri^ MBHI ^ 268 OUT OP THE WILDEBKE8S. u Our orders are to go to every house, " replied one of the men. . At grey dawn poor Weza, accompanied by Prince carrying a well loaded basket, made her way home. She stirred up the family, and after feeding them ..ell, broke the news that the Yan- kees were coming, and advised them to receive them kindly and to offer tliem any thing they wanted — a very safe offer. Instead of being frantic with alarm, as she had expected, " missus" seemed quite pleased with the idea of the visit, a^ she felt safe under the patrcu- acre of Weza. She asked for the loan of her pmk calico, Zack's partifng gift, remarking that as it was half a yard too short, she would sit still all the t,me they stayed and then it wouldn't show. So 8h« was gotten np as well as possible in the borrowed dress and the crape shawl, and sat waitmg m state ; but poor Huggins had no body to borrow from, and being out, both at knees and elbows, he took to the woods for privacy. When the officer and his men entered, however, Mrs. Hurgins's courage gave way and she turned deadly ps le. She was soon reassured by the pleas- ant face of the lieutenant and the civil behavior of the men, and by seeing Scriptur' Bill and Luke m the rear; for she knew they would not look on litiiuiMMiW , " replied }anied by made ber , and after b the Yan- to receive thing they as she had ed with the the patrcu- of her pink lat as it was all the time )W. So 6h9 iie borrowed ; waiting in y to borrow d elbows, he red, however, d she turned by thepleas- 1 behavior of and Luke in not look on ^'•gJ'!'l;W !' ^iW!: ! |Wi ? l^Ji'i^. ' ip . ,jj^^ "T^ ENTERTAINING SOLDIERS. 269 quietly and see her murdered. Ere long she got strength to converse with the officer and to answer his questions about blankets and bacon, horses and mules, which was easily done by the use of one little negative ! She told them that she and her husband — who had gone to the Bcnd.on busi- ness, and would be mighty sorry to miss their visit — were both Union men, and that they had sent off all their corn and bread to the U. S.'s long ago ; and that was why they were so poor now. And then she sliowed them her Punch pipe and offered each of them a smoke ! And while the men were amusing themselves with her outlandish appearance and conversation, Luke was at the door writing a letter, at Weza's dictation, to Zack. He took a board across his knees, laid a sheet of paper on it, and putting his pencil into his moutlf between every two words, wrote : Ml DERE HUSBUN Thank God yer well and hav got lib'ty for our pepel, ax massa linkin ef he wunt let yer com l»om case i'm so lonsom tell him i los do boys and dat i aint strong i been in de wil'ness mostly senc yer been 'way but al times i thank de Lor' dat i got him and yer mor tim i'm way frnm yer more i loves yer i wud creep on my knees all do way to git whar u is but i cant its so fur and Ink sav ^.^^.^iSBitilif^^^^ OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. i womun can't go i counts de minets on do ole clock S ycrcums we's orfulpoor but curnul's fo^s Bens me thins ur luvm wif Wbza This was a mighty effort both for tUe dictator and the amanuensis ; a.id poor Luke, after folding the epistle and putting it into his breast pocket, wiped his face and drew a long breath, as if he had been chopping hickory wood. There being nothing worth carrying oflF the place, the party soon withdrew, leaving Mrs. Hug- gins charmed with tlie Yankees. She was amazed to and they looked so much like other men, and declared that if she had met them on the road, without blue clothes and U. S.'s on 'em, she never should a knowcd tlioy wasn't gentlemen -just like the chcYclry, mostly." 3 ole clock folks sens Weza ^e dictator ter folding ist pocket, s if he had ng off the Mrs. Hug- vas amazed r men, and 11 the road, I, she never 1 — just like "■Mi ' mvnmm.min f> "\ CHAPTER XXI. DEEPEB IN THE WILDERNESS. ' . « THE darkness increased as the night wore on towards our country's glorious morning. Want began to tiiin off the blacks on the plantations. They all hoped that in change of place there might be relief. The Colonel's women and two old men had put crops of corn and vegetables into the ground, and managed to feed two or three hogs and a score of hens, and liad, in otlier ways, nobly resisted the evils brought on them by the wrong doing of others. And amid all theh- toil and liard- ehips, they bad remembered Weza and shared their loaf with her, taking care, however, that she should eat what they gave her under their eye, lest she might give it to " masssa " and '" missus," whom they would gladly have seen starving for their laziness. But the hour had come when these humble licr- oines could do no more with such limited means. 271 J ■ .i.*ff tiyjiiiii-tiiiiii'j. ^ !♦ PT^^rwajw- i«i«SS»»»We 'RWW- " mm 272 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. Winter was approaching, and there was scarcely a rag left which bore the name of clothing, and the state of the corn-bin and bacon-house foreboded famine. More than one of the number had hinted that now all the blankets were used up they might malie clothes for themselves and children out of the parlor carpets. But Cleo, who had already given all 'the poorer ones to the soldiers, rebelled against sacrificing these. " I'd be so proud," she said, " if our folks should come back and say, ' See how' faithful Cleo has been ! ' But yer strong ones all go down river and get work, and I'll stay wid old Polly and Cherry and take keer on de old men and do young fry. I^at'U make de corn go furder, and yer can am money for clothes , and bymeby dis yere war will bo over, and den we'll eat as much as we wants. I'll stan' guard over de babies and all de chil'cn whiles ye's gone, for I's bound dcy shall live to taste freedom." The women yielded to this advice, and, with Chrissy for their leader, were soon tying up their very small bundles to set otf, hoping to induce Weza to accompany them. Just then Luke, who was always scouring the country on some mysterious errand, rode up on thehorse of a poor fallen confederate officer. After hitching him to a ring which hi. \ one end .^.m^ J^ mm DEEPER IN THE WILDERNESS. (carcely a ;, and the foreboded ad hinted liey might [•en out of d already 8, rebelled roud," she 1 say, ' See trong ones 1 stay wid le old men go furder, lid bymeby e'll eat as [ over de )nc, for I's and, with ug up their to induce iouring the i-odc up on !icer. c d one end t of the clothes line, he w^nt into the kitchen and sat down very solemnly. He took a handful of change from his pocket and gave' it to old Oleo, saying, " Here, mammy, de boys sent dis to yer to keep de folks 'live till dey gets back, — which looks to be mighty quick now. We'se had a pow- erful big fight, and. Oh Lord," he cr;ed, throwing lip his hands towards heaven, " it's cost us dear I " " Luke, yer as white as an Injun," cried one of the women. " I makes no doubts but de rebs has whipped us Yankees and will tarn round now and 'slave us all agin. Speak out de worst ! " " No, no, dat isn't so. We's got our liberty for sure, but we's lost Zack ! " The women groaned and called on God " to pity de poor lovin' heart dat would now be more broker den ever before." "Luke," cried Cleo, "I don't . b'lieve Zack's dead." " Yes, mammy, shot through de heart ; dat was de only place dey could shoot him in, he was so tough," said Luke, with a mournful shake of the head. " Zack am not dead," replied old Cleo, positively. " De man dat fit by his si(fe and see him fall told mc dat, and he's a true man," said Luke. " He aint truer den de Lord, Luko ; Zack's a 274 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. livin', I knows. I axed.de Lord to save all our boys and bring 'cm back to us when do war was over. I hear a voice sayin', ' 'Cordiu' to dy faith shall it be unto dee.' Dc Lord gin me a promise for Zack in de dark night when I humbled my soul 'fore him wid fastin' and prayer ; and do yer think he's goin' to break his promise ? No, Luke, Zack's a praisin' of de Lord dis night sorac'ercs ; may be in hospital, may be in prison, but he aint dead." Luke pressed the matter no farther, but it was evident that old Cleo's faith did not extend to him or to the women. It is vaip to attempt any description of the grief of the strickei. wife when Luke told her that her last friend was gone. After the first shock — by which Mrs. Huggins was as much overcome as herself — she said, " Well, Luke, de day's a'moat done wid me, and I'll soon go to Zack. Thank de Lord, and tell all de sisters to thank him dat when chireu and husband's all tuk away, I's got Christ left. I'll lean on him alone now while I stays in de wild'ness, and I'll lean oli him goin' through Jordan. 0, brother Luke, what do poor folks do dat hasn't got any Jesus to lean on when all else is tuk away from dem. Oh, how beau'ful heaven must be to de happy souls dere now dat Zack's in it." Lve all our Ic war was to dy faith I a promise led my soul o yer thiuk iuke, Zack's es ; may be it dead." •, but it was tend to him ition of the old her that .rst shock — overcome as day's a'most I. Thank de ank him dat awayjl's got now while I on him goin' what do poor lean on when , how beau'ful dere now dat I 1 DEEPEU IN THE WILDEUN'ESS. 275 And a smile passed over her sad face, and her heart was comforted with the hope of a heaven with Zack. After this great sorrow, came the hardest part of this meek creature's journey through "the wil- ' derness." Her sympathizing friends were gone, toil and povei-ty pressed hard upon her, an& tlje hope of seeing Zack, which had been tlie star of her darkness, was gone. But still she did not sink. She looked at the two helpless creatures before her and accepted the care of them as her work, — for she had none else on whom to bestow labor, and they had, as Mrs. Huggius said, no friend but her to lean on. As soon as she could fix her mind on any thing, she gratified her feelings by dyeing black her pink caUco and her blue gingham, and exchanging her gay turban for one of white. And then she took up her toil and care again and went on as before this great calamity. When a new spring opened on that almost de- serted region the question of a crop came up. " If we don't plant we'll die, mas'sa," said Weza. " We must put in de corn I've bought and raise a little, anyhow. If we tries to help ourselves God will help us." ^ " Halnt got no boss nor mule to plough with," replied Dave, mournfully. itSm ji 276 OUT OF THE WILDEBNCSS. r. "Can't .we spade up a little ground?" asked Weza. ".May be yer can," replied Dave, "but it'll be powerful hard work for yer. It makes my bones "ache just to think on't. If yer could only plough I'd try to plant and hoc a little." " I*ve heerd tell of a country way off som'eres," replied Weza, " where the men ploughs with their wives for mules. So folks can do it without bosses. Now, if yer'U diaw the plough' I'll hold it, and we can turn up the ground a little." "There now," cried "missus," " that's just the plan. I do like to see folks have pluck in times like these ; and it makes me proud to be yer wife, Dave, — yer such a sperited man. Takes more than the North to put yer down. That man that navigated out this yero half o' the world couldn't beat yer for layin' o' plans or carryin' on 'em out. Yer a genus for contrivin'. I like to encourage folks that's got so much pluck, and I'll tell yer what I'll do ; if yer and Weza will plough, I'll let yer move my cheer cross the room to t'other win- dow, and I'll set and look at yer and tell yer if yer furrcrs is straigljt." And Mrs. Huggins looked triumphant after this noble offer of patronage and self-sacrifice. She felt that she deserved a martyr's crown ! ■4iMiM«MfaMli*^ MdM^Miil DEEPER IN THE WILDERNESS. 277 ?" asked' it it'll be my bones ily plough jom'eres," with their it without 1 I'll hold . " ;'» just the k in times e yer wife, akes more ■j maa that Id couldn't jn 'em out. encourage '11 tell yer ugh, I'll let t'other win- tell yer if rgins looked tronage and d a martyr's ■ Dave evidently demurred in heart ; and Weza, seeing this, said, " Now, massa, I've gone just as far as I can go alone. If yer 'U wake up now and help me I'll stan' by yer to de last, but if yer don't I must go down river and find work to take care of myself, for I'm a'most dead." This threat always galvanized Dave and brought on a little spasmodic action. So he promised to draw the plough for her, and to do all he could towards planting and hoeing. The wardrobe of the master and mistress had by this time almost vanished away. Even the changeable silk had dropped oflF of its owner piece by piece, and the crape shawl had about fulfilled its mission as a cloak to hide radical deficiencies. And " massa's " clothes ; well, there was not enougli left of them to write about. He was under the painful necessity of running off whenever anybody approached the house. He looked little enough like one of the " ehevelry " of whom Mrs. Hug- gins so often boasted. In this sad emergency, Weza cut up two pairs of blankets and made a suit for each of them. Madam Dcmorest — that ubiquitous ruler of fashion — may rack her brains to get up something " new and striking," but the like of " missus' " blanket-dress will noter dawn on her vision. Weza had exercised some taste in ■' 278 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. its construction, arranging . the red and green border so that it ran round the bottom and up tlic frcnt, but the robe was too sliort bcliind and too long before, and altogether it was a remarkable piece of mechanism. But Dave's suit of tlic same material outshone it in its peculiarity. Poor Weza had not been a tailoress in times of peace, Init had become one from the necessities of war. She had very little idea of " the human form divine " or how much it owes to that benefactor of the sons of Adam — the tailor. So she cut and made two long bags and joined them together at tlte top letting the gay stripes come wherever fate decreed. These she styled pants, and they had one charm — they were very loose and easy. But the gener- osity she had bestowed on this garment told upon the jacket. That was a wofuUy tight fit ; it took both her and Huggins with a good deal of hard work to 'get him into it. Buttons were things of the past ; to be remembered, but not to he laid hold on at the mansion house now. So Weza had cut holes the size of a pea in the unhemmed fronts and whipped them round with blue yarn ; and through these Dave had inserted leather thongs — which his own enterprise had evoked from an old boot legii— by which to fasten it. - . It was in this array that Dave ploughed, whiio -.,iiitt.-».iil?iW. 1 lid green ud up the [1 and too jmaikablo the same 'oor Weza jc, but had She had liviue" or f the sous made two at tlte top te decreed. one charm ; the gener- t told upon fit ; it took cal of hard re things of t to belaid 50 Weza had mmed fronts ( yarn ; and \er thongs — from an old )ughed, while DEEPER IN THE WILDRRXEES. 279 "missus " watched the furrows. He feif the (uitre figure ho cut, and wlienever lie saw any one com- ing up the road he forsook this jjlougli and sought- shelter in the corn-house near whicli he and We/a were scratching up the ground. But his eye was on the public road only, and lie was surpiiscd at his work the second day by a otranger coming on him from the rear. " Is this Mr. Huggins 'i " asked a tall and rather awkward man, who had come up the lane on horseback. " It u — u — used to be," replied Dave, in great confusion, "and I — I — reckon it would be agin if it had a fair chance." The man tried to look sober, but he laughed outright ii.> spite of himself as he. looked on Dsjve's nondescript garments. Here Mrs. Huggins raised the window, put the boot-jack under it, and asked, " What does he want of us, Huggins ? " • The man turned towards her, and seeing her style of dress said, " I think you want me more than I want yon, my good woman. I've got some httle capital," he continued, addressing himself to Hug- gins, " and I'm going to work Mr. Walter David- son's plantation on shares. We shall liave peace before long, and then there will be regiments of J J IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I ■- IIIIM ^ IIIIM t m 2.5 1.25 1.4 Photographic Sciences Corporation !ll^ IIM 1.6 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14SB0 (716) 872-4503 k. %■ #? ^ ///// CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiquas i% T a I 280 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. blacks seeking work. I don't understand your soil nor your crops, and Mr. Davidson said ho • knew you had been an overseer, and may be, as you was a little under the weather, you'd like to superintend the work for us." " Does planters that's lived in mansion houses ever become overseers agip ? " exclaimed Mrs. Huggins. " Have yer got anything to eat over there ? " asked Dave, who had parted company with his dignity long ere this, and who was already tired of ploughing and was looking gloomily on the prospect of harvest. "Yes, good quarters and plenty of bacon and corn. We want to be all on hand ready to em- ploy men as soqji as the army is disbanded, and that'll be very soon," replied the stranger. Huggins 8te])ped out from the rcpe which en- circled his waist and so harnessed him into the plougli, and said, wifli a promptness end energy which charmed the man, " I'll go as soon as yer say. The quicker the better, for I can't work here without mules nor nothin', and I'm powerful hungry." " Well, then, turn your keys here, and to-mor- row I'll drive over with Mr. Davidson's team for you and your wife," said the man. »^ J and your 1 said he aay be, as I'd like to ion houses lined Mrs. . T there?" y with his ready tired lily on the bacon and eady to em- janded, and or. ! which en- m into the and energy soon as yer can't work 'm powerful and to-mor- n's team for ' DEEPER IN THE WILDERNESS. 281 " I'd ax yer to stay to dinner, stranger, if we wasn't all loady to go out a visitin'," said Mrs. Huggins from her casement. The stranger must have thought they were goinf^^ to a masquerade ball from their style of dress, but he said only, " I couldn't stay, for we're driving matters over there. The place was run down a good deal, and we Yankees put our own hands to every thing. We never stand still to wait for help." "Be yer a Yankee?" cried Mrs. Huggins, de- spairingly. "Yes, madam. I hope you arn't afraid of me ? " replied the stranger. " Yer didn't come for to entrap us and to make us 'list in tlie U. S.'s, did yer, mister ? " " No, madam, I came to make business for you. I have served out my time in the army and now want to settle here. As soon as I can I shall get my family down. You'll find me true to my word in all things, I guess." And to assure Huggins of his sincerity in making the ofier he gave him a five dollar bill and promised to provide both himself and his wife with clothes as soon as they reached the plantation, some ten miles away. The plough was ^eft in the furrow, and there the readea will see it again at a future day. What . OOT OF THE mLDEIWEW. ^^ Of ■ there «"8 to t""" *'' ^ . „„i„; tor U.eve w;re • e„««it.,adtob«u„p^ke dat v^a. ,ittlc,I reckon ^„ano..irn>a«_^d^;.» 7 „„,,,,. ,„,« ha,e a go d >,omc ^^ ^^^^ ^^„ . ^V;:tuU yer-U have all yer need, replied . ■^''■"'- V . 1 " cried " missus," " 8__j . ■.^.•^. ,^-.-^....^... «ii-.i»l>i>i.l .r^ik.ii. ■ ^^-..L....^...^^...^..^.*..^ .. while Weza, )vering wnder nds, in a far- B in Vionor of Ives with the of the wilder- CHAPTER XXn. A JOYFUL SUBPB18] ■';*; ON Weza's recovery from her long sickness she parted virith Cleo and the other matrons at the Colonel's place, and set off for the city, hopiug to find labor whereby she might support herself and repay in some degree the kindness of her poor friends. She felt almost alone in the world now. Once and once only had Mrs. Huggins been to see her, and then she only worried lier by complaints of " the people at Davidson's," who seemed to think she was nobody, and told her to wait on herself, • and even called her iazy. She cried, and wrung her hands, and said she wished they were all back to the mansion house in their " old splindor." She expressed fear lest some of the Yankee officers — " ginerals or sich like"— might take possession of the mansion house and use up her furniture <' arter this contemptible war was over, and they got dia- 886 «^ i >i^t i iB » «iiiri i j» l lji i il i (>IB^) |)lljjjgj(ll^^ ; : 'y OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. bandaHCfl." She pronounced war the meanest kind o' trickery going; it had used up all their furniture, and clothes, and hosaes, and , mules, and stole oflF their slaves, and given them nothing in return for it. War had promised them a new country of their own and as many slaves as they wanted, so that they wouldn't have to get out of their " cheers ; " but instead of that it had stripped them as clean as bean-poles, and left them where they had to get up for every thing they wanted, and even to go down stairs to their meals •, and stairs were awful things for people with weak jints. She thought all the Yankees ought to be hung for meddlin' with what didn't belong to them, upsettin' " our war," and makin' it do just contrary to what it ought to ha^e done. "If they'd only minded their own business and stayed at home," she said, " this would have been the beautifulest war in all the history book, it would." As she waxed warm she began to gasp and tremble, and finally, before the women could get her away, she " went off into a powerful bad hysteric." Cleo was just the doctor for her. Shfe ordered her to be taken out and stretched on the kitchen floor, and when there liad two pails of cold water dashed violently over her. This was a potent appeal. She at once became conscious, and I .> . , .-,1.1..^ ;..■ •;n-.:.: ,.o...i;: ..;■..,«-. ^^ .- .;. ,.^>Ji.j.^.J,. ■.■,..;JVA,.iMy»«^.,..il'Jfc A JOYFUL SURPRISE. 287 ha meanest up all their and ^mulea, hem nothing them a new aves as they get out of , had stripped t, them where they wanted, r meals ', and le with weak 8 ought to be n't belong to kin' it do just re done. "If ess and stayed have been the »ook, it would." a to gasp and )men could get 1 powerful bad )r for her. Sh^e stretched on the id two pails of ler. This was a le conscious, and springing to her feet, cried," Call that arc Bob to take me back to th«m are hateful Yankees afore I go off agin," Rhe never carae where Mammy Cleo was to practise her antics after that. ^ Aunt Sally, of St. Cyprian Street,* to whom Zack dlrpjiod the minister at the opening of our story, !iad long been the queen of gossips, and now her very errors of the past made her a valua- ble persoh in the community. The blacks were running hither and thither looking for the friends they had lost, that they might gather them together and make off" to places of safety, having an undefined dread of being again enslaved. Many of them thought Mr. Lincoln had been assassinated for the express purpose of forging again the fetters which he had broken. Aunt Sally virtually kept an inteUigence office — in this emergency — in connection with cakes and beer, which she gave " to any U. S. boy dat was hungry," but sold at exorbitant prices to other folks. To Aunt Sally's shop Weza made her way, and there learned that the Colonel's women were doing well, and would be " moughty glad to 'ceive her back from de grave agin." With these poor toil- ing women she found a home and a warm wel- come. They had provided for themselves and a good-sized family of aged women and little ones :-\i i 288 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. nil !'i "up liver," besides lending a helping hand to Btrangers in want, and yet they had enough and to spare. They assigned to Weza a little loft in their old house iivthe suburbs of the city, and with the same tenderness they had manifested towards her in times past, they gave her the easiest portion of their work, and set off to find more for tiiemselves. Peace was at length proclaimed. The soldiers, coming home with honorable discharges, and in many cases with well filled wallets, carried them- selves like men, and took their places as heads of their own families with pride they could not con- ceal. One day after the army had been disbanded and the cities and towns were full of soldiers looking for peaceful work, little Bob, who had been brought down from the plantation to run of errands for the women, came in all aglow with excitement. Weza was bending over her table ironing a fine garment, when he grasped her arm and cried, " 0, Aunty Weza, I's seen Zack for sure." ; ,.- " No, honey," replied, the little woman, " Zack's whar yer poor eyes can't see him. Zack's wid de dear Father up yonder, chile." " No, Aunty, 1 seed Zack wid my two eyes a wheelin' a barrow o' sand whar dey's mendin' de ••"—"'——— ■ » IHiifiWiyaj "'wmfmigm A JOYFUL SURPniSE. 289 ping hand to Miough and to le loft in their and with the d towards her ieat portion of for themselves. The soldiers, larges, and in carried them- es as heads of could not con- disbanded and loldiers looking id been brought of errands for ith excitement, ironing a fine I and cried, " 0, (foman, " Zack's Zack's wid de my two eyes a ley's mendin' de roads down 'long by de wharves. Sure's I's 'live, I see Zack." " Honey, yer was so little when Zack went away yer wouldn't know him now if yer did see him. Did yer speak to de man ? " " Yes, I said, ' Aunty's to iny house and she wants to see yer ; ' and ho said ' Go long, child. I don't want nothin' to do wid no aunties in dig world ; all de auntie ever I cared particular 'bout's in heaven, and iJymeby I'm goin' dere to see her, Lord willin'. ' " "Course den it wasn't Zack," replied Weza. " He'd a flew to see me." " It was Zack; go down dar and see if it isn't," replied the boy. " Dere's 'bout forty thousand men dere dat's been let out of de army mendin' de land." " Den I's sure I shan't go 'mong sich a heap for to hunt up a dead man, dearie," replied Weza, turning again to her fire for a hot iron. And yet she resolved to go. It would "do no harm to look on the returned veterans, she thought. It might be that some one among them had known Zack and could tell her how he died. So, without saying a word to her friends, she dressed lusrself in her best black suit after dinner and set off ia the direction the boy had pointed^ .-, •jf^f-frifPfrii-iiTilii''' m ■« ; 'i I ^i 290 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. out. Ilaving reached the place, 8h(f aaked a man she met if he had been in the army. " Yes, and for dat matter one in every two 'long dis line o' work has been Uncle Sam's man," he said. " Can yer tell me if any of dera was in de First Rigiment ? " " Yes," replied the stranger. " The furtherest off" gang of all dat ye can just see, way ofl' dere — [See ? Dem beyond dc high ships. It's a powerful step off, and rough goin' over de stones and sand, but if yer a soger's wiio yer'll get there." So she stepped over long rows of obstructions here and there till she saw a man of the gang alluded to, coming towards her wheeling sand. When she got near enough she asked him, without looking up, " Please, will yer tell me if any of dese men was in de First Rigiment ? " " Yes," replied the man, in a terribly gruff voice, " I was in dat same myself. Why ? ." Still she didn't look up, but with tears Ih her 'eyes and in tremulous tones she asked, " Please, did yer know Zack Cameron, dat fell in de battle of ." " Yes," roared the great man, in tones that actually shook poor Weza, " I knowed him better'n ever yer did." f asked a man 3very two 'long im's man," l»e was in de First The furtherest way oft' dere — it's a powerful tones and sand, there." 1 of obstructions an of the gang wheeling sand, ced him, without ne if any of dese rribly gruff voice, rith tears in her I asked, "Please, ,t fell in de battle in, in tones that lowed him better'n A JOYFUL SURPRISE. 291 She ventured to look up and then gave a scream of joy. It Fas Zack before lier, but so changed that she could scarcely believe her senses. Ho had gained forty pounds, " thanks to Unclt. Sam's pork and beans," he said. He laughed, and she cried. He made her take a seat in the sand on the barrow, and standing before her, he folded his arms, looked at her admiringly, and said, in his own naturart^ne, " Why, little brown woman, ycr a heap younger and handsomer dan yer was when I left yer ; " and then he laughed again long and loud. "Now, look here, I heard yer was dead of a fever. When I was shot down for dead I was left on de field, but de Lord wasn't done wid me yet. I come to and was picked up and carried ,ff to a hospital, where I lay pretty used up for a long time. I'd got scattered from my rigiment, and dey offered to let me quit and go home. But dis isn't de boy to run when dere's work to be done, and home 'wasn't nothin' to me if yer wasn't in it. So I got 'listed ..long strangers and couldn't hear a word from our folks. When I come to dis city I went three times to Aunt Sally's to hear did she know 'bout any o' my other friends, for I was sure yer had got through de wild'ness now. Her door was locked, and I couldn't find nobody. I could have dis yere job if I'd take right hold, so I n i :-m :^;i '■''i - ftnvkmiitikiii . i'S 1 .1 .' ■riM. .i n i ii. « h'< i ihif i r' i rfiiin i ' . »>r'fn »jt"'ri.ii'"iu("J#f,. •,^lw'-,,i"-i!»r*"J'!WMWyi"*«'^MKiki «M\MWJMi!._P)i ftJM-v * ^^ ^ 296 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. could scarcely sec their way. It seemed to them as if all the spirits of evil were let loose that night and were howling around them. They had never heard the like of it before. " Who's dat screamin' ? " cried Weza, pressing closer to the side of her strong protector. " I reckons dat's de wind 'mong de branches," replied Zack, " but it sounds powerful sad." " No, Zack." cried the kind little woman. " I's sartin' it's some unlucky creatur' dat aint got no husband. She's out alone, and is 'feared and bewildered like. Oli, oughtn't I to be a thankful woman dat's got yer to lean agin ? Go, Zack, and find who's cryin' for help, anu ^'11 stan' here wid my back agin de wind till yer come." Zack listened for a moment with his hand up to his ear. When one wail died away and another began, he turned about and tried to decide whence it came. And at length he said. " I's sure dat's de voice o' no livin' creatur' 'case it's in half a dozen places to one time, and dat isn't human natur'. It's de wind cryin' 'case he can't tear de world down, I reckons, but thank de Lord, de foundations was laid strong so dat neither Avinds nor floods can upset things agin his will. Oh, Weza, chile, it's a lovely tiling to feel dat do Lord we loves, and dat calls hissclf our Father, holds de A JOYFUL smiPRISE. 297 aed to them : loose that . They had eza, pressing tor. ,e branches," sad." roman. " I's \t aint got no I 'feared and be a thankful Go, Zack, and stan' here wid > his hand up to y and another decide whence ' I's sure dat's it's in half a it isn't human lie can't tear de k de Lord, de b neither winds his will. Oh, feel dat do Lord Father, holds de winds and de waves in his hand ; dat dey is his 8ar\-aiit8, and roars and dashes only wlicn he bids 'em. Let's be thankful, chile, dat our God can shake de arth when lie's a mind to, and cah make it lie still without speakin' a word or liftin' his hand. Let's Imrry home now; dere's no 'poor creatur' widout a husband' out in de storm to-night." And he smiled with pride to think bow important a character he was to the life and happiness of the frail little creature at his side. It makes any man liappy to feel that great inter- ests are depending on liini. When they were safely in the kitchen Weza said, imploringly, to Zack, " Please take me home agin. Dis yere North is too cold and wild for me. I hasn't been warm to de heart in three months, and 'sides dat I's Iiomesick for to see Mammy Cleo and de other women." " Aint yer homesick to see Missus Huggins and wait on her a little more ?" asked Zack, jocosely. " I's feared if I take yer down dere yer'll quit me and go to plowin' wid Huggins for yer mule, or makin' coats and gowns out o' blankets and sicli like for dem." " No, Zack, I'll never leave yer sure. But I tell.i yer dai I'll never get quit of dis cold in de heart while I lives to de North. Will yer .go to save me a dyin' ? " • 298 OOT OP THE ^V1LDEBNESS. " Yes, honey, I'll iake ycr back. Home's de best place arter all ; and yer own folks, no matter how black dcy be, is de best folks for yer. I's been a tarnin' dis yere over in my mind, and I's got a plan for bein' a planter and livin' in a man- sion house myself as well as Hoggins," replied Zack, with a smile. " I didn't tell yer on't, fear yer'd be onpatient and bother me 'fore I got my money and was ready for to start. I don't like de cold no better'n^ yer does. It scourges me all up, and is de first thing in dis arth dat ever made me feel lazy. I hates to ;et up in de mornin', and I hates to go out in do snow. But I won't yield up to it, else I'd soon be a great goose 'stead of a man." The lady of the house where they lived was an invalid, and did not like the cold any better than her poor little cook did. One day after this long, wild storm was over, Zack's em'-loyer called him into the library on Sunday evening, and said, "Well, ray good fellow, I believe 7 e proved you one of a thousand for faithfulness. I *m going South with my wife for her health, and shall leave you and Weza in charge of every thing here." " I's proud of ycr trust, sir," said Zack, " but 1 couldn't take it, no how. I was goin' to tell yer A JOYFUL 8UBPBISE. 299 Home's de ks, no matter for yer. !'» mind, and I's rin' inaman- ;gin8," replied [ yer on't, fear fore 1 got my I don't liVe de rgcs me all up, t ever made me mornm',andI [ won't yield up oose 'stead of a hey lived was an any better than Btorm was over, to the library on Ll, my good fellow, of a thousand for , with my wife for you and Weza in " said Zack, "but |,as goin' to tell yer to-morrow dat I was goin' South for my wife's health. Dis yore east wind's a killin' of her." " Zack," said the gentleman, " my wife's very precious to me." " She can't be no preciouser to yer den mine is to me, sir, — axin' yer pardon," rephed Zack. " 'Sides dis, I's got plans for takin' a plantation on < sheres,' wharby I'll do more dcii make a bare livin' by my hard work. Ye see, sir, since I's been sot free I's had ambitions I never thought ou afore. I wants to own a place and to lay up a little for my wife if she should be left behind me in the wild'ness. So, sir, vvcU as I like yer sar- vice, I shall have to give it up to take keer on my wife. Dat's my first duty, isn't it, sir ? " In ten days Zack and Weza, finely arrayed in gay and comfortable clothing, \< ere on their jom-- ncy southward, as light of heart as any two black- birds that ever sought a warmer clime. 'ifefj 'Ji' ■s^^i,;'*i5_^'ig;ij, ,• -i^lii.,^'^ ■•' :K^\' ' ^■,.,.- {..^'^ "^JKit" CHAPTER XXIII. GATHERING AT HOME. ONE evening, several months after the time when we introduced Zack and Weza to .the reader, tliey were seated once more at the humlf.c board of Chrissy, the matron who had sholtercd Weza, and through whose little l)oy she and Zack had met again, after their long and hopeless separation. When the first joyful greetings were over, Zack brought out a leather-cloth bag, which he had bought in " Bosting, where he had taken the cars for home wid a powerful achin' to be warm once agin in dis life," and opened it with a key which hung from his neck by a shoestring, — tags and all. " Here, Chrissy," he said, holding up a gay, clieap shawl, " dis is a token of my love and grati- tude to yer. Yer may well be proud on't, for yer can now hold up yer head afore de 'sembled uni- varsc, sayin',* " Dis yerc shawl come from Bosting, dat holy city whar de inhabitants dereof fit agin e time when the reader, irn'^.o board Ucred Weza, id Zack had 18 separation, re over, Zack Inch he had iken the cars B warm once li a key which r, — tags and ling up a gay, lOve and grati- d on't, for yer 'sembled uni- I from Bosting, dereof fit agin OATHERINO AT HOME. 301 de 'pression o' our people ; dat city which gin us de victim of Fort Wagner, whose blood cried from de ground till de Lord 'vcnged him and us of our •adversary. I tells yer, Chrissy Leon, 'taint no small hono for a poor weak woman to wear a shawl dat come from dat glorious city ! When I walk 'bout dem streets holdin' Weza by de hand fear I lose her, 'pcarod like I heerd a voice sayin', — 'Take off yer shoes, for de place whereon yer stood is holy ground.' I 'membered how he loved liberty, and how he pitied us, and how when he fell, dey buried him wid his men ; and as I stood 'fore de window of a great pictur' shop, a 'musin' of Weza, de tears rolled down my cheeks and I was most chokin' wid feelin's. Says she, 'What ails yer, Zack ? Yer aint sorry yer goin' home, be yer?' 'No,' says I, 'but I'm thinkin' of Fort Wagner, where I fit once, and of him dat led us dar ; and 'pears like I want to fall down on my knees and kiss every stone in de streets of dis old city for what she lay on de altar o' freedom dere.' "And now," he added, smiling through his tears, " here's a knife from de holy city for dis dear boy, dat by his good membry brung me and Weza together. It's got four blades, and a gim- blet, and a corkscrew, and a screw driver, — in 'fact, it's a small carpenter's shop sot into a handle. ■ !!',r'i' ! f' ' ; ' '' * *w',t*'|^ ' ''^j'jj'^.''-! ' . ^ 302 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. It aint to be carr'cd 'bout in do pocket every day, but only wlicii he's dressed up, to show to folks. I's named dis yer ku;."^ ' Bostinj?,' in honor of freedom, and as long as yer live, boy, don't yer let, de name o' dat city nor de word ' Yankee ' be light sjwken afore yer presence. Next to God wc owes every thin' to de Yankees, and I does hereby pro- nounce and declar' dcm de nation whose God is de Lord." Then he gave away turban handkerchiefs and toys to the other members of the little family say- ing, ' I's rcsarved a new gown for dear old Cleo, and somethin' for de rest of de folks dere. To- morrow I goes up river to see 'em, and yer, Chris- sy, must go wid us to 'zibit dat shawl, and see if 'taint time for all us to go back, for yer know de Lovd promised dat he will gather up do solitary ones into families agin." All through Zack's speech Weza had looked very anxious for a chance to put in a word, and when he stopped for breath, she said, in a plaintive tone, ♦' Chrissy, dear, yer hasn't heerd nothin' from my boys, has ye ? Old Sally promised to spy and pry round and let yer know if she got any news." "No honey," replied Chrissy, "I hasn't, Yer better gin 'cm up now and thank dc Lord yer got Zack. See how many poor crctur's has lost dere husbands, and how many never had none." ut every day, Ijow to folks, ia honor of don't yer let. ikee ' be light God we owes IS hereby pro- lose God is de kerchiefs and tie family say- dear old Cleo, ks dere. Te- nd yer, Chris- wl, and see if r yer know de up de solitary lad looked very ord, and when ; plaintive tone, lOthift' from my to spy and pry any news." 1 hasn't. Yer Ic Lord yer got 8 has lost dere i none." OATHERINO AT HOME. 808 " But," replied Weza, with tears in her eyes, " dc Lord say if we ax we shall receive, and if we seek we shall find. Now he is true, and 1 have axed and sceked, and how can it be dat I shall never find *em ? Prayer must be answered." " Pho, pho, cluld," cried Zack, patronizingly, " dat 'pends on what yer call prayer. I don't call nothin' a prayer dat haint got a ' Dy will be done ' to de end on't. Yer don't know but de Lord has had dem boys saved up in glory for years and years, as de best thing he can do for yer ; Lud if so, do yer think he's goin' to work a mericle and send 'em back t j trudge through dis yere wild'nes ■ just to let yer carry de day ? No, sir." " But, Zack, Fs had bad spells o' bein' bub- mittive to his will, yer know," said the little woman. '' Moughty short ones," replied Zack, shaking his head ; " and even den it was, ' Dy will be done if I can't get mine.' I've always said, when yer gin up yer will ye'd either get 'em back or be cured o' this awful hungerin' and thustin' arter 'em." The little party found all well on the plantation. The men had returned with money enough to live on till they could raise new crops, and letters had just come from the Colonel to have all things in or- der, as he should return home in the spring. Poor I S04 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. old Cleo threw open the parlors with real pride, and exclaimed, " Look at dat, chiren. I'm Haved dis from de war, and de postclencc, and do Hood, to prove how we loves dis family. Nobody knows how I've fit aforo I kept it all. I can fight foes mighty brave, but when yer has to lift up do sword agin yer friends dat's a fightin' for yer, it's powerful tough. When de gray coats come hero and wanted dem carpets, 1 driv 'em off qui k. I told 'em I'd scald de fust man dat put fo^ in do rooms, and such like talk. Dey scold and laugh, l>ilt dey always clar off. But when dat dear little kftenny in blue, dat had de prayin' mother at ' liomc — when he eome three times arter 'era, I tell yer it took a soger's pluck to hold on to 'em. De last time I felt so dat I cried, 'case 1 got nothin' else to give him, and dat touched his heart, and he say to his men, ' Lot her keep dem, poor soul, for she's made a vow,' and den I give 'em all I had — corn-cake and milk — and promised to pray for dem like do man in de lions' den prayed three times every day. So I's got do beds, and do parlor carpets, and furnitur' all ready for massa's folks, and a i)romiso from de Lord dat dey and us shall live in dis yere land, and dat verily we shall be fed. 0' course ye'U all stick to de Colonel, for I can tell yer, slave or free, yer'll find no bettor massa and missus." .,jU-t^Miwi«ililMWI«iM6lMil^^ OATHEBINO AT HOME. 305 li real pride, n. r« saved ind do flood, Nobody knows an fight foes lift up do i' for yer, it's its come here 1 off qui k. I put foci in do lid and laugh, dat dear little in' mother at rter 'em, 1 tell n to 'em. De I 1 got nothin' i heart, and he , poor soul, for im all I had — jd to pray for I prayed three I, and do parlor massa's follvB, ly and us shall wc shall be fed. onel, for I can 10 better massa *' I hope dom dat hires out at all will stick by, but for myself," repHed Zack, " I thinks o' hcttin' up on my own hook. I'll be a planter and live in a mansion house, like old Massa and Missus Hug- gins, dat Weza's so homesick arter dat she comes up river to hunt 'em up." And he and the others all laughed heartily; for Weza's faithfulness to those to whom she owed so little had passed into a family joke at the Colonel's. That eveniifg, when the happy party was gath- ered round a pine knot fire, and each had re- counted the wonderful events which had occurred since last they sat there, Zack said, " I'd like for to make a few remarks, brothers and sisters. I's seen a powerful sight o' the world, and lamed high wisdom since I leflb yer. My 'pinion is dat white folks has done 'bout all dey can do for us now ; we got to do de rest ourselves. We aint a great heap of babies dat's got to be trotted and fed all our lives. I goes for 'construction. I think we's got a heap to do 'fore it's brung about. If any man feels it in him let him hire a plantation and get hands and be a planter, and if he don't Jet him liire out. I's 'bout made up my mind to go halves with Huggins — dat is, work de plantation on condition dat he'll keep out o' de way, and Til give him half I makes arter de place is picked up and put in runnin' order." -^ iiiiriiiii-iiiiinii*«tf''* 306 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. - S- :■ ^t- The men all laughed, and one saic, " Massa Davidson and de Yankee gentleman will pay yer moughty well to take hira out of de way dere. He's got so powerful lazy now dat he sits down and ci'ies when de men bothers him, which dey does 'bout all do time ; and missus, — 0, my stars, yer ought to hear how de Yankees goes on 'bout her. Dey never see such like afore. Dey sot out to make her take keer on Huggins' clothes and hern, and every time dey told her to wasH or mend she went into hysterica. Tliey don't know what on arth to do wid 'em. Davidson might ha' knowd better dan to hire him ; for a man dat won't work for hisself won't woi'k for otlier folks, dat's sartin. Is yer goin' to hire him, Zack ? " " Yes, hiie him to keep out o' my way," replied Zac ' , laughing. " I'll feed him and old missus for de use o' de plantation, and I'll sell more pine off on't in a year den he ever thought was ou't ! -Got any old mule or other live creatur' 1 can drive over to Massa Davidson's plantation in de morning, boys ? " " Yes, got three bosses and two mules branded U. F).," replied one of the men, " and we've put all dc wagons and such like in order, and dey's at yer sni'vice." Zack rode over to " Massa " Davidson's the next L ^:^ .: t^^S^t 1.H|-|» II. .l>rT, I OATHEraNG AT HOME. 807 saic, "Massa m will pay yer de way dere. 3 sits down and v\\\c\\ dey does ), my stars, yer cs on 'bout her. Dey sot out to othcs and hern, sH or mend she know what on light ha' knowd man dat won't )thcr folks, dat's Sack?" my way," replied nd old missus for .ell more pine off it was ou't 1 -Got r' 1 can drive over I in de morning, wo mules branded " and we've put all r, anddey's at yer Oavidson's the next morning, and in the middle of the forenoon re- turned with " Alussa" and " Missus" Muggins, both arrayed in cheap working clothes, although the latter, clinging to the ghost of her former glory, still wore the gay crape shawl, the last remnant oi, her grandeur. Huggins seemed to have lost what little spirit he had ever possessed, and sat still in the wagon like a wooden man till Zack helped him out. When he and " missus " were ushered into the house they both began to cry. Had Huggins been a school boy instead of a planter who owned a " mansion house," we should say he blubbered ; as it was he wept. " Missus," after laying down carefully her Punch pipe, to which she had clung through all her re^^erses, began to twitch her mouth and eyes and to stiffen out her limbs. Chrissy," cried Cleo, "see if de two pails is full of right cold water." This hint was enough. Mrs. Huggins, remembering her former drenching, did not care to submit to old mdmmy's treatment again, so she changed her tactics, and catching AVeza's hands in both her own, began t^ sob and to talk at the same time. " Oh, how glad I be to see yer, yer dear, kind little Weza. I've been the 'Iniscdest cretur' in the world since I see yer. Yankees is awful. They's savages and tyrantses in gineral, mostly! O-o-o! The Yankee genT- h- )y. t,i aHi»» i 808 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. man's as mean as a nigger. He works with liIs own liands, he docs, — a plowin', and sowin', and a grcasin' wheels, and every thin' ; and his missus, that's right handsome, and wears a gold vatch, and i>lays tlic music when she's to home where the music is, — she washes dishes, and works butter, and cooks, and, — yes, I will tell on't, I don't keer if it's the ruin of her riputation, — I ketched her once to the washtub, a toachin' the black folks how to wash Yankee fashion. And he, Mr. Green, is so, mean-spcrited that he let her do it, he did. And oh, they 'Imsed mo terrible ; me, that's been the wife of a chevelry and lived in a mansion house so many years ; they said I must keep Hug- gins mended up, and wash and iron my clothes and hisn. When I told them I didii't know how, Missus Green said — awful unfcelin' — 'It's time yor did, and I'll teach yer.' Then I went off in one of my awfuUest fits, but the hard-hearted crcatuB' went out of the room as ca'm as if I was i;nly a kitten in a fit, a sayin', ' When yer get through with what yer at now, Mrs. Huggius, I'll show yer how to wash, and to-morrow I'll teach yer to iron. That will loosen yer jints,' says she, ' quickcr'n any leninient yer can buy.' O-oo ! how I've been worked ! 1 had to make my own bed, and get out o' my cheer every lime I wanted I «nil JT i-JI CTinalHWiHi - ll'T ESS. works with liis and sowiii', and and liis missus, s a gold \vatcli, home where the lid works butter, on't, I don't keer — I ketched her e black folks how lie, Mr. Green, is cr do it, he did. ; me, that's been cd in a mansion 1 must keep Hug- a iron my clothes didii't know how, ;elin' _ ' It's time 'lien I went off in the hard-hearted la ca'm as if I was ', 'When yer get Mrs. Huggins, I'll -morrow I'll teach rev jints,' says she, 1 buy.' O-oo ! how make my own bed, cry time I wanted GATHERING AT HOME. 309 tobacco, and, O-oo! I had to sweep my room, too. I didn't see no dirt, and wouldn't been afcarcd on't if I hacl ; but she sec it. Her eyes is like a cat's in the dark, and she made me sweep it just to please her ! I'm most dead, Weza. I want to go back to the mansion house, even if I dies nest day. I'd sooner die'n not. It would be a moughty sight easier lyin' still in the grave than livin' with them oneasy Yankees, that's forever a drivin' themselves and every body else, — it would. 1 hate Yankees, and I'm afeared o' em, too. Take luc home, 0-00-00 ! " And the nervous woman clutched Weza's arms with a vigor that showed her bodily powers were not failing. " 0, missus," said Weza, in a soft voice, " I's sorry yer been onhappy, but dis yere's a workin' world. I has to work myself, and I haint got no power to keep yer from it. But Zack's come to talk with massa 'bout us all livin' home on de plantation together agin ; and if wo does I'll " " Hi, hi ! Look out dere how yer makes prom- ises, yer little brown woman," cried Zack. " If we ever lives on dat ar plantation it'll be on moughty different tarms from what yer lived dere afore, I tell yer. I'll bo de massa, and yer'll be do massa's wife, and be sarvant o' sarvauts to no- I g II .M.H. II AiUil. .1.ii..>.r1T, ■.■.^..-..r,.,.....,-,. .- .^-^.. ....■.,-.. - . . ., .-- U,-: .,. 310 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. body's folks^ Yer've had it tough so far, but .hencefor' yer'll live easy, lookiii' aitcr your work while other folks does It. Don't yer go 'inakiu' any rash promises dat 1 won't let yer carry out, — mind." "O, hoo! hoo! He won't let her go back;" and Mrs. HuggiMs began to shiver and twitch till Cleo got up and looked into the water-pails again. " Keep easy, missus," cried Zack, " while I talkg to Massa Huggins." And theu Zack kid his plan before the old master, offering to " briu'^ the run down plantation to tarnas," and then to hire hands to run it, either doing it on shares or giving Hug- gins and his wife a comfortable home up stairs out of the way, as long as they lived. The offer was like that of liberty to a captive in irons ; and Huggins' eye kindled and his voice was choked as he replied, " Fetch me a pen ! I'll make my will this minute, leavin' the plantation and the mansion house to yer and Weza for takin' keer on us and savin' us from work while we lives. Don't talk about no ' sheres,' for then I might feel a keer on my mind ; but yer run it and feed and clothe us and that's all we'll ax wjiile we lives. Wo haint got no livin' creatur' to be our heirs." "Well, but yer don't want Weza to make yer \ 8. ;h 80 far, but iter your work yer go 'inakin' er carry out, — her go back;" rer and twitch the water-pails , " while I talk'j ck IrJd his plan " brinr: the run en to hire hands i or giving Hug- me up stairs out ;y to a captive in nd his voice was ne a pen! I'll i' the plantation 1 Weza for takin' •k while we lives, then I might feel I it and feed and : wjiile we lives, be our heirs." fezA to make yer OATHRRma AT HOME. 811 clothes, do yer ! " asked Zack. And then all the little company, including massa. and missus, laughed • heartily at the remembrance of the suits which poor Weza had improvised from blankets in the hour of their deep extremity. " Now, den, mammy, order do women to haul out de table, and let's have dc best yer got to cele- brate dia bargain 'tween Massa Iluggina and me, " cried Zack. Set a small table for dem alone 'cause dey's white." But missus was so overjoyed " to be clar of whito folks, " that she positively refused to sit at a sepa- rate table, and soon there was the rare sight of the " chevelry " and their sable neighbors eating and chatting merrily together. All went on well ex- cept tlie slight blunder of " massa" who was unused to prayers or invocations, shouting out, while poor Zack was asking heaven's blessing on Ihe board, " I tell yer them Yankees is awful." " Now, see here friends, one and all, " cried Zack, " I's 'bout half Yankee myself, and I sha'n't hear no word spoke agin dem, dat gin their sons and their own life's blood for us. I shall 'spect ev- erybody dat lives 'bout me to speak of dem same way as dey does of de men in do Bible. Do yer all hear ! " " Yes, " said " missus, " " they hears and dey'll mfti4^mwamm^*'i"»^i"^ .'*' /^^ 'ill m OUT OP THE WILDERNESS iiieml)er tvjio, case tliey'd hurt massa aiiil my feelin's as well as youni, for we're powerful fond of the Yankees too." She was a skilful weathercock, but she had not art enough to hide the act of her turn- ing about. "Now I reckons 'twouldn't break nobody's heart if I should leave Weza here to gossip a few- days while I goes down to the city to look out for hands to work wid me, and to move Chrissy and her folks up again. Weza can tell yer all about do North, and do queer things she see dere, and yer can all go over to do Huggins plantation to see if do house haint run off, nor sot down on de grass in de mean time, " said Zack. When Zack was ready to take his " partner " and wife back to Mr. Davidson's, "missus " declared she wouldn't go for a million o' money, and she main- tained her ■position. She suggested hysnrics when Zack urged her to go, but he said, " Yer may stay liere if Cieo will lot yer, but as long as yer live don't let me hear the word hysterics' agin. And the minute yer tries dat game while I's master, either yer or I clars off. I can bear as much as any other man wid poor weak women, but I won't put up wid artful ones. Now mind dat, missus. • -i. > "And moreover when I's mas ^r and head, I 1 :ss , and my feelin's •fill loud of the veathorcock, but act of her turn- break nobody's to gossip a few rto look out for ove Chrissy and [ yer all about de ee dere, and ycr iitatiou to see if ni on de grass in is " partner " and sua " declared she oy, and she maiu- ed hyanrics when i, " Yer may stay I long as yer live erics' agiu. And while I's master, bear as much as ik women, but I Now mind dat, GATHERING AC HOME. 813 ■,s shall 'spect everybody dat aint siclcabed to go up to de Lord's house of a Sunday, and to come into do room when I says prayers ni-'cl:t and mornin'. I's goin' to set God afore me and my house, and have his name honored derc, for he has brung us out of Egypt wid a strqng and migi>ty arm ; he has plunged Pharaoh and his hosts in do sea, and let us walk over dryshod ; he has smit de rock and it sent forth water to us ; he has rai.icd down bread from heaven to feed us, turned out de hea- then and gin dere inheritanch to us, — axiu yer par- don massa and missus — and we's not goin' to mur- mur agin him, nor Set up gold calves to worship, nor insult him no way ; we's goin' for to humble ourselves afore him, and walk like he tell us. Den byraeby when we's clar out of dis yere wilde'ness he'll take us home to glory." Iluggins manifested as little desire to go back to, Mr. Davidson's as did " missus," and expressed some fear lest that sharp Yankee, Mr Green, might refuse to release him from his obligation ! But Zack promised to make that all right, and they set- off, Huggins looking back reluctantly. lascf and head, I ■X\i;i<:i. 'yi*v • \: OUT OF THE W1LDERNE88. 817 d tie beau' fill hcic intf, and was all Iwuiid IIS ; ami 1 was re my sons is vely i)lace, and o my Father's dear good man, ife in do world for yer to bring want to put up Dis is de house lud to love and oth a plantation rould have been lisitions was the man with a will accepting cither " among the re- .voidod all drink- ! boys," he said, ices ain't de boys atruction from de iclf and my men, j^ell »» •t'f He went to old Sally, but she had no men for him. Then ho called on Bill Aiken, the black preacher, and asked him to give his business out in lueetin' with all " de ))crticlais," which Bill did in the following words : "As men is commanded to 1)0 diligent in business, course it's right to find business for 'em to be diligent in ; and as some of yer wants work, gettiu' it for yer to-day will bo like j)ullin' de ox and de ass out of a pit on de Sabbath day. Dore's an honest, good-principled colored man here dat has hired a plantation up river, which, 'cordin' ,to his description, looks like de 'struction of Jerusalem and de downfall o' r>ab"lon. • Dcre's every thin' to do dere fore yer begin, and arter dat dore's plowin', and plantin', and plantation work in gineral ; besides acres o' pine wood |,o bo cut and hauled to de river. Now if dcre's any men here dat don't drink nor swear, and dat wants a good home and plenty of work, dey can see dis brother at Hector Adams' barber shop, on St. Joseph Street, at six o'clock to-mor- row morning — it's early birds he's arter, yer see. Wives and chil'en is 'lowed on de plantation if ye've got 'em." Zack was on the spot next morning, and there ho met a score of men anxious to go with him, many of them having brought their bundles ready 1 11, 1'iiMiff'TJiiiri - -^"'^ i 'SSC t m^f l ik ll'V^a-i*^ 818 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. h to start. Among the number was a tall, fine look- ing 3'oung man, who at once attracted \m at- tention. " Yer wasn't looking for field work, aonny ? " asked Zack. " I've never worked in the field," replied the youth, in a musical voice, " but I want something to do, and am ready to take hold of what comes up first. By-and-by, when matters get settled down a little, our people will have schools, and then I can teach. I've had good learning for one of us, and can write mighty well and keep accounts. When I heard about yer at church, I thought it might bo ye'd like some one to keep yer accounts, and pay oflF yer men, and look after matters round the house while yc're off on the plantation." Zack was charmed by the fine appearance and the modest demeanor of the youth. " I'm 'feared yer'd wants heaps of money for all yer larnin," he replied, " and not bo satisfied with de rough fare we'll have at first. De place I's took looks like Bedlam, and I's most ashamed to take men dere till it's clared up. But dat's de first thing I want 'em for." " I don't care much for wages," replied the young mulatto. " I've beeu captain's servant in the war, and have a little sum laid up. I want a home and " dead, yer poor, weak little mammy took keer on herself ami a couple of old live mumiiiiea dat's owned her for years, dat would elsewisc o' starved to death. But oh, she worked cruel hard to do it." « She shall never work hard any more," cried the youth, his tearful eye kindling with joy. " 1 should say not," cried" Zack, " when she's got three big men, and one of 'em a larned one, to work for her. But she will work some way. Her heart's so full of love dat she has to work it off wid her hands. Go fetch yer brother, chile, while I looks 'mong dese men for de hands I wants." The next day Clco's kitchen was the scope of a joyful 8uri)risfe which we shall not attempt to describe. After the happy mother grew calm enough to talk, she said, "It is as Zack said,— and he always says just de right thing,— when I gin up my will de Lord answered my prayei-s, and now I's tic happiest woman on all dis arth. Why, even Madam Leon haint got two so" On the plantation all hanu^ , .1. to work pick- ing up old cart-wheels and carryalls, mending fences and setting glass, putting on latches and nailing loose boards on the floors, and shingles on Ihe roof; and as they were not very fastidious tenants the place was ready for occupancy in forty- OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. 823 teer on es dat'a starved d to do a," cried she's got i one, to ay. Her it off wid 3, while I Its." the scope attempt to ^ew calm jaid,— and en I gin up md now I's Why, even work pick- Iri, mending latches and . shingles on ly fastidious mey in forty- eight hours. In the meantime they had come uix)n the rusty old plough buried where Huggins had left it the day he went oil" with the Yankee gentleman. Zack enjoyed the siglit very much and said, " Dere's come a big change to yer, little woman, since de day yer made a mule out o' yer old niassa." Zack had painted tlie floor of the great dining-room a bright yellow, and bought a huge rocking-chair which he placed in the middle of the floor, while six yellow wooden ones sur- rounded it against the wall. An eighteen inch looking-glass hung between the windows, and two goi'geous ajid loyal roosters, with plaster plumes in red, white and blue maintained their exultant pos- ture — just on the eve of crowing but never doing it — on the mantel-piece. On one side of the wall was a cheaply framed picture of Mr. Lincoln and on an other a newspaper cut of his deathbed. The rest of the house was furnished by mending up the fallen articles with which half the garret was filled, and supplying a few others ; and Weza went to housekeeping on her own account with real womanly pride. When Mrs. Huggins was ushered into her newly- whitewashed and well-scoured chamber she laughed out like a child, and said, " Well, now, I do say that Tm glad from the bottom of my heart that I ■I ■Hi 824 OUT OP THE WILDEKNES8. didn't marry the Colonel when I was a gal. For then I'd be a draggin' round Boston, and Pheldcl- phy, and Wash'nton, and all creation, 'stead o' bein' able to set down on one cheer in this nice room, with my feet in another, and this funny pipe in my mouth, at liljei-ty to take ten naps a day if I'm a mind to. Weza, fill my pipe." , Weza rose to her feet, but Zack cried out, " Sit down, little woman ! Missus, de bargain was dat yer should do yer own wailin' and tendin', so now go down peaceable and get yer tobacco — if yer will use the filthy stuff — and then git yer needle and sew a gown or somethiu' or nother." " So I will," replied missus, " for it has put new strength into every jint of my body to be back to the mansion house all fixed up so elegant — even though Iluggins aint master here. Huggins is a fine, sperited man that any wife mought be proud on ; and though the Colonel's called handsome and grand, and though ho steps quick, do he ain't half such a suitable man as Iluggins ; and I do think suitable men is finer than such keen ones." Work seemed like play now. The crops they ]ilantcd, the .chickens they raised, the mules they bought were all to be their own. The old house was repaired with labor and cost, in the joyous hope that it would yet be theirs and their chil- OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. 325 i\. For PUeldel- stead o' Ills nice 8 funny 1 naps a >» ut, " Sit was dat ', 80 now — if yer cr needle } put new e back to it — even rgins is a be proud Isomo and » he ain't and I do in ones." crops they nules they : old house the joyous their chil- dren's after tlicm. Every member of the sable family toiled with a glad spirit, whicli was maui- .fested by the merry wliistle in the (ield and the joyful song in the house. • Even Mrs. Hu}^j>;in8, " ketching the Yankee sper- it," insisted on washing the dishes and setting the table, spasmodically, and Huggins migl't now and then be seen feeding tlie chickens or bringing a basket of corn-cobs into the kitchen, moving as if to the music of the " Dead March in Saul." When the first crop was springing from the ground, and the work increased faster than the workmen could attend to it, Weza was surprised one day by a strange spectacle drawing near the house. On the living skeleton of the " old white boss," sat the fellow who went by the one name of " the stiff-kneed boy," supporting in his arms the wan form of poor Obed, looking more dead than alive. The little woman dropped what was in her hand and ran to the door exclaiming, " Why, yer two poor fellows ! How a family is gathering 'bout me and Zack ! " and she put up her arms to hold Obed till his friend could get off the horse and carry him into the house. • < ■ '^ Well, Weza," said Obed, in a faint voice, " I's been a long journey fur to hunt yer up, and now I's come here for to die by yer." 326 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. " No, my child," cried Weza, pitifully, " yer'a come to bo nusscd up, and to live and to bo one o' my boys. O, Obcd, do Lord has brung me dem boys dat I was so wild about, and dey's just like two geuTman and yet so loviu', and tinder, and 'dustrions dat my heart's full and runnin' Over wid de massy of de lovin' Lord. But tell me, chile, whar ycr been all dis time, and who took keer on yer ? " " Dis stiff-kneed fellow did," replied Obed, with a faint smile. '' He found out his kuee wasn't so stiff, arter all, when it was his own. He had more courage a rubbin' it den when it was Massa Hiig- gins' knee. He got into some sort o' business in de army, and left me wid a lot of old contrabango women and chil'en, and he's s'poiied me and my boss ever since. When he come back he got work in de city, and take a room for us, and we kep' de boss in de back yard, but couldn't half fee him. Last week he run agin Luke down dar, and neerd yer was here ; and I said, ' Take mo home to Weza to die. So here I is most dead. He want me to leave de boss or kill it, and come up in de boat ; but I don't tarn agin old friends dat way." .» ba. " It's a wonder," said Weza, innocently, " dey didn't take dat boss from yer when bosses was so skcarce in de war." ., --^.r. -- ".V. t<.-.si f-tac-." ■.*■■ ■4 'I " yer'8 bo one ne dein ust like ler, and ver wid B, chile, keer on led, with irasn't so lad more isa Hug- less in de itrabango and my got work e kep' de fee. him. md neerd B to Weza ant me to 1 de boat ; » » itly, « dey ises was so OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. 827 " He wastn't de kind dey wanted," said the stiflF- kneed boy. '• If all our bosses had been like Obe's vvc shouldn't be where we is dis day. I's fit for de country and been mighty brave since I see yer, but I'h glad to be home agin now dat Zack's master here. I hope he'll hire me for one of his men, and I'll work enough to pay for poor Obed's keep- ing. !!, 'n. •;> i;-;: -..,-■„ .:.■■--: .■ ' : , . " ;. , ,j..- " But how comes yer can work smart and yer so lame ? " a.sked Weza. " Oh, 1 ain't lame now to speak on. When I got free I found out, all of a suddent, dat I wasn't so lame as I thought I was. It was a moughty siglit easier to walk straight wid my own leg dan wid one dat belong to Massa Huggins. I'd got pretty much over de cut I had seven year ago, and an old woman in a hut whar we stop one night arter we* left poor missus asleep in de gig, rub • some len'mcnt onto it, and den it was as good as the other, only I had to lam how to walk straight agin. She said 'twas a mericle dat liberty had worked for heaps of our folks. She said she'd knowed blind folks, and deaf folks, and cripples, and sich ones all come out as good as new de minute dey got rid of der massas. Say, will Zack put me to work, Weza?" ?i; .-^f!* < i -^ ,s; .-:' ml " Sartin, chile, yer go out in de field and find a .] 828 OUT OP THE WILPKRNESS. him. and tell him he may have yer, and dat I will take Ohed. I dis day been axin' de massa above for somcthin' to d . foi' him, and see how quick he answered me." . -• ' While talking she had arranged a comfortable resting place for the poor cripple by tipping back the cherished rocking-chair and filling it with blan- kets, and when his friend laid him into it he looked up in Weza's motherly face, and said, " 'Pears like I was in heaven now. Has anybody keercd for my boss ? " When " missus " heard that Obed had arrived, she s[)rang out of her chair with terrible energy, and declared he should not stay one hour in the mansion house after the way he treated her the night that the Yankee " hordges " tliat poured down on them, didn't come. But Zack, while ho blamed the boys for that trick, reminded her that he was " massa at the yilace now, and that Weza must have her way "bout Obed." And Weza's way was to nurse him back to life again. When the Colonel returned home he was re- ioiccd at the change on the Huggins plantation, as well as surprised at the manner in which his own had been kept up by a few weak people on whom he had hud no legal claim. Ho even expressed pleasure at the result of the great struggle, and OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. 829 it I will a above [uick he ifortable ng back ith blan- ic looked cars like jcrcd for arrived, J energy, ur ill the I her the it poured while he 1 her that hat Weza d Weza's B was re- itation, as h his own I on whom expressed uggle, and oflercd his men their choice, to work for him at fair wages, or to take a piece of land and work for themselves. While Zack was reaping his first harvest, he had a visit from his own beloved master, who had just returned from Europe with his wife, and was the guest of the Colonel. The gentleman was greatly pleased with the prosperity of his sable friends, and after getting a deed of the plantation for Zack, he ordered the house and outbuildings p:.t in per- fect re[)air, and provided him with the best farm- ing implements to be found. <' I mean," he said, " to prove that such men as Zack can take care of themselves without a master." And he did prove it* As the planters came back and gathered labor- era about them, Sampson opened a school in a building erected for him. It was largely attended- by children in tlie day time and by the whole adult , population of blacks in the evenings. Scriptur' Bill gathered liis family togetlier and settled near Zack, and every Sunday " he held preachin's in the schoolhouse," and was always ready to lend a helping hand at any good work. When Madam Leon, who now ruled as a queen rather tliaii as a mistress among her liumblo uciglibors, asked Weza if all her desires were y ■m 880 OUT OP THE WILDERNESS. gratified, she replied, "Yes, missus dear. If I was told to ax for any thing I wanted in dis arth I couldn't think of a thin' but just only more grace. I's travelled up and down 'bout as long as de chiren of Isreal did, but de dear Lord has at last brung me out of do wilderness, and to his name be all de glory ! " f/i >"i«--»Vt ^* V'-i- ji/iii^k i mmiu miissf ■ *,.' ir. If I lis arth I re grace, ig as de as at last I name be GOOD MEASURE. A Story for Boys. Bjr J>. 8. KRIOKSOM*. iToUiemo. Frloe$l.SO. "This itoiy ia well adapted to teach boyi cseAil lei« ions, show them the ralue of honesty, and the lin and danger of dishoneaty, and inspire them with ntefol prin- ciples and impreasiona."— C^n'j^t'an Fro. " The press of H. A. Young & Co. is well known by the issue of tasty and valuable books for the Sabbath School. 'Good Measure' enfyrcea a really important moral, in a spirited and entertaining narratire." — CM- eago Standard. > * ;, *' Among all the Sunday School Booka I hare read this year, ' Good Heaaure ' atands at the head." The author haa ao interworeh instruction with inci- dent as to produce a book which cannot foil to interest thoae for whom it ia eapecially intended. PUBLIBHSD BT HENRY A.. YOTIIVO &> CO.. 24 Cornhill, Boston. ■■■ ■■I •>"^i"(BpiP»»l!»» TOO TIAJT* handst Md In order his book in ordering is OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. A» > ! Bt MRS. JANE D. CHAPLIN. 1 vol. Umo. Prioa $1.80. Thia Tolnme, pnbliihed u a aerial In the " Watchman and Reflector," has been prononnced a book of raperlor merit t many of the icenea and character* haTing fUIen nnder tiM writer'! own obserration. OARLi BARTI.EITT; Or, WHAT CAN I DO? 1 ToL ISmo. nrioe fl.SS. BT THB AVTHOB Of " GOOD MXAaUBB." Many of the characters Introduced Into " Good Measme," are oonthraed In this book, making a Tolnme of mrasnal la* terest to the yonng. S4 Ooxnliillt Boston. ^iOviiit-iAi^t^ ~-^.i.».^4katM»ji^. J iHM ■ 2f«, Boote. »tf the IVtoe ^»««»-«.. MOLLY'S BIBLE, By MABY LWIHELL OHELLISi ^.«.or of "Dea. Sim.' I^ayers.- Kto. EFFIE WINGATES WORK. Bj KABT D^nHEbL OHELLB, 1 TOl. »»»• '^'^ "■*'• » ■ ' "'MlcheUiBha.fewe.uaUinthi.Btyleofboolc. PDBLISHBD BT ^ BENBT A. TOUJfG * CO- a4, OovnbUl. Boston. ', wr, ^VS»*- IT-' i i ' i ' !i.j i »N.v..i i w.j,«|.».,j »,i j.j,;, . jnniyj^ .a i|»t.,.t,i . ,„ .v^.i, i ^^ i .n,^, . „j„ i , i. ,, y ^ «■)■■«> ,*^'' - ior merit, >nipetitorf« once takei lOoks* BiBUii'' mo* ■ in incident, Inidng to itt of book. i CO,, 0BEIiLI8 8BBIES. Bt maby dwinell chellis. .., .- 8T0la.iemo. Frloe $4JtO. -t DBA, SIMS* PRATERS, Few books have taken inch rank among Sunday School literature as thia one, receiving the priie among more ♦ban fifty competjtori. Ito characters are natural, and its spirit excellent. MOLLY'S BIBLE, ft. > i Bt mart dwinell CHELLIS. 1 Tol. lemo. PMoe $1.60. I- i. EFFIE WINOATE*S WORK, Bt maby DWINELL CHELLIS. ^-i »<^ iTol. lamo. PHoefl.SO. ■ The abore three rolumes sold separately or together. HENRY A. YOX73VG Ac CO., 94, Oomhill, Boston. piiEASAKT PAGBS AMD BIBLE PICTURES. 1 vol., tm^U 4to. Price $1.80. ThiB volume ooBUina a selection of some of the best Bible histories, and cannot fail to meet a want long felt. The editor says, .. In offering this book to the public the editor „akes no claim of originality, but tells the old stories in simple language, and P--^' ^^^ ^^^ an attractive form, to please the taste of the UtUe folks, for whom they are intended." Tho Hivotrations. twenty in number, are printed In the new style in a «uperior manner. The book is elegantly bound, with gilt centre „d bevelled boards, altogether making one of the handsomest volumes published. nENBr A, YOUNG S CO., 24 Cornhlll, Boston. f tAilimum imnm""'" jrmmtmi^f^ Tsmmmmmmi^ ^^:5;: *f:.. '% ft»Htr < ii i i ii n i iW tJJ^! l ft jl jaiJ ! li" l ^ ■M •(•■