~fr


P4


itI









IN 1118 CABININ YIRJGINIA7
A NiD


'WITHOUT ONE IN BOSTON0
SECOND EDITIONd
13Y  J. W. PA GE,,
J.W. PRANDOLPll,
1 1 MAIN STREET, RICHMOND, V.
1853.





Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853$
BY J. W. PAGE,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court in and for the
Western District of Virginia.
COLIN & NOWLAN, PRINTERS,
South-Eleventh Street, between Main and Cary,





CONTENTS.
Chap. I. The Return Home.........Page 7
II.  Inspections. -Contrast.-Tamperings-...  21
III.  Working for Servants.........  54
IV. Sabbath School. -George's Return.  68
V.  Exquisite Sensitiveness......... 99
VI.  California Society......... 125
VII. Death in a Cabin.3.........185
VIII. The Weddings..........154
TX. White Runaways. -Relentings.......174
X. The Wedding Dinner.........       204
XI. Abrupt Leave-taking........230
XII.  The Sale23..........284
XIII. A Trip to Boston............240
XIV. Cruel Mercies..........256
XV. Return to Virginia...........265
XVI.  Successful Intercession........   283
XVII. College Friendships better than Northern Humanity. 293
1 ~                          (5)










PREFACE.


THE highly exaggerated accounts of the cruelty of Southern masters towards their slaves, to be found in Northern
publications, having done great injustice to the South, call
imperiously for truthful statements of the consequences
and incidents of the relation of master and slave as it now
exists in the Southern States.
The design of the author of the following work, entitled,
" Uncle Robin in his Cabin in Virginia, and Tom without
one in Boston," is not only to disprove those accounts,
but to show that the evils of slavery, so glowingly depicted
in the Northern romances, as far as they do exist, are
(for the most part) brought upon the slave by the imprudent sympathy of the self-styled philanthropistsat the
North. The author has not written this work for literary
fame; nearly the whole is in colloquy, among characters
who make no pretensions to literature of the higher order,
1*                                    (5)





Vi                    PREFACE.
consequently, there has been no effort at ornament, above
the plain, common style of social intercourse.
He is content that his plain, unadorned topographical
descriptions should reflect no credit upon an imagination
whose vividness has been chilled by the frosts of many
winters; and, if successful in removing odium fr'om a
much slandered Southern community, and in throwing it
back upon the latitude to which it belongs, his object is
effected.





UNCLE ROBIN      IN  HIS CABIN     IN  VIRGINIA,
AND
TOM WITHOUT ONE IN BOSTON.
CHAPTER I.
THE RETURN HOME.
" You jus come.from de greathous, Elce?"
SYes, Robin, I jus dis minit from dare."
" Is Charles an' dem gals gittin' long pretty well, cleanin'
and fixin' de house for massee and young missis? Masser
tell me when he went away, dat he'd be back here de day
after to-morrow, an I does want ebery thing mighty nice
for him, when he bring he young bride home: Elce, you
mus tend to dem gals and Charles, an' see dat dey wash
all de windees; an' tell 'em from me, dat I won' be satisfied
unless I can see my face in the furnitur plain enough to
shabe by."
"I ain' gwine leave it to dem, Robin; I gwine see to
ebery thing myself; I don' want my young missis, when she
cor home, to think we aint gentle-folks, an' aint use to
havin' things like de quality."
(7)





8


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


" Elce, you can hab one nother cow to de pail; I gwine
kill dat fat veal to-morrow night, so dat dey can hab good
dinner prepared for 'em."
" Robin, I don' think you ought to kill dat veal now,
cause I know when massa corn home, he gwine hab mighty
big weddin' dinner here, an he'll want dat veal for de
dinner. I got plenty o' scovy duck and chicken, and Susan
can git 'em very good dinner widout de veal."
" You right, Elce, we'll say de veal, an I'll giv Susan
one mighty nice pig for de dinner day after to-morrow."
" Pig! Robin, for a dinner for young bride! why, sartinly, Robin, you don' know anything 'bout de quality; pig
right down tacky dinner."
"c Why, Elce, I bin see my ole missis hab many pig for
dinner, an I spose you'll 'low she was quality, an eberybody at dinner chuse pig."
" Robin, you gittin' ole now, an it bin som time sence
you was boy waitin' in de house and see pig for- dinner;
quality mightly altered sence dem days, Robin."
"C Well, Elce, I can't see why quality should 'spise any
good thing de Lord giv um to eat, unless dey was Jew, an
den dey would be right not to eat de flesh ob de swine."
" Robin, you may gib ober 'bout de pig; I ain' gwine to
suffer pig to come 'pon dat table. I hope, Robin, dis young
missis gwine be like our ole missis dat's dead and gone."
"c Elce, I hope massa done chuse one young lady dat will
som time or oder be like our dear ole missis; but she too
young yit, Elce, to be anything like her now; it require
heap o' 'flection to com up to her."
SRobin, I bin hear um say dat de folks in Pennsylvany





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


9


mighty fond o' black-folks, an I 'spose she's gwine make
us fus rate missis."
"4 Well, Elce, I don' preten' to say olderwise, but 'taint
always dat dem folks who make mos' fus 'bout der goodness is de best folks, der's some of de Pharisee lef in do
worl' yit; our blessed Savior did'n drive um all out of de
worl', I tell you. Elce, if I was gwine to hunt for one
good, kind Sa.maratan, I would'n go out of ole Fugginny
to look fur him,"
4c Well, Robin, I can't stay longer from my wuck at de
house, massa will be here 'pon us in a hurry."
Elce was right in saying that the quality of Virginia
was mightily altered from former days: at the period of
the commencement of our narrative, there was scarcely a.remnant of its aristocracy left; its time-honoured practices, however, still lingered in the recollection of some of
the old servants: Robin's memory (for instance) went
back to the day when a grinning roasted pig, with an
apple in his mouth, was not only tolerated by the gentry
as sufficiently genteel, but luxuriously -palatable, whilst
the notions of Elce, his wife (a few years younger than
himself), were formed upon the refinements of modern gentility, which repudiates the pig as decidedly vulgar.
We have high authority for saying that the only vestige then remaining of aristocratic ease and gentility,
was to be found with some old negro man, who had seen
and caught his master's manner, when making his entr&e
at a birth-night ball, or President Washington's levees.
Robin, whom we shall hereafter call Uncle Robin, was too
young to have caught the genteel bearing of those palmy
days of Virginia; but his old master and mistress, them




10


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


selves remnants of the aristocracy, had given him a certain ease of manner far above that of his contemporary
fellow-servants. They found great difficulty, however, in
teaching him.the pronunciation of the Anglo-Saxon in its
purity, and consequently, the reader will find his clear,
strong views of things expressed pretty much in the corruptions interpolated by descendants from the African
race.
Doctor Boswell (the young master for whose reception
at home with his -bride, the servants were anxiously engaged in making preparations) belonged to one of the
oldest and most influential families of Pirginia.
After completing his education at William and Mary
College, he attended the medical lectures in Philadelphia,
and received his diploma in the spring of 1848. While
there, he became acquainted with Miss Ann Stephens, a
beautiful and highly accomplished young lady from Norristown, Pennsylvania, and a mutual attachment being
formed, they were married in the fall of 1848 at Norristown.
The Doctor being the only child of his parents (who
were both dead), succeeded to an estate lying on the northwestern side of the Blue Ridge mountain, on the river
Shenandoah. His father had resided on the same estate,
where he had reared a comfortable, commodious stone
dwelling, on a beautiful height, commanding a view of the
low grounds, the river beyond, and of the mountain on
the opposite side. Being the owner of about forty slaves,
-'he had built comfortable stone cabins for their accommodation, on the same height, in range with the mansionhouse, the nearest of which was about two hundred yards





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


11


distant.  Great taste had been displayed by both parents
in beautifying the grounds about Selma; the regular slope
from the house to the low grounds was occupied by native
poplars and elms, standing at such distances as to admit
exotic.evergreens, which had been collected with much
care and expense from other climes, and here and there
a native hawthorn, unconscious of inferiority, had claimed
and maintained its right of soil by preoccupancy.
The green venitians of the dwelling-house, in contrast
with its white stuccoed walls, the white-washed cabins,
with their green baton shutters and doors, seen through
the evergreens, gave to the tout ensemble a richness and
softness of beauty, which filled the-beholder with delight,
as he ascended the slope from the flat to the mansion. It
had been locked up during the minority of the doctor,
after the death of his father and mother; but faithful
Uncle Robin, by his assiduous care and attention, had
prevented the least appearance of dilapidation. He had
often said to Elce, " my young masser Johnny gwine corn
home when he gits he edication, an' he shill find ebery
thing jist as he pa an' ma lef' it."
When the Doctor arrived with his lovely, interesting
bride, the familiar arrangements, the freshness and beauty
of Selma and its environs, brought so vividly to his recollection his lamented parents, that a momentary illusion
may have presented them as still in existence and readyto greet his return to his much endeared home; 'twas but
the dream of a moment, and he awoke to the reality of
his indebtedness to the lingering affections of a coloured
domestic for the preservation of those comforts and
adornments which had been the work of by-gone days.





UNCLE ROBIN  IINIS CABIN;


Mrs. Boswell and her brother, Mr. Henry Stephens
(then a merchant in Norristown), were the only children
of their parents, who had, until a few years before their
daughter's marriage, been in affluent circumstances, and
had brought up their children delicately, and without
regard to any possible change which time might bring
about in their situation. That change, however, did come,
and, on the day before the wedding, old Mr. Stephens
thought himself in honour bound to inform Doctor Boswell, that owing to a failure of one of the most extensive
mercantile houses in Philadelphia, he was reduced almost
to poveity. The doctor, a noble-hearted Virginian, was
but little affected by the communication, further than feeling deep sympathy for the old gentleman and.his wife.
He earnestly entreated them to go and live with him in
Virginia, which they consented to do, after they had
arranged their matters for a final leave-taking of the
place of their nativity.
As soon as it was known in the neighbourhood, that Doctor Boswell had arrived at Selma with his bride, there was
much preparation made to offer customary greetings to
the newly-married couple. Major and Mrs. Scott, the
two Misses Scott, old Mr. Preble, his daughter, Miss Evelina, and his son, Mr. George Preble, were the first to offer
congratulations; those two families being considered the
top of the circle of that neighbourhood, were expected
'o make the first visit to all new comers, as they were
generally allowed to be better acquainted with all those
little considerations in the beaumonde, which make first
visits strictly according to etiquette.





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


13


Mrs. Scott was a highly polished lady, having been well
educated by her father Colonel Baytop, who was an officer
of some note in the American Revolution, and who at the
close of the war had settled in the county of Orange,
where he raised an only daughter, and died shortly after
her marriage.
Major Scott- had received a tolerably good education,
was a gentleman in easy circumstances, and was considered
in his neighbourhood, a man of uncommonly sound views
on all subjects, and was an oracle to whose judgment were
submitted all difficult matters of controversy; although
he had never been clothed with legal authority for their
final adjustment, and was not entitled to the cognomen
of Squire. The two Misses Scott were as different in
appearance as two sisters could well be; Miss Julia was
a brunette, with large dark-gray eyes, a regular set of
features, and dark hair; her countenance was remarkable
for its intelligence, and was the index to a mind of no
ordinary stamp; she was engaging and interesting, without being a beauty. Miss Amelia was fair, with light-blue
eyes, flaxen hair, homely features, and a countenance
expressive of no intelligence; she was decidedly homely,
without exciting much hope for amiability.
Mr. Preble was an old gentleman who had been left a
widower; although himself a slaveholder, he had imbibed
in early life, in the North (where he was born), some
notions, which he himself could not well define, of something like impropriety in holding human beings in a state
of servitude, but was nevertheless considered by his
neighbours a very severe master. Miss Evelina Preble
2





14


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


was lovely both in person and disposition. Her mind was
well stored with useful knowledge; her principles were
founded upon, and her conduct regulated by, the precepts
of the Christian religion, acquired by a constant prayerful
reading of her Bible, under the direction of her maternal
maiden aunt, Miss Priscilla Graham, whose every aspiration for herself and those around her, was heavenly and
heavenward. Mr. George Preble was a young gentleman
of amiable disposition, volatile in his manner, by no means
deficient in understanding, although he had not made the
very best use of the opportunity afforded by a collegiate
course.
" My dear, said Mrs. Scott (addressing herself to Mrs.
Boswell), I hope you have come to Virginia with a determination of being happy among strangers;-but I will
recall the word strangers, as I trust we shall be no longer
considered such, and from this day forward you will look
upon us as friends and old acquaintances."
"t If I am* not happy here, Mrs. Scott, I am sure it will
be my own fault, for it seems to me there is everything
calculated to make a reasonable being contented and
happy; the doctor anticipates my every wish, and, besides
having made every arrangement necessary for my comfort,
he has promised me enjoyments derived from the best a'nd
most enlightened society, and I assure you I have good
reason to believe that his promise will be fulfilled."
" Well, you must not expect too much from us, Mrs.
Boswell; we are a plain people inhabiting this mountain
region, but we generally do our best to make all who come
among us feel comfortable and easy;" replied Mrs. Scott.





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


15


" I have no doubt of it, madam, that every eff6rt will
be made to make my time pass agreeably; and I hope to
show, by my conduct, that those efforts are not thrown
away upon one who is insensible to, and therefore unworthy of kindness."
" How are you pleased, Mrs. Boswell," said Major Scott,
"with our mountain scenery?"
" Oh! I am charmed with it, sir. I am naturally of a
romantic -turn, and I shall never tire in admiring the
grandeur of the scenery from our front door. Although
the poet has said, ('tis distance lends enchantment to the
view,' its nearness has more enchantment for me: there
is something grand and sublime in its jaggedness and
roughness, which is lost when it becomes an uninterrupted.
streak of azure."," There is something in a near view of all the works of
nature," said Miss Evelina Preble, "c better calculated to
exalt our admiration of the great Architect, than in the
distant."
" That is very true," said Major Scott; " but did it never
strike you, that there is something wonderful and grand
in the fact, that the rough asperities of the mountain can
be overcome and made smooth in the distance, by the
power of the same Architect, in his formation and adjustment of the medium through which the rays of light pass
to our vision?"
"I declare," said Miss Amelia Scott, c"I don't see how
anybody can like the mountain, either near or at a distance;. I've been living all my lifetime in sight of the





16


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


mountain, and I forget there is any mountain, for I rarely
ever look at it."
4 My dear daughter," said the Major, "I should be
ashamed to acknowledge my indifference to the grand displays of nature, if I were you; I think I must carry you
next summer to the falls of Niagara, to excite in you a
taste for the sublime."
S0O! father, do carry us both," said Miss Julia.  I'll
promise you to be an exquisite in my admiration of everything grand and sublime. I won't say with sister, however,
that I have not now a taste for those things; I have been
admiring, from the window, this mixed mountain and water
prospect ever since I came. I don't want, to go to Niagara
only to see the falls; I want to see some of the works of
art: Philadelphia, New York, and other cities. We will go
through Norristown, Mrs. Boswell, if you will go with
us.", Indeed, miss, I hardly ever expect to see Norristown
again. My father and mother are coming in a few months
to live with us, and then I shall have no desire to go back.
My brother will visit us occasionally, and we have no other
near relations in Pennsylvania. If Doctor -Boswell, however, will agree to go and take me, I should be delighted
with the trip."
" That is impossible, my dear," said the Doctor;," I have
too much to do at home; you know it is said that a man
can't wive and thrive the same year, and it would be certainly true with me, if I were to go journeying too for
pleasure; no, my dear, you are now a Virginia farmer's





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


17


and doctor's wife, and you must make up your mind to
stay pretty constantly at home."
" Upon my word, Doctor," said old Mr. Preble, you
have begun in time; well, it is said, that whoever is harnessed in the honeymoon, has to wear it for life. How
do you get along with our peculiar institution, Mrs. Boswell? I suppose you come among us with natural, instinctive, and acquired antipathies."
" I do not know," answered Mrs. Boswell, ", that I have
any natural or instinctive antipathies; but you may readily
suppose that my education has been such as to produce a
feeling adverse to  hat.you call your peculiar institution.
I am free to confess, sir, that my father and mother are
both abolitionists, and that I have come to Virginia entertaining a strong feeling against slavery; indeed, almost
with a horror at the thought of being in its midst; but,
as I am doomed, you know, to wear the harness all my
life, I must wear it, and obey my husband in all things,
even should it be to tolerate slavery. It may be, that
when I have become familiar with all its incidents I may
pull tolerably well in that harness."
" Well, I don't know," rejoined Mr. Preble, " how it is,
but I have been familiar with it here for nearly thirty
years, and I am just as much opposed to it now as when
I first left Massachusetts."
" I suppose, of course, you don't own slaves, Mr.
Preble?"
" Why, madam, to tell you the truth, I do own a few:
being in Rome, I think it but right to do as the Romans
do."
2*





18


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


" Certainly not, sir, when the Romans are leading us
"astray from the dictates of conscience."
Mrs. Scott, seeing the effect which this hit had upon
Miss Evelina, proposed taking leave, as the carriages were
at the door; the whole party left, after urgent entreaties
that the Doctor and Mrs. Boswell shouild visit them.
" Well, my dear," said the Doctor, "(how could you give
old Mr. Preble such a rap? I was glad of it, however,
for he is always croaking about the evils of slavery, and
at the same time has no bowels of compassion for slaves;
lie neither gives them a sufficiency of clothing or food,
and whips most cruelly.   My father, who was a justice
of the peace, kept him somewhat in check by threatening
the law."
" Why, my dear husband, have you any law in Virginia
to punish a master for cruelty to his slave?"
44 Certainly, my dear; a man is not allowed to be cruel
to his beasts; but as slaves are the only persons generally
present, and as their testimony is not admissible against
a white man, the law is rarely enforced against a cruel
master."," I have always thought it a shocking thing to prevent
slaves from giving testimony against a white man; in our
state the testimony of a black man is thought as good as
that of a white."
" Well, my dear, as I have brought you to Virginia
full of notions and prejudices against this peculiar institution of ours, it is my duty, and it is indispensable to
your comfort here, that I should remove those prejudices
as soon as possible. My first effort will be to reconcile





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


19


you to what you call a shocking thing in our laws, and to
show you how very shocking it would-be (on the other
hand), if slaves were allowed to give testimony against
the whites., I must allow that there are evils inseparable from a
state of slavery, such (for instance) as a depressed and
lowered standard of morals; a general feeling of antagonism on the part of the slave towards the white man;
which latter feeling, operating upon the low moral standard, which rejects the proper appreciation of an oath,
would not only tend to insecurity of the life and property
of the white man, but would injure the slave himself, if
he were by law placed in a situation where there was
constant temptation to perjury.
" Moreover, there is always, in every community, a
class of whites whose moral standard is as low as that of
the slave, but who, on account of their freedom, are more
connected than the slave with the property transactions
of life; and if, in contests between the whites relative to
those transactions, the slave was admitted to bear testimony, what an advantage would the villain litigant have
over the conscientious one, when there was so wide a field
open for suborning slaves to perjury! A master's influence, too, over his slave might be made to bear very beneficially upon his own interest, and defeat the purposes of
justice, if the slave could testify in his behalf; or he
might be liable to injury from the testimony of a slave
given under feelings of exasperation.
"It is entirely unsuited to the nature of slavery, to
admit slaves as witnesses, for or against those who are





20           UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;
connected with property transactions. If the slave were
liable to be called to a court-house as a witness, where he
might be kept for many days, what would become of the
master's interest at home? What temptations also to vice
would not be offered the idle slave at a public court-house;
and above all, what chance would not occasional respite
from labour at a public place give of success to the efforts
of abolitionists to entice him for ever from servitude!
We will dismiss the subject for the present; and if tomorrow is a good day, we will take a walk and see the
condition of our servants."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


21


CHAPTER II.
INSPECTIONS.-CONTRAST.-TAMPERINGS.
A BALMY morning late in the month of November (the
season being what is called Indian summer), reminded
Dr.. Boswell of his promise to his wife, of a walk to see
the condition of their servants; and having hurried over
her labours at the tea board, she was in a short time after
breakfast ready to accompany him. They made directly
for Cabin Row (as it was called). The first cabin of the
row was Uncle Robin's, who had been confined by slight
indisposition ever since the arrival of his new mistress,
and whom he had never yet seen. After asking about his
health, the Doctor said to him; c Well, Robin, I have
brought your new mistress to see you.",, I mighty glad to see you, missis," said Robin; ", how
you been do, madam?"
" I am very well, I thank you, Uncle Robin, and am
glad to find you better."
4c Thank you, missis, de Lord be praised, I feels myself
considerable better dis mornin'; I'shad a right tuff time
of it, missis, since you bin com' home, else I'd bin to see





22


UNCLE ROBIN IN IIIS CABIN;


you 'fore dis; walk in, missis, I 'spose you never bin in
nigger cabin befo'!"
" I don't know that I ever was in a negro's cabin before,
Uncle Robin, but I have been in a much worse house than
yours; I am very fond of neatness and tidiness, and you
seem to have everything neat and comfortable around
you; I should think Aunt Elce was a very good wife."
" De Lord be praised, missis, she does suit me mighty
well; you's bin see Elce, ain't you, missis?"
SO0!.yes, she's been several times at the house since I
came."
" Where is she now, Robin?" asked the Doctor.
SWhy, massa, bit ago, I see'd some sheeps on de young
clober down in de fiel' 'pon de river, and I sends Elce to
dribe 'em out, sir."
" How many children have you, Uncle Robin?"
" Only three, missis, dat gal Elce 'bout de house, my
boy John, now at wuck in de fiel', and dis little boy Robin;
whar is dat chile?  Robin, com' here, boy, and see
missis!"
Robin came from the little bedroom, where he had
been hiding, and held his hand to his mistress.
" Keep back you' dutty han', boy! 'spose missis is gwine
shake sich a black dutty han' as yourn?"
u6 If it was clean, Uncle Robin, I would not refuse to
shake it because it was black."
" Oh! no, missis, I don't say dat; my ole missis dat's
dead and gone, and is now wid de angels in Ilebbin,
never thought she'd be tarminated by shakin' ban's wid
de poo' niggers."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


23


" Well, Robin," said the Doctor, " I hope this new mistress that I have brought you will be like your old one in
every respect."
"T Think so, masser? oh if she is, masser, I shall lobe
her mo' 'an tung' can tell. When de Lord see'd fit to take
my ole missis from me, I thought I neber should see any
mo' peace in dis worl', and I did long so much to go wid
my missis, but de Lord want me to stay here, and I did
thought de Lord know'd bes', and I give up to de Lord,
and tried to say, dy will be don', and de Lord healed de
broken heart."
" I don't see any bed in your room, Uncle Robin," said
his mistress.
" Why, we sleep, missis, in dat little room dar; dis
room, my ole missis had built purpose for Sunday school
and prayin' room, missis."
" I intend, my dear, to explain all these things to you
hereafter, about the Sunday school, &c.," said the Doctor.
" Let us now go and visit the other cabins. All the others
you will find occupied by two families, one family in each
room. This first room is Jim's and Dinah's; they are both
at work in the field, and their children, when they are
away, stay in the last cabin with old Aunt Juno, who
takes care of all the small children, when their parents
are at work from home. This next now, is Pheby's and
George's; both doors seem to be open, we will take a peep
into them."
" My dear husband, how very comfortable and neat
they all seem to be!"
g The others," said the Doctor, "6 are pretty much like





24


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS'CABIN;


those you have seen; we will pass on to the last, one room
of which is occupied by old Aunt Juno, a native African,
She is past work, and her only business (as I mentioned
before) is to take care of the children."
" Well, Aunt Juno, how are you to-day?"
SBad nuff, massa, dese chillons pesse me tu much, dey
fights, dey fights ebery time, make Juner no fire, poo' ole
Juner cole now."
" I'll have some fire made for you. Aunt Juno, here's
your new mistress come to see you."
"4 How you do, missy? Juner berry glad seeyou, Juner
ole now, can't see you berry well."
" How old do you suppose you are, Aunt Juno?" asked
Mrs. Boswell.
" Why, missy, Juner seb-seb-sebinty; when Massa Braddec com' long here, Juner was big gal, missy."
" She is only a little out in her chronology, my dear,"
said the Doctor. " I have never yet seen a very old negro
who hadn't something to say about Braddock; his march
through Virginia seems to be a favourite epoch in their
memories. There can be none left who remember that
period; but many of those who are now living have some
tradition, that there was such a person as Braddock; it is
so with old Aunt Juno, for she can't be more than ninety
years of age."
" Aunt Juno," said her mistress, "chow many children
b' re you to take care of?"
' Why, missy, hundred."
I How her arithmetic adds to my responsibilities!'





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


25


said the Doctor. " Why, Aunt Juno, there are not more
than fifteen."
SAh dem die, massa, dem die."
The Doctor had a fire made for her, and as they were
about to leave, old Juno said:
" Missy, Juner wan' say som' 'tickler ting, missy, som'
'tickler ting."
" Say on, old lady."
" Missy, Juner wan' som' sugar, som' coffy, and som'
tommer, missy."
cV What does she mean by 'tommer', my dear?"
( I can't give you the derivation of the word; but the
old negroes call wheat bread, 'tommer'. You will seldom
hear a young negro use the word; it seems to be almost
obsolete. She means that you must send her some flour
with the sugar and coffee; and if you stay much longer,
there will be various other little items added."
" If you are not in too great a hurry, my dear, I should
like to ask her something about Africa."
4 Well, you won't get much from her; but take that
chair, and see what you can make of it."
c Aunt Juno, do- you remember anything about your
own country, Africa?"
" 'Member, missy, yes, Juner much 'member. Juner
big gal when Juner com' 'way; when dey put Juner 'pon
dat big hous' 'pon top o' de water, whar Juner neber tun
roun'."
" How did they catch you, and bring you there?"
" Juner farder gib Juner to one massa; Juner no' cry
den, Juner be one conger, eat, eat Juner!"
3





26


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN


( "My dear," said the Doctor, " I have often heard her
say the same thing, and I can only understand her, by
supposing that the-cannibal tribes of Africa selected beforehand those who were to be eaten, and that the selected
ones were called tongers; and that she was not sorry
that she was taken away; because she was destined to be
eaten."
4 Do they eat each other now in Africa?"
c4 I suppose they do among some of the interior tribes,
even now. At the time she speaks of, the tribes on the
Gold Coast were mostly cannibals; but their intercourse
with European nations since, and missionary efforts, have
made them less savage all along the coast than they formerly were."
" Would you like to go back to Africa, Aunt Juno?"
" No, missy, Juner no go back, Juner no conger now;
Juner no frien' dar now; Juner 'tay wid massa 'til Juner
die."
" Where do you expect to go when you die?"
SOle missy tell Juner heap 'bout hebbin, and Juner
farder in hebbin, an' say, if Juner good, Juner go to hebbin
when she die. She tell Juner 'bout one man die for Juner
to car' Juner to hebbin; an' dat Juner mus' lobe dat man,
an' Juner bin try lobe dat man; but mighty hard lobe
when Juner no see um. Juner hope see um bimeby."
" My dear," said the Doctor,, I ordered George to get
the carriage, that we might take a ride down the new
turnpike this morning; and I see it now at the door. You
must postpone any further enlightenment from Aunt
Juno about Africa, and heaven, until another day."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


27


( Missy, min' de 'ticklar ting."
" Good-bye, Aunt Juno; I will send you some sugar
and coffee, and some tommer too."
"4 Tank you, missy; good-bye, missy, good-bye, massa."
", Drive to the new turnpike, George," said the Doctor,
as he shut the carriage door. And turning to his wife he
said: " Now, my dear Ann, I will complete the imperfect
sketch of the character, sentiments, and actings of one,
who is now a saint in heaven: I mean my dear mother.
I have before told you that my maternal grandfather was
a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and was
considered one of the first pulpit orators of the state;
and what is of far more importance, was one of the most
evangelical divines of his day.. My grandmother was a'
lady suited in every respect to be the wife of such a
minister. My mother (an only child) received her education at home, which was by no means an ordinary one,
as her father was a man of learning, and instructed her
in all the important branches of literature.  There was
a union of effort in forming her moral and religious character, which was as lovely as could have been hoped for,
from such training.
"4 You may suppose that the individual who could obtain
the heart and hand of such a woman must have had congenial
endowments; and such a man was my father. After the
house in which we now live was completed, he brought my
mother to Selma, where they received an annual visit from
my grandfather and grandmother during their lives; they
died within a-short tim~e of each other, when I was ab.out
eight years of age. My grandfather had never owned a





28


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


slave, though all the drudgery in his family had been
performed by hired slaves. My mother, living in the
midst of slavery, and having all her lifetime been waited
upon by slaves, when brought to Selma was not ignorant
(as you now are, my Ann) of its relations, and its consequences either for weal or for woe. After I became old
enough to understand and enjoy her conversation, she
often talked to me upon that subject; she said that very
early in life, long before she was married, her mind had
been much exercised upon it, that she had prayerfully
consulted her Bible, and had come to the conclusion that
it was not sinful in the sight of her Heavenly Father, for
one human being to hold another in that relation; but,
rthat there were duties and responsibilities growing out of
it, the neglect of which was highly sinful. That the slave
had a soul to be saved as well as his master; that if the
master was inhuman, and regardless of the slave's bodily
comforts, and denied him facilities for obtaining religious
instruction, he (the master) perilled his own soul. By a
strict performance of such duties, she thought slavery
might not only be tolerated, but might be made to subserve beneficial purposes.
" She saw in the black free population around her, no
promise of moral good from emancipation; and she came
to Selma with a firm reliance on Providence for support,
strictly to perform the duties of a mistress. My father's
views being in accordance with her own, the old wooden
cabins in which the negroes were then living, were exchanged for the stone ones-we have just visited. robin's
cabin was arranged differently from the others; the chim




AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


29


neys running up in the middle of the others, make the two
rooms of equal size; but in Robin's, one room is much
larger than the other. My mother intended that large
room for a sanctuary, where the negroes might assemble
for Sabbath school exercises, and for preaching at such
times as our parish minister might appoint for his plain
lectures, adapted to their capacities, and for preaching
by all other denominations of Christians, black or white.
She soon established a Sabbath school, which she conducted herself, my father and some of the neighbours
around assisting her. Robin was at that time a young
man, waiting in the house. My mother finding him very
truthful, tractable, and intelligent, bestowed more time
and labour on his instruction than that of the others.
She thought if she could qualify him as a teacher he would
be of great assistance to her in the Sabbath school; and
before her death, she found him sufficiently qualified to
take the entire ihanagement of it. It was necessary,
however, under the law of Virginia, that some white person should always be present, and take part in the instructions.
" My father and mother suffered their slaves to join any
denomination of Christians for which they had a preference. Most generally, throughout this country, negroes
who have made a profession of religion, have joined the
Baptist denomination. Robin reads with considerable
fluency, sometimes exhorts, and I believe he is a sincere
Christian. There are some others on the plantation who
make a profession of religion. Elce, Robin's wife, is, I
fear, a hard case; but I trust Robin's prayers for her may
3*





30


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


be blessed. I have myself (as I have told you before)
joined the Episcopal church; it was what my dear parents
unceasingly prayed for, but they did not live to see an
answer to their prayers, and a consummation of their hopes.
I have determined, my dear Ann, to carry out the wishes
of my parents in regard to our slaves; the Sabbath school
shall be continued, and every effort in my power made to
train them up for heaven; and I trust that I shall find
in my dear wife that zeal for the souls of our slaves which
shone so brightly in the character of my sainted mother.
We are now at the turnpike, and there are the Irish
shanties."
" What are they, my dear?"
" Shanty, my dear, comes from two Irish words, which
mean an old dwelling; but with us, they mean what you
now see before you: huts for human beings to live in.
The women and children occupy them in the day, and the
men who work on the public road, join them at night.
As some of them are sick and may want medicine, we will
get out and see them."
S"Well, Jerry," said the Doctor, addressing himself to
a man at the door of the first shanty.
"' Och, Docthur, but I'm glad to see you, the day; the
ould woman lies very ailing, she is.", What's the matter with her?"
" She's got the agy and the faver, your honour, and I
has to nurse and cook for the brats all the while. Come
in, come in, and the leddy, if she isn't a fearing this stye,
as it is, sure 'nough, of a shanty."  It was a stye indeed;
there lay the mother in one corner on a dirt floor, with





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


31


nothing between her and the floor but an old worn out
blanket, and half covered with something that looked like
a black stained saddle-cloth. She was shaking with an
ague. There were, in another corner, six children, half
naked, and shivering as if they too had agues. The filth
and stench was insupportable, and Mrs. Boswell had to
make her escape to the fresh air as soon as possible; but
the doctor, like a true son of Esculapius, stood his ground
and administered medicine to the poor woman.
" Jerry," said he,   I am astonished to see your family
in such a horrid situation. Why don't you get a bed for
your poor sick wife to lie upon?  A plain common tick,
filled with straw, would make her much more comfortable;
and there are your children, all naked; the winter's coming on, and if you don't give them some warm clothing
they'll freeze in this open shanty."
"cFaith, but there's little the danger o' that; they's
used to it, do you see, Docthur; poor people's shildren,
your honour, must be brought up hardy; many's the likes
o' that in the ould counthry. I works very hard, your
honour, for the ould mither and the brats."
Here the old lady raised her head, and cried in an unearthly tone:
"c It's nothing a more but whiskey that's done it, Doc--
thur, it is, it is."
" Don't mind what the ould woman says, Docthur, she
talks the like o' that when the faver's in the brain, she
does."
c" I am afraid there's too much truth in what she says,
Jerry."





82


UNCLE ROBIN IN IIIS CABIN;


" There's not the word of truth in it, your honour."
" Take this phial, Jerry, and after the ague is off, give
her ten drops every half-hour; do you understand?"
" Faith but I do, Docthur; I'm up to the draps ony
how, many's the one I've give the poor sick crater."
The Doctor joined Mrs. Boswell, and they went on
to the next shanty; there stood Dennis Flinn at the
door.
" Well, Dennis," said the Doctor, " how goes the world
with you?"
" As to that, Doctor, I can't say much; the world goes
over bad with poor folks, but we'll be better off anyhow
than some of our nebburs; the brats are all up, and the
ould woman's a going; there's Jerry's wife been tak down
with the faver."
" I suppose you feel very thankful that your family has
escaped."
" Why, as to the matter o' that, Docthur, they'll tak'
it some other time; there's Patrick O'Nale, in the next
shanty, he thought he was too strong for the agy, but it
gave him considerable shake, it did; and there's Bet
Flannagin, poor cratur', she's been nearer t'other warld
than I'd like to be, onyhow."
" Wouldn't you like to go to a better world than this?"
said the Doctor.
" When the praist says I'm ready, and my time's come.
It's a long time since the praist was bye, and I've got
considerable score to wipe off."
" Considerable score of what, do you mean?"
" Why, sins, your honour."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


33


" And do you believe that the priest can wipe out your
sins?"
" Yes, besure, your honour; jis tell him what you've
been doin', and he'll wipe it out as sure as my name's
Dennis."
" You didn't learn that from your Bible."
" Och! bother, your honour, I've no larning to read
the Bible, and if I had, the praist wouldn't let me. The
praist reads the Bible for all poor sinners, and they've no
business with it onyhow, your honour."
" Have you never learnt to read?"
"No, your honour, in the ould counthry, the poor
people warks so hard they've never a time for larning, no
more."
" Don't you intend to send your children to school?"
" Och! no, your honour; when the children gets big
enough they must go to work, as I have done before them;
no time for larning, at all, at all."
" But suppose you were to send them to the Sunday
school?"
" The praist says the Sabbath's a day of rest, your
honour; and the like of us, who work hard all the week,
should tak' rest on that day."
" My negroes work hard all the week, and go to hear
preaching, and some go to the Sabbath school; why can't
you do the same?"
" Now, your honour shouldn't compare your nigger
slaves with white people, onyhow; we go when we plase,
and stay at home when we please; and your honour





34


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


knows there's a warld of difference between free people
and slaves."
" If slaves have more learning than free people, more
religion than free people, and have better houses to live
in than free people, I think the difference is in favour of
slaves."
' But, your honour, there's something in liberty better
than the like of onything else in the warld."
c" How many children have you, Dennis?"," Four, your honour."
" Do you expect to keep your wife and children in this
shanty all the winter? If you do, you should get some
more plank and make a floor to your shanty, and stop
those large cracks in the roof, and get warm clothing for
them; they are almost naked now."
" When the money comes in for the wark, your honour,
we'll try and do something o' that way."
" There's none a bit of it behind, the jug's tak' it all,"
said Mrs. Flinn, looking at a jug in the corner.
" Ah! Dennis, Dennis, that won't do; you ought to
think of your wife "nd children."
" That's what I'm doin' all the time, your honour; and
the more I thinks on the like o' them, the more nade there
is for the jug, your honour."
" Suppose you were to die, Dennis, without having laid
up anything for your wife and children; what would these
poor creatures do after your death?"
" Why, your honour knows that the county would tak'
care o' them; the ould woman would be sent to the house





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


35


where they tends the poor, and the shildren would be
bound out to trades, your honour."
44 Well, Dennis, would it not be better to bind them out
now before you die, and let them learn trades, and. be
taught to read?"
4 Please God, my shildren shall never be taken from
their poor mither and bound out to masters while Jenny
Flinn's head's hot; no, my shildren shall never be made
slaves onyhow," said Mrs. Flimn.
" If," said the Doctor, " the bare name of freedom is'
to you meat, drink, and wearing apparel, I will leave you
to enjoy it. My dear, we will go to the next shanty and
inquire how Patrick O'Neal is."
" How are you, to-day, Patrick?"
" Och! botheration, Docthur, I'm  bad enough, bad
enough; my head's in a flame, Docthur."
"c You've been drinking too much, Patrick." ~
" That's jist what the owld 'oman said; I drank too
much cowld water the morning, I did."
" But that is not what I meant; you've been making
too free with the whiskey, Patrick.".c Now, your honour jist thinks so, because your honour
knows how good it is to drive off the cowld when a. body's
shakin' and shivrin'."
"I now tell you, once for all, that if you do not leave
off drinking whiskey, you'll be a dead man in a very short
time, Patrick."
" Well, then, whiskey and I'll shake hands, Docthur,
and be no friends any more, at all, at all, we won't."
" It is not worth while to give you any more medicine,





36


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


Patrick; I will not throw away any more physic or advice
upon- a patient who will neither take the one or listen to
the other." In a low voice he said: " We will not go in
here, my dear, it is worse than anything we have seen
yet."
George, who had followed with the carriage, already
had the door open, and the steps down; and when the
Doctor and Mrs. Boswell had taken their seats, he turned
back towards Selma.
" My dear Ann," said the Doctor, c"I have carried you
to-day among our slaves, and into the hut of the free
white man. There are no words in our language more
indefinite in their meaning than liberty and slavery,; they
are used for the most part as mere sounds: the one conveying to the mind everything that is precious and to be
desired, the other, everything that is horrid and to be
avoided, wwithout any reference to the various modifications of each, to be found in different' countries, and
surrounded by different circumstances. You have seen, today, specimens of those modifications; and your good sense
will determine whether the halo around the one, and the
-dimness around the other, are the unvarying characterSistics of each; whether there are most of the true substanStial blessings, which make life desirable, in the shanty of
SDennis Flinn, or the cabin of Robin."
" My dear, I can't hesitate in assigning to the cabin of
Uncle Robin a vastly greater amount of every procurement of real happiness in this world, than is to be found
in the shanty of Dennis Flinn; but is not the estimate
which is formed of the relative excellence of two conditions





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


87


of life, from viewing the extremes of each, apt to be
erroneous?"
4cI do not allow that your estimate has been the result
of a presentation of the extremes of each. To be sure,
on our plantation, you see slavery in one of its best modications; but you will see similar modifications of it on
many, very many plantations in Virginia; and on the
other hand, the Irish shanties do not present liberty in
its most degraded modification; in the ould country (as
they call it) it is infinitely worse."
The carriage was at the door; and. Uncle Robin, who
had felt himself better, had come down to see his master
on business, and was ready to open the door when the
carriage stopped. They got out, and Mrs. Boswell went
into the house. But the Doctor, supposing that Robin
(who was his foreman), wanted to see him on plantation
business, remained in the portico.
ci Masser," said Uncle Robin, "I want talk to you 'pon
som' very serious business."
", Come along with me, Robin, down the garden walk,
and I will hear what you have to say."
" Masser, you put me here as foreman 'pon you' plantation, and you specks me to tell you whatsomever I sees
goin' wrong pun de place, sir. Now, 'bout two weeks
gone, masser, one day 'bout twelve o'clock, I reckon, I
goes to de new grown corn fiel' to see how de boys com' on
puttin up corn, sir, and when I gets dar, Tom and Dick wos'n
dar wid de oder han's. I stay dar least one half a hour,
an dey did'n com.' You know, masser, dar's piece a wood
ain't cleared in de corner of de fiel'. I creep 'long de
4





88


UNCLE IROBIN IN HIS CABIN


fence 'til I corn' near de wood, and who' should I see, but
Tom, and Dick, and one white man, settin down 'long side
of one tree, dat had been blow' down; de man was ider
readin' or talkin' to 'em; I couldn' see which.  I waits
dar for som' time, dey didn' see me; after a while I gits
up and show'd myself. De boys den dey gits up and comes
to whar I was; de-white man gits up too, an I sees him
put som'thin' in he pocket like one newspaper, an I sees
him git over de fence into de road.
"Well, I didn' say one word to de boys. I thought,
masser, though, I'd keep my eyes 'pon 'u 1 well, masser,
I bin think 'pon dis thing often sence, and I didn'
know whether 'twould be woth while to tell you, or wait
'til 1 seed somthin' else in um, an I thought I'd wait.
Well, sir, Elce com' home from de kitchen las' night 'bout
nine o'clock, an she tell me she hear voice 'long de paff,
and she stop and listen, an she hear Tom say to Dick:
Der's no danger, Dick, we can get off esy 'nough; dat man
you know, say, when we gets 'cross de 'Tomuck, it's all
safe, an you know he teld us whar to cros'. Well, Tom,
says Dick, I don' want to leave my daddy and mammy,
but if you goes, Tom, I goes too. Well, Dick, is it one
bargin? Yes, dat 'tis, clinched. Well, Tom, we'll wan'
somthin' to eat. Never mind, Dick, I'll put you up to
dat. Elce lef' um den, an if missis hadn' been wid you
dis mornin, I'd bin tell you den, masser. I seed dat same
white man in one carryall, dat day I car'd de wool to de
factry."
" Say nothing about this to anybody, Robin, and tell





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


39


Elce not to mention it to a soul. I will think about it,
and see what is to be done."
" Masser, I bin try my bes' 'pon dem boys, but dey too
much for me, sir."
", Well, my dear," said the Doctor after reaching the
parlour,- e Robin has just made a communication which
turns the dark side of the slavery picture; he has told
me that two of my boys have laid a plan for getting off to
Pennsylvania; and he thinks that they have been put up
to it by some white person, with whom they were seen
talking in the woods the other day. I cannot believe
otherwise than that those boys have been tampered with
by some abolitionist. I won't hint where I think he came
froih; but I hope for your sake, not from Pennsylvania."
", Oh! my dear husband, the Pennsylvanians wouldn't
think of doing such a thing."
", You don't know, my dear, what the Pennsylvanians
are up to, particularly in the matter of runaway negroes,
whom they love so well. I have formed one determination, and that is, if any of my negroes run off, and are
brought back, they shall never stay here. I can reconcile
it to myself under such circumstances, and for certain
other offences, to sell them off to the traders."
" Oh! my dear, the thought of selling a human being,
and separating him from all his relations, is shocking to
me."
" It is not so bad as you think, Ann. There are Tom
and Dick, just as comfortably situated as they could possibly wish, both having on the plantation, parents, brothers, and sisters; determining to leave them, and be





40


UNCLE ROBIN IN IIIS CABIN;


separated from them for ever; I do not see the great
difference to their parents, whether it is my act or their
act, which causes the separation: in every instance, however, it will be their act, and not mine; for I shall never
sell unless they force me to do it by their own act."
On the following morning, as Dr. Boswell was about to
take his customary ride over his farm, he saw three individuals approaching the house: one, he recognised as a
neighbouring farmer, Mr. Green, another, Mr. Green's
overseer, Mr. Glover, and the third, Mr. Johnson, a constable. After the usual salutations were exchanged, Mr.
Green asked the Doctor to walk with him in the grove
before the door, and informed him that he had come on
business which was exceedingly disagreeable to him, and
he supposed would be equally, if not more so, to himself.
"cI am come, sir, with a warrant from Squire Brown, to
apprehend and carry before the Squire two of your boys,
Tom and Dick, under a charge of having perpetrated
burglary, by breaking open my meat-house, and stealing
therefrom several pieces of bacon. My overseer, Mr.
Glover, came upon them just as they were coming out of
the house, and saw one of them with a bag, in which he
supposed there was meat. There are five hams of bacon
missing. They were too fleet for Mr. Glover, but he says
he knows your boys Tom and Dick, and seeing them by
moonlight, he will swear to their identity.
" The case is a very clear one, Doctor, and if they are
taken before a justice, they must be sent on for trial
before a called court, and will probably be condemned to
be hung. I have thought, to prevent so disagreeable a





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


41


termination of this affair, that I would propose to you to
sell them off to a trader; and that if you would do that,
I would drop further proceedings on the warrant; if not,
the warrant will be put into the hands of the constable to
be executed."
SI do not, Mr. Green, see any objection to your proposal. Those two boys, I have reason to believe, are
making preparation for a trip to Pennsylvania; and your
bacon, no doubt, was intended for that trip. Although I
had some hint of their intention, I felt so great a reluctance to selling them, that I had determined to take no
notice of the communication. Now, however, the case is
altered by their having committed an offence which will
cause them either to be hung or sent out of the country,
and I shall be reconciled to the necessity of selling
them."
" Your negroes, Doctor, treated as they are, I am confident, would have no disposition to leave you, unless they
had been tampered with by some white person. There
was a very suspicious character seen in the neighbourhood
about a fortnight ago, a man in a carryall, pretending to
offer some little matters for sale."
SI will, Mr. Green, send a note immediately to town,
and request Mr. Bosher, the trader, to come down forthwith. There is some danger, however, of the boys making
their escape before he arrives, particularly if they should
find out that you and Mr. Glover are here."
" I don't know, Doctor, that we have been seen by any
of your servants but old Robin; and I suppose he would
4*





42


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


never do or say anything which he thought contrary to
your wishes. We will go away at once."
The Doctor, seeing Robin near the house, directed him
to get a horse immediately, to take a note to Mr. Bosher.
Robin was soon ready, received the note, and was on his
way to town in a few minutes.
About three o'clock in the afternoon, Dr. Boswell
directed Charles, a boy who waited in the house, to carry
two chairs into the grove, intending one for himself, and
the other for Mr. Bosher when he should arrive; and in
a very short time he rode up, with Robin at a respectful
distance behind.
S"Mir. Bosher," said the Doctor, " I have sent for you
on business, which is to me new, and extremely disagreeable. Two of my boys have been guilty of an offence
for which I shall be forced to sell them, very much against
my inclination."
"Well, sir," said Mr. Bosher, "my trade is that of
buying and selling; and if we can agree as to the price, I
will soon relieve you of them. I have a fixed price, sir,
for tiptop young men, No. 1, that is, six hundred dollars; and if I like them, we will not be long in making
a bargain."
SRobin," said the Doctor,  go after those two boys,
and bring them here."
4" We had better go where they are at work," said Mr.
Bosher, " for if you send for them they might take the
alarm and be off: if I once lay my hands on them I shall
not fear their getting away."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


43


Charles came with a message from his mistress, requesting the Doctor to come into the house.
As he entered the parlour, Mrs. Boswell threw her arms
around h]is neck, and in tears said: "c Oh! my dear husband, don't, don't sell those boys away from their parents;
I can't bear it, indeed I can't. I almost wish I had never
come to Virginia to witness such a heartrending scene.
Oh! for my sake, let them stay."
"c My dear Ann, it is forced upon me; I can't help myself. Those boys, intended to leave their parents of their
own accord; and now that they have been guilty of breaking open Mr. Green's meat-house, they can't stay here.
If I don't sell them, Mr. Green will have them in jail
before to-morrow morning, and they will perhaps be condemned to be hung; if not hung, they will certainly be
transported. You must make up your mind, Ann, to bear
what cannot possibly be avoided."
" Oh! horrid, horrid; I wish there was not a slave
upon earth."
The Doctor unloosed her hands, which were clasped
around his neck, placed her in a chair, and leaving her
almost frantic, returned to Mr. Bosher.
"Well, sir, we will now walk to the potato ground,
where those boys are at work."  As they approached, he
pointed out two very fine-looking young men in-front of
the gang, saying: "c Those two are Tom and Dick, the
boys we were talking about."
4 They are fine-looking boys, sir. I suppose, Doctor,
they are sound in every respect?"
" Perfectly so, sir, as far as I know and believe,"





44


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


"4 Well, sir, I will give you your price. Boys, put down
your hoes; (which being immediately done, he said), how
would you like to go with me to a warm country, where
negroes do nothing but eat and make cotton?"    Both
answered together,
" Not a bit, sir, can't go wid you any how; don't want
leave masser for anybody."
"c You'll have to go, anyhow," said Mr. Bosher (seizing
both by the collar); I have bought you, and you are now
my property."
By this time, all the other hands had stopped from work,
and a look of horror was on every countenance. The
parents of Tom and Dick moved towards, and made a
circle around their master, and with most piteous wail,
they all exclaimed: " Oh! masser, you aint dun sell our
boys sure 'nough?"
Dr. Boswell, with tears in his eyes, replied; c Yes, I
have been forced to it. I have. not only found out that
your boys intended to run off to Pennsylvania; but that
they have broken open Mr. Green's meat-house, and stolen
his bacon; and, if they are not sold, they would in all
probability be condemned to be hung."
" Well, masser, if dat's de case, let 'em go; it go mighty
hard wid us to part from dem boys, but if dey bring it
'pon deselves, dey mus' 'bide by it. We always telled
dem, dat dem white mens we see dem talkin' wid, wou'd
bring 'em to trouble som' day or ruther."
" Dinah," said the Doctor, " you and Kate go and put
their clothes in as small bundles as possible, and bring
them down to the house."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


45


The Doctor, Mr. Bosher, the two boys, and Robin, returned to the grove in the yard.
"Now that you have broken the ice, Doctor," said Mr.
Bosher, " suppose you sell me some more? I haven't made
up my number yet. What will you take for that man
there?" (pointing to Robin, who had stopped some distance
off.)
" Take for him, sir!" said the Doctor with vehemence;
Swhy, sir, all the money in Mississippi couldn't buy him.
I would just as soon think of cutting off my right hand,
as of selling Robin."
" Well, sir, there's no harm done by asking the question; Robin anyhow is too far advanced in years for the
Southern market; Southern planters prefer young negroes
just grown up; children under six or eight years old,
they wouldn't have at all."
" I suppose you find it a difficult matter to get as many
as you would wish to buy?" said the Doctor.
" Oh! no, sir, we gets whole lots of runaways: whenever they are caught, they all come into our nets. Our
trade would be completely broken up, Doctor, if 'twant
for runaway negroes; and I think, sir, we have to thank
the abolitionists for that; they entice them off, and we
grabs them flying. I know a Yankee trader who gets
whole lots in that way."
The Doctor could not stand the parting scene, and went
into the parlour. Not finding Mrs. Boswell there, he followed her into her chamber, and found her lying upon the
'bed, weeping bitterly; he said not a word, but opened





UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


his desk and deposited the money he had received from
Bosher.
Mr. Bosher took the boys off, and their parents in deep
grief returned to their work. Robin followed them to
the potato ground, and said: " Well, I trust dis gwine be
a good lessin to de young people 'pon dis plantation; dey
got one of de very bes' masters dat niggers, eber had; and
for him to be force' wid tear runnin' down he face to sell
'em cause dey misbehabe, is raly too bad. I knowd what
'twould com' to at last; dem boys bin too fond of leffin
der work, and talkin' wid strange white folks, and see
what it don com' to: dey been 'ticed to go off, and dey
mus' den steal somethin' to carry 'long to eat."
" Robin," said Dinah, ' I bin mistrus' my boy Tom for
sum time; he ain bin like what he used to be for sum
weeks; he bin sassy to he daddy an me, an a don' care
sort of 'haviour 'bout 'im. Robin, I never did thought
Tom would broke open house and steal; but, Robin, he did
do dat sure as you an' I's alive. When I was rummaging
for he clothes up in de loff, I fine a bag wid five piece o'
bacon in it, and dar 'tis now, Robin."
" Dinah," said Robin, " dat bag musn' stay any longer
'mong you' stuff; 'twill bring trubble 'pon us all if it do.
De Lord will punish us for dat accussed thing as he did
de Isralites for de wedge o' gold. You mus' jus' go at
once, and car' it to masser."
" Well, Robin, I was so 'stress' 'bout my boy, dat I
didn' know what to do; but you's right, Robin, and I'll go
dis minit and car' it to masser."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


47


"c Masser, here's Mr. Green bacon I fine up in my loff,
when I bin hunt for Tom clothes."
" Dinah, that is proof positive enough that Tom broke
open Mr. Green's smoke-house and stole his bacon. You
were right, Dinah, in bringing it to me. Go into the
chamber and see your mistress, and when you go back,
tell Robin to get a horse and come to the house for this
bag of bacon. It must be sent to Mr. Green."
SHow you do, dis ebenin, missis?" said Dinah, as
she approached the bed where her mistress was lying,
with her face and head under the counterpane.
"4 Oh! Dinah, Dinah, what a shocking thing it was to
sell your poor child away from you! I feel as if I never
should be happy again."
" Well, missis, 'taint wufwhile, madam, to grieve so
much. To be sure, I does feel mighty bad at partin' wid
Tom, but he bring it all 'pon heself, madam. If he had
been satisfied here, dis wouldn' bin happin. Tom had fine
chance; good house to liv' in, good clothes to war', and
Robin try he bes' to giv' him good 'struction in de Sunday school, madam, and he daddy and I giv' him good
device out o' school; 'twas he own fault, missis. Masser
wou'd never hav' sell him, if he hadn' brake open dat
hous'."
"4 Do you think our boys did certainly break open that
house and steal the meat?"
" No doubt on it, madam, I dun fine de bag o' meat up
in my loff, an nobody but Tom could have bin put it dar,
madam."
" One thing, Dinah, which made me take on so much





18


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


about it was, that I thought it possible they might have
been innocent of the charge."
" Oh! missis, you may depend dem boys was guilty.
I hope de Lord will pardon um, and bring um to see der
wickedness. I does wish it cou'd bin so happen dat dey
might bin stay here and git more 'struction from Robin,
but de Lord chuse sen' dem away, and we mus' 'bide by
his 'cision, madam; you sarvant, missis."
Mrs. Boswell, finding that Dinah was not so overwhelmed with grief as she expected, and that she bore
the separation from Tom with commendable resignation,
began to think that she herself had given way too much;
and adjusting some little derangement in her person,
consequent upon the violence of her grief, she repaired
to the parlour, and found the Doctor reclining on the
sofa.
" Uncle Robin wants you at the door, my dear," she
said.
" Robin, take that bag of meat and carry it to Mr.
Green, and tell him that Tom's mother found it up in her
loft."
" My dear, I think you have grieved more for Tom and
Dick than their parents."
SYou must consider, my dear husband, that, although
I have heard of this thing at a distance, it is the first
time I have ever come in contact with it. Their parents,
I suppose, have become familiar with it, from its everyday occurrence around them."
" My dear Ann, I find no fault in your exhibition of
feeling; I like a soft heart, and I had much rather attempt





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


49


to harden a soft one (if necessary), than to soften one
upon which you could make no more impression than upon
a millstone. Of all animals in creation, I think a female
devoid of feeling and sensibility is the least engaging. It
will be necessary perhaps to harden that little heart of
yours, as our kind friends the abolitionists may make frequent drafts upon your sympathy. It is astonishing to
me that they won't mind their own business, and let us
alone, to manage ours as we think proper."
" i My, dear, their intentions must be good; if they err
it must be from mistaken philanthropy; they can have no
other motive than a humane desire to better the situation
of these poor creatures."
"4 They have sense enough, my dear, to know that every
effort they make to entice a slave from his master, injures
not only those enticed away, but all the others. The laws
regulating that kind of property are made more stringent,
their privileges are abridged, and they are rendered unhappy by being made dissatisfied with their situation.
Even those who are successful in making their escape, in
most instances, exchange comfort and ease for a life of
wandering to and fro, without the means of support; and
of abiding inquietude and apprehension, lest they should
be recaptured. And, when recaptured, they are in every
instance subject to all the horrors of sale, so pathetically
depicted by abolition writers.
"4 Their motive is miscalled, when denominated mistaken
philanthropy; there can be no mistake about it. They
know very well, that in fact they themselves are the
very bitterest enemies of those whom they pretend to
5





50


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


succour. Their true motive is to be found either in a
vain desire to set themselves up as philanthropists, or to
agitate for political effect; which latter is the most prevalent motive, if we form our judgment from the characters
who lead and control the masses. It is a most preposterous notion, that corrupt politicians, working their way to
inglorious preferment, are vicegerents of heaven, commissioned to do away an institution which has existed throughout all ages, even in a theocracy. Its presumption can be
equalled by nothing but its folly."
" Well, Robin," said Mr. Green (as Robin rode into the
yard),, what have you in your bag?"
c Your bacon, sir. Tom mammy fine it in her loff, and
masser tell me to bring it to you, sir."
" Carry it round to the smoke-house, Robin; and I'll
get the key."
After he had opened the door, he said:
SNow, Robin, empty the bag, and we will compare it
with this bacon. I cut my hams somewhat different from
most people."
c No mistake, masser," said Robin, " dis your bacon;
nobody else in dis neighbourhood cuts der hams in dat
way, sir."
" I think it probable, Robin, that having to break open
this house last night, and being seen by Mr. Glover, prevented your boys from going off. I have just heard that
two of Major Scott's boys, and two of old Mr. Preble's,
went pff last night, and I suppose it was all planned that
they should go off together."
\T Very like, sir, very like. I s'pose, masser, old Mr.





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


51


Preble won't try to git he boys back, cause he always
sayin' what bad thing slabery is?"
" Let him alone for that, Robin; George Preble and
two other young men went off in pursuit, as soon as it was
known that they were gone. I haven't heard whether
Major Scott employed anybody to go after his. These
abolitionists, Robin, when they own negroes, are the very
worst masters in the country. I shall be very glad to
hear that old Preble's negroes get off; he gave one of
those boys a cruel flogging, some days ago."
" Well, masser, I don' know how 'tis; dey always
pityin' poor niggers, and 'suadin' dem to run off, and still,
when dey have um, dey mighty bad to um; and when dey
git um way back dar north, dey let um go almos' naked,
and let um almos' starve."
" The fact is, Robin, they don't care half as-much about
negroes as we do, but they take pleasure in teasing and
vexing us about them; and that's the whole secret of the
business."
" 'Tis mighty unchristian, masser, for dem to do so to
der nabbers; de bible say we should do to oders as we
wish dem to do to us; and I's sure dey wou'dn' like you,
masser, to take der property."
4" I had forgotten to ask you, Robin, whether you saw
Mr. Bosher?"
4" Oh yes, sir; he did cum 'long wid me, and dun take
dem boys off, sir."
" I was very sorry, Robin, to force your master to sell
those bdys, as I know he is much opposed to selling
negroes. They are going, however, to a country where





52


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


the labour is very light; and you know, Robin, it is the
master's interest, everywhere, to take care of his slaves.
It is certainly a great deal better for them, than if they
had gotten off, and gone to a free state, where they would
have found it very difficult to get work enough to support
them comfortably."
c Dem boys, masser, whether der situation is better or
wus, have deselves only to blame; der's no people better
off dan my masser's servants. Masser, now I think on it,
will you let you people know dat de Reverend Mr. Grattan gwine preach to de black people, nex' Sunday ebenin,
in my cabin?"
" Yes, Robin; and I will try and make them go. What
time do you hold your Sunday school? I should like some
of my little ones to go, if you will take them in."
4Well, masser, as for dat, I don' know; we got heap
o' young ones o' our own dat go; and you see, masser,
I's almos' de only teacher: Dinah does help me little. I
hopes my young missis will help after while; and der's
Miss Ebelina Preble, she promise cor'; and if we kin git
dat much 'cruit to our teachers, masser, I'll let you know,
and you kin sen' some o' your'n. Der's your boy Jim,
sir, would make fus' rate teacher, if he would com'."
C Well, I will speak to Jim, Robin, and I think he will
be inclined to go, as he is religious, and I hope inclined
to do good in that way.", Sunday school, properly tended, masser, mighty good
thing for de souls of young folks. Well, masser, can't
stay any longer from my masser's business; your sarvant,
sir."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


53


" Good-bye, Robin. Tell your master that I am very
thankful to him for sending the bacon."
When Robin had put away his horse, he went to the
house to see his master.
" Well, Robin," said the Doctor,  I suppose Mr. Green
was very glad to get his bacon again?"
S4Yes, masser; he say he mighty thankful to you for
sen'in' it. He telled me, masser, dat two o' Major Scott's
boys, and two o' old Mr. Preble's dun gon' off; and dat
Mas' George Preble dun gon' after um, sir."
ý I hope no more of ours will take such notions into
their heads. You should take every opportunity of talking to them, Robin, and telling them that the design of
these abolitionists is not to do them good; that the inevitable consequence will be, that they will be hunted like
wild beasts, that their lives will be endangered, and that,
as soon as they get into a free state, they will find that
their pretended firiends won't do for them what they promised. They have plenty of white people there to labour
for them, and they won't employ the blacks. There is
our neighbour, old Mr. Preble, who pretends to hate
slavery, and as soon as his negroes run off, he is the very
first to send after them."
SMasser, I don't fear any more of ourn will go off. I
does give um, sir, line 'pon line, and precep' 'pon precep';
we dun got rid now o' de only two 'pon dis plantation I
had any mistrus' of. Whar you wan' dem taturs put,
masser?"
" In the barn, Robin, for the present; see that they
are removed to the cellar before the hard frosts come."
5*





54


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


CHAPTER III.
WORKING FOR SERVANTS.
STHIS, my dear," said the Doctor, as they were about
to sit down to breakfast on the following morning, " is the
day that old Mr. Frazer promised to come and cut out the
negroes' clothes. I have had a fire made in the end room,
and have directed all the girls, who are tolerably expert
with the needle, to come and work on the coats and pantaloons. I hope you will take them under your direction,
and be a second Dorcas in turning out garments for the
poor and needy.",I have had," she replied, ",but little experience in
making garments for men; but of late years, I have made
my own clothes, and with a little instruction from Mr.
Frazer, I hope I shall be at least able to know when the
girls are going on properly with their work; and I shall
engage in it, I assure you, with much pleasure. I shan't
be entitled, however, to the credit given to Dorcas, for
her many garments were all made with her own hands."
" If Dorcas, my dear, had been surrounded by blacks
as you are, I suppose she would not have suffered them to





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


55


remain idle when she was at work herself; and there not
being any abolitionists in those days, I presume she would
not have objected to slave labour.  That squeamishness is
the refinement of modern days."
Charles then informed his master that Mr. Frazer was
at the door, who had entered before he was announced.
", Good morning, Mr. Frazer. That, sir, is my wife; a
lady with whom you will become better acquainted during
the progress of your work."
"I take pleasure, sir, in offering Mrs. Boswell my congratulations."
", Thank you, thank you, sir."
Mr. Frazer had been once a merchant tailor, and was
easy and genteel in his manners. Of late years he had
injured himself by intemperate habits, and had now a little
shop at the cross-roads, not far fro.m Selma.," It's very cold this morning, Doctor; I am chilled all
over."
", Warm yourself by the fire, Mr. Frazer, and then take
a seat at the table, and my wife will give you some hot
coffee."
" Coffee is very good, Doctor, but when a body's thoroughly chilled, there is something better than coffee to
take off the chill.",,I belong, Mr. Frazer, to the temperance society, and
only keep spirit for medicinal purposes, and of course
can't offer it to you, unless you put yourself on the sick
list."
" Well, Doctor, to tell you the truth, I do not feel very





56


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


well this morning, I am full of pains, and you may put
me down on the sick list."
"If that is the case, I presume I should have to charge
you a little more than your day's work would come to, Mr.
Frazer."
c4 I believe I will turn to the table, sir, and take some
hot coffee. Have you and the madam heard the news,
Doctor?"
" I don't know what news you allude to, but I suppose,
of course, yours will be tailor's news."
"c Any news coming from me, sir, would, of course, be
tailor's news. Did you hear that the abolitionists had
persuaded off two of old Mr. Preble's boys, and two of
Major Scott's, and that George Preble, Tom Kizer, and
Ralph Commins had gone after them."
" That is tailor's news, Mr. Frazer, literally and figuratively, for we had heard it before; to be sure we had
not heard that they were enticed off by the abolitionists,
we only conjectured so."
"It must be so, Doctor, it can't be otherwise. How
can these negroes, who have been in the corn-field all their
lives, hardly ever off their master's plantation, make right
straight for Pennsylvania, and know exactly where to
cross the river, and what route to take after getting into
Pennsylvania, unless they get instruction from white
people?"
c It would seem so, indeed, Mr. Frazer."
4 Well, then, did you hear that fourteen others had
gone off from the neighbourhood of Middletown and FrontRoyal, and that they were overtaken in Pennsylvania,





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


and made battle, and that one of the negroes was killed,
and that the others were all caught and sold to the souldrivers?"
" No, we had not heard that."
"c That is only tailor's news, then, because it comes from
a tailor.-The ladies are generally pleased to hear something about courtships and matrimony, and I've got a little
scrap of that for Mrs. Boswell's ear. They say our
Parson is very fond, of late, of visiting at the cottage;
don't you think Miss Evelina Preble would make a firstrate parson's wife?"
" Indeed she would, Mr. Frazer," said the Doctor. " If
he had asked me to choose a wife for him, Evelina Preble
would have been the girl, of all others. We had not heard
it before, but I sincerely hope it may be so."
4 Why, as to that, Doctor, there's no knowing. They
say the old man don't like it; the Parson has not enough
of the wherewithal, but one would think, that as he has
but two children, it would make but little difference
whether Miss Evelina married a poor man or a rich one;
but I tell you he's mighty fond of the main chance; and
though he-talks so much about our peculiar institution, if
he don't love to own negroes, and pride himself upon the
number that he has, my name's not Joel Frazer. If he
has got any abolition feeling about him, why did he not
let his boys go, and not send George after them? mind
what I say, Doctbr, if George catches them boys, if they
don't go to the traders, you'll see. Now, there is Major
Scott, who don't think it any harm to hold slaves; he
won't take any step to get his back, I'll warrant you."





UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


" Yes, he will, Mr. Frazer. I have conversed with Major
Scott upon that subject, and he thinks it a duty he owes
to the community in which he lives, to take all proper
measures to recover his slaves when they run away; for,
whenever any of them are successful in making their
escape, it encourages others to make the like attempt.
Therefore, he thinks it wrong to encourage his neighbours'
negroes to go off by his neglect. Now, Mr. Frazer, if
you have emptied your budget, we will go to work upon
something that will keep negroes warm at home this
winter. Ann, my dear, we shall not be ready for you for
some time; not until the first coat is cut out."
The Doctor and Mr. Frazer then went into the room
prepared for the work. They found the girls ready, and
the men at the outer door waiting to be-measured.
"< Mr. Frazer," said the Doctor, " here is a roll of linsey; what do you think of its quality?"
" This is first-rate, Doctor."
c Mr. Frazer, I wish you to be particular in cutting
their garments full large; I dislike very much to see their
limbs confined in tight clothes. I give them frock coats,
extending a little below the knee. The pantaloons, also,
must be large and easy. Now I must leave you, Mr.
Frazer, to your work, and I must go to mine."
When Mrs. Boswell supposed she had given Mr. Frazer
time to cut out the first coat, she went into the room
where he was at work, and, with his assistance in fixing
the different parts, she set the girls to sewing, and took
a sleeve for herself. Mr. Frazer could never give his
tongue holiday while his shears were at work, and said,





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


59


" Madam, you seem to take very readily to slavery, considering you are not used to it, and that you come from a
state where they think, it all wrong."
a Why, Mr. Frazer, as I have cast my lot among them,
I must make the best of it, you know."
" Madam, I don't see how anybody can think it wrong;
it's very plain from Scripture that the Lord don't think
so, and why people should set themselves up to condemn
what he has established, I never could well understand.
It's a good institution, madam; I almost wish I was Dr.
Boswell's slave. Here am I, madam, with a large family
of young children, and if I was to die, I do not know
what would become of them. Now, if I was Dr. Boswell's
slave, I wouldn't have a care about them, because he
would take better care of them than ever I could, even if
I was to live until they grow up."
" But, Mr. Frazer, there is something sweet in the idea
of liberty; of having a will of your own, not controlled
by that of another person." It must be remarked, here,
that Mrs. Boswell, being unaccustomed to such company,
was not aware that her last observation was not well suited
to the ears of slaves.
" I assure you, madam, there's mighty little sweetness
in liberty with poverty along with it; and it seems to me
that if all the bad wills in the world were controlled by
the good ones, it would be the very best arrangement for
the human family. If the Doctor, for instance, had had
the control of my will, and had directed all my actions, I
would have been a thousand times better off in soul and
body than I am now. I do believe, madam, that there is





60


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


more real happiness among the slaves in this part of the
country than among the poor white people; and, if the
abolitionists would only let them alone, they would never
be for changing their situation. There is proof positive
of that, madam, in the fact, that notwithstanding the
exaggerated statements made to them of the horrors of
slavery here, and the sweets of liberty in the free states,
that so few of them, comparatively, can be induced to
make the attempt to get off. Don't you think, Mrs. Boswell, that the Lord will bring these abolitionists to judgment, for the many murders they cause to be committed
in the efforts to catch runaways, whom they have enticed
off; and for the many heart-breakings occasioned to these
poor creatures, by sales to traders of those who are
caught?"
SCertainly, sir, if such are the consequences of their
mistaken philanthropy, and they know from experience
that such consequences will result, they must expect the
vengeance of Heaven, if they don't desist."
SIt is a mighty curious sort of philanthropy, madam,
mistaken or not mistaken, which causes them to instigate
the black man to butcher the white  the black man himself can't believe otherwise than that they have some
improper motive in doing so; it is so contrary to his own
instincts, which teach him to love best those of his own
colour." Mr. Frazer's tongue wagged on all the while,
and Mrs. Boswell was much edified as to neighbourhood
matters, and was evidently surprised when the three
o'clock dinner-bell rang so soon.





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


61


" How do you come on, Mr. Frazer?" asked the Doctor,
as the former entered the dining-room.
" Oh! very well, sir; I shall, I think, get through by
night."
" How would you like to put yourself on the sick list,
before dinner?"
" First-rate, sir, but for those big figures of yours. I
think, Doctor, Mrs. Boswell will make a fine wife for a
Virginia farmer."
" She plies the needle well, does she? knows all about
managing negro girls, by this time? has she boxed any
of them, yet?"
" No, sir; I don't think Mrs. Boswell will ever be very
much given to boxing negroes."
"I don't know how that may be, Mr. Frazer; northern
ladies are very apt to be good disciplinarians. What do
you think of it, my dear?"
"I hope I never may be tempted to box one of those
girls, but Kate was right provoking to-day with her
work."
" And didn't your little fingers burn, my dear, to give
her a slight little box? frequent provokings will be very
apt to bring them in contact with Kate's jaws."
" I don't know how it would be if she was a white
girl; Mr. Frazer thinks we northern people do violence
to natural instincts, and love the blacks more than the
whites. Perhaps, if Kate was white, the burning of my
fingers would soon be cooled by contact."
" Indeed, Mrs. Boswell," said Mr. Frazer, " I did not
mean to class you with the abolitionists; and if anything
6





UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


I have said can be construed into such an indignity, I beg
pardon, madam."
" If you had classed her among them," said the Doctor,
c your excuse is to be found in a geographical line. It is
too true, sir, that she comes from north of Mason and
Dixon; but I'll promise you, Mr. Frazer, she will be a
whole soul Virginian after a while."
" No doubt of it, sir, no doubt of it," said Mr. Frazer,
as he left the room to go again to his work.
" Mr. Frazer, in intellect, seems to be a man very much
above his calling in life," remarked Mrs. Boswell.
" Yes, my dear, he is a man of very strong mind, and
some little cultivation. He has in a most eminent degree,
however, a fondness for collecting and retailing news.
Poor fellow  I don't know how he gets along; he is intemperate in his habits, has a large family to support, and
a very delicate, sickly wife."
", If he stays here to-night, my dear, would it not be
well to hint at the subject, and give him a little advice in
regard to his habits of intemperance, and persuade him
to join a temperance society? I sincerely wish he could
be reclaimed, for he seems to have some very correct
views; and if he could be induced to give up that horrid
practice of drinking, what a blessing it would be to his
family!"
" My dear, I have had many conversations with him
upon that subject, and obtained from him many promises;
but it is a habit not easily given up. IHowever, if an
opportunity occurs to-night, I will as delicately as possible throw out some hints; and may be what has heretofore





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


63


fallen like seed sown by the wayside, may now reach a
better, soil of his heart, and spring up and bring forth
good fruit. At any rate, there will be no harm in making
the experiment; and if we can induce him to become a
son of temperance, I shall give all the credit to her who
first suggested the effort."
" The satisfaction in seeing him reclaimed, would be of
more consideration with me than any little credit which
might attach to my humble effort in effecting his reformation."
Mrs. Boswell then left the room to attend to some
household matters; and the Doctor said, in an audible
soliloquy, " I have the very best soil to operate upon; and
if Ann does not resemble my dear mother in all things,
it will be the fault of her instructor."
Mr. Frazer, finding that he could not finish his work in
time to get home, told the Doctor that he would have to
tarry the night with him; which information was particularly agreeable, as it afforded the opportunity of saying a
word in season, for the benefit of a family in which he felt
much interest.
When the supper table was removed, Mrs. Boswell, after
some little instructions from Mr. Frazer, resumed her
work upon the linsey garment.
" Doctor," said Mr. Frazer, "I think I feel better tonight than I have done for months past; the exercise
before breakfast, and the agreeable chat with Mrs. Boswell and yourself, seem to have given me very different
feelings from what I generally have at this time of the





64


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN:


evening. It may be,- because I have left my cares, the
old woman, and the little ones at home."
" Mr. Frazer," said the Doctor, "I could let you into
the secret of continuing and preserving those good feelings,
if you would put yourself under my direction. And I
will take this opportunity of speaking to you in a plain,
friendly manner, upon a subject, it is true, that we have
conversed on frequently before, not in the hearing, however, of any other individual than ourselves; but I hope
the preseice of my wife at this time, will not increase the
reluctance which you have generally manifested; as I can
assure you that she feels as deep an interest in the welfare
of your family, as I can possibly have.
" Your candour and regard to truth, will, I know, cause
you to plead guilty to a charge which I have often before
brought against you, and which I mean now to renew: of
habits of intemperance. You know from your own experience at home, and from your observations abroad, how
entirely destructive those habits are of domestic happiness. You know that the softest heart, and the very best
natural feelings, are entirely changed and made obdurate
by the intemperate use of ardent spirits; that the individual who is kind and affectionate to his wife and children
when sober, becomes, when under the influence of liquor,
a ferocious brute, yea, a madman: and that the objects
of his affection when sober, are most apt to become the
subjects for his violence to operate upon when intoxicated.
You know how difficult it is for a poor man to earn, by
his labour, a support for a large family, even when all his
time is given to labour, and all the earnings of his labour





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


65


are devoted to that object; but when a great portion of
his time is lost in intoxication, and much of his earnings
expended upon liquor, you know full well that the con,
sequences to the family of tha man must be ruinous;
that he is setting an example to his children of immorality
and vice, which may be transmitted through many generations; that he is impairing his own health, and finally
brings himself to a drunkard's grave, with the sin of suicide added to the mass of iniquity which has been accumulating for years; and perhaps with the dreadful thought
upon his mind at dissolution, that no drunkard can inherit
the kingdom of heaven.
" To you, Mr. Frazer, who must acknowledge that such
consequences do flow from intemperate habits, I now
offer a sure and certain remedy in the temperance pledge,
if you will take that pledge, with a fixed determination
of never violating it. I will propose you to the meeting
of our society, on Friday night next, and I know that you
will experience benefits which I am unable to describe."
"4 Well, Doctor, I acknowledge the truth of everything
you have said, and I have long wished to join your society;
but I have been prevented by the fear that I could not
stick to the pledge. I will promise you one thing, that I
won't taste another drop of ardent spirits between this
and next Friday morning, and by that time I can see how
it will work; and if I think I can safely take the pledge,
I will go with you and have my name registered as a son
of temperance."
" Oh! Mr. Frazer," said Mrs. Boswell, "I am delighted
to hear you say even that much!"
6 *





66


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


c" I have no doubt, Mr. Frazer," said the Doctor, "c that
those uncommonly pleasant feelings, which you say you
have to-night, are owing in a great measure to your having
abstained from ardent spirits to-day. If I had put you
upon the sick list this morning, and at dinner, you might
now have felt very differently; particularly if my attention had been drawn off from the quantity my patient
might have been inclined to take at a dose."
"c Well, Doctor, I have made the promise-don't run me
too hard. To change the subject, sir, did you know that
Mr. Crump was going to move to California? and, because
he can't carry his negroes there, he's going to sell them
all to Mr. Bosher, the trader? Now, sir, if that was a
slave state, he would carry all his negroes, and keep them
together; but, as he can't do that, they will be carried to
New Orleans; and husband and wife, parent and child,,brother and sister, will all be separated. These abolitionists are always croaking about a subjection to separation
being one of the greatest evils of slavery, while they themselves are producing that very state of things which
causes the greatest amount of those same evils; and every
application of the Wilmot proviso (as it is called) will
increase them."
"c That certainly will be the effect, Mr. Frazer, if the
slave-owners of the south are denied the right of carrying
their slaves to the new states. Those who go must sell
them to the traders, and the horrors of separation, so
glowingly depicted, must be increased a hundred fold.
But that is only one of many evidences that they a.r
constantly injuring those people for whom they profess s





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


67


much sympathy. Mr. Frazer, it is now getting nearly
bed-time; you will join us in family worship?  Have you
ever introduced it into your family, sir?"
" I am astonished, Doctor, after the conversation we
have had to-night, that you should have asked me that
question. Can you suppose, sir, that a man of intemperate habits would ever be in a fit situation to summon
his wife and children around a family altar, and ask the
blessing of God upon them?"
" I beg pardon, sir, for having inadvertently asked the
question; but I hope, Mr. Frazer, you will ponder upon
your own answer to my question, between this and Friday
next, and let it come in aid of what I have said, to bring
you to a proper determination."
After prayers, they all retired to bed; and Mr. Frazer,
finishing his work early the next day, returned home.
Mrs. Boswell and the girls were busily employed that
day on the coats and pantaloons.





68


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


CHAPTER IV.
SABBATH SCHOOL.-GEORGE'S RETURN.
ON Sunday morning, Miss Evelina Preble, having taken
an early breakfast at home, walked over to Selma, and
found the Doctor and Mrs. Boswell at their breakfast.
" I have come, Mrs. Boswell," said she, " to help Uncle
Robin to-day, in his Sabbath school. You must go with
me, and we will each take a class; and, as I was afraid
to walk by myself, I have brought our man Lewis, who
reads very well, and, if Uncle Robin likes, he can be of
some assistance. I also brought some of the little ones
as scholars."
" I am very glad, Miss Evelina, that you have come;
and, although I have but little experience in Sabbath
school teaching, I will accompany you with a great deal
of pleasure, and do the best I can in instructing the little
things."
"1 Have you received any tidings of George, yet, Miss
Evelina?" asked the Doctor.
" No, Doctor, and indeed I am   very uneasy about





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


69


George; he went on a very dangerous mission, and one,
independent of its danger, I never could approve of. If
I had had a voipe in the matter, those boys might have
had every chance of getting off, as it was their desire to
go."
" I have thought pretty much as you do, Miss Evelina;
but old Major Scott, who is a very considerate man, has
convinced me that it is a duty we owe our neighbours, and
the society in which we live, to take every proper measure
to recover them when they run off."
SYou and Major Scott, Doctor, and most other slaveowners, may entertain that opinion with perfect consistency, but my papa has his peculiar notions about what
he calls our peculiar institution. If I had the same views
upon the subject that he has, I would not own a slave for
any consideration. George and myself differ with papa;
we don't think it wrong to hold persons in slavery, but
notwithstanding that, I have always thought, that when
they make the attempt to get off, I would give them the
chance, rather than be obliged to sell them if recaptured.
My papa thinks it wrong to hold them in slavery, but
brings up his old adage about Rome and the Romans in
justification of his doing so."
" I never could exactly understand your papa's views
upon the subject, Miss Evelina; there is certainly an inconsistency about it which I could never reconcile. I suppose,
however, he means, that living in a society where it is
tolerated, that if it is wrong (as he believes), he only participates in a general wrong, which cancels individual
responsibility. Such a system of ethics would completely





70


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


obliterate the distinction between right and wrong, each
individual in a crowd of wrongdoers having the same plea
of justification."
" Well, Doctor, to tell you the truth, I am not casuist
enough to unravel it. This one thing I know full well,
that the relation of master and servant imposes certain
duties upon the master which it is highly sinful to
neglect."
" Ladies," said the Doctor, c I hear Robin's bell; it is
time to go. I will go with you, and if Robin's classes
are not too far advanced for me, I will lend a helping
hand."
They found the children, some of the grown negroes
of the plantation, and some of the neighbouring children
already assembled and seated on benches; the males on
one side, and the females on the other. Robin, after very
respectfully receiving his master and mistress and Miss
Evelina, and providing them with seats, gave out in a clear,
audible voice, the hymn commencing,
"Jesus, that condescending King,
Is pleased to hear when children sing."
He raised the tune himself, and most of the children and
grown persons united with him in singing it. After it
was ended, he offered up a very solemn, impressive, and
comprehensive prayer for the teachers, the children, his
master and mistress, his fellow servants upon the plantation and throughout the neighbourhood; for Africa and
her children in every clime, and for the spread of the gospel throughout the world. When the prayer was ended, he
asked his master to take the first male Bible class; to Miss





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


71


Evelina, was assigned the first female Bible class; Mrs.
Boswell preferred taking the lowest female class, which
was taught orally. Dinah took the intermediate female
class, and Robin and Lewis took the other two male
classes. The exercises continued about two hours, and
were closed with an appropriate hymn and prayer from
Robin. When the school was dismissed, the Doctor and
his party returned to the house, and every one left the
cabin but Robin, Elce, and Mr. Preble's Lewis.
" Uncle Robin," said Lewis, "I s'pose you bin hear
'bout our two boys goin' off?"
" Yes, Lewis, I bin hear somethin' 'bout it."
" Well, Uncle Robin, I don' think masser ought to bin
giv' dat boy sich a whippin'; but masser, when he begin,
does whap powerful."
"Lewis, I don' like hear you talk dat way 'bout you'
masser. De Scripture tells us, you know, dat as de son
honour he father, so ought servant to honour he masser."
"Uncle Robin, I neber see dat in de Bible."
"Elce, han' me down dat Bible, here; you kin read
it you'self, Lewis. Turn to de fus chapter Malachi, 6th
vus."
" Uncle Robin, dis vus don' say 'cisely what you say it
did; it don' say suvant mus' honour he masser, but say
suvant does honour he masser."
" Well, Lewis, when de Lord make he Proffit to talk of
what de people do, if 'taint right he tell um so, and if he
don' tell um 'taint right, you may be sure he 'prove of it.
Now same thing when our Saviour tell massers how to
act to der suvants, and suvants how to act to der massers.





72


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


He don' say you shall have suvants, or you shall have
massers, but he certainly does 'prove of it. S'pose I
was say to my boy John; John, when you play bandy,
you mus' play wid one straight stick, instead of one
crooked one, don't I giv' my boy John liberty to play
bandy, dough I don' tell him he mus' play?"," Well, Uncle Robin, I believe you is right, and I ant
gwine talk so 'bout my masser enny mo'."
" I was surprised at not seeing yourself and Mrs. Boswell at church, to-day, Doctor," said the Reverend Mr.
Grattan, after he had made his respects to the ladies, upon
entering the parlour about three o'clock.
" Why, sir, although we were not at church, I hope we
have not been unprofitably employed this forenoon. The
ladies and myself have been. teaching the young idea how
to shoot, in Robin's Sabbath school. To tell you the
truth, sir, I did not propose to my wife to go to church,
thinking that she would not like to be gazed at by so
many strangers."
" My dear sir, I don't suppose people go to church to
gaze at others; I'm in hopes they go for a far different
purpose."
"You know, sir," replied the Doctor,,"the poet has
said: veniunt spectatum, veniunt spectantur ut ipsce.'"
" Such an object as that," replied Mr. Grattan, " might
move a heathen congregation to assemble, but certainly
not a Christian one."
" The poet," said the Doctor, 4 confines his remark to
one class only of a congregation, as he has put ipsce in the
feminine; the ladies, I suppose, can tell us whether





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


there are any church-going females, who desire to see and
be seen."
" I presume," said Miss Evelina, " that in all congregations there are males and females, who are not indifferent to admiration for themselves, and who look about to
admire others also; but members of the church, and those
out of the church who are serious, it is to be hoped, go for
Christian edification, and the comforts which are to be
derived from the services of the sanctuary.
4 But, Mr. Grattan, I have not yet made my excuse
for not going to-day. I had often promised Uncle Robin
to come and assist him in his school; and this morning
was so sweet a one, that I thought I should never have a
better opportunity for complying with my promise. It
has just occurred to me, that I may (in part), have been
the cause of the Doctor and Mrs. Boswell's not going."
"No, indeed, Miss Evelina, we should not have gone
if you had not been here."
" Doctor," said Mr. Grattan, "I don't see why this
same excuse may not be pleaded again, as Mrs. Boswell
will be a stranger whenever she makes her first visit to
church."
"No, I assure you," said Mrs. Boswell, " it shall never
be pleaded again."
Dinner was then announced. Mr. Grattan and Miss
Evelina took seats opposite to each other, and the Doctor
and Mrs. Boswell, on comparing notes afterwards, thought
some sly glances were exchanged.
After dinner was over, Mr. Grattan proposed that they
should all go with him to Uncle Robin's cabin, where he
7





UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


was to preach to the servants. When they got there,
they found the cabin completely filled by servants from
all parts of the immediate neighbourhood. Dr. Boswell
and the ladies, not wishing to disturb the negroes who
were all seated in the cabin, took seats on the steps before
the door. Mr. Grattan gave out a hymn; the tune was
set by Uncle Robin, and taken up by almost the whole
congregation. After a short prayer, Mr. Grattan preached
a plain discourse, suited to their capacities, upon the
duties of servants to masters, and to their fellowservants, from Ephesians,_vi. 8_:_ Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he
receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free."  It
did really seem that there were very few in that black
congregation who came there with any other desire than
to be instructed and edified,-such was the profound
silence and deep attention. After another hymn, prayer,
and benediction, they returned to the house.
Miss Evelina was preparing to go home, but Mrs. Boswell told her that she would carry her the next morning
in her carriage, if she would stay. She consented to do
so, and they found no difficulty in persuading Mr. Grattan
to do the same.
4 You have a Sabbath school, Mr. Grattan, for the
blacks, have you not?"
" Yes, sir, we have a very flourishing one, held near
the church every Sabbath morning. The young members
of my church are very kind to the blacks in that respect,
punctual in their, attendance, and very competent to per




AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


75


form the duties of teachers; and I hope are doing much
good."
" I suppose you preach on some plantation in the neighbourhood every Sabbath afternoon?"
" Yes, sir; nothing but very bad weather prevents me.
Sometimes, however, I have but thin congregations to hear
me; particularly upon those afternoons when Baptist ministers preach in the neighbourhood. You know all the
negroes, almost, in this part of the country, who profess
religion, are Baptists; indeed, throughout our state it is
the case. I ami told it is not so much. so in South Carolina and Georgia. In those states there are many Episcopalians, Methodists, and Presbyterians among the negroes.
Some ministers there give their whole time to the blacks;
and the masters are said to afford great facilities for religious instruction. I think if teachers in our Sabbath
schools would make the children commit to memory portions of the liturgy of our church, we should have more
of them to join it.
" The Episcopal liturgy seems to me to be peculiarly
adapted to persons of their description, who are not capable of forming prayers for themselves. When they become
better acquainted with it, by committing it to memory,
the prejudice which now exists against our forms would
wear off, and we should see them more frequently at the
Episcopal communion."
6 I have thought, Mr. Grattan," said the Doctor, "4 that
that prejudice is encouraged by the conduct of masters.
They are driven to church by their servants, and those
servants are suffered to remain outside, during the whole





76


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


time of service, laughing and talking, and perhaps doing
worse.  Being suffered by their masters to do so, it produces an impression upon their minds that the Episcopal
worship is only for the gentry, and that it is a matter in
which they have little or no concern,, and, finally, their
indifference degenerates into contempt. I know of no
more legitimate exercise of that authority which the master has over his servant, than to compel him when at the
temple of the Lord to enter its walls, and to pay a decent
respect to the services. This is not (as some would call
it) compelling people to become religious, but is only inhibiting a disregard of the means of grace. If they were even
informed that it was the wish of their masters that they
should enter the church when the services commence, I
believe they would generally do it. My negroes have
been told that you would give us prayers and a lecture
to-night in this room, and they know it is my wish that
they should attend; and I shall be much surprised if they
are not generally present."
Seats were arranged around the parlour for the negroes,
and those who were on the plantation were most of them
present. Mr. Grattan gave them a plain lecture upon the
importance of a serious consideration of a future state of
happiness and misery; and closed with prayer.
Mrs. Boswell the next morning performed her promise
to Miss Evelina, and in going to the cottage, they called
at Major Scott's, where the party, including the Doctor
and Mr. Grattan, were very cordially received. It fell to
the lot of Mr. Grattan to entertain the ladies in conversa




AND TOMi WITHOUT ONE.


77


tion; while the Doctor and the Major were engaged in
one on a sofa in a distant corner of the room.
" I think I have mentioned to. you, Doctor, my views
upon the subject of the recovery of runaways. I have
so far carried out those views as to have offered a reward
of two hundred dollars each, for the apprehension of my
boys."
" Has hothing been heard yet, Major, from George
Preble?"
" Not a word, sir; his father is very uneasy about him,
and, I think, not without cause. George is a very finehearted young man, and though he was armed, I don't
think he would make a violent attack, but he is very fearless, and I apprehend would expose himself to danger.
Those boys of Mr. Preble's, I am told, are very desperate
fellows."
" Have you any just grounds for suspecting, Major,
that your boys were tampered with by abolitionists?"
SWhy, sir, I believe they have emissaries constantly
passing through this country. I cannot believe that my
boys would have gone off unless they had been enticed.
You know, Doctor, very well, how I treat my negroes;
they are just as comfortably situated here as I am, they
have good houses to live in, good winter and summer
clothing, a plenty of the best food. They are required
to do constant, but very easy work; and I never whip,
except for some flagrant fault. Neither of those, boys
were ever flogged; they have left parents to whom they
have always appeared to be much attached. Under such
circumstances, sir, I cannot believe otherwise than that
7*





78


UNCLE ROBIN IN IIIS CABIN;


they have been persuaded off. There was a suspiciouslooking white man, about a fortnight ago, seen to leave
his carryall in the road and get over into my field, and
enter into conversation with those boys. If those people
would but let us and our property alone, how much better
it would be for the master and the slave both."
4, They won't let us alone, Major, until they incite our
slaves to insurrection, and bring upon the slaves themselves, all the horrors consequent upon such a state of
things.",,I do not apprehend, Doctor, any further injury from
the wicked designs of abolitionists, than the occasional
loss of property. I think it no want of charity, however,
to believe that those Northern abolitionists wish to produce insurrection; but from the utter impossibility of success, I do not believe that the slaves will ever attempt it.
They have been taught such a lesson in the few attempts
which have been made in Virginia, that it would be perfect
madness for them to entertain the least hope of success.
The insurrection about Richmond, many years ago, and
the one of later date, in the county 'of Southampton,
resulted in the execution of every individual who was
proved to be in any manner implicated.
" They have sense enough to see that they have not the
means of acting in concertto effect such an object. But
few of them can read or write, and if written communications were sent from one part of the country to another,
they could not be read by those for whom they were intended. They would be intercepted in the post offices if
sent, and result in the apprehension, conviction, and exe




AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


79


cation of those who sent them. They would be constantly
betraying each others' secrets to the whites, and telegraphic communications would in a few minutes make
them known throughout the state. If they have any
reasoning powers (and we all know they have), they must
see the utter impossibility of effecting anything by insurrection, than their own destruction; and therefore (as I
observed before) I have no apprehension that they will
ever attempt it."
Abdut this time Miss Amelia Scott took Mrs. Boswell
from the parlour into her mother's chamber, where she
was introduced to a very decent-looking mulatto woman
in the following manner:" Mrs. Boswell, this is my Mammy Betty; she has been
begging me ever since you came, to bring you in here to
see her."
" I am very much pleased to see you, Mammy Betty,"
said Mrs. Boswell.
" My gal, here, bin talk so much 'bout you, madam,
sence she see you tother day, dat I bin monstrous ansious
to see you, madam; I wos at you hous to de meetin' yiste'day, but you went 'way so soon I didn' bin had chance
to see you, madam."
" I wish I had known, Mammy Betty, that you were
there; why did you come away without going to the house
to see me?"
" Madam, I understoods you had comp'ny, and I didn'
wish to 'trude, madam."
" It would have been no intrusion, Mammy Betty; you





80


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


must never come there again without coming to the house
to see me."
" No, madam, I neber will."
SMrs. Boswell," said Miss Amelia, this old Mammy
Betty of mine is a precious old creature" (at the same
time throwing her arms round the old woman's neck and
giving her a kiss.)
"Ah, Missis," said Betty, "you don' know how dis
chil' and me does lobe one another; dare's no body in dis
worl' dats so good to me as my 'Melia, and I hopes she
and I'll neber be parted as long as breath's in dis body."
" Mammy Betty, you must expect Miss Amelia to get
married sometime or other, and then you may be parted."
" Please God, madam, I'll go wid my 'Melia whereber
she does go, madam."
" If you will believe me, Mrs. Boswell, I would not
marry any man upon earth who would not let me take
mammy along with me. If I ever have a chance to be
married, I'll make that a condition."
A As the old lady loves you so much, and you love her,
I think you would be perfectly right to make it a condition, Miss Amelia, and nobody but a brute of a husband
would wish to separate you."
" Did you bring you mammy 'long, Missis, when you
com' to Selma?"
" Mammy Betty, where I came from white people don't
have black mammies; we have no slaves in Pennsylvania."
" Ah! sure 'nuff, dat de place whar our boys all run to;
a'nt it, madam?"
"I suppose some of them go there, but not all,"





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


81, I bin hear um say dey mighty kine to black people
dar, madam."
c Well, Mammy Betty, I suppose they are not kinder
than your master and Dr. Boswell are to theirs."
" Dey couldn' well beat dem in dat, madam; my masser and Dr. Boswell mighty good massers, madam."
" Good-bye, Mammy Betty; it's getting time for us to
be going to the Cottage."
" Good-bye, missis; I'll com' to de great-house to see
you, nex' time I go to meetin' at Selma."
" Do, Mammy Betty."
As they passed into the parlour, the servant, who had
been sent to the post-office that morning, returned, and
handed to Miss Amelia a bundle of newspapers, which she
carried" to her father. His attention was first directed to
the advertising column of a Cumberland newspaper, in
which he saw a notice of four negroes of Virginia having
been pursued and overtaken in the neighbourhood of Cumberland; that they made battle, and that Mr. George
Preble, the owner of two of the slaves, had received a
ball in the shoulder, from a revolver discharged by one of
his own servants; that Mr. Preble's two negroes had been
apprehended, and were now in jail in Cumberland; that
the other two (said to belong to a Major Scott, in Virginia) had made their escape into Pennsylvania. The
Doctor saw from his countenance that he had met with
something unpleasant, and followed him into the passage.
Miss Julia and her mother f6llowed, closing the parlour
door which opened into the passage. Miss Evelina Preble
was so pleasantly engaged in conversatipn with Mr. Grat




82


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


tan as not to have observed what was going on. Major
Scott was reading the account, when Mrs. Scott and Miss
Julia entered the passage.
Miss Julia heard enough-she fell in a swoon. Major
Scott and the Doctor carried her and laid her on the bed
in her mother's chamber.    Mrs. Scott, not knowing
exactly what she was about, emptied a pitcher of water
on her face; she so far revived as to open her eyes. The
Doctor gave her some drops in a wine-glass of water; and
after consciousness was restored she burst into tears,
exclaiming <" Oh, George! George! poor George!" Mrs.
Scott, herself in tears, consoled her by telling her they
must hope for the best; that the Doctor had assured
her that a wound in the shoulder was rarely ever fatal.
The chamber door was closed, and it was determined that
it should be kept secret from Miss Evelina, until she
arrived at the cottage. Mrs. Boswell and Miss Amelia
left the parlour, and were informed of the news, Miss
Evelina all the while so absorbed in conversation with Mr.
Grattan as not to suspect that anything extraordinary
was going on. It was arranged that Miss Amelia should
go with them to the cottage, to be with Miss Evelina. A
difficulty arose how Miss Evelina was to leave without
seeing Mrs. Scott and Miss Julia. Dr. Boswell told her
that " Miss Julia had been taken suddenly unwell, that
her mother was with her, and that he did not wish her to
be disturbed."
It may be thought somewhat strange that Miss Evelina,
so uneasy as she was about her brother, had not asked
Major Scott if there was any news relative to George;





AM1 TOM WITHOUT ONE.


but it is very doubtful whether she saw the bundle of
papers handed to the Major; and if she had, she probably
would not have calculated upon their containing news
about her brother, as Major Scott she knew took only the
Intelligencer and Recorder,-the Cumberland paper having been sent him upon that particular occasion.
When they arrived at the Cottage, Miss Evelina was
handed last from the carriage; and the servant, who had
been there to open the carriage door, having the desire
which belongs to all negroes, to communicate news good
or bad, said, " Have you bin hear, Miss Evelina, dat
Mas' George bin mighty badly wounded?" She shrieked,
and fell into the arms of Dr. Boswell, insensible,
who, with the assistance of her father (who met them at
the door) carried her and laid her upon her own bed. By
chafing her temples, she was soon restored to consciousness; and the Doctor took the earliest opportunity of
telling her that her brother was wounded in the shoulder,
and that there could be no danger of the wound being
fatal."
" Oh! where is he, what has become of him?" she exclaimed.
SWe are not informed," said the Doctor, "but from
the nature of the wound, I think it probable he will be
able to travel in a carriage, and he may be now on his
way home."
" Oh! papa, do send our carriage for him, he may not
be able to procure one where he is."
Old Mr. Preble was not a man of much sensibility; he
was not, however, entirely devoid of natural affection for





84


UNOLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


his children, but his countenance was never relaxed into
an outward expression of sympathy.
" 'Tisn't worth while to be in a hurry about it," said he;
" George will be here sometime to-day."
c Oh! but, papa, he may at this very moment be lying
in some miserable hut, wanting attention from kind friends,
without even a physician to dress his wound. Do let me
go to him; and if Doctor Boswell would go with me, what
a comfort it would be to him."
c If," said the Doctor, " your father thinks proper to
send the carriage, and you are to go, I will go with you,
with a great deal of pleasure."
" Oh! papa, do, do, let us go at once?"
"Evelina," said her father, "if you were to go, you
would be very apt to miss George. There are several
roads leading to the neighbourhood of Cumberland from
here; he may take one route, and you another: he may
get here and want the aid of a physician, while the Doctor is hunting for him in the mountains. You had better
wait a few hours at any rate."
She covered her face with her hands, and sobbed
aloud.
Miss Priscilla Graham, who seldom left her own room,
hearing of Evelina's situation, was assisted down stairs,
and stood by her bed-side.
" Oh! Aunt Priscilla, Aunt Priscilla, what shall I do;
what shall I do? Poor George!"
" My dear Evelina," said Miss Priscilla, " I am astonished to see you give way so much. You know, my dear,
that George is in the hands of the Lord, and that he can





AND TOM WITIIOUT ONE.


85


take better care of him than we could, if we were with
him. I think, my dear, you are acting sinfully, in putting
so little trust in the Almighty. I had supposed that under
all trials, and under all -earthly afflictions, you were prepared to say, ' Thy will be done.' I have always thought,
my dear, that it was sinful to be violent in our expressions
of grief, even for the loss of friends; to be sure, we can't
help feeling, and it is right to feel upon such occasions;
but when those feelings are boisterous, they evince a distrust of, and dissatisfaction at the decrees of Providence,
unbecoming a Christian, whose confidence in the Almighty
should never for a moment suffer diminution."
" My dear aunt, I hope the Lord will pardon me for
having indulged even a momentary suspension of entire
trust and confidence in Him. I know that he can and
will take care of George; and I trust that I am content
to leave him in His hands. But the Lord requires of us,
aunt, that we should do our part towards those in pain
and affliction; and I think it my duty to go to him."
c" It is your duty in this matter to obey your earthly
parent; and if he should overrule your going to George,
your Heavenly Parent will accept your will to do so, as
the performance of your duty to Him."
They were interrupted by a noise in the further corner
of the room, and upon looking round, Miss Priscilla discovered George's old mammy Phillis on her kniees, with
her head on a chair, weeping violently.
"4Phillis," said Miss Priscilla as she approached her,
" you should not give way so much to your feelings.
You have heard what I said to Miss Evelina; and it is as
8





86


8NCLELE ROWBJN IN X MS OAPVT


much your duty as hers, to show your trust in God by
quietly submitting to his providences."
6 Missis," said Phillis, 4 I knows 'tis my duty to submit,
but when I thinks 'pon my poo' George cover'd wid he
blood, my poo' George who I nussed, who bin so kin' to
me, I can't help cryin', missis, dat I can't.". Well, Phillis, I hope and trust it is not so bad with
George as you suppose. Your master seems to think he
will be at home to-day,"
SI pray to de Lord, madam, it may be so."
While this conversation was carried on in Miss Evelina's
room, the Doctor, Mrs. Boswell, Miss Amelia Scott, Mr.
Grattan, and old Mr. Preble, were in the parlour. A
young gentleman who had been taking a walk when the
party from Selma arrived, returned, and was introduced
by Mr. Preble, as Mr. Benson, from Boston. Mr. Benson,
who was the son of a Boston merchant, had, at a northern
college, contracted a friendship for George Preble, and
had arrived at the cottage the day before, when Miss
Evelina was at Selma,
"Your first visit to Virginia, I presume, Mr. Benson?"
said the Doctor.
" Yes,' sir; I have long wished to see Virginia, and
have taken the opportunity of a leisure moment from
business, to visit my old chum, George Preble."
" We have heard bad news of George, to-day, Mr.
Benson," said old Mr. Preble.
" Why, what's that?" said Mr. Benson, rising from his
chair.
" We have seen it mentioned in a Cumberland paper,





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


87


which I read since you left the house, that George has
been fired at by one of those runaways I told you he was
in pursuit of, and that he received a ball in his shoulder."
" Whereabouts is he, Mr. Preble? suppose I go immediately in pursuit of him?"
SIf he does not come in a few hours, Mr. Benson, the
Doctor and my daughter will go in the carriage after him."
Lewis, the servant of whom we have spoken before,
opened the parlour door, and informed his master that
there was a carriage coming up to the house. The Doctor,
Mr. Benson, and Mr. Preble went immediately into the
portico, the ladies and Mr. Grattan to the parlour window.
" That must be George, sir," said the Doctor; 4 that
carriage does not belong to this neighbourhood; it is
certainly a strange carriage," addressing himself to Mr.
Preble.
"The horses," said Mr. Preble, c"look like Squire
Brown's, but I think they are rather dark for his; don't
you think so, sir?"
" That is not Squire Brown's carriage, sir, nor is it any
carriage belonging to this part of the country."
In a few moments it was at the door, and George Preble
presented himself at the window, with his arm in a sling,
his coat buttoned under his chin, and an empty sleeve
hanging over his wounded shoulder. The smile upon his
countenance dispelled at once all alarm for the wound he
had received.
Mr. Benson was the first at the carriage door.,"Why, Bob," said George, "where in the world did
you come from? I'm rejoiced to see you."





UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


"ý You may be sure I am glad to see you, George, as I
have come so far for that express purpose."
The greetings were all very affectionate, and the Doctor,
taking George's sound arm, led him into his sister's room.
Miss Evelina sprang from the bed, and was about to
throw her arms round his neck, when he cried out, " take
care of my game arm, Lina:" he kissed her, and passed
on to his aunt, who had taken a seat at the foot of the
bed.
" George," she said, " I am truly thankful to the Lord
for- having restored you to us;" and kissed him.
SAnd here's my mammy, too," said George; ",she
must come in for her buss;" and, indeed, the sound was
echo to the sense., De Lord be praised," said she, "4my boy dun com'
back."
Miss Evelina prepared herself for going into the parlour
with George.  Miss Priscilla Graham was assisted up into
her own room, and in that sanctum, on her knees, she
returned thanks to her Heavenly Father.
When Miss Evelina went into the parlour, her eye
caught Mr. Grattan's; she blushed, from what cause it is
difficult to say.
Old Mr. Preble' put some question to George, which
gave rise to a relation of his adventure.
" We happened by accident, sir, to take the very route
to Cumberland that the boys had taken, hearing occasionally of themn, from persons who had seen at a distance
four men who looked like negroes, sometimes in the road,
and sometimes in the fields.  On Friday morning, we





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


89


found we were not far from them. A white man had seen
four persons crossing a field, about a half-hour before,
making towards a cabin in a skirt of wood, two hundred
yards distant from the road, which we were told was occupied by a free black man. We made immediately for the
house, and when we got near, heard several voices inside.
I ran up, and getting in at the front door, found our four
boys, a white man, and the free black man, sitting at
breakfast. As soon as the boys saw me, they rose from
the table; and, as they attempted to make their escape
through the back door, I caught one of Major Scott's
boys by the collar; and, as I held him, I heard the white
man say, Fire!' and immediately a ball from a revolver, in
the hands of our boy Jack, struck, and passed through
the fleshy part of my shoulder.
" After being wounded, I let go the boy I had hold of,
and he ran by Tom Kiser and Ralph Cummins, who seemed
more anxious to attend to me, than to catch the boys. I
told them to let me alone, and go after the boys. They
overhauled our two, who gave themselves up; there being
two revolvers pointed at them. I had told Kiser and
Cummins not to shoot unless in self defence. The white
man disappeared as suddenly as if he had gone into
the ground. I asked the free man who he was, but he
pretended he had never seen him before; and said that
he had come to his house only a few minutes before the
boys. We carried them to Cumberland, and put them in
jail. I got a physician there to dress my wound, hired a
hack, and left on Friday afternoon. Some notice, I
understand, of this affair appeared in the Cumberland
8*





90


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


paper of Saturday morning, but I was in hopes to have
gotten home before you had seen it."
" Well, Mr. Benson," said Mr. Preble, " these are some
of the fruits of our peculiar institutions. But for slavery,
sir, we should never hear of these shocking occurrences.
You are happily free, sir, from such."
Mr. Benson nodded assent.
" It is a self-evident truth," said the Doctor, 4"that,
but for slavery, Mr. Preble, we should never hear of runaways; but these shocking occurrences are not the legitimate consequences of slavery. They are produced, sir,
by an unpardonable intermeddling on the part of northern
abolitionists with our property; producing dissatisfaction
among those who otherwise would be contented with their
situation, inciting them to resist the authority of their
masters, even at the peril of their masters' lives.
" Shocking occurrences are, moreover, common, sir, in
every society, whether slavery exists or not. We hear of
the unlawful use of the revolver as much in the free
as in the slave states."
" Doctor, you and I never could agree upon that subject; you think slavery right, and I think it decidedly
wrong."
" If we were both judged by our actions, Mr. Preble,
it would be supposed that we both ihought alike. We both
hold slaves; and I had much rather hold them, thinking
that I had a right, or that it was not forbidden, than to
own them, thinking at the same time that I had no
right."
"Being here amongst them, Doctor, being surrounded





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


91


by them on all sides, and experiencing all the evils, it
would be a hard case for me to be denied the benefits."
" Then you do allow that there are benefits resulting
from slavery."
" Why-sir, why-yes, sir; your slave labour drives
away all white labour, and if I did not own slaves, I could
get no work done at all."
" As for that, sir, you might employ the free blacks;
there are plenty of them."
" Oh! sir, they are all good for nothing; I would not
be pestered with them."
" If we were to set all our slaves free, sir, they would
be just as good for nothing as those that are now free,
and more so; for the more free ones there were, the more
worthless they would be."
Mr. Preble was luckily relieved from the argument, by
Lewis coming to the door, and saying that " one man
wanted to see him in the yard."
He went out, and found Mr. Bosher sitting upon the
steps. Without asking him into the house, he took a seat
by him on the steps.
4" I see from the paper, Mr. Preble, that you have two
negro men in jail in Cumberland, and I'm come to see if
I can't buy them of you. What kind of men are they?"
c" Young men, sir; the one twenty, and the other twoand-twenty; as likely men as are to be found anywhere--
quite sound in every respect. My price for them is six
hundred dollars each, and the purchaser pays the jail
fees."
" That's tough, Mr. Preble; six hundred dollars is as





92


UNCLE  OBIN IN HIS CABIN N;


much as I can possibly afford to give, without the jail
fees."
" You can't have them for less, sir; that's my price.
I will keep them in jail until I get that price, no matter
how long that may be."
" Well, sir, I came to buy them; write the bill of sale
and an order to the jailor, and I'll pay you the money."
He went into the house, leaving Mr. Bosher on the.step.
While he was in, Dr. Boswell saw Mr. Bosher from the
window, and, wishing to inquire about the boys he had
sold him, he went into the portico.
" Well, Doctor," said Mr. Bosher,,4I told you we
grabbed them flying. I have just caught two in the Cumberland jail."
"c Have you bought those two boys of Mr. Preble?"
" Yes, indeed, sir; and the old man, though he is an
abolitionist, knows how to sell niggers, I tell you! He
has made me pay him more than I have given to any one
else. I suppose, however, he must have a little more than
others, for conscience sake."
" How do the boys come on that I sold you, Mr.
Bosher? do they appear satisfied?"
" Oh! yes, sir; they are as merry as crickets."
Mr. Preble returned with the papers, and told Mr.
Bosher he had directed the jailor to deliver the boys whenever the jail fees were settled.," You'needn't been so particular, sir, for he would not
give them up until he got his fees."
Dr. Boswell and his lady intended their visit as a





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


93


morning call; but the incidents of the day had detained
them so long, that they agreed to stay to dinner.
When the gentlemen returned to the parlour, they found
Mrs. Boswell and Mr. George Preble, in conversation
together, Mr. Benson and Miss Amelia, Mr. Grattan and
Miss Evelina. Old Mr. Preble, as he entered, cast a look
of evident dissatisfaction towards Miss Evelina and Mr.
Grattan; to the latter he had not addressed one word of
conversation during the day.
Mrs. Boswell, in an under tone, said to Mr. George
Preble: "Mr. Preble, it's really worth while to be in
trouble, or receive a slight wound, to try the attachment
of our friends towards us. We have had, to-day, strong
evidences of yours, for you. The announcement of your
perilous situation, like to have been attended with serious
consequences."
" My sister Lina, madam, I believe, loves me very much.
She is easily overcome by any sudden relation of disaster
happening to any one."
" I don't mean your sister only, Mr. Preble."
SYou certainly can't mean Aunt Pris, for she so
entirely realizes the hand of Providence in all events,
that she could look undisturbed upon a world in conflagration. Oh, you mean my old mammy, good old soul;
every twinge that I feel, pierces her to the heart."
"No, I don't mean either of them. Of all your female
acquaintances in the neiglbourhood, out of your own
family, who do you suppose, Mr. Preble, would feel most
sensibly any evil that might happen to you?". Why, madam, that is a hard question to answer. I





94


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


don't know that anything happening to me, would give
more than ordinary pain to any female acquaintance I
have out of my own family. Miss Amelia, there, having
come here to-day, in consequence of hearing of my mishap,
has certainly evinced more concern upon the subject than
any other female but yourself."
" The anxiety of another, Mr. Preble, may have been
so intense, as to have prevented her from undertaking
such a trip."
" If you mean, madam, that Miss Julia Scott has been
kept at home to-day by the intensity of her anxiety on
my account, you have relieved me of a world of inquietude,
resulting from an apprehension of her indifference."
" If I had not supposed, Mr. Preble, that there was
such an understanding between Miss Julia and yourself,
as to quiet all apprehension of indifference toward* you,
it is a subject that I would not have ventured on."
They were summoned to dinner, and immediately after
dinner, Mr. Grattan, the Doctor, and Mrs. Boswell, took
their leave for their respective homes.
The road to Mr. Grattan's led through Major Scott's
farm, and as he passed near the house, he concluded to
alight and inform the family of George's safe arrival. To
relieve at once the anxiety depicted upon Julia's countenance, he hurriedly said, 4I have good news for you;
George has arrived at home, with only a very slight wound
in his shoulder; the family are all in good spirits, and
old Mr. Preble has made quick work with his runaway
boys, having already sold them to Mr. Bosher, the trader."
SIt is just what I expected," said the major, with all





AND TOMI WITIHO1Ta ONE.


95


his pretended abolition notions; he is just as keen for
putting them in his pocket when an opportunity offers,
as anybody."
Julia was somewhat disconcerted at her father's remark,
and observed, " Papa, you have determined to do the
same, if yours are caught."
( There is a great deal of difference, my dear, in my
selling negroes, and Mr. Preble's doing so; he pretends
to be a thorough-going abolitionist; thinks it, as he says,
decidedly wrong to hold human beings in slavery, and yet,
when any of his slaves attempt to resume the liberty
which he pretends to say they have a right to, he is more
prompt in his efforts to recover them than almost anybody else, and sells them with as much indifference as he
would sell a horse, or any other chattel. I, on the other
hand, my dear, have never pretended to hold abolition
views. If the master does his duty towards his slaves,
he has authority from Scripture, in my opinion, to hold
them in that relation; and I think my duty as a citizen
requires that I should make an example of those who
abscond. If my boys are recovered, I shall sell them, but
it will be with great reluctance; and the sin of doing so,
if any attaches, must be transferred from my skirts to
their abolition advisers.
4 I have never yet heard your opinion, Mr. Grattan,
upon the subject of slavery. I will have your horse taken,
and you will stay with us all night."
He left the room to give the order, and when he returned, the conversation was resumed by Mr. Grattan,





96


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


who said that he seldom expressed his opinion upon the
subject of slavery, unless requested to do so.
" I consider, Major, that all our views, upon every subject whatever, are derived from revelation.  Out of, and
beyond revelation, all is dark and obscure. In looking
into that book which reveals to man the will of his Creator,
we find governments established; and besides the relation
of the governed and the governors, we find that of parent
and child, and authority given to the parent over the
child, as long as the dependence of the one upon the
other lasts. We find the institution of matrimony, and
authority given to the husband over the wife. We find,
also, the relation of master and servant, and authority
given to the master over his servant, without limitation as
to the time of its continuance.
SThe question arises, what is our duty in regard to
those relations? whether it is to destroy or continue them?
The only plea for their destruction, is the presumptuous
one, that the rules revealed for their regulation are imperfect and faulty. The Jacobins of France have in former days attempted to take from the parent authority
over his children, and to confer on children liberty uncontrolled, and unsuited to their tender years. Fourierism,
and other isms, would destroy the sacred ties of matrimony, and abolitionism the relation of master and servant.
But vain are the attempts of man to destroy those things
which God has established. It were better that his efforts
were confined to a strict application of the rules revealed
for their government, than that they should be fruitlessly
expended in a vain attempt to-destroy.   The improper





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


97


exercise of authority over the child by the parent, or over
the wife by the husband, or over the slave by his master,
affords no plea for the destruction of those relations, but
furnishes evidence of that wisdom which foresaw the
necessity for those divine precepts revealed for their regulation. An awful responsibility, however, rests upon those
who disregard those precepts, and act in those relations
as their whims, conceits, and passions move them."
" Do you think, Mr. Grattan," said Julia, " that George
did wrong in going after those boys?"
" Certainly not, Miss Julia. In the first place, I presume, he was obeying his father's orders; and, independent of that, he was right in not intrusting a business of
that sort to the entire management of those who might
have been less prudent than he determined to be. He
went armed, but with a fixed determination not to use the
arms except in self-defence; and even after he was
wounded, he cautioned those young men who were with
him not to fire, unless to protect their own lives.".  I have seen it mentioned, somewhere," said the Major,
"cthat a party of slaves, who had run away from their
masters in Kentucky, after remaining some time in
Canada, had gone over to Africa, to become citizens of
the republic of Liberia. Do you suppose, Mr. Grattan,
that Governor Roberts would knowingly receive runaway
negroes as citizens of that republic?"
" Undoubtedly not, sir; it would be his duty to send
them back in the same vessel which had carried them to
Africa. Can you suppose anything more foreign from
the intention of Southern philanthropists (who planted the
9





98


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN


colony of Liberia for the reception of coloured persons
then free, and who were to become so by emancipation),
than that it should recoil upon themselves, produce insecurity in their slave property, by becoming an asylum
for runaway negroes?  The very idea, sir, is a slander
upon the republic of Liberia; a direct charge of ingratitude and breach of faith."
Major Scott, whenever a minister of the Gospel tarried
with him the night, summoned his slaves to join the family
in prayer, and to hear any words of instruction which the
minister might be inclined to give. They were nearly all
present; and Mr. Grattan gave them a few words of
exhortation, and a prayer.
When Dr. Boswell arrived at home, he found a note
from Mr. Frazer, informing him that he was afraid ýo
trust himself, and therefore declined taking the temperance pledge, and hoped that he and Mrs. Boswell would
excuse him for exciting hopes which could not be realized.
The incidents of a country neighbourhood are so few,
that the reader would not be interested in the occurrences
of the following two months, except that, during that
time, George Preble got entirely well of his wound; that
his friend Mr. Benson stayed with him for some weeks,
which they spent together mostly at Major Scott's; and
rumour said that they were both engaged to the young
ladies,-George of course to Miss Julia.





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


CHAPTER V.
EXQUISITE SENSITIVENESS.
AT length the day arrived on which the Doctor was
requested (by letter received from his father-in-law, Mr.
Stephens), to send his carriage to the depot for Mrs. Stephens and himself. As it was a permanent move, the
Doctor naturally concluded, that, in addition to the carriage, a wagon would be necessary for their baggage; and
Uncle Robin was sent with a two-horse wagon. Before
they arrive at Selma, we must introduce the reader
to the character of each. Mr. Stephens was a man of
moderate capacity, of 'business habits, very industrious,
and of so strong, robust a frame, that he could endure
much hard labour. His disposition was what would generally be called amiable. Mrs. Stephens had been brought
up delicately, was of tall, genteel appearance; her temper,
naturally quick, had'been soured by a change in their
circumstances, from affluence to a state, not of actual
poverty, but of very moderate means of support. She
was extremely sensitive upon the subject of slavery, and
had imbibed, to a very great extent, the prejudices against
the South and its peculiar institution, so common in.Penn




l100


UNCLE ROBIN IN IHIS CABIN;


sylvania. Nothing but a desire to be with an only
daughter, could have induced them to take up- their residence in Virginia, for he, too, had similar prejudices. Such
being the case, they were coming to Virginia, expecting
to enjoy but little happiness in their new abode; and Mrs.
Stephens may be said to have determined to be dissatisfied
with everything Southern.
Uncle Robin and George were at the depot sometime
before the cars arrived. The carriage was placed opposite
the platform where the passengers were to get out. After
the cars had stopped, Robin saw a gentleman and lady
making their way to the platform,, and he and George went
up and saluted them.
" Are you Dr. Boswell's domestics?" said the lady.
They looked at each other, not exactly understanding
the meaning of a word which they perhaps had never
heard before. She repeated,
a Are you Dr. Boswell's domestics?"
(We he sarvants, missis," said Uncle Robin, who saw
her turn up her eyes and repeat something to herself; and
in the abiding devotion of his own feelings, and the simplicity of his Christian heart, he concluded that she was
returning thanks for her safe delivery from the perils of
a railroad car; but he learnt afterwards, that she was
kindly commiserating his own and George's situation, and
ejaculating with uplifted eyes, "poor creatures."  George
heard distinctly the same words repeated several times
before they reached Selma.
Mrs. Boswell met them at the carriage, and exclaimed:
u My dear father and mother, how delighted I am to see
you!" and threw her arms round the necks of both.





AND TOM WITIOUT ONE.


101


" Oh! my dclear child," said Mrs. Stephens, "cdo carry
me into your chamber and let me lie down; I am almost
exhausted."
Mlrs. Boswell assisted her to the bed, and brought a smelling-bottle, which she took and held in her hand, remaining
some time with her eyes closed. The negro girls were
seated around the room, employed in knitting. When she
again opened her eyes, she caught a view of them, and
exclaimed in a voice audible enough for them to hear, "4 poor
creatures.I"
Mrs. Boswell at first thought her mother had been overcome by the fatigue of her journey, but that exclamation
satisfied her that there was some other cause for her nervousness. She ordered the girls to go to the garden and
assist Uncle Robin in some work he was to go at there,
as soon as he had put away his horses.
"h mh  a mma," she exclaimed, as soon as the girls left
the room, " how sorry I am to see you so much distressed
at sight of our slaves. I had hoped that you and papa
had come to live with us, and partake the happiness which
we all enjoy upon this plantation; indeed, mamma, you are
entirely mistaken about slavery. It is nearly three months
since I came here, with not a few prejudices against it,
but those prejudices have been entirely removed by seeing
for myself what slavery really is. I have never, anywhere,
seeri more satisfaction and happiness than appears to prevail among the slaves throughout this neighbourhood, with
the exception of a few who are said to have been entibed
off by persons from our state.
"As to myself, I feel of much more importance in the
world than I have ever felt before, surrounded by persons
9*





102


UNCLE ROBIN N IIS CABIN;


who look up to the Doctor and myself for religious instruction, and for all the temporal comforts calculated to
produce happiness. I have been most pleasantly engaged
in superintending the making of coats, waistcoats, pantaloons, and stockings for the negroes, which they all now
have on, and the girls are now employed in knitting a
second pair of stockings for each. Mamma, be pleased not
to let them hear you call them poor creatures again; it
can do no good, and is only calculated to make them discontented with their situation."
" My dear," said her mother, " it is bad enough for me
to be constantly exposed to see human beings in a state
of slavery, and it will be much worse if I am to smother
my feelings; I can't do it, my dear; and if I do produce
discontent among them, it will be only hastening what I
have so much at heart, their emancipation."
" I assure you, my dear mamma, it will not have that
effect, but will only convert their present contentedness
into dissatisfaction and misery."
", Uncle Robin," said Kate, when he joined them in the
garden, " a'nt missis' ma crazy?"
ý, What mak' you think so, gal?"
" She look up to de celin' an' say, poor cre'tur's."
"I seed her look up when she 'rive at de depo', an'
repeatin' somethin' to herself, an' I thought she mought
be prayin', but George tell me jus' now, he hear her heap
o' times say, poor cre'tur's, as dey com' 'long."
ý, Maybe, Uncle Robin, she lef' som' nigger gals home
she couldn' bring 'long, and when she see we gals, it mak'
her think o' dern.",4'Ta'nt dat, Kate."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


103


Uncle Robin had sense enough to know that there were
no slaves in Pennsylvania, and began to suspect the real
cause of those exclamations, but he had prudence enough
to keep his thoughts to himself.
<( Uncle Robin," said Kate, " I hope dey ane gwine put
me to wait 'pon dat ole 'oman; I dun fraid o' her reddy."
" Shure, chil', she ane gwine hu't you."
" I don' like her looks anyhow, Uncle Robin."
"c If missis tell you to wate 'pon her ma, gal, you mus'
do it, an' make no fuss 'bout it."
The care of the room assigned to Mrs. Stephens, was,
sure enough, given to Kate, and when they came up to
their room at night, Kate was at her post. The awful
words, " poor creatures," reached her ears, just as Mrs.
Stephens entered. Kate sidled off to the door, and flew
down stairs like lightning.
" I declare, Mr. Stephens," said his wife, " I can't stand
it; I was fearful before I came, that it would make me
very nervous, but it is a great deal worse than I apprehended. I cannot be waited upon by these 'poor creatures.'
"c Well, my dear, we are here among them, and it can't
be helped; there are no white servants in this country
that I know of; however, if you will agree to clean out the
room and make up the bed, I will bring water and attend
to the fires, and we shan't want any waiting upon by
slaves."
cc You know very well, Mr. Stephens, that I never was
accustomed to wait upon myself; I never made up a bed
or cleaned out a room in my life."
SIt must be done then by slaves, my dear; there's no
help for it."





104


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


", It will kill me, Mr. Stephens, if I am constantly to
witness the drudgery done by these 'poor creatures.' "
The next morning after breakfast, the Doctor and Mr.
Stephens were walking out, the latter said to the Doctor:
" My wife, sir, has a most unconquerable antipathy to
slavery, and I very much fear, from the nervous situation
into which she has been thrown, by seeing it all around
her, serious consequences to her health."
"4I have heard her," replied the Doctor, "several
times, when the servants came into the room, ejaculate,
'poor creatures,' but I thought it would wear off in a'few
days; I never for a moment apprehended serious consequences. It does seem to me, Mr. Stephens, that this
whole abolition feeling has originated in, and is kept up
by, the diseased, sickly sensibilities of females, and I am
astonished that men of reflection, men in high standing,
too, in the nation, should so far lend their aid to such
sensibilities, as even to endanger the perpetuity of this
Union. I hope, sir, that you have come among us, with
a determination to conquer such feelings, if you have them,
and to unite with my wife and myself in our efforts to
reconcile Mrs. Stephens to the state of things which she
finds in the land, where she has cast her lot for the future.
You have come here, I know, under very erroneous impressions of what slavery really is, in Virginia, but when
you have become better acquainted with it, I will venture
to predict that your preconceived notions will be changed.
It will be more difficult, however, to deal with the deranged
sensibilities of Mrs. Stephens."
" What was that building intended for, Doctor?" said
Mr. Stephens, as they passed a good-looking two-story





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


105


house on the plantation, about a half mile from the dwelling-house of Selma.
" That house, sir, was built by my father, a short time
before his death, for a widowed sister of his. She died
about the time it was finished. - Her children were taken
by their paternal relations, and the house has been locked
up ever since."
" A thought has just struck me, Doctor, which I will
make known to you at once. How do you think it would
do for my wife and myself to occupy that building? I
have ample means to furnish it well, and it is possible
that we might hire two or three white servants in the
neighbourhood to wait upon us. If you could attach some
land to it, I could find profit and amusement in cultivating
it, as I am able to endure any kind of hard labour. I
think with another grown hand I could make a comfortable support."
<I certainly, Mr. Stephens, can have no objection to
your proposal, other than the great disappointment it
would occasion Ann, at not having her mother with her
in the same house."
" My dear sir, it will be so near, that Ann and her
mother may be together every day, and I know that Ann
will have much more pleasure in her mother's society
when her mother is removed from the sight of slavery."
" Very well, sir," said the Doctor, "if it is agreeable
to the ladies it will be perfectly so to me; and it seems
to have happened very apropos, that this morning, as
overseer of the poor, I received an order of Court to bind
out two children of a father and mother who are unable
to support them, and who must themselves go to the poor




106


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


house. One of the children is a boy about fourteen years
of age, and the other a girl of twelve. If you determine
to remove to that house, and will sign the indentures,
you shall have them until they are of age."
" If, upon seeing them, I like their appearance, that
arrangement will suit exactly."
They returned to the house, the ladies were consulted.
Mrs. Stephens was delighted with the plan; Mrs. Boswell
was at first very much opposed to it, but she saw something in her husband's manner which induced her to
believe he favoured it, and she acquiesced without farther
opposition. It was determined that they should all go to
old Mr. Crosby's the next day, to complete the arrangement about his children.
On the following day they were at Mr. Crosby's by
eleven o'clock. Robin had carried the two-horse wagon
for the children. Mr. Crosby's house was an old log
cabin, in that region of country called the Pine Hills.
Although not an old man, he walked with great difficulty,
in consequence of a fracture of his thigh-bone, caused by
a fall from his horse a few years before, which rendered
him entirely unfit for any out-door work; and an affliction
in his eyes, by which his sight had been impaired, had put
a stop to his in-door work at his trade, which was that of
a shoemaker. His wife had supported the family, after
his eyes became worse, by her wheel; but, a few weeks
before, she had been taken sick, and they were then
dependent upon charity. The Doctor had so arranged it
with anotheir overseer of the poor, that the father and
mother were to be taken to the poor-house, on the day
that their children should be taken from them; and they
found Mr. Conway's wagon ready to carry them there.





AND TOM WITHOUtT ONE.


107


SDo you know me, Mr. Crosby?" said the Doctor,
advancing towards him.
SNo, sir, I don't know you--can't see."
" My name is Boswell, Mr. Crosby."
" You be Dr. Boswell, that lives down in that big house
'pon the river?"
"The very same, sir. Mr. Crosby, the overseers of
the poor have determined to send you and Mrs. Crosby to
the poor-house; and Mr. Conway has come with his wagon
to carry you there."
" And what's gwine to become of my children, Doctor?"
4 I am directed by the court, Mr. Crosby, to bind your
children out until they are twenty-one years of age; and
I have brought my wife's father, who lives upon my plantation, to see them; and, if he likes their appearance, he
will take them."
Mrs. Crosby, upon hearing that, screamed, ",Oh! they
going to take my poor dear children away from me! what
shall I do? what shall I do? My poor Sally never was
from me one night, in her life; and now they going to take
her away, and I shall never see her again."
" Why, Mrs. Crosby," said the Doctor, " she will be
only about five miles off, and you will see her frequently.
I will lend John a horse, and he -can take Sally to see you
at any time."
" Oh! I shall die, I shall die, if they take my poor
children away from me."
" It is a case of necessity, Mrs. Crosby; the old man
can't work, and you can't work; the children are too
young to support you; it is better to take them, than that
you should all starve here together. I will promise you,
Mrs. Crosby, they shall be well treated."





108


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;, i had a great deal rather starve here with my poor
dear children, than to be separated from  them.  Oh!
Doctor! Doctor! don't take my poor children from me."
The mother and children were all screaming; she
clasped her arms round them, and exclaimed, " They shan't
go! they shan't go!" The old man hobbled up to the bed,
and told her 'twould be best for them all that the children
should be bound out.
" Oh! you cruel father! you cruel father! you shan't
take my darlings from me."
Mrs. Boswell was in tears; Mrs. Stephens looked very
composed, until Robin and George came into the room to
tear the children away from their mother; when they
passed her, she exclaimed, c"poor creatures!"
The children were taken out and put into Robin's
wagon, and the screams of the poor mother were heard
until they got out of the reach of her voice.
When they got home, Mrs. Boswell and the girls set
about making clothes for the two Crosbys.
The gentlemen were attending to cleansing and airing
the house; and it was arranged that they.should go, the
next day, to town, to procure furniture.
When the Doctor and Mrs. Boswell were alone that
night, he said:
" My dear Ann, you must have observed from my
manner, when this plan was proposed, for your father and
mother to go to housekeeping, that I rather favoured than
disapproved of it. I was a silent observer of your mother's
conduct after her arrival here; and I was pained to see
her extreme sensitiveness whenever she came into the presence of our slaves; because, I knew that such conduct





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


109


would keep you for ever uneasy, and was moreover highly
calculated to do great injury to the servants themselves.
The constant application of the term ' poor creatures' to
them, might at last make them 'believe that they really
were poor creatures, notwithstanding that their many comforts around them were evidences to the contrary. For
those reasons, I must confess, that I was very well pleased
when your father made the proposal.
4 It has, moreover, given me an opportunity, to-day, to
show you that the evils of separation, and the severance
of endearing family ties, are by no means confined to a
state of slavery, but are common to all classes of society.
I was very forcibly struck, too, with that genuine sympathy
manifested by yourself for real suffering, in contrast with
your mother's perfect indifference for that which is real,
and her affectation of it, for that which is only imagined.
She listened to the wailings of a truly bereaved mother
with perfect composure, while the presence of George and
Robin (two happy beings) could draw forth the unmeaning
exclamation, of 'poor creatures.' That was, my dear, a
veritable picture of abolitionism; sitting with destructiondealing look over the desolations it had occasioned to the
white man, and shedding tears of sympathy over the
imagined sorrows of the negro."
Dr. Boswell and Mr. Stephens on their way to town,
the next day, had to pass by Mr. Frazer's at the crossroads. Mr. Frazer was standing in his yard as they were
passing, and hailed the Doctor with,
c4 Did you hear the news, Doctor?"
"6No; what news, Mr. Frazer?"
"4Why, sir, they have caught an abolitionist at last.
10





110


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN


A fellow in a carryall came to Squire Brown's last night
and asked for quarters; the Squire consented that he might
stay, and after he had taken his supper, he went to the
stable and got into conversation with the Squire's hostler;
asked him if he didn't want to be free, and told him if he
would go off, that he would help him to get to Pennsylvania. The servant (who is a very trusty negro), said but
little, but rather induced him to believe that he would go.
After the man went back to the house, the hostler saw his
young master Tom in the yard, and told him of the conversation at the stable. Tom told him to say nothing
about it to any one, but that when this man went up to
bed, he must go along with the candle, and when he got
into the room, he must begin and say something about
going off. Tom and another white man (who was working
for his father), went up before bed-time, and hid themselves
under the bed. When the negro boy and this fellow came
up, a conversation took place -similar to the one at the
stable; the whole of which was heard by Tom and his
companion, who immediately left their hiding-place, seized
the fellow, and carried him before the Squire, who sent
him to jail forthwith." Mr. Frazer's story being finished,
the Doctor left him.
While they were absent that day, Mrs. Stephens walked
into the garden, and the following conversation was held
with Uncle Robin, who was at work there. As she passed
him, she made an inclination of the head to him, and with
-eyes turned up, exclaimed, "4Poor creatures!"  Uncle
Robin waited until she returned down the walk, met her, and
very politely said, " Missis, I's feared somethin' press 'pon
you' mind mighty; I's hear you say heap a times, poo' cre




AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


111


turs; now, missis, if you any way 'strest 'bout we niggers,
I should like, madam, to 'lieve you' mind; we ain't de poo'
creturs, madam, you thinks we is, we got good masser here,
we hab good clothes, plenty to eat, no whippin', plenty
opportunity to go an' hear de word o' God preached, madam;
an' jus as happy here as masser or anybody else, madam."
" But you are slaves, my friend, kept in bondage by a
master who has no right to hold you as such, and you are
kept ignorant of your real happiness."
" Why, missis, bein' content here, madam, I don' think
it wuff while to 'quire 'bout my masser' right to hav' me
as he slave, but if I did, madam, de word o' God does give
him 'thority, de word o' God does tell me to serve an' 'bey
my masser; and, madam, if people does think dey's happy,
'tis jus' same thing, madam, as bein' happy. I a'nt, missis,
as you say, ignant of my rale happiness, my rale happiness up yonder, madam," (pointing up to the heavens.)
"But you haven't the liberty, my friend, of working
when you please, and going where you please, and doing
whatever you please; you are a slave, and bound to obey
the will of your master, and as long as you are so bound,
you can't enjoy what I would call happiness."
" Now, missis, jus' le's see; s'pose I was free, I'd do
maybe jus' like dem free blacks I sees ev'ry day; dey do
little wuck, an' dey gits little money, an' dey goes to de
grog shop an' spends it all; dey don' clothe demselves or
der children; ebery bad thing done in de country falls 'pon
deir shoulders, whether dey 'sarve it or not; now, madam,
is dat what you call happiness?  Which de happiest,
madam, dem people, or we, who live here wid masser? and
missis, you go to our cabins, madam, an' den go to dem





112


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


Irish board hous' dey call shanty, an' cum back an' tell
me which you think got mos' happiness, dem folks, or we.
Missis, we de foot to war de shoe, and if de shoe don'
pinch us, madam, I don' see why it should pinch oder
people, madam."
" Well, my friend, I see you don't know what's good for
you, and I will leave you to reflect upon what I have said."
As she left, Uncle Robin said to himself:. I wish missis would 'fleet little 'pon what I bin say."
Mrs. Boswell was for several days very busy in fixing
her father and mother's house, which was made very comfortable, with the best of furniture, carpeting, &c., and
they at length took possession of Fredonia, as the old lady
called it. The Doctor and Mrs. Boswell dined with them
the first day, and they were all very much diverted, except
the old lady, at the awkwardness of John and Sally.
Mrs. Boswell had proposed to the Doctor to let Charles
go over to give them some instruction, but he replied:
" No, my dear, if you want me to enjoy myself to-day
in the land of freedom, let us have no adulteration of it
by the presence of these poor creatures.' "
Old Mr. Preble visited them in a few days, and he and
Mrs. Stephens held a long conversation upon the subject
of slavery, upon which they agreed theoretically, the old
man cautiously avoiding any mention of being himself a
slave-owner.
Mr. Stephens hired a white man, Mr. Brock, to workwith him on the plantation, as John Crosby had been taken
by his wife for the house. He also hired a free black
woman to cook, by the name of Rachel.
As the spring advanced, he laboured hard in preparing





AND TOM WITHiU OUT ONE.


113


for a crop of corn, and was seldom in the house except at
meals. He often found John and Sally in tears, and old
Rachel apparently not in the best of humours. Upon one
of those occasions he happened to ask John what was the
matter, in presence of Mrs. Stephens.
4 Madam did beat me, sir," said John.
SYes, and I didn't give you half as much as you deserved, sir; you are the most vexing and perplexing little
scamp that I ever had anything to do with. Mr. Stephens,
you must, indeed, get me a cowhide; I can't get along with
John, or Sally either, without one; they will worry me
out of my life."
"4My dear, you must have a little patience with the
children, and they will get along better, after a while."
" Patience, fiddlestick! You are, Mr. Stephens, and
always have been, the very worst hand to manage servants
I ever saw. Isn't it calculated to spoil them completely,
to hear you always preaching up patience to me? If you
won't get me a cowhide, I will get Mr. Brock to cut me
some hickories. These children, as you call them, must
be kept in order, and taught obedience, Mr. Stephens."
" My dear, I don't know when I shall have time to 5o
from home to get you a cowhide; Mr. Brock can get you
plenty of hickories, if you have need of them."
" Need! I have need of them every hour of the day,
Mr. Stephens."
" Sally,' said Mr. Stephens, " carry Mr. Brock his
dinner; I must be off to my work."
That afternoon Mrs. Boswell sent Kate over to Fredonia with a jar of sweetmeats for her mother; and when
Kate returned, she asked her what her mother said.
10





114


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


"4 She say thanky, madam."
", Was that all she said, Kate?"
T I didn' hear her say nothin' else, madam, but call me
poo' cretur; an' I's sure I an't so poo' cretur as dat gal she
got dar; she look poo' 'nough, goodness knows!"
George Preble, whom they had not seen for some weeks,
rode over to Selma that afternoon. He was in fine spirits,
and seemed to have something of a pleasing nature to
communicate, as soon as they would give him an opportunity.
4 I hear some good news about you, George," said the
Doctor.
" Ah! what's that, Doctor? I find I have been talked
about wherever I go; but a man who has been wounded
in a rencounter with a negro, must expect his ears to
burn."
SThere are other rencounters, George, which cause
neighbourhood gossippings, in which if a man gets wounded
he's not apt to recover so speedily as you have done from
your shoulder-wound."
" I don't clearly understand you, Doctor."
" They say, George, that you have been pierced in the
heart, by a little archer called Cupid; and that not being
able to bear the pain alone, you have caused him to pierce
somebody else."," Do, Mr. Preble," said Mrs. Boswell, " tell us all about
it;. we have heard something about you, and should be
delighted to hear from your own lips that it is true."
4Well, Mrs. Boswell, as I am somewhat indebted to
you in this very matter, I will tell you that I am positively
engaged to Miss Julia Scott."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONLE.


115


" I knew it would be a match, Mr. Preble; I was confident that Julia's fainting, when she heard of your wound,
proceeded from some other feeling than ordinary sympathy."
"cI declare to you, madam, that I had not at that time
addressed Julia. To be sure, I had given her reason to
believe that I intended it; your hint on that day brought
me to the determination of doing it at once."
",If I had known there was no engagement between
you, I should not have given you the hint, Mr. Preble."
" Why not, madam?"
" Because I should have thought I had no right to betray to a gentleman the secret of a lady's heart, before
he had obtained it from herself. I had no doubt at the
time but that you were then engaged."
4" Well, madam, there's no harm done; I am very much
obliged to you, and I don't suppose Julia is very angry
about it."
c" What has become of your friend Mr. Benson?" asked
Mrs. Boswell.," He returned home some weeks ago. Perhaps you
would like to hear whether a report which is in circulation
about him is true? and, as it is all over the neighbourhood, I might as well tell you at once that he is engaged?
to Amelia."
c" Upon my word, they made quick work of it."
" I think, Mrs. Boswell, that short courtships and short
engagements are best."
" I am glad to hear you say so, about engagements, as
it gives promise of an early wedding, and I am very fond
of weddings."





116


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


" Well, my dear," said the Doctor, " that is a plain hint
for an invitation."," Mr. Preble says I brought it about, and if so, I have
a right to claim a bid to it."
c" Certainly you have, madam, and your right shall not
be withheld from you. Doctor, I have received an invitation froni a relation of my mother, to come to San Francisco and join him in a very profitable business he is
engaged in there. I have mentioned it to Julia, and she
is willing to go; my father is anxious for me to go; Aunt
Pris and Lina oppose it most violently; I want your advice
upon the subject."
c What do Julia's father and mother think of it?  I
should suppose that they would not even consent to your
marriage, if they thought you would carry Julia to such
a distance. What will they do, Ge6rge, after both their
children are taken from them? you say Amelia is going
to Boston."
"Well, sir, if they oppose it very strenuously, I will
abandon all idea of going; I would not give up Julia for
all California, and Mexico to boot."
" You had better weigh the matter well, George, even
if they consent; you will have enough here, and I do not
like the thoughts of your going away, to such a distance,
as there is no earthly necessity for it. There is another
matter, George, in which I feel considerable interest, and
I hope you will not think me too inquisitive, if I ask you
how it goes with Mr. Grattan and Evelina. I think very
highly of both, that they are well suited to each other,
and I should like to hear that their love matters were as
well adjusted as yours and Mr. Benson's."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


117


4 I don't know much about it, Doctor; if it suits them,
I am very well disposed to their union. My father, I
fear, will be opposed to it, from hints he occasionally
drops, of the necessity of having something to make the
pot boil. I dare say Lina hasn't much objection, and
Aunt Pris no doubt thinks that that match has been registered in heaven a long time ago. Mr. Grattan is a very
pious man, and a very sensible one, and I think Lina was
intended for a minister's wife."
" I wish, with all my heart," said the Doctor, "c that it
could be brought about, and I see no reasonable ground
for objecting. Mr. Grattan, as to worldly matters, is
pretty much like other young ministers, and we see that
they all get along very well; besides, your father is very
able to assist them."
" Yes, my father's very able, but you know he don't
like to part with his property, Doctor. Aunt Pris has
something considerable, and I suppose Lina will get all
that, except her negroes. They are as dead a shot for
Liberia as ever pointed that way."
" Oh!" said Mrs. Boswell, 4I do feel very much interested in that matter; I wish it could take place; suppose we all try to prevail upon Mr. Preble to give up his
objections, and let them be married at once?"
" My dear, it is a delicate business to meddle with; I
neither like match-making nor match-breaking. Matrimony, you know, is at best.a lottery, and those who draw
blanks are the first to blame those who persuaded them to
buy tickets."
" Yes," said George, ", and I can tell you, it is best to let
the old man alone; he will go his own way, and the more





118


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


you persuade him the more obstinate he becomes. If I
thought I could do anything with him, they should very
cheerfully have my services."
"4George," said the Doctor, "cyou talk of going to
California; don't you know you can't carry your negroes
there?"
" I have no negroes, Doctor, to carry there. My old
mammy Phillis couldn't be kept back by a regiment of
soldiers, if I go. She would be free when she gets there,
but I should like to see the mountain of gold that could
induce her to leave us after getting there."
" But, George, your father-in-law could spare you at
least ten negroes; and. if he gives them to you, what will
you do with them if you go to California?"
" If I could carry them with me, Doctor, and keep them
all together, I would; but as I can't carry them, if the
old man gives me any, I must sell them. I would not sell
negroes who had not misbehaved, to traders; I would sell
them in the neighbourhood in families, even at a sacrifice.
That is one of the evils resulting to the South, from California being a free state. We Southern people who go
there, must either make a sacrifice in selling them at home,
or we must do what is revolting to humanity, sell them to
traders, who will scatter them all over the extreme Southern slave states, without any sort of regard to natural
ties. I wonder the abolitionists don't think of that when
they are eager to apply the Wilmot proviso to all new
states, and are at the same time abusing the South for
cruelty, in separating husband and wife, parent and child,
and all other connexions."
4 George," said the Doctor, " abolitionism is a humbug,





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


119


an idea, expended in the isolated word slavery, without
any reference to what it is, what are its incidents or its
consequences."
", Well," said George, when he was about to leave, ", you
must keep in mind the first day of June."
Mr. Stephens walked over from Fredonia. As soon as
he entered the house, his daughter and the Doctor discovered something in his countenance like trouble and
inquietude,
" Doctor," said he,,"6I am in a terrible fix; Brock has
left me, and I can't get along with my planting."
"What was the cause of his leaving you?" said the
Doctor.
" He has been growling and grumbling for some time,
I understand, because he did not eat.with us at the table;.
and last Saturday night, I wanted my boots cleaned for
Sunday, and sent them to him; he sent them back, positively refusing to do it, and said that white people wa'n't
accustomed to do such mean work, that I had better send
them over for one of Dr. Boswell's niggers to clean."
" It is very different with us, Mr.. Stephens, from what
it is in your state. With you there are only two classes,
the labouring whites and those whose circumstances put
them above labour. With us, there are three classes, those,
above labour, the labouring whites, and the slaves. Your
two classes are just as far removed from each other in
social intercourse, as the two extremes of ours.  The
labouring white man, with us, occupies a grade between
those extremes, and he is watchful and jealous to maintain
that grade, and takes nmbrage at any real or imagined
effort on the part of the highest grade to sink him to a





120


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


level with the lowest. When you get better acquainted
with that class of whites here, you will be able to get along
better with them. I sometimes have white men to work
for me, and if they are decent, I have them at my table
at meals."
"I should have no objection myself, Doctor, but my
wife won't agree to it; and we have been in the habit of
sending Brock's meals to him in the entry. Is there no
other white man in the neighbourhood you could recommend to me, Doctor?"
" Let me see-let me see-Yes, there is a man living
close by, who sometimes hires himself by the day, week,
or month. Charles, take my horse and ride over to Mr.
Looney's, and ask him to come over here immediately.
Tell him I want see him on some particular business."
", My dear daughter," said Mr. Stephens, "4you seem
to get along with your domestics, here, with very little
trouble."
"4Papa, I find it the easiest thing in the world. These
girls that you see about the house have been trained to do
certain work; and all the trouble I have, is to fix for them
parts of the work, which they find difficult to do, without
instruction. They are tractable and obedient, and I find
very little need even for scolding."
"You are very fortunate, my dear, to be so situated."
" Papa, I wish you would prevail upon mamma to come
over here to see me; I am there almost every day, and
she has not been here since you moved."
c" My dear, your mother in her new establishment has
a good deal of fixing to do. Those children too, get along
very badly, and worry her a good deal; you ought to go
every day, Ann, to see your mamma."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONEb


121


c I sincerely wish mamma was back here, papa, and
that we could be constantly together; it does seem so
strange, that you and she should live on the same plantation with an only daughter, and not in the same house;
and then, papa, I am afraid you will injure your health
by hard work, which you are not accustomed to."
SMy dear, I feel happier when I am at work, than
when I am idle, and I think work agrees very well with
my constitution. You know how excitable your mother's
nervous system is in certain situations; you must be satisfied at the separation, and make her time as agreeable as
possible, by coming over at all times of the day."
" Good-evening, Mr. Looney," said the Doctor, to a
stout, robust-looking man, as he entered the room; 4 how
do you do, Mr. Looney?'
c I'm up and a-going, sir," said Looney.
cc Here is a gentleman, Mr. Looney, who lives upon my
plantation, who is preparing to make a crop of corn, and
wishes a white man to assist him in his work."
" Well, sir, I'm just that man, sir, who can do any sort
of plantation work, and if the gentleman will give me my
price, and will treat me well, I'll work with him till Christmas, if he likes. There's one thing, Doctor, I ginerally
stipulates for; some of you gentlefolks have a way of
treating poor white folks like niggers, by sending them to
the kitchen to eat; now, I can't stand that, Doctor; I'm
a free man, and thinks myself as good as any other free
man going."
"I would certainly not send you to the kitchen to eat,
Mr. Looney," said Mr. Stephens, "4but my wife is very
particular and neat, and doesn't wish her carpet to be
11





122


2UNCLE ROBIN IN IIS' CABIN;


soiled by the feet of persons coming from work in all
weathers, we generally send the meals of those we employ
to work, into a small room adjoining the houtse, where you
would also sleep."
" Well, sir, if I can't eat at the same table with gentlefolks, it's no go with me, sir, Good-evening, gentlemen;
and you, too, madam," (turning to Mrs. Boswell).
c He's a rough chap, that," said the Doctor;,I fear,
Mr. Stephens, you will find it a "diffieult matter to get
another white man; I can't think of any other in the
neighbourhood. How would it do to take my man Billy?
he is an excellent hand, and you are very welcome to his
services. If you take him, you know you could keep him
out of sight of the house, as there would be no necessity
for his going nearer than the kitchen."
" You are very kind, Doctor, and the necessity of the
case is such, that I will take Billy, and be very thankful
to you for him."
" Papa, I have heard the Doctor say that he has more
negroes on his plantation than he has use for, and he was
sorry that circumstances prevented his offering you the
services of both field hands and house servants."'
" The Doctor is very, very kind, my dear, but you know
it would not do to have them in the house; your mother
would never consent to it, I know."
SWell, papa, I hope to see the day when mamma will
think very differently upon the subject of slavery than
she now does."
" It may be so, my dear, it may be so. You must come
over, Ann, early to-morrow, and spend the day with your
mother."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


123


c6 If it is a good day, I will, papa. Good-bye, my dear
papa.'
4g I will send Billy over early in the morning," said the
Doctor, as Mr. Stephens took his leave.
"4 Well, Ann, this thing is working just as I expected.
Your father and mother, too, will find that slaves are the
only servants they can get along with in comfort in this
country. Your mother will have more trouble with those
two little Crosbys than you would have with a hundred
blacks such as ours. I must say.to you, Ann, without
any intention of wounding your feelings, that I very much
fear there will be a necessity for taking those children
from her, and for putting them somewhere else. You
know, my dear, that I am under a promise to their parents
to see them well treated; and, independent of that, my
duty as an overseer of the poor requires that I should
take care that they are not abused. From what I have
seen and heard, my Ann, I am fearful that your mother
is not as kind to them as she should be. This excessive
sympathy for slaves seems to me to close all avenues to
the heart for kindly consideration for the indentured white
servant."
- What in the world would she do, my dear husband,
if they were taken away from her? and then the mortification of having it known throughout the country that
they were taken away because of bad treatment! nothing
that could happen would give me more pain. I hope, my
dear, for my sake, you will put it off as long as you possibly can. Perhaps, after they become better acquainted
with the work they are put to, there will be an alteration
in mamma's treatment of them. I think when I go over





124


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


to-morrow, if I see any appearance of their having been
badly treated, I will give mamma a gentle hint upon the
subject."
4You had better be cautious, my dear, or you may
make it worse. There are very few persons who can bear
being interfered with in matters of that kind. Most
people would at once conclude that sympathy expressed
for persons in their situation had been elicited by misrepresentations on their part; and such an idea would
increase rather than diminish severity."
Mrs. Boswell spent the following day with her mother;
but seeing nothing particular about those children than a
melancholy cast of countenance, declined saying anything
to her mother about them. The old ladywas more composed and cheerful than she had seen her since her arrival
in Virginia; but strenuously resisted all her daughter's
importunity for a visit to Selma. Not a word was said
by her about Billy, and Mrs. Boswell concluded that her
father had kept him out of sight. The old man, however,
took the opportunity, afforded by Mrs. Stephens's absence
from the room, to say that he was, so far, very much
pleased with Billy; that he seemed to understand work,
and to do it with good-will and cheerfulness. He had
made a lucky escape, he thought, in not employing that
rough fellow, Looney.
SPapa, from what I have seen since I came here, he is
a pretty good sample of the white labourers in this country, I would think."
" If so, my dear, I would greatly prefer Billy to any
of them. If I had employed that fellow, Looney, he
would have given me much trouble, and perhaps would





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


125


have left me when my work was most pressing, and wouldi
probably have been impertinent all the time. Billy, on
the other hand, seems very tractable and humble."
SI sincerely hope, papa, that you will continue to like
him, and that after a while you will find out that slavery
is not so terrible a thing as most of our Pennsylvania
people think it is."
"I have no time now, my dear daughter, to argue that
matter with you. You must come over and see us every
day, and bring my kind friend the Doctor with you sometimes."
"I have no doubt, papa, he will often come over with
me with much pleasure. Don't let me keep you from
your work, papa; good-bye."
CHAPTER VI.
CALIFORNIA SOCIETY.
GEORGE PREBLE and Evelina were in the constant habit
of sitting from supper to bed-time, in their Aunt Priscilla's
room, and on his return from Selma (the evening of his
visit there), he found Evelina with his aunt. She had
supped, and had carried George's supper up stairs, to be
kept warm by Miss Priscilla's good fire.
SLina," said George,, I am just from Selma, where I
spent an hour or two in very agreeable conversation with
Dr. and Mrs. Boswell; they are charming people, ain't
they?"
11 *





126


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


" Yes, they are, indeed, George; I don't know two better
people in this word than they are."
",Come, Lina, that's too extravagant; where's Aunt
Pris and Mr. Grattan?"
"c You know, George, Aunt Priscilla is excepted by the
general rule, which puts present company out of the operation of a remark of that kind."
"-And by what rule is Mr. Grattan excepted?",4I did not say that Mr. Grattan was excepted at all,
George."
"4Now, Lina, I know you don't think the Doctor or
Mrs. Boswell either, as good as Mr. Grattan."
" They are each as good, or better than the other in
their particular sphere, George. The Dpctor is a better
physician and farmer than Mr. Grattan, and Mr. Grattan
is a better minister than the Doctor, and Mrs. Boswell in
her sphere is as good as she can be."
"Ah! Lina, that's just a quibble; you meant to say at
first that you did not know any better moral people. Now,
I know you think Mr. Grattan better than either of them."
" Why, George, I do think Mr. Grattan has more piety
than either the Doctor or Mrs. Boswell, but I love them
so sincerely that I may be too extravagant in their praise."
SI just understand you now, Lina, you praise the Doctor and Mrs. Boswell because you love them so dearly,
and Mr. Grattan, because you think so and so of him.
I will venture to say for Mr. Grattan, that he would rather
you would think less highly of him, and love him a little
more."
4 Aunt Priscilla," said Evelina, Ive dropped a stitch
in my knitting; I wish you would take it up for me."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


127


S My dear," said Miss Priscilla, " you know I can't see
to do that in the day, much less at night."
" Lina," said George, " as I made you drop the stitch,
hand me the knitting, and I will take it up."
" You made me drop it, George-how did you make me
drop it?"
"Why, by talking of Mr. Grattan and love, Lina."
"Aunt Priscilla, do make George eat his supper, and
hush his nonsense, will you?"
" My dear, it is more than I can do, to make George
stop talking nonsense; his supper is very much in my
way, and if he don't eat it shortly, I'll make Mary take
it out."
I 'll1 save Mary that trouble, aunt."  He took up his
supper, went to the table, and soon despatched it.
" Lina, if you hadn't been so near making me lose my
supper, I would tell you what I heard said about you this
afternoon."
" If it hadn't been for me, George, you would not have
had that supper, for I brought it up for you."
" Well, deary, as you brought my supper, and are now
in a good humour with me, I will tell you, that I heard Doctor and Mrs. Boswell say some very kind things about
you."
4 George," said Miss Priscilla, 6 you know that I don't
like Evelina to be told of what people say in her praise.
We are all frail creatures, and are too prone to think too
highly of ourselves; and when, to the estimate we put on
ourselves, is added the flattery of others, it is apt to produce
a self-complacency, incompatible with that meekness and
lowliness of spirit which ought to adorn every Christian."





128


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


SAunt, the kind things I spoke of, were only expressions
of kind wishes for Evelina's future happiness. Would
there be any harm in telling her that?"
" It depends entirely, George, upon what was to contribute to her future happiness. For instance, if her friends
wished her to be rich, and a very fine gay lady of the
world, by being told of such wishes, young ladies generally
might be induced to hope for those things for themselves,
when they hear that in the opinion of friends those things
constitute happiness. I do not, however, fear such consequences to Evelina; I flatter myself that her views of
real happiness are such that she would not seek it in such
trifles as those."
" Suppose, aunt, I were to tell Evelina that her friends
wished her future happiness to be derived from a union
with a pious evangelical miiister; what would you think
of that, aunt?"
SGeorge, I can't say that I would object to such a
communication as that; Evelina already knows that such
wishes are perfectly in accordance with my own, and that
it is the first wish of my heart that her future destiny
should be interwoven with that of an evangelical minister
of the Gospel."
" Lina, dear, don't cry; aunty won't make you marry
a minister, if you don't want to." Evelina was actually
in tears, at thought, however, of her father's opposition.
SGeorge, if you don't hush," said Evelina,,4I will tell
Julia Scott not to marry such a harem scarem boy as you
are.",,Ah! deary, Julia Scott won't mind what you say.
Julia knows that I am a very sedate body, and that Mr.





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


129


George Prebles are not to be met with every day. I am
going over to-morrow morning to the Major's to broach
to him the subject of California."
" George," said Miss Priscilla, "cI was really in hopes
that you had given over that extraordinary notion of
yours of going to California. If Major Scott consents to
your taking Julia off to California, he must have pretty
much the same opinion of you that you seem to have of
yourself."
" Well, aunty, why not? everybody seems to think well
of Mr. George Preble."
"I am sure I would not let Evelina go to California
with Mr. George Preble, or Mr. George anybody else,"
said Miss Priscilla.
c No, aunty; Mr. Grattan's name isn't George. Suppose, however, she was going with the Reverend Mr. John
Grattan; would you object to it then?"
cc I would not like Evelina to go t(f California with anybody, George."
' Now, aunty, if he was missionary to Greece, China,
or Africa, what would become of your zeal in behalf of
the heathen, if you were to object to Lina's going to assist
him in his missionary labours? I know you would let her
go then; and why not let her go with him to California,
where they want missionaries as much as they do anywhere upon the face of the earth."
" It will be time enough for me decide that question,
George, when an occasion occurs for its decision; but you
don't pretend to be going to California as a missionary."
f In one sense I do, aunt; my mission is to collect gold
dust."





130


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


<( That is aimission, George, for destroying, instead of
saving souls; and it grieves me to think that my sister's
son should be engaged in so unholy a mission as that."
" It is not necessarily unholy, aunt. I can go there,
and be very industrious, and very moral, and set all the
people there an example of uprightness of conduct; and
come back here with a few hundred thousand of the
shiners; and what harm have I done to myself or anybody
else?"
"You acknowledge, George, that it is a vicious community, by saying that there is great need of missionary
labours there. Now, if you go there, you will expose
yourself to temptation, to sin, and iniquity in every shape
and form; and it is much more probable that you will
follow the multitude to do evil, than that the multitude
will follow your example to do good. Moreover, if you
escape the contaminations of the place, in those few hundred thousand of shii1ers, as you call them, which you might
bring back, there is an onerous weight of the mammon of
unrighteousness, sufficient to sink your soul to perdition."
a Everybody, aunt, seems to be trying to collect some
of these shiners; how many do you think it safe to
possess, so as to keep one's soul out of perdition?"
"< It would be safe, George, to possess so much, and no
more, than what you would make a good use of. As the
quantity increases, so increases the danger of improper
use, With the increase of the quantity there is also an
increased desire to accumulate, increased affection for that
which is accumulated, and increased estrangement of the
affections from those things which belong to our everlasting peace."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


181


" Well, aunt, it seems to me that the more I had, the
more good I would do with ito"
" You may think so, George, now that you are out of
the possession of wealth, but the general experience
teaches, that its possession contracts rather than expands
the desire of doing good."
Their conversation was interrupted by the striking of
the clock, which announced the arrival of Miss Priscilla's
hour for retiring.
George Preble and Mr. Benson had both obtained the
assent of Major and Mrs. Scott to their marriage before
Mr. Benson returned to Boston; and George, the day
after the conversation in his aunt's room, went over to the
Major's, and sought a private opportunity of informing
him before his marriage, of his intention to go to California for a few years. He was apprehensive if he delayed making the communication until after he was married, that he might be charged with having taken an undue
advantage of his wife's parents. He determined to abandon
the idea of going, if their opposition should be so very
decided as to put at hazard his marriage with Julia.
", Major Scott," said George, "I am come to inform
you of my plans after my union with your daughter.  I
have, within a few days past, received an invitation from
a connexion now residing in California, to come and join
him there in a business he represents as being very profitable. He thinks that if I will connect myself with him,
and remain in California about five years, that at the end
of that time I may return to Virginia a wealthy man. I
have mentioned it to Julia, and she says that although it
will give her great pain to leave her parents, she would





182


UNdLE 1RO&iN IN HIS CABIN6


not throw any obstacle in the way of an adventure which
might be profitable to myself and family."
t" George," said Major Scott, although it will be as
severe a shock to my wife and myself as could possibly
come upon us, if, after carefully weighing this matter, you
are brought to a positive conviction of its beneficial results
to yourself and your family, we must acquiesce, and determine to bear the separation from our daughter with
becoming fortitude. I will take this opportunity of ina
forming you of my intended distribution of my property
during my life. I have thirty negroes, which I have
divided into three lots, in families, one of which is intended
for you, one for Mr. Benson, and the other, with my farm,
I shall retain for the use of my wife and myself as long
as we both live. After our deaths, of course, Mr. Benson
and yourself will divide the whole. If you determine,
George, to go to California, what will you do with your
lot of negroes? you know you can't carry them with you,"
"I have thought of that,-sir, and if I go, I can't do
otherwise than sell them; but I will not sell them out of
the county, and shall inhibit the traders from buying, if
I should not be able to sell them privately."
"4 Under such circumstances, George, you must expect
to sell them at a sacrifice; but I admire your kind feelings, and shall be reconciled to such a sale as you propose.
Mr. Benson is similarly situated, and I presume would
sell in the same way."
", Why, sir, if Benson were to carry out his abolition
feelings, he would set all his free; but I do not think he
will do that; he certainly cannot, with any degree of consistency, refuse to adopt the mode of selling which I
propose."





AND TOM WITHOUTT ONE.


133, 1 should hope not," said the Major; " if he were to
sell them, so as to separate members of the same family,
it would cause great anguish to my wife and myself.", If he does that, sir, my opinion of him will be very
much changed; I have always thought, however, that this
abolition movement did not proceed from real sympathy
for slaves, but from a desire for agitation, and from a disposition to meddle with matters that does not at all concern them. This will afford an opportunity of testing
Benson's real feelings upon the subject, where his pecuniary
interest is to be affected by a true and bona fide exercise
of benevolent feelings towards the slave."
Mrs. Scott then came into the room, and was told by
the Major of George's contemplated visit to California.
She appeared much agitated, but her heart was too full
for any expression of dissent, and she employed herself
at work, in profound silence. George joined Julia, whom
he saw in the garden.
" Well, Julia," lie said, "I have broken the ice, and
informed your father and mother of my intention to take
you to California."
" Have you made up your mind positively to go, George?
I thought you would have taken longer time to consider
of it."
"I can't say, Julia, that my mind is positively made
up and settled, but I think the chances are in favour of
our going, particularly as your father seems reconciled to
it. I fully appreciate, Julia, the sacrifice which you are
willing to make for our mutual benefit, and the return
which I feel myself bound to make you for so much confidence, and so ready a desire to consult my wishes, and
12





184


UNCLE ROBIIN IN 1HS CABIN:


to /act in accordance with them, will be found in an in,
creasing effort on my part to promote your happiness."
" George, I feel very confident that you will make that
effort, and I think I shall have a right to claim it, after
having made the greatest of all sacrifices I could possibly
make to gratify your wishes; exchanging a home endeared
to me by the presence of devoted parents, for one in a
far distant land, among strangers, where, if reports are
true, the prospects for comfort, ease, and happiness, are
anything but flattering."
S I have no doubt, Julia, that those prospects are
brightening every day, and that we shall spend five years
very pleasantly in Francisco."
"It may be so, George, but I shall remain sceptical
until experience has taught me otherwise. What do your
Aunt Priscilla and Evelina think of your going?"
"t Oh, as to that, Aunt Pris thinks that if I go anywhere
beyond the reach of her lectures, I'm a doomed man, and
Evelina has some little matters of her own to engross her
thoughts."
"4 I thought nothing could divert her thoughts from you,
George, for she has always appeared to me to be the most
devoted sister I have ever known."
" I believe Lina loves me very sincerely; but you know,
Julia, there are two kinds of love; the one a sort of natural feeling, and the other-what shall I call the other,
Julia?-an indescribable something, that throws nature all
a-back; a little monopolist, ain't it? that shuns the
rivalry of nature's-do help me out, Julia, in my awkward
description; you know something about it, don't you?"
Julia blushed, and ran into the house.





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


135


CHAPTER VII.
DEATH IN A CABIN.
AT the early dawn of a beautiful morning about the
middle of May, Dr. Boswell was aroused from his slumbers
by Aunt Dinah, who had come to the house to inform him
that old Aunt Juno was very ill. He hurriedly dressed
himself, and went to Aunt Juno's cabin. He found her
apparently without disease, but so much prostrated that
he concluded she could not live many hours, as he had no
hope of a reaction of her system, in consequence of her
extreme old age."
" Do you feel any pain, Aunt Juno?" said the Doctor., Juner gwine-Juner gwine-Juner no pain, massy."
"c Why do you think you are going if you have no pain?"
", Juner feel so-so bad; massy-Juner sent for."
" Sent for; by whom do you suppose?"
" Juner Farder in hebbin; -.dat Farder old missy tell
Juner 'bout."
"4 Are you willing to go to your Father in Heaven?"
s Yes, massy, Juner glad-Juner gwine-Juner gwine
meet dat Man old missy tell Juner 'bout-say die for
Juner-Juner be happy in hebbin-Juner no farder here;
no moder here; no broder here; no sisser here."
" But you have kind friends here; haven't you?"
"Yes, massy, missy good; massy good; Robin good;





136


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


Dinah good; all good to Juner; but Juner can't 'tayJuner mus' go, massy.", I am glad to find, Aunt Juno, that you are willing to
go, for I think you will be taken*from us in a very short
time."
- " Tang God, massy-Tang God Juner gwine-Juner no
wan' 'tay here."
When the Doctor returned, he found Mrs. Boswell waiting breakfast for him.
" My dear, he observed, I think old Aunt Juno is not
long for this world. She seems to be going out like a
candle in its socket. I am much pleased to find that she
is aware of her situation, and that she is perfectly willing
to go. She is a child of God, snatched from heathenism
by his grace vouchsafed to the pious labours of my dear
mother."
" My dear husband, what a beautiful thought it is that
a poor African, once condemned to be eaten by cannibals,
should be now on her death-bed, in a Christian country,
surrounded by Christian friends, and rejoicing in the assurance of eternal salvation, procured by the death of her
Saviour!"
" Yes, my dear, it might carry consolation to the bosom
of a Wilberforce, mourning over the horrors of the African
slave-trade." After breakfast Mrs. Boswell took her work,
and repaired to Aunt Juno's cabin, where she intended to
spend the day, provided her lamp of life was not'extinguished before the day closed.
" Aunt Juno," she said as she approached her bed, < how
are you now?"
" Juner mighty glad see missy 'fore she go'-massy say





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


137


can' las' long, missy-Juner never feel so 'fore, missyJuner cole-Juner heart cole, missy-Juner gwine."
4 I am very glad to hear from your master that you are
so willing to go, Aunt Juno."
c Missy, Juner can't 'tay here-Juner got no farder
here-Juner farder up yonder, missy-Juner glad go to
Juner farder-Juner gwine see dat Man die for JunerJuner see ole missy dar-Juner no wan' 'tay here, missy
-can missy ting for Juner?"
" What shall I sing, Aunt Juno?"
( Dat Man, missy-dat Man die for Juner."
" Is it this, Aunt Juno?-  Jesus can make a dying
bed.'"
SDat um, missy, dat ur."
Mrs. Boswell sung it for her, and while she was singing,
Aunt Juno lay with her eyes closed, and her hands clasped
upon her breast. When the hymn was finished, Mrs. Boswell, thinking she was dozing, did not disturb her. In
about half an hour she became restless, and Mrs. Boswell
asked her some questions, to which she returned no answer.
Poor Aunt Juno was speechless. Dinah was sent for the
Doctor, who arrived at the cabin just in time to close hr
eyes in the sleep of death.
The Doctor sent for Robin, and gave orders for a pine
coffin. By this time many of the women had assembled
at the cabin, and were directed to see the corpse decently
laid out, and to remain with it, which last order was unnecessary, as the negroes upon some of the plantations in
Virginia, whenever the death of a grown negro occurs,
are in the habit of keeping wake, singing hymns as a
requiem to the dead.
12





138


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


The next morning the corpse was carried to Uncle
Robin's cabin, where several funeral hymns were sung, and
an address delivered by a coloured minister of the neighbourhood, from the text, " Blessed are the dead which die
in the Lord, from henceforth," &c. After the services were
ended, the corpse was carried to the plantation burialground; and in the grave of Aunt Juno was mingled the
dust of two continents.
The gloom and melancholy which pervaded the mansion
house at Selma, that afternoon, was broken in upon by
the arrival of Mr. Frazer; and it was fortunate for Mrs.
Boswell that she had retired to her chamber, as her presence would not have restrained a person always so anxious
to retail news as he was, from making to the Doctor a communication which was calculated to give her much pain.
" Doctor," said he, I have a message for you from
old Mr. Crosby, 'whom I saw to-day as I passed the poorhouse. The old man made me promise to deliver it this
very afternoon. He says that he was told by Mr. Brock,
who lived a short time with Mr. Stephens, that his children are dreadfully abused there; that he himself got
several hickory switches for Mrs. Stephens, and that she
does lay on upon them at a powerful rate; that you promised him they should be well treated; and that it is,
moreover, your duty as overseer of the poor, to see that
they are not abused. He says, if you don't put a stop
to it, that he will go to the court-house, if he has to walk,
and employ a lawyer to make complaint to the court, and
petition that they shall be taken away from Mr. Stephens,
and bound to some one who will treat them better."
" Well, Mr. Frazer," said the Doctor, " you can tell Mr.





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


189


Crosby that I will inquire into this matter; and, if his
children have been badly treated, I will prevent its happening again."
" Doctor, how is it that abolitionists have so much affection fc, black people, and are so cruel to whites, when
they have anything to do with them?"
", Is that the case, Mr. Frazer?"
"g Certainly it is, sir, when the black people don't belong
to them; but when they get to owning slaves, they are
cruel enough to them, too. There's old Mr. Preble whips
more in six months than you would do all your lifetime."
"4 It is very unaccountable, if it is as you say it is, Mr.
Frazer."
SMy dear Doctor, there's no doubt of it. I've known
several Yankees to own slaves, and to be the cruellest
masters agoing: and show me negroes under a Yankee
overseer, and I'll show you scars enough."
" Doctor," he continued, ", ain't it a pity that old Mr.
Preble should refuse to let his daughter marry that nice
parson, Mr. Grattan? they say it's all off.", I have neither heard that it was off, or on," said the
Doctor.
" Ah! Doctor, you don't live at a public place like the
cross-roads. People are always stopping there and telling
me things that I dont care about hearing. It's strange
what a propensity some people have of talking about other
people's matters; they come to my house sometimes, sir,
so full of neighbourhood news, that if I didn't listen to
them, and let them out with it, I do believe they'd almost
burst."
SSome people have that propensity, Mr. Frazer, in a
very high degree, and seem to be not conscious of it."





140


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


"Just so, sir, just so! I've seen people, before now,
who gossip about everything in the world, and blame their
neighbours for doing the same thing. It seems strange
that people shouldn't know themselves better. Oh! Doctor, I'd like to have forgot,-did you hear that there are
to be two weddings over at Major Scott's, in about ten
days? George Preble is to marry one of the young
ladies, and a Yankee from Boston the other."
"Yes, I did hear something of that, Mr. Frazer."
"Well, now, sir, if I were the Major, I wouldn't let
my daughter marry a Yankee, anyhow. And there's Tom
Roach's daughter, they say, is going to marry a man who
will carry her off to Florida. Parents who let their children go so far off, can't have the same affection for them
that I have for my daughters. When thLey get old enough
to be married, I'll let these foreigners-know they must
keep away from my house."
Mr. Frazer, finding but little encouragement in the
Doctor's manner for him to go on, took his leave.
The case of the young Crosbys, presented to the Doctor
by the message from the old, man, was the most difficult
and perplexing that he had ever had under consideration.
He felt great reluctance to mention it, either to his wife,
her father, or her mother, and yet his duty required that
something should be done, and done immediately, to prevent a public exposure of the cruelty of his mother-in-law,
consequent upon an application to the court for removing
those children. He determined, however, that he would
consult with Mrs. Boswell on the subject, as her assistance
would be necessary in any approach to the old lady by
way of remonstrance. He immediately went into her





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


1.41


chamber, and proposed a walk over to Fredonia. Mrs.
Boswell was always ready for a vist to her parents, whom
she loved with an ardent affection, although she was not
blind to the disagreeable traits of her mother's character.
"My dear," said he, when on their way to Fredonia,
c I have received a message from old Mr. Crosby, about
your mother's ill treatment of his children; and he
threatens, if she does not treat them better, he will petition the court to take them away. I am very much at a
loss to know what course to pursue. What do you think
had best be done?"
" Doctor, we should, in the first place, endeavour to
ascertain, with certainty, whether they have been badly
treated, and if so, I should not hesitate to remonstrate
with mamma, tell her of Mr. Crosby's determination, and
point out the disgrace it would bring upon us all to have
a public exposure."
"c But how can it be ascertained, my dear, whether there
is truth in Brock's statement?"
"c If there is any truth in his statement that they are
severely whipped with hickories, they must certainly have
marks upon them; and if I can possibly get an opportunity, I will examine Sally, and you do the same with John.
It will be a very disagreeable business even to let the
children know we suspect such a thing; but the necessity
of the case requires some action on your part, and I can
think of no other mode of proceeding."
4,My mind can suggest no other, my dear. If an
opportunity offers, we will make the examination, and if
we find that they are not scarred, we will say nothing to
your mamma about it; and if they are, we will postpone
until to-morrow, saying anything to her."





142


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


Mrs. Stephens met them very kindly, and carried them
into her chamber. 'Sally was employed at her knitting,
and John rubbing the furniture.," Mamma," said Mrs. Boswell, " did you hear of the
death of old Aunt Juno?"
"Yes, my dear, I heard of the poor old creature's
death."
" Oh! mamma, I wish you could have witnessed her
triumphant death. She was not only willing, but anxious
to go; and seemed to have an assurance that she was going
to heaven to be happy."
" Poor creatures! it is well they can find a resting-place
at last. Their trials in this world are heart-rending, but
the Lord ill reward them in the next, where they will be
exalted far above those who are their oppressors here."
Dr. Boswell and his wife exchanged looks, but neither
of them spoke. It was unnecessary for them to make a
close examination of John and Sally. It was too evident,
from the marks of the lash upon their faces and hands,
that Brock's statement was true.
" Mamma," said Mrs. Boswell, "have you ever seen a
native African?"
"4No, my child, and I hope I never may. The very
idea of their being forced away from their parents and
friends, and brought to this country and sold to cruel
masters, makes me shudder.  The Lord will take vengeance upon people who do such things."
" Well, mamma, I am no advocate for the African slavetrade, but it does seem to me that it was infinitely better
for Aunt Juno to be brought here and taught the Christian
religion, than to have remained in Africa to be eaten by
cannibals."





AND TOM WITfHOUT ONE.


143


4I 1 had much rather, child, be eaten by cannibals than
be a slave.r'
4" Rather be eaten by cannibals! mamma, and not know
what will become of you after death, than be a Christian
slave, and know that when you die you will go to heavens
and there be happy for ever with your Saviour?"
" My child, do not talk to me any more about those
matters. You know I detest and abhor slavery, and that
I never can speak of it with any degree of composure."
" Mamma, I fear I have been remiss in my duty in not
speaking more to you on that subject than I have; your
happiness here depends upon your rightly understanding
the nature of slavery as it exists in Virginia. You have
come-here to live with us, with prejudices founded upon
very erroneous notions as to what slavery really is, without examining into it, and judging for yourself since you
have been in Virginia, You have given yourself up to a
fixed idea, attached to the word only, without any apparent
wish on your part to divest yourself of that idea, or to
see whether it is cqrrect, and sustained by an acquaintance
with the workings and incidents of the relation of master
and slave. In Pennsylvania you were surrounded by persons who had imbibed the same false views that.you have.
In your -circle there of connexions and friends, there is a
sympathy in common for the situation of those persons
whom you call, (poor creatures,' and an expression of such
feelings of sympathy was met by corresponding feelings.," Here, however, it is different. You stand alone upon
that subject, you meet with no corresponding sympathy;
if it is indulged by you, it must prey upon your own mind
alone, and will be a source of constant inquietude. I have





144


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


no doubt, mamma, that your removal from our house in
consequence of indulgence of that sympathy, has already
occasioned you much vexation. You left t/kere servants
who had been well trained to the performance of the duties
assigned them; perfectly satisfied and happy in their condition, willing to administer to your every comfort; and
you have come to this house to be waited upon by tw6
individuals, who, for the time that you have them, are as
much in a state of bondage as our negroes; who are entirely
unacquainted with the performance of the services you
require of them, and whose awkwardness, and perhaps
obstinacy, must be a source of unceasing vexation.
'You must excuse me, my dear mamma, for saying that
I discover evidences of that vexation upon the persons of
those children. With all filial reverence and affection, my
dear mamma, I would put this question to you: who is
most censurable, he who holds slaves for life, who treats
them as friends, furnishes them with all things necessary
for their comfort, is lenient towards them for faults common to all human beings; or he who holds white persons
in a state of bondage for a term of years (children taken
away from fond parents), and corrects them severely for
every positive offence, and even for every exhibition of
awkwardness., Mamma, I am    forced by circumstances to speak
plainly to you upon this subject. By hiring white men
to work for you, you have subjected all the occurrences
in your family to be exposed to this whole community,
perhaps with much exaggeration. The man papa hired
to work with him, and who has left him, not with the
most friendly feelings, has circulated throughout the





AND) TOM WITHOUT ONE.


145


neighbourhood, that you were excessively cruel to the two
little Crosbys, which report has reached the ears of their
parents, and the old man threatens a public exposure, by
applying to the Court to take them away from you." (It
is proper to mention here, that before those remarks were
made by Mrs. Boswell, the young Crosbys had been sent
out of the room on some errand, by the old lady.)
-My dear," said Mrs. Stephens, "cI only wish I never
had come to Virginia. Here I am avoiding all sort of
connexion with what they call their peculiar institution;
and because I take white people to work for me, and correct them when they deserve it, my name is carried high
among them, and I am called a tyrant. The truth of the
matter is, they do not wish anybody whipped but slaves.
I wonder, if a master was to whip, one of those poor creatures to death, if half the notice would be taken of it, that
is taken of the little necessary whipping I give John and
Sally?
", Ann, I must get your father to carry me back to
Pennsylvania. I can't stand Virginia any longer. As
long as I do stay, however, I will keep John and Sally,
and correct them whenever I think they deserve it; and
if old Mr. Crosby thinks he can take them away from us,
he is very much mistaken. The indentures are signed,
and they are our property until the time runs out. As
to your saying, Ann, that by hiring white servants we expose to the public whatever happens in our families, is not
the master subject to the same exposure from his slaves?
When those poor creatures have a chance to get away
from home, they have plenty of tales of woe to communicate to those they meet with abroad."
13





146


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CGAIN;


' There, mamma, you are entirely mistaken. The slaves
generally love their masters, and I am told that the reputation of the master is as dear to the slave as his own,
and that he will defend his master, his mistress, or their
children, whenever anything bad is said about them."
" You say, Ann, I have got nobody here to join me in
sympathy for those poor creatures. There's old Mr.
Preble, a good, benevolent old man, who thinks and feels
exactly as I do."
"Mamma, you are just as much mistaken in that, as
you are in a good many other things. Mr. Preble talks
a great deal about the evils of slavery, but would you believe that Mr. Preble owns slaves himself?"
4 I never would have believed, from Mr. Preble's conversation, that he owned a slave; but I suppose being
here, and being surrounded by them, he is obliged to own
them in self-defence."
" Mamma, I wish with all my heart you would adopt
that mode of self-defence; I think it just as necessary for
you, as it ever was for Mr. Preble. But I could not seriously advise you to that course either; for if anti-slavery
views are formed upon principle, and are a matter of conscience, I would never advise a departure from them from
mere expediency."
"You needn't fear, Ann, my adopting that course; I
wouldn't be a slave-holder for the universe."
Mr. Stephens, whose labours had ceased for a time in
consequence of his corn-planting being over, had rode out
that afternoon, returned, and come into the room just as
Mrs. Stephens made the last reply to her daughter.
SIndeed, my dear," he said, " I am sorry to hear you





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


147


make that remark, for I had hoped those notions of yours
were giving way.. I entertained them to some extent
when we left Pennsylvania, but I must confess my views
of slavery are somewhat changed since I have seen what
it really is."
"4 You men, Mr. Stephens," replied his wife, 4, are as
changeable as weathercocks. The fact is, you have no
fixed principles upon any subject. I suppose working with
this poor creature, Billy, has converted you. If I had
had my way, Billy never should have come here to work."
She then left the room.
The Doctor and Mrs. Boswell looked with astonishment
at each other, supposing, as they had done, that Billy's
working there would be kept secret from the old lady.
"How did you like Billy, Mr. Stephens?" said the
Doctor.
"c Why, Doctor, I never have worked with any hand
who pleased me more than Billy; he did his work well,
was constantly in place, and seemed always cheerful and
good-humoured."
" I did not expect you to send him home after you had
done planting; you can have him again at any time that
you may want him."
4" I've been to the cross-roads, Doctor, to get Frazer to
do a little work for inme. What a great talker he is! he
told me more news than I have heard before since I have
been in Virginia. He said he had seen you this afternoon."
",Yes, he was at my house just before we left home.
You could not have been long with him."
" Not more than a half-hour, but you know he could tell
a, good deal in that tim.e."





148


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIIS CABIN;


" Did he tell you, Mr. Stephens, what carried him to
my house?"
"Ye.s; he said he had carried you a message from old
Mr. Crosby, and I was very sorry to hear, Doctor, that
that fellow Brock has been telling tales about my family."
" Indeed, Mr. Stephens, I am very much concerned at
it, especially as old Crosby looks to me for redress of the
grievances he complains of. I told Ann, and she has told
her mother. We both thought something should be done
at once to keep the man quiet. Mrs. Stephens seems to
think that he can do nothing, although he should apply to
the court, as they are regularly bound by indenture; but
she is mistaken. The court can, for good cause shown,
cancel the indenture and bind them to others. If the
treatment complained of is not repeated, however, the
thing will drop, and we shall hear no more about it. I
wish you would endeavour, Mr. Stephens, to prevent a
repetition of it."
4I will, Doctor, certainly; and I think I may say there
will be no more complaints about severe treatment.", "I sincerely hope there may not," said the Doctor.," My dear," said he (as they were going home), c" you
were rather more hasty in your communication to your
mother than was agreed upon."
c "Well, my dear husband, when I had gone as far as I
did in my advice to her, I thought it a very good opportunity to tell her what we had heard. I hope you don't
think I have done wrong."
" No, my dear, I think you have done perfectly right;
and what you said: about slavery and abolition sympathy
was most admirable. Although she expressed an unwil




AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


149


lingness to alter her conduct towards those children, I
cannot help thinking that what you said, and what your
father may do, will prevent a repetition of the severity
with which those children have been treated. My mind
is certainly much less disturbed than it was. I will venture to predict, Ann, that in less than six months from
this time, your mother will have given up all those notions,
and that your father will own slaves himself."
When they arrived at home, it was quite dark. Mrs.
Boswell went into the house, the Doctor remaining in the
portico to see some person he could distinguish a few
yards off approaching him.
SYour servant, massa," said a spruce young negro man.
SWell, my man, who do you belong to?"
"I belongs to Major Scott, sir; my name's George,
sir."
" What's your will and pleasure, George?"
" Massa, I'm most shame' to tell you, sir, what I come
for."
"4 Out with it, George; let me hear what you have to
say."
" Massa, sir, you got a gal name' Cecilia, sir. Now,
sir, I dun 'tain de 'fection of Cecilia, and she dun 'tain
my 'fection, sir; and I want your 'probation, sir, to our
bein' man and. wife, sir."
" Ah! it's a love matter, is it, George? Well, Cecilia
is in the gift of my wife. If she consents, George, and
you will bring me a note from your master, giving his
assent and saying that you are a good character, George,
I will consent to it, too.
" Ann, my dear, come here."  When she reached the
13 *





150


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS ABIN;


portico, the Doctor said, " Here is a young gentleman
come to ask your consent to a marriage between your maid
Cecilia and himself."
c Doctor, if you are willing, and Cecilia is willing, I
shall not object, certainly."
SGeorge, I have told you the terms upon which you
get my consent.",, I'll be here to-morrow night, sir, with a note from
masser, sir."
" When do you think of having the knot tied, George?"
" The night of de fus' day of June, sir."
4 That is the very same night that your young mistresses are to be married'; and as Mr. Grattan will be
engaged for that night, you must get Parson Peter to
come and tie the knot, George."
" Yes, massa, dat's what I 'tend to do, sir. Missis, I's
ten thousand times obliged to you, madam; an' so also to
you, massa."
George returned the next night with a note from his
master, in which he gives him a very good character, and
consents to his being married. As the wedding-day approached, there was much gossipping in the neighbourhood
as to the splendid preparations which were being made
for it. Old Mr. Frazer stopped everybody who passed
the cross-roads, to tell what he had heard of the immense
cost of the wedding garments, all of which were to be
made in Baltimore; of the large amount of the confeetioner's bill; of the costly addition to the furniture, and
of the various other items of expenditure; of the beautiful presents which had already been sent to the intended
brides; that the girls in the neighbourhood all intended





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


151


to set their caps for the Boston beaux who were expected
on with Mr. Benson; that Major Scott was going to give
the Yankee ten negroes, and he wondered what he would
do with them; that George Preble was going to California, and he wondered what he would do with his negroes;
that Mrs. Scott, notwithstanding the great preparations, was almost broken-hearted at the thought of being
separated from her daughters; that old Mr. Stephens,
not being able to get white people to live with him, was
working some of Dr. Boswell's slaves. After emptying
his budget, as far as the patience of his listeners would
allow, he would conclude by saying, " 'Tis astonishing how
people will talk of other people's matters! if I was to
listen to half they have to tell, when they stop here, I
should find but little time to work."
Mrs. Boswell, too, was making preparations for a wedding. Cecilia was a great favourite with her, and she determined that her wedding should at least equal any that
report had given her from the annals of negro matrimony.
In looking over her wardrobe, she selected her second
day's wedding-dress for Cecilia to be married in, reserving
her bridal dress for the wedding at Major Scott's. Cecilia
would have fallen heir to that, if her wedding could have
been postponed but one day longer.       Aunt Dinah,
Cecilia's mother, was furnished flour, sugar, butter, and
eggs, to make a very large pound cake, and with a beautiful wreath of artificial flowers to decorate it. Dr. Boswell's contribution was two hams of bacon and a pig.
The poultry was furnished by Aunt Dinah herself. With
a little fixing by Mrs. Boswell, the dress was adjusted to
Cecilia's dimensions, and pronounced a good fit.





152


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


" How do you like it, Cecilia?" asked her mistress.
" Oh, missis, I mighty 'bliged to you, madam; I likes
it monstrous well; I's sure I never seed black folks hav'
sich a dress as dis, madam, before."
c I am afraid you will be too fine for George, Cecilia."
" George tell me, madam, he got mighty fine suit,
madam; Masser George gin him mighty nice coat, almos'
new; Missis Scott gin him mighty nice pair pantaloons,
dat Major Scott hadn' war much, and Miss Julia mak'
him a fus' rate wes'co't wid her own hands, madam."
"I did not suppose Miss Julia could have found time
to make up clothes for George, when she has so much to
do for herself."
" Oh! as to dat, madam, Miss Julia, and Miss Amelia,
too, had der things made up in Baltimo', an' dey been
had one millinery dar for weeks, fixin' little things, madam.
Missis, George tell me, madam, dat when I married I
must 'bey him, as I promised to 'bey him, and he say de
Scriptur' say wife mus' 'bey she husban'. A'n't I got to
'bey masser, and not George, missis?  I's sure I hearn
'em say dat the Scriptur' say we can't 'bey two massers."
SYou will have to obey three masters, Cecilia, instead
of one or two, and I must try and explain this matter to
you. In the first place, you must obey God (who is your
Heavenly Master) above all others. Whatever He tells
you to do in his word, you must do. He tells you that
you must pray to him, and if your earthly master was to
tell you not to pray to God, you are bound to obey God
rather than man, and you could pray in secret, and your
master here could not prevent it if he wished; but your
master here never will wish you to disobey your Master





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


153


in hoaven. There are a great many things for you to do,
about which your Master in heaven is silent, and gives
no instruction. In every one of those things you must
obey your master upon earth. So it is, if your husband
was to tell you to do, or to leave undone, what your
earthly master had ordered you to do, or not to do, you
are bound to obey your earthly master, and not your
husband. When your husband tells you, however, to do
something which is not forbidden by your Master in
heaven, and is not forbidden by yourý earthly master, and
is not contrary to his interest, you are then bound to obey
your husband.
" I am confident, from the character we have of George,
that he would not give you an order to do anything contrary to the wish and orders of your heavenly and earthly
masters. We are told in Scripture that we cannot serve
two masters; we cannot serve God and Mammon. The
meaning of that is, we cannot serve God, by loving him,
obeying him, and worshipping him as he wishes us to do,
and at the same time serve the world by loving it, and
indulging in its sinful practices; because when you love
and serve one, you must of course despise and not serve
the other. Do you: think you understand what I have:
said, Cecilia?"
" Yes,, missis, when George wan' me to do. what God
don' wan' me to do, and what masser don' wan' me to do,
I musn' 'bey George."
"c That is a very good understanding of it, Cecilia."





154


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


CHAPTER VIII.
THE WEDDINGS.
THE morning of the wedding-day Robin came to the
house to see his master. The Doctor saw in his countenance
some indication of uneasiness of mind, and said,
" What's the matter now, Robin?"
( Masser, you know dey gwine have a weddin' here, tonight, and I's bin told, sir, Major Scott George has 'gaged
a fiddler, and dat dey gwine hav' dancin', and I cors to
see if you 'lows sich thing 'pon dis plantation, sir."
" Why, Robin, weddings don't occur often, you know,
and if they choose to have a little dance, and conduct it
well, I don't think it worth while to object to it."
", Well, masser, if you willin', nobody else has any right
to objec', sir. I thought it was my business to let you
know, sir, dey are to be married in my cabin, sir, but I
would hate mighty for dem to dance dar, sir. My ole
missis had dat big room in my cabin, sir, 'secrated to de
worship of God, an' I don' want it 'filed, sir, by de foot
of de dancess."
" Robin, you are perfectly right, there; you must tell
them from me, that they are not to dance in your cabin.
After the ceremony is over, they must go to Dinah's room
and dance, if they are determined to have dancing."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE~


155


" Dinah say, sir, de supper is to be set in her room, and
'dey can' dance dar."
" There will be a moon, to-night, and it will be very mild:
they might have the supper-table set out in the yard.
They may make what arrangements they please, but to
dance in your cabin, that they must not do. I am going
from home, Robin, and shall probably not be back until
very late. You must sit up until this wedding-party has
cleared out, and see that nothing goes amiss, Robin, in
my absence."
" I'll do so, masser, certainly, but I's sorry you gwine
from home, masser, when der will be sich a crowd of strange
niggers here, sir. I can't be wid um nother, as I doesn'
go whar dar's dancin' an' fiddlin'."
" Well, I don't mean that you shall join them, Robin;
but if they know that you are up, they will be more apt
to keep order."
"I sha'n't lay my head 'pon my piller, 'til you come
back, masser."
The invitations were for seven o'clock. The Doctor
and Mrs. Boswell left home at six. When they arrived,
they found a large company assembled and waiting for
them to witness the ceremony. Every countenance beamed
with joy, except those of the entertainers. Upon that of
Major Scott there was a deep, settled gloom; Mrs. Scott
was sitting alone in a corner of the room, a perfect picture
of Niobe. The brides and grooms, maids and groomsmen,
took their stand about the middle of the room, and Mr.
Grattan, in a solemn and impressive manner, went through
the Episcopal form. After the greetings and introductions
were over, Dr. Boswell found himself seated by a young





156


tNOCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABSIN


gentleman to whom he had been previously introduced as
a Mr. Hicks, from Boston.
"I have seen, to-night, Doctor," said Mr. Hicks, " what
I have never witnessed before."
SAh! what's that, sir?" said the Doctor.,
SThe-marriage, sir, of two couples at the same time."
C It very rarely happens, Mr. Hicks. I don't recollect
ever -to have seen it myself."
S I guess, Doctor, I shall see many strange things before
I get back home."
"4Very probably you will, sir. In a journey of several
hundred miles we must expect to meet with sights not
familiar. I hope, sir, what you have seen of Virginia,
has at least come up to your expectations."
" Why, sir, I have seen but little of Virginia as yet.
The travelling is now so rapid, that a person can form no
opinion, even of the fertility of the country through which
he passes. I am very much pleased with the appearance
of this valley as far as I have seen it."
" The country immediately about here, sir, is not a fair
sample of the' valley as an agricultural country. Between
this and the Potomac river we have as fine a country as
is to be met with anywhere. There are some portions of
the western country, I suppose, much more fertile than
any part of our valley; but, taking other things into consideration, there is not, anywhere, a more desirable country to live in than this valley of ours."
c There is one thing, Doctor, which is a great drawback
to your country, and would be to any country-I mean
slavery.",,I knew very well what you meant, Mr. Hicks; for





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE            5


157


Northern people never let us pass without a brush upon
that subject, and it is one upon which the North and South
differ so widely, that it is hardly worth while, at this day,
to enter upon anything like controversy in regard to it."
" I thought the Southern people were always ready and
willing (if not able) to uphold their opinions in relation to
their peculiar institution, by argument."
" They are undoubtedly able, Mr. Hicks, to uphold and
sustain their opinions by undeniable positions, but they
consider it perfectly useless to attack prejudices which are
held to with a pertinacity which no argument, be it ever
so cogent, can upset."
T I think I can prove to any reasonable being, Doctor,
that your slavery institution is contrary to Scripture, and
contrary to humanity."," Indeed, Mr. Hicks, I have no desire to enter into an
argument, for after it was finished, we should both think
precisely as we do now. Suppose we join the ladies, and
have some chat with them more appropriate to the occasion?"
"c Before we move, Doctor, tell me what interesting-looking young lady that is, in such close conversation with the
Parson."
" That, sir, is Miss Evelina Preble, the sister of the
young gentleman who was married to-night. I had supposed you had been introduced to all the ladies."
"Not to her, sir. I should be very much pleased with
an introduction."
" If you will follow me, I will introduce you, with pleasure."
SAn old adage, Miss Preble," said he, after introduc14





158


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN


tion, " says that one wedding makes many; and I suppose
that two coming together make very many."
uI don't know that there is any truth in that adage,
Mr. Hicks; but if there is, I suppose the circumstances
(whatever they are) which produce that result from one
wedding, are not increased by two happening together."
" I suppose, sir (addressing himself to Mr. Grattan), if
many or few should follow this double one, that the minister always holds himself in readiness to act his part?"
"4Yes, sir," said Mr. Grattan, " the minister considers
himself in the line of duty when performing the marriage
ceremony, and it is a duty which falls in with his inclination, to assist in contributing to the happiness of others."
" I am glad to find that the young ladies of Virginia
have no particular objection to going North. The success
of my friend Benson is certainly encouraging to Northern
enterprise in those matters. Who knows, Mr. Grattan,
but that some time or other I may have use for your services? I suppose I could command them at any time, sir?"
" Why-why-yes, to be sure, sir, if-if any other lady
of Virginia wishes to get-to go to Boston, sir, and calls
for my services, why, they will be rendered, sir."
Mr. Grattan spoke this with a flutter of feeling which
can be ascribed to no other cause than a sudden recollection of old Mr. Preble's opposition. He had, moreover,
heard, that this Mr. Hicks was the son of a very wealthy
merchant in Boston. He had no mistrust, however, of
the affection of Evelina, but the thought of the old man's
objection, added to his great fondness for wealth, caused
a momentary rush of feeling of uneasiness, tinctured with
a spice of jealousy. Fortunately he was relieved from the





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


159


embarrassment produced by that feeling, by being thrown
into another, less-painful.
Mr. George Preble came over from another part of the
room, and told him that he had been deputed by his wife
and Miss Eliza McKnight, to inquire whether a little
family dance, for the amusement of the young people,
would be disagreeable to him.," What do your father and mother-in-law think of it,
George?" said Mr. Grattan.
" We have not mentioned it to them, sir; we thought
it would be best to obtain your consent first, and to mention it to them afterwards."
" I have no consent to give or withhold, George; if the
Major and Mrs. Scott are willing, and a dance is gotten
up, I cannot consent to remain here and witness it, but
will have my horse brought out, and go home.","Ah! well, that settles the matter, Mr. Grattan; we
can never agree that you should be driven off, to give us
an opportunity for dancing."
" Girls," said Evelina, as she joined the party who had
sent George to Mr. Grattan,," how could you do so cruel
a thing, as to force Mr. Grattan either to go away, or to
object to your dancing? Julia, you must have known
that your mother would not consent to have dancing in
her house; a member of the church to have dancing!"
" I am sure," said Miss Eliza McKnight,," I would not
care if Mr. Grattan was to go away. I think it very
unkind in him, to prevent our having a little innocent
amusement. I never did like, at a party, to sit prim, with
my hands before me, and hear nothing but nonsensical
talk."





160


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;, I guess you won't have any dancing here, to-night,
miss," said Mr. Hicks, who had followed Evelina; " I think
very hard of the parson myself, for preventing it; but I
can't think, Miss McKnight, that you will be subjected
to nonsensical talking, here, where there are assembled so
many of the elite of Virginia."
" People who have nothing to do but talk, sir, must say
a good many foolish things, and then they are apt to make
ill-natured remarks about each other's appearance and
dress, &c. I wonder if it wouldn't be a. more innocent
amusement to dance, than to be talking slander, and
gossipping in every way?"
- That is not the necessary substitute for dancing,
Eliza," said Evelina; " we may carry on amusing, innocent,
and edifying conversations. I don't think it follows at
all, that because we don't dance we must be talking nonsense and slander."
" You may say so, Evelina, because Isuppose, of course,
you are much amused and edified by the conversation of
the Rev. Mr. Grattan."
A crimson blush came over the face of Evelina.
SIn my own name, and that of the other gentlemen
present," said Mr. Hicks, "I must return thanks to Miss
McKnight for the compliment which she in her last remark has paid us, selecting the Rev. Mr. Grattan as the
only gentleman in the room whose conversation would be
amusing and edifying."
SIndeed, Mr. Hicks, I did not mean that; I meant
nothing more than that the conversatioh of Mr. Grattan
would be particularly pleasing and edifying to Miss Evelina Preble. How could you suppose that I meant to cast





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


161


reflections upon a stranger, whose style of conversation
may be both amusing and edifying for aught I know?"
SYou have at least, miss, cramped the ease of my conversation, as I shall hereafter be under continual apprehension, lest my remarks should neither give pleasure or
edification to Miss Eliza McKnight."
"c Oh! sir, you may be as easy as you please, and throw
away all apprehension; I'll promise you, sir, to be both
amused and edified."
Evelina had gone over to another part of the room, to
pay her respects to Mr. and Mrs. Benson, who were sitting
together on a sofa.
cc That's a very sweet, interesting young lady, Miss
McKnight," said Mr. Hicks.
SDo you think her a beauty, sir?"
" She is decidedly very pretty, and I may say she is a
beauty; a more intelligent countenance I never beheld."
cc I never could think Evelina a beauty; there's something about her which prevents her being a beauty in my
eyes. Mr. Grattan no doubt thinks her as beautiful as you
do; report says there's a mutual attachment, if not engagement, between them."
" Do you think that report true, miss?" said he, with
earnestness., I can't say, Mr. Hicks, that it is positively so; but I
should think there was good ground for the report.
Whenever I have met them in company, they seem to have
no conversation for anybody but each other. Whenever
you see a young gentleman and lady, upon all occasions,
separate themselves from the rest of the company, and
14 *





162


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


carry on long conversations in an undertone, you may be
sure there is a good understanding between them."
"6 That would generally be the conclusion; but in this
instance, he being a parson in the neighbourhood, may
think it his duty to give instruction to the young members
of his congregation; and after Miss Evelina is sufficiently
taught, he may select some other one of you for his sofa
lectures."
" Indeed, sir, they are not talking about religion all
that time, you may depend."
"c The parson will be a lucky man, I should think, if he
gets that young lady."  Miss Eliza McKnight was somewhat disconcerted; and, as the conversation of Mr. Hicks
was not very edifying, and by no means very agreeable,
she left him. Mr. Hicks sought out Miss Evelina, and
found her in conversation with Mrs. Benson. Mr. Benson
was on the sofa with them, but not joining in conversation.
His thoughts seemed to have gone back to Boston, and he
might have been at that moment in his counting-room,
surrounded by day-books, ledgers, and invoices. As Mr.
Hicks approached, he heard Mrs. Benson tell Evelina that
her mammy was going to Boston with her. He looked
surprised, for he had never heard the word mammy used
in any other sense than as a real mother, and this was the
first intimation he had that Mrs. Scott was going to Boston with her daughter.
" I am very much delighted, cousin," he said, " to hear
that we shall have the pleasure of your mother's company
in Boston."
" Why, my dear cousin, I didn't mean mamma; I meant
my old Mammy Betty, a black woman who nursed me,





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


163


and is so much attached to me that she would not be separated from me for anything in the world; and I would
not leave her for anything you could give me."
6 I am very much astonished to hear, cousin, that you
call an old black woman mammy, and particularly that
you are so reluctant to part with her. I thought you
Virginians were parting with them every day to traders."
"We never in that way part with our mammies, Mr.
Hicks," said Evelina; " and, indeed, we very seldom ever
sell to traders any but those who have been made dissatisfied
with their situation, and have been induced by the persuasions of abolitionists to leave their masters and fly to the
free states. When those are caught and brought back,
they are always sold to traders."
c And what will you do, cousin, with your Mammy
Betty, when you get her to Boston? You know she will
be free then, and they won't let her stay with you a day
after you get there. She will be so fond of liberty, she'll
leave you directly; and besides I know cousin, here,"
pointing to Mr. Benson, 4 won't like to hear his wife call
an old black woman mammy."
cc When my mammy gets to Boston, sir, she will be free,
I know, and she will do for us what little work we will
require of her on wages, and I know that all the people
in Boston can't persuade her to leave me, sir. Your cousin
and myself have talked over this matter, and it's all settled
before this, cousin. If my mammy loves me, and I love
my mammy, I don't care about the people of Boston
laughing at me. The people of Boston had better mind
their own business, and let me and my mammy alone;
don't you think so, Mr. Benson?"





164


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


" My dear, I was just thinking about Boston at that
moment-yes, certainly-certainly."
Mr. Hicks took a seat upon the sofa by the side of Miss
Evelina, who caught the eye of Mr. Grattan whenever
she looked towards the corner, where Mrs. Scott was sitting, he having taken a seat beside the latter.
ScHave you a mammy too, Miss Preble?" asked Mr.
Hicks.
" Yes, sir, in almost every family in Virginia, where
there are slaves, there is some motherly old negro woman
who has had the care of the children when they were
young, who is very much attached to them, and they to
her, and they all call her mammy. Those old negro women
are generally very respectable, and sometimes religious.
They have very good ideas of propriety of conduct, and
are attentive to the behaviour of the younger children.
There is always some one of the family of children that
this old mammy has had more to do with, or more trouble
with than with the others, and that one becomes her pet.
Mammy Betty's pet is Amelia; my brother George is the
pet of my old Mammy Phillis, and if he goes to California
(as he talks of doing), nothing can stop her from going
with him."
"I had no idea, Miss Preble, that those feelings of
affection which you talked of, existed between slaves and,their owners. I have always understood that the relation
of master and slave was one of cruelty and oppression on
one side, and of hatred, and a constant desire to escape
from servitude, on the other."
" Your Northern prejudices against the South, sir, are
all founded in error. A large number of those who are
called abolitionists, have been made so by false representa




AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


165


tions of Southern barbarity. Those persons from the
North who come here to reside (and in the present day
there are not a few of them), have those prejudices removed; for I have heard many of them declare that slavery
was a very different thing from what they expected to find
it; and very many of those who take up their residence
here for life, become slave-owners. Your essayists and
novelists, Mr. Hicks, do great injustice to the South by
horrid statements of Southern cruelty, having no resemblance to truth."
Before Mr. Hicks could make any reply, a young
groomsman who had waited with Evelina, came up and
claimed his right to conduct her to the supper-table, to
which the company had been just then invited.
The pen of an Anacharsis would be at fault in a description of the delicacies of that board.
After supper, the company returned to the parlour, and
Mr. Grattan sought, and soon found an opportunity of
conversing with Evelina.
" I should judge," said he, 4 that your new acquaintance
from Boston was quite an agreeable companion, from the
length and earnestness of your conversation with him
before supper."
" Why, to tell you the truth," she replied, c I had at
first conceived for him dislike, bordering on disgust; but
upon further acquaintance, I found him more tolerable
than I had at first expected. The last part of our conversation was upon a subject which the Yankees never fail
to introduce; our slavery at the south; which I endeavoured to defend from the aspersions of abolitionists. 1
should not think, however, that Mr. Hicks was a thoroughgoing abolitionist."





166


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


" I presume you like him the more for that?"
" Yes, sir, I suppose that helped to remove my prejudices."
" A few more conversations might develop still further
excellencies, perhaps." This last remark was accompanied by a manner and look so different from any Miss
Evelina had before seen from Mr. Grattan, that she was
confounded and hurt.
"c I don't know, sir, that I shall ever again have a conversation with him, as I suppose, now that the wedding
is over, he will be returning to Boston in a few days. I
left Aunt Priscilla very unwell, and I shall return home
to-night."
" Not alone, I hope, Miss Evelina? Perhaps you have
engaged an escort? If not, would you accept one?"
" I am under great obligations to you, sir, but I have
engaged my father as an escort."
" I had really forgotten for the moment that your
father was here."
"I had not, sir; and therefore have engaged no other
escort."
" A young lady, Miss Evelina, can have no better escort than her father."
cc And generally speaking, sir, no better adviser."
Mrs. Boswell advanced towards them, and said, "Where
in the world have you kept yourself to-night, Evelina?  I
don't think we have been in speaking distance before."
" You have been so surrounded, Mrs. Boswell, that I
could never get near you.","Perhaps, madam," said Mr. Grattan, "Miss Evelina
derives more pleasure from the company of new acquaintances than from old."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


167


" I think I know Evelina too well, Mr. Grattan, to suppose that she would desert such old acquaintances as you
and I, for any new ones she might meet with. I have
myself trumped up a new acquaintance to-night, in this
Mr. Hicks, from Boston, and I can't say there is much
pleasure to be derived from his conversation. Have you
been introduced to him, Evelina?"
" Yes, madam, I had an introduction to him a short
time after the ceremony was over."
c If you had any conversation with him, Evelina, you
must have found him very insipid."
4 I did have a conversation with him, Mrs. Boswell,
which was somewhat interesting, because it gave me an
opportunity of speaking my mind very freely about the
abolitionists."
" I think you said, Miss Evelina," remarked Mr. Grattan, " that he was no abolitionist himself; therefore I suppose your invective was not intended for him?"
" Certainly not, sir; as I do not look upon him as an
abolitionist."
" Well, Evelina," said Mrs. Boswell, " I think he is a
good deal tinctured with abolitionism, as slavery was the
subject of our conversation, introduced, too, by himself.
The Doctor told me, just now, that he thought so."
" It is very possible, madam, that Mr. Hicks may have
expressed himself differently when in conversation with
the Doctor and yourself, from what he said to me. Very
true, he did enumerate some of the evils he said he had
heard belonged to slavery, but he did not say, that in his
opinion those evils did exist. He may, however, be an
abolitionist, and I may have been too charitable in my
conclusions, drawn from what he said."





168


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


" Your charity is certainly very commendable, Miss
Evelina," said Mr. Grattan.
"What are you talking about, here?" said George, as
he approached them.    4"Lina, papa wishes to see you
over yonder (pointing to the opposite side of the room).
Mr. Grattan," continued George, "did you ever see a
more perfect picture of 'patience on a monument,' than
my old chum, Benson? He is the most plodding genius
you ever saw-look at him-he is making calculations at
this very time, of the probable success or failure of some
of his adventures. I'll go and tell him how shameful it is
for a newly married man to put on such looks of abstraction." He went to the sofa where Mr. Benson was sitting.," Why, Bob," said he,,"instead of looking as if you
had gained a friend and companion for life, you actually
look as if you had lost every friend in the world."
" George, you know I was always serious and contemplative when we were at College together. Don't you
recollect my nickname-' Old Grum?' "
",Yes, I recollect it very well," said George;,"but
upon an occasion like this, you should feign pleasure, even
if you don't feel it. I think it a compliment you owe
your wife, to appear happy at this time, even though you
should be sombre for ever after."
" George, Alfielia knows that I love her, and that I am
very happy; and if she doesn't know it now, she will know
hereafter, that I haven't the same 'way of expressing
happy feelings that other people have."
"You have a curious way, Bob, to be sure, of expressing happy feelings by the most doleful look that ever a
man put on."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


169


"( George, Amelia tells me you are going to Californiais it so?"
" I have been thinking about it for some time, Bob, and
have come to the determination at last to go. By the by,
Major Scott told me, the other day, that he had picked
out a lot of ten negroes, in families, for each of us. I
have been very much puzzled what to do with mine, if I
go to California. I deplore very much the necessity of
selling-if I could carry them with me I would, but as I
can't, I shall be forced to sell, whether I would or not.
I shall, in the sale of them, lessen the inhumanity, by
selling in families, and in the neighbourhood, though it
should be at considerable sacrifice. What will you do
with yours, Bob? I suppose, however, coming from the
North, the land of liberty and humanity, you will set all
yours free, of course.",(I never was a thorough-going abolitionist, George;
and if I were, it could not be expected of me, that when
I become entitled by marriage, or in any other manner,
to what you Southern people have made property, that I
should give it all up. Let me see; ten negroes at the
lowest calculation would be worth four thousand dollars.
Can you suppose that I or anybody else would throw away
that amount of property? When I get them, I must do,
with them just what Southerners do. Sale and barter
are incident to every species of property, and if there is
any inhumanity in selling slaves, it attaches to you who
have made them property, and not to me who receive them
as such; and I must, from the same necessity that you
plead, dispose of them as such."
15





170O


17  TVNLE. R OBIN N  1T HIS- CARIt


SYou will sell them in families, and in the neighbourhood, I hope, as I mean to do?"
" George, I do not think I am bound to mitigate the
rigours of your instithtion, by sacrificing my property.
/The institution of slavery is yours and not mine, and I
am not responsible for the consequences, be ttey what
they may. I shall be under the necessity of selling them,
and that being the case, I must sell them for every cent
they will bring; and if members of families are separated
(as I said before), it is the inevitable consequence of their
being made property."
c Well, Bob, that is sophistry that I don't understand,
but it lets me into a secret as to pretended northern philanthropy-touch tl, pocket and it's gone."
" There is no sophistry about it, George; my philanthropy extends to universal emancipation of your slaves;
but as long as they remain property, they must be subject
to all the incidents of property."
"Or, in other words," said George,  when it is property in the hands of Southern men, it ought to be let
go, and abandoned; but when it becomes property in
Northern hands, it should be converted into hard cash.
How long do you expect to remain in Virginia, Bob?  I
ask the question to know whether the day I have fixed on
for the public sale of my negroes would suit your convenience. I intend to advertise mine for sale at Mr. Frazer's
shop on the 15th of this month,"
"4 That will be a long time for me to stay from my business, George; but I suppose I must, and sell on the same
day."
" Do you prepare your advertisement, Bob, and I will





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


171


prepare mine, and we will have them inserted in the papers,
and have hand-bills stuck up at public places."
When left alone with Mr. Grattan, by the departure of
George and Evelina, Mrs, Boswell said:, Mr. Grattan, I think you were very hard with Evelina,
and I can't understand why it was."
- Mrs. Boswell," said he, 4 I will' with shame and deep
Borrow acknowledge to you that I have suffered a momentary fit of jealousy to come over me to-night. The
antipathy which Mr. Preble evinces towards me, did cause
me to apprehend that if this Mr. Hicks, who is said to be
immensely wealthy, should take a fancy to Evelina, the
old man's influence would be exerted in his behalf. I have
too high an opinion of Evelina to believe that she could
be induced by the wealth of the Indies to break an engagement which, I will tell you in confidence, has been entered
into between us; but her advocacy of this Mr. Hicks,
added to the other considerations I mentioned, did for a
time confirm and heighten that feeling of jealousy, and
caused me to make remarks which I am now ashamed of,
and sincerely sorry for."
Mrs. Boswell laughingly said, c Evelina, Mr. Grattan,
wouldn't marry that Yankee from Boston for all the wealth
of California, Australia, and Mexico, together. Upon my
word! a real flaring up of jealousy! and for no earthly
imaginable cause.". " Pray, Mrs. Boswell, don't expose my folly to any one.
If you should, however, hear Evelina say anything of
what passed, you may tell her of my deep mortificato.n
and contrition, and that I most earnestly crave her pardon for my remarks."





UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


When Evelina went to her father, he pretended some
excuse for wishing her to come to him; but the whole
truth was, he wished to draw her away from Mr. Grattan;
and it was very unfortunate for herself and Mr. Grattan,
too, that just by her father stood Mr. Hicks, in conversation with Miss Eliza McKnight. She was so near as to
hear Mr. Hicks propose some game for the amusement of
the company, to which Miss Eliza sneeringly replied, "No,
Mr. Hicks, I should be afraid of scaring away the Reverend Mr. Grattan."
" He might go, and welcome, for me," replied Mr.
Hicks.
Mr. Grattan discovered that Mr. Hicks was immediately in her neighbourhood, and concluded that it had
been design, on the part- of her father, to bring them
together. He stood for some time, after Mrs. Boswell
left, with his eyes riveted on the spot where Evelina and
her father were standing, and saw Mr. Hicks leave Miss
Eliza McKnight, and enter into conversation with Evelina.
Mr. Preble just then looked at his watch, and said it was
nearly one in the morning. There was a general rush
from the room by the ladies, to prepare for their departure. Mr. Hicks posted himself near the outer door, and
was ready to help Miss Evelina to the carriage. As he
was doing so, Mr. Preble very politely told him that he
should be very much pleased to see him at the Cottage.
All of which was seen and heard by Mr. Grattan.
Evelina and Mr. Grattan went that morning to their
respective homes with heavy hearts; the latter with a
condemning conscience for entertaining unfounded suspicions, which he could not even then entirely divest himself





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


173


of; and the former with feelings wounded and lacerated, by
imputations unjust, and which she was unconscious of
deserving.
On their way home, Mrs. Boswell said to the Doctor;
" Could you keep a secret if I were to tell you one?"
" You are bound to tell me, my dear, whether I promise
to keep it or not. Wives, you know, have no right to have\
secrets which they could not communicate to their husbands; however, I will promise not to divulge it."
" Mr. Grattan is quite jealous of young Hicks, from
Boston."
SThat is impossible, my dear; he certainly cannot, even
in thought, do so much injustice to Evelina, as to suppose
she would marry that booby, who is to me the most disagreeable stranger I have ever met with. Why, he hasn't
an idea beyond negroes and slavery. He almost bored
me to death."
" Mr. Grattan told me so himself, but seemed to be very
sorry for it, and asked me to beg pardon of Evelina for
the surmises he made relative to it."
SI would as soon think, my dear, that Evelina would
marry Looney or Brock, as that thick-skulled Bostonian.
I am very sorry to hear that Mr. Grattan acted so little
like himself."
"c The best people in the world will sometimes, my dear
husband, do and say silly things, but there is nobody who
would regret an imprudent word or action more than Mr.
Grattan."
" If he said anything to wound the feelings of Evelina,
he deserves a severe castigation of conscience."
They arrived at home about two o'clock in the morning,
15





174


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


and there was Uncle Robin at the door, waiting their
arrival.,"Well, Robin," said the Doctor, " has the weddingparty cleared out?"
" Yes, masser, all de strangers dat was here-dun cleared
out, sir."
SWas everything conducted properly, Robin?"
" Yes, sir. Dey didn' dance, cause dey couldn' git de
fiddler; I a'n't been hear any noise, sir; Is bin told dey
'muse' demsel's playin' sell de thimble, sir.  All de black
people 'pon dis plantation sleep now, but me."
" I did not expect you to sit up, Robin, after everything
was quiet."
" Masser, I thought de bes' plan to 'lieve your mind,
sir, was to set up tell you corn' home, an' let you know
dat everything went on well, sir,"
" Did you get any supper, Uncle Robin?" asked Mrs.
Boswell.
" Yes, Missis, Dinah send me large piece o' cake, and
somethin' of every thin' she had for supper, madam,"
CHAPTER IX.
WHITE RUNAWAYS.-RELENTINGS.
THE next morning before breakfast, Rachel (Mr. Stephens's cook) came over to let Mrs, Boswell know that
her mother was sick in bed, and that the Crosbys had
taken themselves off to the poor-house to their parents,
the evening before, without leave,





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


175


( That is just what I have been expecting," said the
Doctor, " that they would run off. What talk it will afford
the gossips in the neighbourhood! How they are to be
gotten back, I can't see, my dear;- I think the only plan
now, is for us to carry Kate and Molly over and insist
that your mother shall keep them, and I will bind: out
those children to somebody else. They will never stay
there, and it is not worth while to be troubled with them
any longer."
Mrs. Boswell, in tears, said, 44I cannot express to you,
my dear husband, my thankfulness for your kindness to
my dear parents; I see no other plan than the one you
propose, but I am fearful that my mother, even in this
extremity, will not consent for the girls to wait upon her."," There will be no harm in trying the experiment, my
dear, and the girls must get ready to go with us."
Breakfast was hurried, in consequence of Mrs. Boswell's
anxiety to see her mother. When they arrived at Fredonia, Mrs. Boswell went into her mother's chamber, and
found her quite sick. She complained much of the conduct of John and Sally, and wanted them sent for immediately.
", My dear mamma," said Mrs. Boswell, "4if we were
to send for them, their parents would not let them return,
and if we were to force them back, the whole neighbourhood would be up in arms against us. The Doctor has
suggested a plan, mamma, which I hope you will agree to.
We have brought with us Kate and Molly, who are very
good, tractable servants, and if you will try them, mamma,
you will find much more satisfaction than you have ever
had with those Crosbys, and you can keep them as long
as you wish,"





176


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


" My dear Ann, I am very thankful to the Doctor for
his kindness, but I don't think I can consent to be waited
upon by slaves."
" Oh, do, for my sake, mamma, give up such prejudices.
You have been waited upon by those two little awkward
creatures, who looked miserable all the time they were
here. We now offer you two girls nearly grown, who
have been well trained to housework, who, if you treat
them well, will do everything you want them to do, with
cheerful countenances, and be as happy here with you as
possible. Do, mamma, consent to take them; you will
find so much comfort in them."
She made no reply, but was evidently not so determined
ýagainst taking them as she was at first. Mrs. Boswell
opened the door and called the girls in. Kate looked
frightened, and seemed to be listening for the horrible
words, ( poor creatures." If they were uttered, they were
inaudible. Mrs. Stephens, however, covered her face with
the counterpane. The girls were set to work by Mrs.
Boswell, to put in order a room where everything seemed
to be out of place, and when it was made neat and comfortable, she proposed to her mother to sit up in an arm
chair until the girls could make up her bed. She got up
with the assistance of her daughter, and weht to the chair,
keeping her back to the girls. Mrs. Boswell observed
her casting her eyes over the room, and was pleased to
Sdiscover upon her countenance something like satisfaction
at its altered appearance.
She complained of much weakness, and begged that the
girls would make haste with her bed. When it was done,
Mrs. Boswell assisted her back to it, and when covered





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


177


up, she said in a low voice, "4 What comfort there is in a
well made up bed!"
" Mamma, won't you have something to eat? I think
you would be much better after drinking a cup of good
coffee or tea."
" My dear Ann, I don't think there is any preparation
made for breakfast. Rachel was sent over to Selma, and I
doubt whether there is any fire made in the kitchen, yet."
"4 Girls," said Mrs. Boswell, " go and get water, make
a fire in the kitchen, put on the tea kettle, help Rachel
about breakfast, and have it ready as soon as you possibly
can."
They were absent but a short time, when Kate came
and told her mistress that the kettle was boiling.
cc Already!" said Mrs. Stephens;, I did not suppose
they had been gone long enough to make the fire."
" Mamma, when servants work cheerfully and willingly,
they won't take long to do anything you put them at. I
suppose it would have taken those little Crosbys two or
three hours to make a tea kettle boil."
cc My dear Ann, I don't wish ever to hear those Crosbys
mentioned again."
"I am delighted, mamma, to hear you say so, and I
hope you will never see or hear of them more."
While this conversation was carried on in the chamber,
Mr. Stephens and the Doctor were engaged in a similar
one in the dining-room. Mr. Stephens was informed of
the arrangement, and readily consented to relinquish all
claim to the Crosbys under the indenture. The Doctor
determined to leave Mrs. Boswell at Fredonia, and go and
see Squire Brown, who he knew had to hire hands for his





178


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


farming operations, and who he thought would be accommodated by Mr. Stephens's transfer of the indenture.
Before he left home, he had told Uncle Robin to bring his
horse over to Fredonia. Breakfast was soon brought in,
and Mrs. Boswell carried a cup of coffee and some crackers to her mother, who said she had not tasted such good
coffee for months before. After breakfast was over, Uncle
Robin came to the door, and asked his mistress whether
he could see her ma.,I will ask mamma, Uncle Robin, if she will see you."
The old lady sent him word that she would be glad to
see him in the chamber; and Mrs. Boswell, thinking that
her presence might be a restraint upon their conversation,
went into the dining-room. She had great hopes that
Uncle Robin would say something to her mother which
might reconcile her to be waited on by slaves.
" Missis," said Uncle Robin, "I's sorry to hear you is
sick, madam; how you do, now?"
"I thank you, Uncle Robin; I feel somewhat better
since I drank a good cup of coffee my daughter had made
for me. How are you, Uncle Robin?"
" Thank God, missis, I's in reasonable health, madam.
I think from what dey tells me, missis, you mus' bin made
sick by dem little white creturs you had here, madam.", I think it probable, Uncle Robin, that my sickness
was caused by the trouble and vexation they occasioned
me."
" Why, madam, white sarvants in dis country an't so
good as blacks, anyhow, madam. I don' know how it is
whar you com' from, madam, but white folks too proud
here, madam, for good sarvants. I wou'dn' give dem two





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


179


gals masser brung over here, to-day, for cuppen full o'
white sarvants, madam."
" Well, Robin, I came to this state, thinking that the
slaves here were the most miserable creatures in the world,
and that they were always anxious to get away from their
masters whenever they could. Now, Uncle Robin, I think
I can rely upon what you say; and I wish you to tell me
whether they are really happy or miserable?"
" Well, missis, I gwine tell you nothin' but the truth,
madam. I does think as de black people bin brung to dia
country, madam, dat dey better be slave here-den free.
I see how it is, madam, wid de free niggers, and wid de
slaves, madam; and, if you b'leve me, if my masser wus
to say to me dis day, Robin, you may be free,' I'd say,
SNo, masser, I won' be free; who gwine take care of me,"
masser, when I gits ole, and pass wuck, masser?' Missis,
I never bin see miserable sarvants, madam. Why, sarvants bin happy, madam, eber sence de days of Solomon.
When dat queen (what you call her, missis?) went to see
all Solomon good things, she tell Solomon he sarvants look
happy: so it bin always, madam, wid sarvants who have
good massers. If dem people way back North, madam,
would but let niggers alone, dey'd be jus' as happy as
white folks, madam. Now, missis, don't you think any
mo' of dem good for nuttin' Crosby, madam, but try dese
gals, Kate and Molly; an' if dey don' mak' your time
easy, madam, you may say Robin know'd nothin' 'bout it."
i Uncle Robin, I have had so much more comfort in the
short time that these girls have been here, I will try them,,
if for nothing else than to gratify my daughter, who is so/
very anxious that I should keep them."





180


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


"< You gwine do jes what's right, madam, de Scriptur'
say, parents mus'n' provoke der children to anger, madam.
Now dar's no danger of provokin' my missis to anger,
madam, but if you don' keep dese gals, dar's danger, madam,
of provokin' my missis to hard thoughts 'bout you, madam,
which is nex' thing to anger."
<( Uncle Robin, how does your Sabbath school come on?
I understand you have one that you superintend; these
girls, I suppose, must be sent over to the cabin on Sabbath
morning?"
", Why, madam, my Sunday school does com' on right
well; I does super'tend it, but dar's always som' white
man or 'oman dar, dat's what de law require', madam.
I'll be 'bliged to you, madam, to sen' dem gals over 'bout
nine o'clock."
"V ery well, Uncle Robin, they shall be there in time."
" You' sarvant, missis. I hopes de Lord will raise you
up off dat bed, madam, and dat you may live in peace and
quiet wid dem gals."
" Good bye, Uncle Robin, you must come and see me
again when you have leisure."
Dr. Boswell was hailed as usual by old Mr. Frazer as
he passed his door on his way to Squire Brown's.
< I suppose, Doctor, you were at the grand affair at
Major Scott's last night."
" Yes, Mr. Frazer, I was there."
" Was it a very superb entertainment, Doctor?"
" Everything was very nice, and good, and abundant,
Mr. Frazer, but I saw nothing very superb or splendid."
"Well, sir, from what I heard of the preparations, I
thought it would have been a tearing down party. I





AND TOM WITTTTOTT ONE.


181


understand, Doctor, there is another Yankee come into
the neighbourhood; I hope he won't take off another of
the Virginia girls. I am very anxious to know how that
fellow Benson will get along with those ten negroes the
Major intends for him; now, I'll lay you a wager, sir, that
he sells them off to the traders."
" Indeed, Mr. Frazer, I can't gratify your curiosity, for
I know nothing of Mr. Benson's arrangements. You seem
to keep up your antipathy to the Yankees."
4Yes, Doctor, I do most cordially despise them all.
Why, sir, I have just heard that another gang of negroes
have gone off from up the valley; there's nobody's property
safe, sir. If something isn't done with these Yankees
who are prowling about among us, we shall lose all the
negroes in the state, sir. Oh! Doctor, those children went
from here this morning; they came here last night about
dusk, and asked me to let them stay all night; I asked
them where they were going, they said to see their parents,
and upon further inquiry I found they had run off. I
thought at first I would take them back to Mr. Stephens,
but they begged so hard, and looked so miserable, that I
had not the heart to do it. I gave them their breakfast
this morning, and they are gone to the poor-house. It
is not worth while, Doctor, for you to attempt to get them
children back; they say they won't stay, unless they are
kept constantly tied, and the old man won't let them go
back, I know, sir."
" I don't intend they shall ever go back there, Mr.
Frazer; I shall make some other arrangements for them."
" What other arrangements will you make for them,
Doctor?"
16





182


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


" You will hear in good time, Mr. Fraser, after they
are made."
4Indeed, Doctor, I'm not one of those people who
would pry into other people's matters; what little news I
do pick up at this public place, is generally forced upon
me. Do you know whether old Mr. Preble has certainly
forbidden Mr. Grattan to come to his house, Doctor?"
"cNo, I have never heard that he had, and if there is
such a report in circulation, I don't credit it at all.  I
believe it to be entirely false, sir."
SWell, sir, I only heard it as a report; I don't vouch
for its truth; it is shameful for people to circulate such a
report if it's not true."
" True or false, Mr. Frazer, such things ought not to
be freely talked of, about a minister of the gospel."
" That's just what I tell people, Doctor."
The Doctor rode off and left him. When he arrived at
Squire Brown's, he found him talking with old Mr. Crosby,
who had been brought over in a cart from the poor-house
(about a half mile distant). The children had gotten there
before he left, and he had come over to the Squire's to
consult with him about them. The Squire met the Doctor very cordially, but old' Mr. Crosby seemed very much
disinclined to take the hand which the Doctor held out to
him.
"I am come, Squire Brown," said the Doctor, to see
you upon the subject which I suppose brought Mr. Crosby
here.",I come here, Doctorl to see my children righted,"
said Mr. Crosby, with much vehemence; " they've been
treated worse than brutes ought to be treated, sir; and
if there's any justice in law, sir, I'll have them righted."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


183


The Doctor very mildly replied, ",Mr. Crosby, I am
sorry to see you give way to passion; I don't wish your
children to go back to Mr. Stephens, but wish this matter settled to the satisfaction of all parties, and want to
have as few words about it as possible. I have come here,
hoping that Squire Browii would take them off his hands."
"4That's just what I would wish," said Mr. Crosby;
" I look upon the Squire as a humane man, and one very
fitten to have my children, sir."
4Doctor," said the SqUire, "cyou have taken me entirely by surprise; but I will go and consult my wife, and
if she thinks she can do anything with Sally, we will take
them. I know John will be quite useful to me."
The mildness of the Doctor, and his very acceptable
proposal, having subdued the anger of Mr. Crosby, he remained silent until the Squire returned.
", Well, Doctor, my wife thinks she can make Sally useful, and we have agreed to take them. Whatever clothes
they have left at Mr. Stephens's, can be sent over to
Frazer's shop."
"g They were furnished, Squire, with very good clothing
when they came, and with some since the first suit; but
to satisfy all parties, I will leave in your hands six dollars
for their use.",I always knowed, Doctor," said Mr. Crosby, "that
you would do the right thing, and I'm very much beholden
to you, sir."
When the Doctor was gone, the Squire said to Mr.
Crosby, he was very sorry he had said anything to
wound the feelings of such a good man as Dr. Boswell.
" Squire," he replied, " if the truth must be told, I was





184


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


as mad as blazes when I first saw the Doctor; but I soon
cooled off, and I'm mighty sorry if I wounded his feelings,
for he been monstrous good man to me, sir."
" I think it very probable, Mr. Crosby, that the cruelty
of Mrs. Stephens to your children gave the Doctor almost
as much pain as it gave you; but he was very delicately
situated. I don't know how he could, with any regard to
her feelings, have hinted at, or advised a change in her
treatment. I suppose, after this, the Stephens's will be as
fond of being waited on by slaves as any of us. Those
Northern people soon get over the notions they bring here
with them."
The Doctor went directly to Fredonia, taking care to
give spur to his horse as he passed Mr. Frazer's shop.
They were all very much pleased to hear that the Crosbys had been disposed of with so little trouble, not excepting Mrs. Stephens, who had the Doctor in her chamber
that afternoon, and who behaved more rationally, and
more like a lady, than she had done since her arrival in
Virginia. It was apparent, that from sad experience and
wholesome appliances, the kink in her brain was in the
way of being unravelled.
cI hope I see you better, this afternoon, Mrs. Stephens?" said the Doctor, as he seated himself by her bedside.
", Thank you, Doctor, I am much better than I was this
morning; Ann's being with me all day has been of great
benefit. I feel myself under great obligations to you,
Doctor, for the trouble you have taken in settling this
disagreeable matter; I will try hereafter to give Ann and
yourself less uneasiness on my account. I will confess to





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


185


you, Doctor, that the prejudices which I imbibed in early
life, and which I brought with me to Virginia, are somewhat removed by what -I have seen and felt since I have
been here; and I think my happiness now depends upon
the success of an effort which I am fully resolved to make,
entirely to eradicate those prejudices.
4 Doctor, I have no doubt that when you have been
contemplating the many excellencies in the character of
our dear Ann, you have often contrasted hers and her
mother's, and wondered at the astonishing difference.
Although I do not pretend to equality with Ann in those
qualities which adorn her character, yet it is due to myself, Doctor, to say, that you have seen me in Virginia
under the trembling influence of a solitary idea, which
had almost overthrown my'mind, and which had entirely
obscured traits of character, much lower in degree than
those of my daughter, to be sure, but, I flatter myself, infinitely higher than the perverseness, folly, and childishness, induced by that one idea, would seem to indicate.
I must acknowledge, also, that the same influence operating
upon a temper naturally excitable, caused great impatience
under trials, produced by the very bad conduct of thore
children whom I foolishly took here, and that I sincerely
regret the cruelty which I exercised towards them. Your
girls, I promise you, will receive different treatment; for,
besides the warm feelings of benevolence which I hope I
shall always cherish for persons in their situation, the recollection of your kindness, Doctor, I hope, will restrain
any passionate inclination to correct your servants, who
are so fortunate as never to receive correction from your'
self."
16 *





186


UNCLE 'ROBIN IN 111S CABIN;


"ý Well, madam," said the Doctor, "c servants as well as
/children should be taught implicit obedience; and if they
require correction, it should be administered in moderation, from a sense of duty, but never in anger, madam."
It was now getting late in the afternoon, and the girls,
who had not been present when the conversations took
placebetween Mrs. Stephens, the Doctor, and Mrs. Boswell, about their remaining, seeing their master and mistress preparing to go home, were making similar preparations for themselves in another room. Mrs. Boswell said
to them, " Girls, you are to stay here and wait upon papa
and mamma."
They both exclaimed, "c Oh, missis, we don' wan' stay
here, madam; please let us go home wid you an' masser."
" No, you can't go; your master and myself have both
told mamma that you were to stay; she has promised to
be very kind to you; you must be good girls, mind what
is said to you, and keep mamma's room and the diningroom in nice order. You must be over at Selma by nine
o'clock on Sunday morning."
"4 Not 'fore Sunday, missis?" exclaimed Kate, in tears.
", Good-bye," said Mrs. Boswell; " now mind, you must
be good girls."
She left them both weeping bitterly.
When they got back to Selma, they found Mr. Henry
Stephens there, from Norristown.
S"My dear brother," said Mrs. Boswell, "cI never was
so delighted to see anybody in my life; and so unexpected,
too. Why did you take us by surprise? You mentioned
nothing of coming to Virginia, in your last letter, which
papa-received a few days ago."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


" No, Ann, when I wrote that letter I had no idea of
coming, but business brought me to Baltimore, and I
thought I would make you a flying visit."
" My dear brother, I am sorry to hear that it is only to
be a flying visit; I hoped you had come to stay with us
some time."
S"No, Ann, I can only give you one day (to-morrow),
the next day I must set out again for home."
" I am truly sorry to hear that, Henry," said the Doctor; "you must think better of it.yet."
" It would give me much pleasure, I assure you, Doctor,
to remain longer, but important business requires me to
be at home in two days from, the day after to-morrow."
" Your servant told me when I arrived a few minutes
ago, that mamma was sick. You are just from there, I
suppose; how is she, this evening?"
c There is not much the matter; she has taken a slight
cold, and will be quite well to-morrow, I hope."
" I must go over and see them; how far do they live
from here?"
" About a half-mile, brother," said Mrs. Boswell; " come
into the portico, and I will show you the house. Supper
will be brought in directly, and you can go over and stay
with them until bed-time, if you choose, and then come
back here; they are not prepared for lodging any one."
After he was gone, the Doctor said: " I can't imagine
what has brought Henry on to Baltimore; I thought his
business was generally in the direction of New York or
Boston."
SI fear, from what papa told me the other day, that
Henry's affairs are not in a very prosperous condition.





188


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


lie was afraid, he said, that the failure of a mercantile
house in Boston had shaken Henry very considerably;
he does not think him well qualified for being a merchant,
and wishes him to sell out and buy a farm."
" I wish he would buy a farm, in this valley near us.
There are several farms near this, offered for sale; I will
mention it to him."
" My dear husband, Henry will never come to Virginia
to live; he is as sensitive upon the subject of slavery as
ever mamma was."
" I think it rather unfortunate, my dear, that he should
have come here just at this time; he may throw your mother
back upon that (to me) discordant note of (poor creatures.'"
" I hope they will have other things to talk about than
slavery."
" A real abolitionist, my dear, lugs in that topic head
/and heels, neck and shoulders, in place and out of place:
it is an eternal ding dong with them. I should not be
surprised if those girls are sent back, forthwith."
" I have no fears of that sort. Mamma's confession, today, was wrung from her by bitter experience and necessity, and she is not going to throw herself back upon the
extremity in which I found her this morning. You can
form no idea of the comfortless situation in which she was,
when she attributed her behaviour since her residence in
Virginia, to partial alienation of mind, produced by that
fixed idea. She was right, for she has seemed to me an
entirely different human being from what she was in Pennsylvania. If Henry's visit will have the effect you apprehend, it will be unfortunate that he ever came. It will be
a sad disappointment to me, if she does fall back again into





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


189


that dreadful state of mind, and deprives me of the pleasure I now anticipate from her more rational society."
" I too, Ann, have marked the difference between Mrs.
Stephens-in Virginia, and Mrs. Stephens in Pennsylvania,
and I have for some time thought she laboured under
partial hallucination."
" I wish I had told Henry not to mention the subject
of slavery to her."
c" That never would have done, my dear; such a request
would have filled him brim-full of the subject, and his
vessel would have overflowed at his first glance at Kate
and Molly."
Mr. Henry Stephens returned before bedtime, and expressed himself much pleased with his father's and mother's
situation.
" Was mamma sitting up, Henry, while you were there?"
asked Mrs. Boswell.
" No, Ann, I found her in bed, with two black girls in
her room at work. I had a great inclination to say to
her that I never expected to witness such a sight as my
mother surrounded by slaves who were labouring for her;
but I thought if she chose to give in to the practices of
Virginians, it was no business of mine. I know one thing,
that if the Lord spares me my senses, wherever I am, I
shall retain my abhorrence of slavery."," The Doctor was just saying, brother, that he would
propose to you to sell out in Norristown, and come and
settle by the side of us in Virginia."
"Although I should like to be near the Doctor and
yourself, Ann, I could never consent to that. No, my
life must be spent in a free state; I should be the most





19'0


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS 1 CABIN;


unhappy man in existence, to live where my eyes would
see a slave at work at every glance."
- Then you don't like work, Henry?" said the Doctor.
",Yes, I do, sir; I like to see everybody employed in
some work or other; but let them be free, and work only
as long as they please, and just on what kind of work they
please. I don't like to see people who have no wills of
their own, made to be eternally delving in work that they
have no interest in."
" Henry, were you ever through one of your Northern
factories?"
" Yes, sir, to be sure; I have been in Northern and
English factories, too."
"Do the people in those factories, Henry, work when
they please, and leave off when they please, and have they
an interest in the work they are delving at?"
(( Why, Doctor, if they left off from work when they
pleased, they would be turned out of employ; they certainly
have an interest in their work to the amount of their wages."
", Would the wages of a labouring man in England, or
the North, Henry, furnish him with good warm winter
clothing, and necessary decent summer clothing, and two
abundant meals of bread and meat, for every day in the
year?"
I can't answer that question with certainty, Doctor,
but I suppose his wages would be rather scant for that."
" Then, Henry, my slaves have more interest in the
work they are engaged in than the labouring people of England, or of the North; for they have, as wages of labour,
all those things I have enumerated; and although they
work at the will of their master, it is a more lenient will





AN9D TOM WITHOUT OTNE.


191


than the~will of necessity, which you have acknowledged
obliges those free white people to work. Your remarks,
however, apply to persons not bound out to masters, as
operatives in factories and workshops; what is the situation of those who are?"
",They are kept at work all day and part of the night,
I believe; but that depends upon the time at which they
finish their tasks."
" Do they get any wages, Henry, which gives them an
interest in their work?"
SThey are clothed and fed, sir."
" Do you suppose that the clothing and food which they
get would amount to half of the annual cost of the articles I told you my negroes get?"
" Not more than half, I suppose."
"My negroes, then, have double the interest, in the
work that they do, than that description of operatives,
and are required to be engaged a much shorter time at
work. When those operatives who are bound to their
employers, neglect to finish their tasks, what is the consequence?"
" They are made to do it, sir; and if they don't, they
are flogged."
" Henry, I wish you could stay with us, and read two
small works, one called 'Helen Fleetwood,' and the other
(The Little Pin-headers;' then go and see the situation
of the negroes on my plantation of the same ages with
those boys and girls mentioned in those works; and draw
the comparison for yourself between their relative situations."
- Doctor, I am against slavery in toto, and it is not
worth while for us to argue about it."





192


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


" No, it is not, Henry; there are none so hard to convince as those who are determined not to be."
Before Mr. Stephens retired to bed, he told his sister
that his father and mother requested that she and the
Doctor would come over with him, and spend the next day,
so that they might all be together.
"4 Doctor," said Mr. Stephens, the next morning as they
were walking out, "I have a very particular and important business on hand, the transaction of which will be
infinitely beneficial to me. My partner in business wishes
to withdraw from the firm, and has offered me his interest
in our establishment for three thousand dollars, payable
in three months, and requires a draft on a mercantile
house in Boston, to run for that time. He can get the
money on the draft, provided it is well endorsed; and,
having heard of your circumstances, he is willing to take
you as the endorser. I would esteem it a particular
favour if you would lend me your name."
" Are'you well enough acquainted, Henry, with the
'liabilities of your firm to be perfectly satisfied that the
purchase will be a safe one? Does not the wish of your
partner to sell to you, on what you call advantageous terms,
raise something like a doubt of its being, profitable to you
after you have made the purchase?"
" Not at all, sir; he is anxious to go to Europe on an
adventure, from which he expects much more profit than
he could possibly reap from our business, were we ever so
successful. He is a man in whom I have great confidence,
and I am well satisfied there is no liability unknown to
myself. I can give you a positive assurance, Doctor, that
the draft will be paid at maturity, and there is not, I may
say, a possibility of your being made to suffer."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


193


"c Under that assurance, Henry, I will endorse the
draft." They went into the house, the draft was produced, and endorsed by the Doctor. They all spent that
day at Fredonia, where nothing occurred of sufficient
interest to relate. Mr. Stephens returned home on the
following day. On that day Miss Evelina received a visit
from Mr. Hicks; her father paid him marked attention,
but she, recollecting his connexion with the distressing
incidents of the wedding-night, felt every disposition to
avoid his company, and the civility in her deportment, if
civility it may be called, not being in accordance with the
feelings of her heart, was a painful effort, forced upon her
by a sense of duty to her father.
"I hope," said he, " Miss Preble experienced no inconvenience from her late, or rather early, ride from the
wedding?"
SNo, sir, not the least."
SWe should have had a much more pleasant party if
we had been allowed to dance. Don't you think so, Miss
Preble?"
SI don't know, indeed, sir, how much it would have
added to the pleasure of others; but it would not have increased mine at all, as I never dance."
" Well, that's strange. I had somehow or other taken
up the idea, that dancing was a universal amusement in
Virginia; and I did not suppose that I could be at a party
here, where there was no dancing, or that I should have
met with a single Virginia lady who was not fond of the
amusement."
" It is by no means a general practice in Virginia, sir."
SI declare, miss, I think I've seen the amusements of
17





194


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


the Virginia dance, with the accompaniments of the
pigeon wing, the cutting out, and cutting in, celebrated
in poetry and song."
" Very probable, sir, as the slaves in Virginia are passionately fond of the dance, with the accompaniments you
mention."
"Poor creatures, I guess they get rid of the sorrows
of the heart, throftgh the medium of the feet."
" They are very often, sir, advised to use the feet as a
medium to escape imagined sorrows."
Mr. Preble was made very uneasy by Miss Evelina's last
thrust, and changed the subject, by asking Mr. Hicks
how he liked Harper's Ferry.
4" Oh! 'sir, it's a grand display of the sublime; but I
must confess that I was disappointed in my expectations,
which had been raised too high by Mr. Jefferson's extravagant description of it."
" You should go, Mr. Hicks, to see our Natural Bridge,
which is a work of nature far superior in grandeur to
Harper's Ferry."
" I should have abundance of time, Mr. Preble, as Benson has determined not to return until after the 15th of
the month. I came here as his waiting man, and I guess
I must obey his orders, particularly while I am in a land
where obedience is enforced by the rod. How far do you
call it to the Natural Bridge, sir?"
" It is, I believe, sir, between one hundred and fifty
and one hundred and sixty miles."
" Are there stages running from this section to the
bridge, sir?"," Yes, sir, there is a stage running up the valley every
day."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


195


" It is very inconvenient to me, Mr. Preble, to stay
from home as long as Benson requires I should do. Do
you think, Miss Preble, that, as his groomsman, I am bound
to stay until he says I may go?"
"I suppose, sir," responded Miss Evelina, " that a
groomsman, after the performance of the duty for which
he was engaged, is perfectly absolved from all obedience
to his master (if you so call the groom), becomes a free
man, and has a right to return home when he likes."
" I declare, Mr. Preble, you have put me very much in
the notion of going to the Bridge. Miss Preble, don't you
think I had as well spend a part of the time I remain in
Virginia in taking that trip?"
" I think you said, Mr. Hicks, it would be very inconvenient for you to remain as long as Mr. Benson wishes;
I could, therefore, never advise any gentleman to sacrifice
his convenience, or his business, to pleasure."
" Oh! as to convenience or business, the loss of a few
days will be of but little moment. I meant to ask you,
miss, whether if I stay (as I have determined to do), you
thought I could derive more pleasure from a trip to the
Bridge, than by remaining where I am?"
" I should think a trip to ithe Bridge would afford you
much more amusement, than remaining in this neighbourhood; and as that section of country furnishes much to
please strangers, you might spend the whole time which
will intervene between this and the 15th in viewing its
beauties."
Old Mr. Preble excused himself to Mr. Hicks for being
obliged to leave him to be entertained by his daughter,
saying that he had an engagement to meet a gentleman





1.96


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


at Mr. Frazer's shop, and that the hour appointed had
nearly arrived, expressing a hope that Mr. Hicks would
repeat his visit to the Cottage, if he determined not to go
to the Bridge.
Mr. Hicks thanked him, and said he was perfectly excusable in not neglecting his appointment.
" Miss Preble," said he (taking a nearer seat), I assure
you I had no serious thought of going to the Bridge;
there's attraction for me in this neighbourhood far beyond
any that a sight of the Bridge offers."
" I am at a loss to understand, sir, how this neighbourhood, which you have not generally seen, and in which
you have not been three days, should have for you attractions superior to a work of nature, which is acknowledged
to be one of her grandest efforts."
4 Nature, miss, produces works upon a smaller scale,
which, if they fail to excite astonishment and wonder, are
eminently qualified to engage the affections of the heart."
SThe works of nature, sir, whether upon a large or
small scale, are calculated to engage the affections of
the heart for nature's Great Architect, but not for the
work itself."
" Nature's Great Architect, miss, has made some works
after his own image, one of which presents itself at this
moment, in the person of Miss Evelina Preble, as worthy
of every affection of my heart."
"Mr. Hicks, I esteem it but a poor compliment to a
lady's understanding, her prudence or discretion, to be
addressed in such language after an acquaintance not yet
of three days' length; and I am constrained, sir, to take
my leave of you." She left the room with a dignified air.
Mr. Hicks was in considerable difficulty to decide whether





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


197


he should ring the bell for a servant to send and implore
Miss Evelina to return, stay until Mr. Preble returned,
and lay his case before him, or go back immediately to
Major Scott's. He decided in favour of the latter course,
and in the road leading by Mr. Preble's outer gate, he
met the Rev. Mr. Grattan. As they passed, there was a
slight recognition from each. That accidental meeting
caused much uneasiness to both; it was conjectured by
Mr. Grattan that Mr. Hicks was from the Cottage, and by
Mr. Hicks that Mr. Grattan was on his way there. This
last conjecture, however, was without foundation, as Mr.
Grattan was on a parochial visit to a member of his congregation, who lived beyond the Cottage.
Dr. Boswell had rode that morning as far as Mr. Frazer's, with Mr. Stephens. Mr. Frazer saw him as he was
passing, and in a very earnest manner said, " Doctor, get
down; I've got something to show you; it is worth seeing,
I can tell you." The Doctor alighted, and as he was going
into the house, Mr. Frazer directed his attention to two
advertisements, tacked to the side of the house, one on
each side of the door. The Doctor read the first one he
came to, as follows:
SWill be offered for sale at the shop of Joel Frazer,
on the 15tl instant, ten likely slaves, for cash. These
slaves consist of three families, and not being sold for any
fault, they will be set up in families. No bid of a trader
will be taken, nor of any one residing out of the county.
GEORGE PREBLE."
He read the other advertisement, as follows:
" Will be offered for sale, for cash, on the 15th instant,
17





198


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


before the door of Joel Frazer, ten likely negroes. They
will be set up singly, and sold to the highest bidder.
ROBERT BENSON."
"That's just what I told    you, Doctor, that that
Yankee would sell his negroes. And see, too, Doctor,
how he's going to sell them; not like George Preble, in
families, in the county, but to anybody and everybody.
/Now mind what I say, Doctor, if he don't get from twelve
to fifteen hundred dollars more than George gets for his.
Give me old Virginia, Doctor, any day, for humanity. I
won't swear in your presence, Doctor, but I was just going
to curse that Yankee."
" Mr. Frazer," said the Doctor,  he couldn't well do
otherwise than to sell his negroes, as they could not be
carried to Boston."
" To carry out his abolition principles, Doctor, he ought
to set them free; that's the real truth of the matter."
" You could not find many Northern people, Mr. Frazer, who would do that; they would take them from the
South in a body, but they hold fast to slaves, or their
value, when they become possessed of them."
(I understand, Doctor, you got the Crosbys off Mr.
Stephens's hands. They have a fine master now, sir;
Squire Brown is a first-rate man."
The Doctor, finding that Mr. Frazer was getting upon
a subject which had occasioned him great uneasiness, and
which he wished never to hear mentioned again, left him.
On his way home he overtook the Rev. Mr. Grattan returning from his visit, and carried him to Selma, to dinner.
Mrs. Boswell said to the Doctor, when they arrived, that





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


199


she had been over to Fredonia, where she found her mother
busily engaged with the girls, at work on a flower bed in
the garden, and that she had never seen her in better
spirits at any time.
"4 A great change has come over your mother, my dear,
since she has gotten partially rid of that kink in her brain.
Mr. Grattan, I suppose you have heard something of Mrs.
Stephens's vagaries upon the subject of slavery, since she
came to Virginia? I believe it has been the common talk
of the neighbourhood for some weeks."
"Yes, sir, I have heard that she was very sensitive
upon that subject, and felt much concerned that a lady so
closely connected with your family should have her peculiarities made a topic for neighbourhood gossipping. I
was disposed to make every allowance for what I considered
the result of prejudices, founded upon misapprehension of
what slavery really was in Virginia, induced by the very
false representations made of it. I felt confident, that
when she had been long enough in Virginia to judge for
herself, those prejudices would be removed: and that any
unfavourable impression which might be made on the
public mind, would pass off, and be forgotten."
" The indulgence, sir," said the Doctor, " of those anti
slavery prejudices, to the extent to which she carried
them, does certainly impair the intellect. Mrs. Stephens
in Virginia has appeared to me entirely different from
Mrs. Stephdhs as I knew her in Pennsylvania. I am
happy to inform you now that her views upon that subject
are undergoing a change, and that there is every prospect
of her becoming entirely reconciled to a relation which
she once, through ignorance, abhorred. It is a source of





200


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


great satisfaction to us, that her character, which, among
strangers to her former self, may have suffered loss, is
about to be restored to a proper appreciation of its worth."," I assure you, sir," said Mr. Grattan,,"it gives me,
also, great pleasure to hear it."
" I see from George Preble's advertisement, Mr. Grattan, that he has made up his mind positively to go to
California."
", What advertisement do you allude to, sir?"
"I saw an advertisement to-day, of George's, advertising ten negroes for sale on the 15th."
" George is certainly to blame in taking his wife to such
a distance from her father and mother; and, moreover,
the inhumanity of selling slaves, who are guilty of no fault,
should have at once banished all thought of it," said Mr.
Grattan.
" George is about to sell his in a manner attended with
as little inhumanity as possible; he advertises them in
families, and restricts the sale to persons living in the
county. Benson advertises his, without any restriction,
to be sold separately."," That, sir, places sympathy, and a real tender consideration for those persons, in the latitude to which it in
truth belongs-the South. The North has set up pretensions to such feelings; but those pretensions, as evidenced
in the cas. of Benson, prove false when interest is at stake.
I am astonished, Doctor, that Major Scott'should have
given them negroes, under the circumstances in which
they were placed."
6 I have conversed, sir, with Major Scott upon that
subject. He said that he wished to give his children





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


201


something at their marriage; that he had no money, and
no other property but negroes to give them; that he had
been all his life opposed to selling negroes, but that he
was perfectly reconciled at the mode of sale proposed
by George; and he and George were both of opinion
that Benson would undoubtedly sell in the same way.
Mr. Benson's manner of selling will cause him great pain,
I know. The Major and his wife are destined to suffering
which should not be wantonly increased."
SIndeed, Doctor, when I think of the bereavement
which hangs over them, my sympathies are highly excited.
Mrs. Scott, I know, will bear the separation with true
Christian resignation; but I fear the Major will not have
sources for consolation to which she resorts."
"4Mr. Grattan," said Mrs. Boswell, "have you seen
Evelina since the wedding?" and, with an arch smile,
added, "I wonder if the Boston beau has been to the
Cottage, yet?"
" To your question, Mrs. Boswell, I can answer, no,
that I have not been to the Cottage since that night; and
I can put a stop to your wonder, by saying that I met Mr.
Hicks this morning just from the Cottage, as I supposed."
" Had you any conversation with him?"
" No, madam, we passed each other in the road. I was
about to rein up my horse, to speak to him, but I observed
he put spur to his; and our recognition was scarcely perceptible."
" Mr. Grattan," said the Doctor, "you may put your
mind at ease upon that subject. I have known Evelina
from her childhood; and I know that she never would
consent, under any circumstances whatever, to take such





202


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


a man as Hicks as a companion for life. They would be
two of the most uncongenial souls that ever got together."
< Mrs. Boswell, you have been divulging, I see, to the
Doctor, some of our secrets."
" Why, you know, sir, I promised to obey my husband
in all things, and when I asked him that night on our way
home, if he would promise to keep a secret, he said I was
bound to tell him whether he promised or not; and I looked
upon that as something like an order, and obeyed."
" I can assure you both, that I have heartily repented
of the folly of that night," said Mr. Grattan.
" If Mr. Hicks has any idea of Evelina, the meeting
must have disturbed him more than it did you, as he must
have concluded that you were on your way to the Cottage.
But I can't think that he has any such intention, as I
overheard Miss Eliza McKnight tell him, that Evelina's
affections were engaged, or something to that effect, and
Miss Eliza had her own reasons for making that communication, no doubt."
" Why; my dear, you never told me of that before," said
Mrs. Boswell.
" My dear, those things make so slight an impression
upon my mind, that my memory scarcely ever brings them
back, after the occasion has passed, and I perhaps never
should h ve thought of it again, but for the present conversation. I think Miss Eliza McKnight would have no
sort of objection to catch Mr. Hicks, herself."
Charles came into the room to let the Doctor know that
Uncle Robin wanted to see him.
" Well, Robin, what's your will?"
4 De people all seems dispose', sir, to hear de Rev. Mr.





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


203


Grattan speak a word, dis evenin', sir, an' as we not very
busy, I thought I'd cor' to ax you leave, sir."
" I will ask Mr. Grattan, Robin, and if he has no objection, I shall have none."  He went back and proposed it
to Mr. Grattan, who cheerfully consented, and Robin was
told to summon the negroes to attend at his cabin, at four
o'clock. After dinner, the Doctor and Mrs. Boswell
accompanied Mr. Grattan to Uncle Robin's cabin, where
they heard a discourse from which they, as well as the
slaves, might derive benefit.
When Mr. Grattan was taking his leave, Mrs. Boswell
informed him that the brides and grooms, and some other
friends, would be at Selma on the next day; that she had
intended to invite him by a written invitation, but there
was no necessity for it now, and she hoped he would be
of the party.
" It is not my habit, Mrs. Boswell, to go to large gatherings, except when duty calls, and I hope the Doctor and
yourself will excuse me."
"c We should be much pleased to have your company,"
said the Doctor, " but you are perfectly excusable not to
break through, even on our account, a rule which I cannot but think very proper for a minister to adopt."





204


UNCLE ROBIN IN I1IS CABIN;


CHAPTER X.
THE WEDDING-DINNER.
A LOVELY morning ushered in the day, and gave promise
that the wedding-dinner would be well attended. The sun
had not risen above the horizon, before breakfast was over,
and Mrs. Boswell was engaged in finishing preparations
for a splendid dessert, which she had commenced two days
before.
When it was all ready for the instruction of Charles
and Cecilia, every dish was placed in its proper position
upon a large table in the pantry, and they were told to
place them in that;order, when brought to the table in the
dining-room. She said she had been often put out of
patience with servants, for misplacing dishes, and by the
confusion produced by every one around the table attempting to bring their irregularity to order; evincing, not
unfrequently, as much ignorance as the servants themselves. There was an empty dish at the head for the plumpudding, which was to come in hot. The Doctor was called
in to admire it, after the arrangements were completed.
", Well, my dear," said he,," that does credit to Norristown. I have only one objection to make; your pyramid
is so high there is some danger of its falling."
" Not the smallest; it can't fall, it is too well proportioned," said Mrs. Boswell.





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


205


Mr. Hicks, notwithstanding the stern rebuke which he
had received from Evelina, determined to go over to the
Cottage, just in time to accompany her and her father to
Selma. When he got there, Evelina was at her toilet.
The servant who waited in her room, was sent into the
parlour for something she had left there, and when she
returned, she said to her young mistress, that she had
heard her Pa tell Mr. Hick that he would have his horse
put in the stable, and dat Mr. Hick was gwine in de carriage. Miss Evelina went immediately to take counsel,
where she always resorted for that purpose, to her Aunt
Priscilla. In a voice indicating a feeling of horror, she
exclaimed:
" My dear aunt, what do you think? Papa has asked
that man to go to Selma in the carriage with us."
" What man, my dear?" said Miss Priscilla Graham.,-That man Hicks, from Boston, whose conduct here,
yesterday, I told you of last night."
" My dear, you shan't go with him, if I can prevent it."
" Well, shall I send papa word, aunt, that I have a
headache, and can't go?"
" No, my dear, that would be false; and I am astonished
that you should have proposed it."
" Indeed, aunt, I did not mean to tell a falsehood; my
head does ache very severely."
"My dear child, although your head may ache, still
such a message as that would be false. You would be assigning to your father, as the cause of your not going to
Selma, a headache. Now you know, Evelina, that notwithstanding the headache, you would have gone to Selma,
but for this Mr. Hicks being invited to go in the carriage."
18





206


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


" My dear aunt, I proposed it without reflection; I did
not mean, I assure you, to tell an untruth. What shall I
say to papa keeps me from going?"
" My dear, we could make no excuse but the real one,
which would not be deceptive; and I must tell your father
plainly, if he insists upon knowing the cause of your not
going, that I do not wish you to ride in the same carriage
with Mr. Hicks. Evelina, my dear, do you go into the
next room, and I will send for your father to come up
here. Mary, go and ask Mr. Preble to come up into my
room, if he pleases."
Mr. Preble followed Mary when she returned.
" Mr. Preble," said Miss Priscilla, "I am sorry to give
you the trouble of walking up stairs; I wish to inquire of
you, whether this Boston gentleman is to go to Selma in
your carriage?", I have invited him to do so, madam; he has consented,
and his horse has been put away."
SI am very sorry for it, Mr. Preble, as it will prevent
Evelina from going."
4 Why so, madam? I can't see why it should prevent
her from going. I invited Mr. Hicks, because I supposed
it would be more agreeable, this hot day, to go in the carriage, than to ride on horseback."
" Mr. Preble, such a favour as that is not expected by
a stranger; 'nor is it customary to extend it to an entire
stranger, as Mr. Hicks is, to you and your family."
" Miss Priscilla, I do not think that is a sufficient reason
by any means for Evelina's refusing to go. This gentleman has been brought here by a dear friend of my son,
and we are to presume that if he was not a fit associate





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


207


for us, that Mr. Benson would not have introduced him
here. And, as it is my wish that he should go in my carriage, Evelina has no right to object."
SEvelina says not one word against Mr. Hicks going
in your carriage, sir; but, as he is to go, she prefers staying at home, and I think, sir, for a very good reason."
cc Well, madam, I have not yet heard anything like a
good reason for her not going; and I have a right to lay
upon her the commands of a father, and make her go."
" Mr. Preble, you certainly have that right, but I hope
you will not exercise it, sir, under the circumstances of
this case; and I am forced, reluctantly, to tell you what
those circumstances are. You left Evelina and Mr. Hicks
together, yesterday, in the parlour; and in your absence,
he, an entire stranger as he was, professed attachment
for her. I think, sir, it was an insult offered your
daughter, for a stranger to suppose that.she was so entirely devoid of prudence and discretion as to form a
matrimonial engagement with him almost at first sight.
Evelina, sir, received his proposal in such manner as every
female who has proper respect for herself ought to have
done, by immediately leaving the room. And if she were
now to go in the same carriage with him to Selma, he
would consider it encouragement to renew his addresses.
I hope, sir, now that you know the whole cause for her
declension, you will not force her to go."
"4 Well, madam, it does seem to me that you and Evelina have made much fuss about nothing. I think that
the highest compliment a gentleman can pay a lady is to
address her. I know very well what is the real cause of
Evelina's not wishing to go with him. You may tell her





208


UNCLE ROBIN IN 11HS1 CABIN;


from me, madam, that, although I shall not force her to
go, it will avail her nothing in regard to another matter."
He then took his leave; and in a few minutes he and Mr.
Hicks were on their way to Selma.
", I am very much surprised and mortified, Mr. Preble,"
said Mr. Hicks, " that your daughter declined going to
the party, to-day; and I fear, sir, that I have been the
innocent cause of her not going, by accepting your polite
invitation to take a seat iri your carriage, as I guess she
might apprehend that our being seen together, in your
carriage, might have given umbrage to another individual."
cc I don't care, sir, who it gives umbrage to; I gave you
the invitation, and now say to you that you are welcome
to the seat you now occupy."
", Mr. Preble, your kindness emboldens me to introduce a
subject which is nearest my heart. From the moment I
first saw your daughter, I have cherished an ardent affection for her; and when you left us together, yesterday, I
could not resist the violence of my attachment; and I
will candidly confess to you that I made it known to her.
Perhaps it was too hasty in me to do so; but I hope, sir,
you will excuse me, on the ground that the ardour of my
attachment overstepped the cold rules of custom, and that
I became the avowed lover of your daughter only a short
time in advance of the period which those rules would
have sanctioned as a fit time for making the declaration.
Having made known to you, sir, the state of my heart, I
will now ask your permission to continue my suit."
" If you and Evelina, Mr. Hicks, can come to an agreement upon this subject, I shall be satisfied. I have formed
one determination in regard to my daughter's marrying,





AND TOM WITIOUT ONE.


209


and that is, that I will never force her to marry any one
contrary to her own wishes, and that she shall never marry
any one contrary to mine."
Mr. Preble having been kept at home later than he intended, by Miss Priscilla Graham, they arrived at Selma
after the company had assembled, and many were the expressions of regret and astonishment at the absence of
Evelina. To Mrs. Boswell's inquiry of her father why she
had not come, the old gentleman was at a loss at first to
give answer, but said something about her Aunt Priscilla
being a curious old lady. The conversation in the carriage
had given such life and spirits to Mr. Hicks, that it was
observed by the whole company; and the conjecture with
some, was, that his trip to the Cottage that day, must
have given rise to something more than ordinarily agreeable. Some conjectured that Evelina's absence was owing
to her thinking that it would look too particular for her
to ride in the same carriage with a suitor; others, that she
was afraid to let Mr. Grattan see her by the side of Mr.
Hicks. There were some few, however, who knew Evelina well, and thought she had acted in strict accordance
with her known prudence and delicacy of character.," Upon my word," said Miss Eliza McKnight, ",you
seem to be upon the high ropes, to-day, Mr. Hicks. No
wonder, when you have been more highly favoured than
I have ever known a stranger to be."
" How's that, Miss Eliza? your remark wants explanation."
a Why, sir, to be set up in Mr. Preble's carriage-perfectly at home, sir,-entertaining the old gentleman, no
doubt, with future prospects of happiness for yourself and
18*





210


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


his daughter! There's Evelina staying at home, too,
thinking it wouldn't look entirely prudent for her to-be
seen going abroad in the carriage with her intended.  It
may be she was afraid some one else might have been here
to-day, who might have thought his right to ride in the
carriage was prior to yours, sir."
" Your conjecture was ahead of the fact, Miss McKnight.
I wish it may be realized, however, at some future day."
The lady bit her lips in evident displeasure, for she had
hoped to have drawn from Mr. Hicks a declaration that
he had no intention of addressing Miss Preble. His conversation thus failing to be as pleasant as she wished, she
took a vacant seat, leaving him standing in the floor.
George Preble occupied a seat next Mrs. Boswell. The
latter remarked that she sincerely regretted his sister's
absence.
" Evelina," he replied, ",was perfectly right not to
come; and as soon as I saw that man Hicks get out of
my father's carriage-knowing the prudence and delicacy
of my sister as well as I do-I was satisfied she was not
there. It is no longer a secret that she is actually engaged to Mr. Grattan; and what would have been thought,
if she had to-day accompanied, in her father's carriage,
this man who has been pestering her with his visits, and
who is already supposed to be her lover?"
"Although, Mr. Preble, I regret Evelina's absence, I
must say that I admire her the more for not coming, under
those circumstances. She has acted just as I think she
ought to have done. Why did not Major and Mrs. Scott
come?"
" I thought they were coming, madam, until the carriago





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


211


came to the door. They then both said they had no disposition to go into company to-day. Just look over
yonder, Mrs. Boswell, at Benson. What does he look
like?  We gave him a most befitting nickname at College-' Old Grum.'   i e has a most peculiar turn of mind;
he seems to be always absorbed in his own contemplations,
and I fear greatly (between ourselves), that he has, in an
eminent degree, one trait of character I did not suspect
until within a few days past-a money-loving, penurious
disposition. His advertisement of his negroes has staggered me. I can never fully recover my former regard
for him."
c4 Were I his bride, Mr. Preble, I should be very much
concerned at his sombre appearance. I should be always
uneasy lest people should think him unhappy in his marriage relation-that he had been disappointed in his wife,
or something of that.sort. I suppose, however, it is small
concern Amelia gives herself about it."
" Very possibly; if she can hug and kiss old Mammy
Betty five or six times a day, it is the summit of her
happiness."
"Betty is to go with them, to Boston, I understand.
Indeed,,Amelia told me so herself."
"0 O! yes-she is to go. Amelia would sooner part with
Benson, than with her; though Benson had rather carry
the old dame to Boston in his pocket, in the shape of banknotes, than in human form."
The Doctor, seeing how completely Benson had cut himself off from the lively social intercourse of the company,
here took a seat by him in his hermitage of a corner, and
inquired if he had seen much of the neighbouring country.





212


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;,. No," he replied, 4,I take a little walk every day for
exercise; but have not been on horseback since I came to
Virginia."
" Well, sir, if you are fond of extensive landscape views,
you would be highly gratified by a ride over the river into
the mountain, from some of the heights of which you would
have a splendid view of this whole valley."
SI have been so much accustomed, Doctor, to expanded
water prospects, that I don't take much to land views.
Moreover, the sight of vessels coming in and going out,
loading and unloading, so expressively reminds one of the
extensive commerce of the world, that he scarce retains a
taste for other spectacles. Boston harbour now, sir, at
this very moment, presents a business-like appearance
which is delightful. I can enjoy it even in memory."
SBut, my dear sir, when you happen to be so far removed from that scene, you might, methinks, let memory
go to sleep for a while, and enjoy other scenes for the sake
of variety."
SIt is not my nature to take pleasure in variety. What
my mind takes to, it dwells upon. For instance, I could
take pleasure in thinking upon trade and its incidents, and
would not care to have it shut out by any other topic."
The Doctor gave up his contest with trade and its
incidents, and strolled to the side of Mrs. Benson. That
lady's fixed allusion was to her intention of carrying her
mammy to Boston with her. She expressed a fear, that,
as Mr. Hicks had told her, the people of Boston would
laugh at her for applying such a term to an old black
woman, adding:
" Would you care, if you were in my place, Doctor?"





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


213


" No; I should let them laugh on, and call her mammy'
still."
c" That's just what I mean to do, Doctor; and I know
besides, that all Boston can't take her from me."
" No, indeed; I'll go security for that."
", How delighted the dear old creature will be to see the
big houses, and the ocean, and the ships! How happy we
shall be together, there!"
SI hope you may. You may need her lively and cheering company, there, as Mr. Benson seems to be g9nerally
absorbed in his own reflections."
"c Oh! he's always thinking of business. I can hardly
ever get a word out of him."
" I think you will get along very well with each other
-he with his trade and its incidents, and you with your
mammy."
" Well, I'll promise I'll let his trade alone, if he'll let
my mammy alone."
" If you will stick to that determination, madam, you
will both be as happy as the days are long."
As the Doctor passed from Mrs. Benson's side, he
caught the eye of Miss Rosa McKnight, who beckoned
to him to come to her, where she was entertaining Mr.
Sebastian.
"Doctor," said she, in an undertone, "cMr. Sebastian
mentions a rumour that Mr. Benson has advertised for
sale ten negroes, given him by Major Scott. I cannot
credit it, that a gentleman living in the very heart of abolitionism, should do such a thing. Have you heard anything of it?"
C"I have seen, Miss Rosa, more than I have heard. I





214


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


have seen his advertisement, and he as certainly intends
to sell those negroes on the 15th, as that you are sitting
in that chair. And what is still worse, he intends to sell
them in a manner that will be accompanied with all the
horrors of separation."
" Well, I never could have imagined, that after all the
fuss Northerners make about slavery, a Yankee from Boston would sell negroes. I think it probable that is all
Mr. Hicks is after in his attentions to Evelina Preblegetting hold of some of the old gentleman's negroes, to
sell.",4 I do not know whether he has been often to see Miss
Evelina; but I think her sufficiently attractive in herself,
to secure the visits of young gentlemen, with no help from
slaves."
" She may be all that, Doctor, for what I know."
The host's next tour was one more decidedly of dutyto introduce his father-in-law, who had just entered the
room. After the presentation, Mrs. Boswell inquired of
her father what had detained him, and why her mother
had not come also.
c You know, Ann," he responded, " your mamma never
goes into company."
" Oh, papa, it would have been so fine an opportunity
to make mmama acquainted with her neighbours."
Charles announced dinner, and never in the valley of
Virginia had been seen a more abundant, appetizing, or
tasteful displaf of viands than graced the board at Selma
on that bridal occasion.
The Doctor's first toast was the health and happiness
of the brides and grooms; and at the second round of the





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


215


bottle, he looked significantly at Mr. Benson,--- Here, sir,
is to trade and its incidents;" then turning to Mr. George
Preble--" To California and its gold, sir." The dessert
was then brought on, and to the no little annoyance of Mrs.
Boswell, Charles and Cecilia, in their great anxiety to
follow the pattern set for them, had forgotten some of the
localities. For instance, a dish of custard glasses was
placed before Mrs. Boswell instead of the plum-pudding,
and the pudding before Mr. Hicks, on the side of the
table; another custard dish before Miss Eliza McKnight,
who sat opposite Mr. Hicks. They both observed, from
Mrs. Boswell's manner in pointing towards certain dishes,
that something was wrong in the arrangement; and Mr.
Hicks pushed the pudding to the middle of the table, to
range with the pyramid which sat before him; and Miss
Eliza followed suit with the custard, completing the range
with the pyramid on its lower side. After a good deal
of disturbance, many directions, and officiously tendered
assistance, the material discrepancies were adjusted. There
were some minor ones, however, which Mrs. Boswell was
content should remain, as the consequences of further
effort at harmony might be still more vexatious. The
slight unadjusted derangement, however, did in no way
impair the flavour of the delicacies which were left
somewhat out of appropriate locations. Mr. Hicks was
heard to say that he could eat just as much plum-pudding
carved in the middle of the table, as if it was carved at
the head. The beauty of that board at Selma was in a
short time marred by empty glasses, empty plates and
dishes, half-destroyed cakes and puddings, &c.
As the company was returning from the dinner-table to





216


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


the parlour, Mr. Hicks proposed to Miss Eliza McKnight
a walk in the garden, which she caught at with apparent
delight. Uncle Robin generally spent his forenoons in
attending to the operations of the plantation; it was his
custom, however, to work the garden in the afternoon.
Mr. Hicks and Miss.Eliza went towards him as soon as
they saw him, Miss Eliza pointing him out as the " pious
old man who owned the cabin."
" How do you do, my old friend?" said Mr. Hicks.
" Thanky, masser, the Lord's goodness spares me yet,
sir."
" Don't you get tired of work as late in the day as
this?"
SNo, masser, I wucks at my lesur, sir; 1 can't say I's
ever tired."
" Would you not like to work for yourself, old. gentleman, and not for a master, as you do now?"
" Why, sir, I is wuckin' for myself when I wuckin' for
my masser, sir; dese close I got on, de dinner I just dun
eatin', I wucks fur when I wucks for my masser."
" But wouldn't you like to be free, and work for yourself only, old gentleman?"
" Masser, I can't wuck always, you know; if de Lord
spar' my life, I gwine git too old to wuck, some time or
other, sir; and what I gwine do den, if I wus free, sir?
and when I gits too old to wuck, my masser gwine take
care of me, till I die, sir."
" Wouldn't you like, old man, to be raised from the
degraded condition of a slave to the level of a free white
man?"
" Masser, if you b'leve me, sir, niggers can't never be
raised, in dis country, as high as white folks, anyhow."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


217


" Why not, old gentleman? if you set them free, and
give them an opportunity to get property and learning,
why can't they be made like the white man?"
"Well, masser, jes look at it a little while, sir: my
name is Robin Strange; now, sir, s'pose Robin Strange
was free man, bin to college, have fine edication, fine plantation here 'pon dis river, sir, got one carriage to ride in,
sir; an' Robin Strange hear dat Mister Dr. Boswell was
gwine have one fine weddin' party of white gentlemen an'
ladies; an' he, Robin Strange, put on he ruffle shut, hab
he carriage got, an' ax heself to go an' dine dar, too.
When Robin Strange drive up to de door, sir, you think
Mister Doctor Boswell gwine meet him at de door, help
him out of he carriage, and say,,I mighty glad to see
you, to-day, Mr. Strange?' No, sir; jes' soon as he see
one black man in dat carriage, he ider tell him heself, or
he sen' him word, sir, dat he don't en'tain black people at
he house, an' he mus' go back home; an', sure 'nough,
Mr. Robin Strange go back home, sir, wid flea in he ear.
Is dis bein' on a level wid white folks, masser? Here 'tis,
masser (running his finger over his hand and face); dis
here colour, sir, mus' war out 'fore you can make niggers
equal to white people, sir."
" Is it possible, old man, that you would rather be a
slave than to be free?"
" Masser, I tells you de plain truth when I say yes.
Dis, sir, is no country for free black man; Africa de only
place foi~ he, sir. I 'vise de young ones, sir, whose massers want um to go to Africa, to go dar; but I too old,
sir, to go to Africa. My masser been say to me, over an'
offen, Robin, you may have your freedom, an' you wife
19





218


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


an' children, too, if you'll go to Africa.' I say,.'No,
masser, I don't want to leave you, sir; an' I's sorry you
willin' to part wid me, sir.' "
As they were returning to the house, Miss Eliza said:
SI declare, Mr. Hicks, Uncle Robin is a right queer old
man, isn't he? and didn't he say some things that were
right true?"
"No, indeed, miss, I could have upset everything he
said, if I had had time."
" Well, you people from the North, Mr. Hicks, know
a great deal about these things. I always thought that
if I was to go to the North, I should be an abolitionist.
Now, there are some people, if they were to go to the
North Pole, would like to carry slaves along with them; I
mean their notions about slavery. There's Evelina Preble,
so fond of slaves and slavery, that I do not think she
would ever consent to live anywhere but in a slave state."
" Miss Evelina Preble is so sweet and angelic a creature,
that she might almost persuade an abolitionist to come
and live in a slave state, if he could get her on no other
terms," replied Mr. Hicks.
Miss Eliza McKnight had thought that Mr. Hicks's invitation to a walk in the garden, was a good omen for her;
but that last reply was overwhelming. When she got into
the house, she told her sister Rosa and Mr. Sebastian (who
had come with them), that it was time for them to be going
home.
The company all left in good time for getting home.
As Mr. Stephens was taking leave, Mrs. Boswell said,
" Papa, I will not trouble you with any bundle, for mamma.
as I have already sent her some of all the good things we





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


219


have had, to-day. You and she must come over, to-morrow,
and help the Doctor and myself to eat what is left."
A short time before Mr. Preble and Mr. Hicks were
expected back at the Cottage, Evelina said to her Aunt
Priscilla, ", Aunt, I suppose we shall have Mr. Hicks here
with papa, to-night, as his riding-horse was left here.
What would you advise me to do, aunt; shall I go down
to supper or not?--I dislike very much to go into his company, again, and I don't think I can treat him with common politeness, if I go."
" My dear Evelina, I would advise you to go; your
father was a good deal nettled at your not going to Selma,
and I think you should avoid, as much as possible, giving
additional cause of offence, particularly at a time when
you stand so much in need of his kind consideration for
you. He will, no doubt, invite' this gentleman to stay all
night, and if he stays, I think it will be treating your
father with disrespect not to assist him in entertaining his
company."
" Well, aunt, if you think so, I will go down and make
an effort not to be rude to this man, whom I think I despise
more than I do anybody else in the world."
Mary then told them that the carriage had returned,
and that the gentlemen.were in the parlour. Shortly
afterwards, Mr. Preble sent for Evelina to come down.
She obeyed the summons without going to her toilet.
Instead of endeavouring to improve her appearance, she
would rather that night have frightened Mr. Hicks away
by her uncomeliness, than to have been in his sight a perfect Hebe. But her loveliness, " when unadorned," was
",adorned the most;" and Mr. Hicks thought as she





220


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


entered the room, that he had never seen her look so bewitchinig.
c You can't think," said he, " Miss Preble, how much
pleasure you have missed in not making one of the party
at Selma, to-day. I do not think that I have ever been
at a more agreeable dinner party."
" I have no doubt, sir, that every effort was made on
the part of your entertainers, to make it agreeable to their
visiters."
4 Your absence was very much regretted, Miss Preble,
by your friends; and many inquiries were made of me as
to the cause of your" not being there, which inquiries I
was entirely unable to answer.", I think it rather strange, sir, that they should have
made the inquiries of a stranger, and not of my father,
who ought to have been presumed to know better than
yourself, what had kept me at home."
" I believe they made the same inquiries of him, miss.
Did they not ask you, Mr. Preble, what had prevented
your daughter from going, to-day?"
" Yes, sir," said Mr. Preble;  but I am sure I was as
unable as yourself to assign any good reason for her not
going."
" I heard some conjectures, miss, by one of your female
friends, as to your reasons for staying at home. Miss
Eliza McKnight had her notions upon the subject, but I
am not at liberty to say what they were."
c I have not the smallest inclination, sir, to hear the
conjectures of Miss Eliza McKnight upon a subject which
she could have known nothing about."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


221


T I guess Miss Eliza is rather a cute one, from what I
have seen."
" I do not exactly know what you mean by cute, sir;
but if she formed any conjecture (coming near the reality)
of what kept me at home, she must have more sagacity
than most people."
" I'll tell you what she had sagacity enough to find out,
miss; she says you are very much of an anti-abolitionistthat she does not think you would ever agree to live in a
free state."
" In that, sir, I will give her credit for just as much
sagacity as she is entitled to, for having discovered, and
truthfully related, what my feelings are upon that subject."
" If you were to go to a free state, miss, and experience
the real happiness resulting from the fact that every one
around you was just as free as yourself, your prejudices
would be soon laid aside, and you would be astonished
that you could ever have enjoyed anything like happiness
in a country where there are so many human beings in a
state of bondage."
" Those persons, sir, who have been born among slaves,
and have enjoyed happiness among them, and know how
happy the slaves are, too, had better remain where they
are, instead of seeking for a larger amount of happiness
where it may not be found. And on the other hand, persons who have found their happiriess in countries where
slavery does not exist, had better content themselves to
remain-their views and feelings being suited to that state
of things."
", Your views, miss, would produce an entire stoppage
of matrimony between citizens of the free and slave states.
19 *





222


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


I should certainly conjecture, from that remark, that you
thought my cousin Amelia had done very wrong in marrying Bob Benson."
SI have expressed no opinion, sir, and mean to express
none upon that particular occurrence. They have exercised their pleasure upon the subject, and it is not for me
to say whether it is right or wrong."
" Suppose you were to marry a gentleman who, after
marriage, wished to reside in a free state; would you not
think it your duty to submit to his decision, and go
wherever he wished ybu to go?"
" If I were to marry a gentleman, resident of this state,
and his interest called him to a free state, I should, of
course, sir, not object to his removal, although it might
be very much against my inclination."
SI have known many instances of that kind to occur,
miss. Ministers, for instance, often receive calls, and
accept them, too; and leave slave-holding states for the
free. A minister's wife, I presume, would not hesitate,
when his interest called him to a free state, cheerfully to
obey the call?", I presume not, sir, if she loved her husband as I suppose all good ministers' wives do; and, if a wider field of
usefulness lay before himin a free, than in a slave state, it
would be sinful in his wife to wish him to disobey the call."
" Distinguished ministers, who occupy country parishes
in the South, are very apt to receive calls from our Northern cities; and from the reputation of our friend, the
Rev. Mr. Grattan, I guess it is not improbable that he
may receive a northern call, some time or other."
( The Rev. Mr. Grattan, sir, will -be faithful in dis




AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


223


charge of his duties to any congregation who might be so
fortunate as to obtain his services."
Evelina could stand such conversation no longer, and
left the parlour. Her father had been reading a newspaper, during the latter part of the conversation above
detailed; and when Evelina retired, his paper was laid
aside.
" Have you a father living, Mr. Hicks?" said he.
"Yes, sir; my father is an importing merchant in Boston. He owns several ships, and has some important
adventures now upon the ocean."
"c His business, then, I suppose, is profitable?"
-c Yes, sir; he is engaged in the East India trade, with
a partner residing in Salem; and they have been very
successful. I suppose my father, sir, can't be worth less
than half a millilon of dollars."
(A large family, I suppose?"
",No, sir; I have only two brothers, and one sister,
who married a wealthy merchant in Salem. I guess he's
almost as wealthy as my father. One of my brothers is
doing a good business for himself; the other is a youth,
at school; and, when I-get back, I expect to join my
father in business; so you see, sir, we are a thrifty family."
"Very, indeed, sir."
", Mr. Preble, the subject upon which I was talking to
you, to-day, on our way to Selma, is one that I have much
at heart; but I very much fear I shall have to abandon it,
as I should rather infer that Miss Evelina's affections are
engaged. I hear from various sources that there is a good
understanding between herself and the Rev. Mr. Grattan,
and the manner in which she speaks of that reverend gentleman confirms the reports."





224


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


cShe shall never marry Mr. Grattan, sir, as long as
my head is above ground."
c" I am very much at a loss, sir, to determine what course
to pursue; my affection for your daughter is a very sincere
one, but then there is no use in cherishing it, if it is not
reciprocated."
" As I told you this morning, Mr. Hicks, I never will
force her to marry against her own inclination; and I
again repeat, that she shall never marry against mine."
" Does your daughter know of your determination, Mr.
Preble?"
" Yes, sir, she is fully apprised of it."
(< Suppose you again speak to her on the subject, Mr.
Preble, and perhaps when she finds that it will be folly
for her to cherish a passion for an individual whom she
can never marry, her affections may be transferred to
another."
SI will think about it, sir. In the mean time, it would
be well not to be too precipitate, and to give her time to
become better acquainted with you."
" I think you are right, sir; as Miss Evelina herself
has frequently spoken of our being strangers to each
other."
The next morning Miss Evelina was at her seat at the
breakfast table, where the conversation carried on between
Mr. Hicks and her father was not of sufficient interest to
relate. After breakfast Mr. Hicks ordered his horse, and
rode over to Major Scott's.   George Preble brought his
wife over that morning to see his Aunt Priscilla, for the
first time since his marriage.
c My dear children," said Miss Priscilla, with one hand





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


225


upon the shoulder of each, "I hope the Lord will bless
your union to the temporal and eternal happiness of you
both. I trust you have entered upon this interesting relation of husband and wife, with a fixed determination to
perform  the duties imposed by that relation, and that
there will be a union of effort to promote each other's
spiritual as well as temporal welfare. George, my dear,
the pleasure which I derive from your marriage with Julia
is very much marred by the prospect that we are so soon
to lose you both; and my old heart bleeds at thought of
the country to which you are going, and the debased state
of society in which you are to mingle. Wherever you are,
my children, the prayers of your poor old aunt will ascend
to heaven for your happiness, and especially for your protection from the contaminations of sinful associates."
"Aunt," said Mrs. Preble, "your solicitude for our
welfare, and your prayers for our protection, will, I trust,
come in "aid of what I hope is the natural disposition of
both George and myself, to avoid evil, and that we shall
be preserved from  those contaminations which you so
much apprehend."
" My dear, we should not trust to any natural disposition to good which we may imagine we possess; we are
all by nature poor sinful creatures, and it is only by the
grace of God that we can be kept from indulging the sinful instigations of the carnal heart.'
" My dear aunt," said George, "you should not look
only on the dark side of the picture which your imagination has painted, but turn it over and look at the bright
side too-portray George Preble and his wife, after an
absence of five years, returned from California with happiness and wealth."





226


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;, Ah! George, there you have coupled two thingshappiness and wealth, which, so far from being inseparable, are rarely found to unite. My dear child, how can
an enfeebled poor old creature like myself, form, in imagination, the outlines of a picture, five years before its representations are to be realized?  When you return five
years hence, that picture (pointing to her own likeness)
may be the only remembrancer of one who never ceased,
during life, to mourn your absence."
Evelina, whose heart was too full for her to join in the
conversation, was in tears on her aunt's bed, and when
this last sentence reached her ears, her grief became
violent.
"4 Come, Lina, you and aunt must cheer up; we don't
intend to go for two months, yet."
" George," said Miss Priscilla, "Evelina has been considerate enough to keep from me your intention of selling
your negroes, but Mary brought me your advertisement,
and I was really shocked to learn that you were going to
sell negroes when there is no necessity for doing so."
" My dear aunt, there is a necessity for my selling; I
can't carry them to California."
" But, George, necessity we make ourselves, is no excuse
for doing an improper act; the plea of necessity should
only be used when that necessity is the result of circumstances over which we have no control. This very necessity which you talk of, should have prevented your
going to California."
",Well, aunt, it's too late now; the people have been
informed that my negroes are to be sold on the 15th, and
I can't disappoint the public; the sale must go on. I have





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


227


endeavoured to divest it as much as possible of the horrors
attending the public sale of negroes."
SThose horrors, George, can't be altogether gotten rid
of. I have also seen Mr. Benson's advertisement, and he
will make no effort to mitigate the horrors of his sale."
" Aunt, I am entirely outdone with Benson; I did not,
until within a few days past, understand his real character.
I am much concerned that my college acquaintance with
him should have brought him here, and caused him to be
so nearly connected with us; but I couldn't help it, his first
trip to Virginia was entirely voluntary, I never thought of
inviting him to come to see me; the fact is, I had forgotten
there was such a human being upon earth, until the day I
returned from that memorable trip and found him here.
He has brought, too, another Yankee here, for whom I
feel a thorough contempt. What brings him so often to
the Cottage, Lina? he seems to be domesticated here,
riding to parties in papa's carriage, and staying with you
all night."
"(Indeed, George," said Evelina, ",you must ask him
and papa what brings him here, and what caused him to
stay last night; I had nothing to do with it, and if I had
my way, he should never darken our doors again. You
can't contemn him more thoroughly, George, than I do.",I never for a moment believed that it was any of your
doings, Lina; and as soon as I saw him get out of the
carriage, yesterday, I knew very well why you were not
there, and approved highly of your prudence. I know of
but one way for you to get rid of that chap."
"4 What is that, George? for I should rejoice to find out
a way."





228


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


" Well, I am very certain that pa won't part with any
of his property during his life, especially his negroes; now,
if pa would just tell him so, he'd be off in a minute. That
fellow, you may depend, has his eye upon negroes, he
wants to make just such a speculation as Cousin Bob
has made, and if he could get hold of them, you would
see just such another advertisement as Cousin Bob's."
" George," said Mrs. Preble,,"you should not be so
severe upon the Yankees, you should recollect how closely
we are now connected with Cousin Bob, as you call him."
4" Now, Julia, you know you have no better feeling for
Cousin Bob and Cousin Hicks than I have; indeed nobody seems to take to Cousin Hicks but Eliza McKnight,
and if her father had a few more negroes, I think Cousin
Hicks would take to her, a little more than he does."
" She evidently seemed pleased with his attention, yesterday," said Mrs. Preble; " and when they returned from
their walk in the garden at Selma, she looked as if something had disconcerted her."
"I observed Hicks," said George,,"in conversation
with old Uncle Robin, and have a great curiosity to know
what he was talking about. He is very unguarded in his
remarks about slavery, and it is very probable that he was
talking with him upon that subject. Uncle Robin would
be too hard for him there."
George excused himself to his Aunt Priscilla for their
short visit, alleging business of importance which would
call him to town, after his return to Major Scott's. In
their absence, Mr. Hicks had reached the Major's, where
he found his cousin Bob alone in the parlour, ruminating
as usual.





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


229


"4 Cousin," said he, I have on hand a little love matter
I've never told you of. Isn't Evelina Preble a sweet creature? I have a strong notion of addressing her. The old
gentleman and myself have talked the matter over, and I
think he's right well pleased at the prospect of having me
for his son-in-law."
", What! did you begin with the old man first, Dick?
that really is business-like. What did he say he would
give her, Dick? when you begin with the old folks, it
should be a matter of trade, sir, trade."
", There wasn't one word said about that, but I guess
the old chap was right willing to hear something about my
affairs, for he made many inquiries about father's property,
the number of children, &c."
" Then he's willing for the adventure, without putting
in any capital. Ah! Dick, that's the old one exactly. I
heard George say, when I was in Virginia before, that his
father would never part with one cent's worth of his property, during his life. We, you know, Dick, go for mutual
risk and mutual profit in trade."
" Well, cousin, did you in your own case take care that
there should be a pledge of capital before you made the
adventure?"
<' No, but in my case it was different; there was every
reasonable expectation, which was not dashed by the knowledge of any peculiar fondness for property's remaining,
in hand during life. In trade, Dick, we sometimes embark
in-speculation, upon reasonable probabilities-never against
them, however."
" Upon my word, cousin, you haven't made trade your
study for nothing. I'll see into this matter a little fur20





230


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


ther, before I embark in a partnership adventure where
capital and risk are all on one side, and probabilities
adverse, too. I'll go to-morrow, and see the old fox
again."
CHAPTER XI.
ABRUPT LEAVE-TAKING.
ON the same day Mr. and Mrs. Stephens walked over
to Selma, to spend the day. The latter was in fine spirits,
and looked upon the poor creatures, whom she had heretofore shunned, with as much calmness and composure as
if she had been with them all her life. In the afternoon,
she proposed to her daughter a walk to the cabin she had
heard so much about; and, after admiring Uncle Robin's
sanctum, their walk was continued through the whole line
of Cabin Row. When she had completed the inspection
I of all the cabins, she declared she had never, before, any
idea that slaves were made so comfortable. On their
return, they passed through the garden where Uncle Robin
was engaged in his afternoon work.
"How are you to-day, Uncle Robin?" asked Mrs.
Stephens.
" Thank you, missis, Robin still spared, madam; he
mighty glad to see you, missis, lookin' so well. How dem
gals been behave deselves?"
"c Those girls have behaved themselves remarkably well,
Uncle Robin, and have been a great comfort to me. The
difference between them and the Crosbys is very great, to





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


231


be sure, and I feel much indebted to you, Uncle Robin,
for removing from my mind some of my prejudices against
slavery."
4 Missis, if I bin de poor instrument, madam, in de
hand of de Almighty, to brung you to see things right, you
must give de praise to Him, madam, and not to dis poor
cretur' Robin. Missis, when you did fus' com' here, I
did pity you mightily, madam; I did see dat you was
under great mistake 'bout we slaves. Is what I bin hear
'bout people in your country true, madam? dat dey car'
picturs about, an' show 'em to eberybody, wid niggers tied
up by de heel, an' head down, an' oberseers whippin' dem
wid ox yoke; an' some oder picturs, wid niggers tied down
to de floor, an' der foot roastin' at de fire; an' some more,
too, wid niggers' hands sco'tched wid de brand? I s'pose
dem picturs, madam, if der's any truth in what I bin hear,
make you feel so bad when you fus' com' here; an' I did
wan' tell you so bad, madam, dat I bin neber see sich
things in Fugginney, an' I neber hear talk of sich things
tell I hear 'bout de picturs way back North, madam. I
bin hear, too, missis, dat der's some folks who tells de
people, dar, dat massers in dis country, when der niggers
runs away, puts out a noration, dat dey will give four
hundred dollar' to anybody who will bring one o' der runaway niggers to um, dead or 'live, madam. Now, missis,
does you thinks der's any such a foolish masser in dis
worl' who gwine giv' four hundred dollar' for de 'struction of he own property?","Well, Uncle Robin, I have heard of pictures representing the cruel treatment of masters to their slaves, but
I don't know that I ever have seen one. I have heard,





232


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


however, a great many untruthful statements, and those
statements had something to do with my bad feelings, I
have no doubt; but the story about the four hundred dollars was too absurd to be believed."
" Dat's jus' what I s'posed, madam; de Lord will bring
dem people to judgment, madam, for slanderin' der neighbers."
" Uncle Robin, did you get the cake I sent you yesterday evening?" asked Mrs. Boswell.
" Yes, missis, an' I thousand times 'blige' to you for
recollectin' Robin, when you had so many gentlefolks to
tend to, madam."
", Good-bye, Uncle Robin," said Mrs. Stephens; "you
mustn't forget your promise to come to see me."
"No, madam, I gwine try an' corn' ober some o' dese
times."
On the following day old Mr. Preble and Mr. Hicks
were in the parlour together, at the Cottage.
SHow do you think those negroes, advertised for sale
on the 15th, will sell, Mr. Preble?"
c" I think Mr. Benson's, sir, will sell very well; but
George will make a great sacrifice of his, by confining the
sale to persons residing in the county. I don't think
George ought to do it. The fact is, Mr. Hicks, when
people sell slaves, they might as well get for them as
much as they are worth. George is under no sort of obligaPion to let the people of this county have his property
~6r less than its value. When slaves are sold, it's just one
'of the consequences of their being made property by law;
and unless the law is altered, I don't see that it is incumbent on one single individual to be making an effort to





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


233


mitigate the rigours of the law, and depress the value of
property in his own hands, below what it is in the hands
of other people. Benson will get at least twelve hundred
dollars more for his lot than George will get for his."
" It was very liberal in Major Scott, sir, to divide his
property into three equal lots, and give to his sons-in-law
as great an amount in value as he retained for himself.
I suppose it is not very common in Virginia, for a parent
to divide his property before his death, and give it to his
children?"
"ý No, sir, by no means; parents generally spend large
portions of their property in educating their children, and
when that is done, they very wisely think that their
children should not come in for the balance until their
deaths. I have spent a good deal of my property upon
the education of my-children, and I am determined not to
give them any more until my death. I shall leave George
this plantation, and Evelina some negroes. As long as
she remains single, she of course will be genteelly supported here, but she must look to it when she marries,
and take care that she marries a man able to support her."
Mr. Hicks was not anxious to conduct the conversation
further, and took his final leave of the Cottage. He left
so abruptly that old Mr. Preble was fearful he had been
too explicit, but he could not bring himself to making any
promise of property before his death. Although he would
have been willing that Evelina should marry Mr. Hicks on
account of his reputed large fortune, he had no great
anxiety that she should marry at all, as George was about
to leave him for five years. Had he known, therefore,
that Mr. Hicks would not repeat his visits to the Cottage,
20*





234


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


it would have given him no very great concern. It was
expected that he would' give the wedding-parties a dinner,
but the old man had his notions of economy, which were
adverse to all expenditures not absolutely necessary; he
was, moreover, heard to say that the uneasiness of Evelina
and Miss Priscilla, at the expected departure of George,
forbade anything like hilarity at the Cottage.
CHAPTER XII.
THE SALE.
THE 15th of June at length came round. The departure
of twenty slaves very early in the morning from Major
Scott's, was attended with violent grief and lamentation.
Although they had been selected in families, there were
many dear relatives and friends left behind. Mrs. Scott
confined herself to her room, not wishing to witness the
scene; the Major went to and fro like a maniac, lamenting
his folly in having been instrumental in producing such
anguish. Mrs. Preble, like a perturbed spirit, was wandering from room to room, without any apparent motive.
Mrs. Benson, with her arms around the neck of old Mammy
Betty, gave vent to her feelings in the exclamation: ", Oh!
Mammy, I'm so glad you are not one of them."     The
lamentations in the yard and cabins were truly piteous.
George and iMr. Benson followed the wagons, and they
were all at Mr. Frazer's before ten o'clock. The crowd
they found there was great, and still increasing.  George's





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


235


lot of slaves were placed on one side of the road, separated
into families; Mr. Benson's on the other.  The crier took
his stand on a box in the middle of the road. Mr. Bosher
and four other soul-drivers (as they are called) were present, and confined themselves to that side of the road
where Mr. Benson's negroes had been located; they were
very minute in their inspections, examining their limbs
and various parts of their bodies, opening their mouths
and examining their teeth, pulling off hats and bonnets,
and making, in their own peculiar slang, remarks about
bald heads, gray hairs, scars, &c. There was a woman
in Mr. Benson's lot with an infant ii her arms, who seemed
to be in agony of grief, and to every trader who came up
to examine her, she said: " Oh! masser, do pray, masser,
if you buy me, buy my poor little baby an' my husband
wid me; t'other chilons may go, sir, but I can't part wid
my poor little baby an' my ole man, sir."
Her master walked by, and she implored him most piteously to set up herself, her husband, and her poor little
baby together; but he said he had informed the public
that they would be set up separately, and he couldn't now
alter his arrangements.
It was so arranged that George Preble's lot was to be
first sold. The crier read the terms of sale, and put
upon the block, Peter, his wife Chloe, and two children,
one a boy of fourteen years of age, the other a girl of
twelve. They hung for some time on a very low bid; at
length one dollar more was bid, and the hammer fell.
" Give your name to the clerk, sir," said the Crier to the
last bidder; and the name of John Stephens was given.
Chloe went up to George, who was standing near, and said,
" Masser, I can't go to dat man, sir."





236


UNCLE. ROBNIN IN HIS CABIN;


" Why not?" said George; " I should think you would
rather live with him than anybody else, so near your old
home."
" Masser, I, don't know nothin' bout him, sir, but I bin
hear he wife mighty cruel, sir."
" Oh! that's all nonsense; you must go to Mr. Stephens,
and you will be well treated, I know."
Old Mr. Frazer was staggering about in the crowd, and
when he heard that Peter and his family had been purchased by Mr. Stephens, "cWell," said he, "c wonders will
never cease; did I ever expect to live to see the day when
a Pennsylvania abolitionist would come to Virginia to buy
niggers?" Many similar remarks were made in the crowd;
and Mr. Stephens, to avoid further notice, had his lot
put into a two-horse wagon, and was soon off for home.
George's other two families were sold, at prices corresponding with the first, to persons residing in the neighbourhood. Mr. Benson's negroes were then set up singly;
the competition between the five traders ran their prices
up very high. With commendable feelings of humanity,
Mr. Bosher purchased the woman with her young child
and her husband, and promised not to separate them.
The crier announced that the sale was over, and that
Mr. Benson's lot had sold for fifteen hundred dollars more
than George Preble's.
4 Hurrah for old Virginia humanity!" said Mr. Frazer.
" George, you stay among us, old fellow, and we'll send
you to Congress."
" And where will you send Mr. Benson?" cried a voice
in the crowd., Kick him to the devil," responded Mr. Frazer.





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


The excitement in the crowd was so great against Mr.
Benson, that George told him he thought it would be dangerous for him to remain longer. He took the hint, and
left for Major Scott's.
Mr. Stephens had informed his wife, before he left home,
of his intention to purchase Peter and his family. He
said he had heard that they were excellent servants, and
that Chloe was a good cook. She made no objection, and
when they arrived was prepared to meet them very composedly.
"Well," said she, " who would have thought, Mr. Stephens, that we should be owners of slaves? But it's not
much to be wondered at, seeing that slavery is so different a thing from what we supposed it to be when we left
Pennsylvania. This is Chloe, and this is Peter (turning
to each); and what's the name of this girl?"
SShe name Sally, madam," said Chloe.
SAnd the boy, what's his name?"
SHe name John, madam."
SIndeed! Mr. Stephens, I had rather they should have
been named anything else in the world; I wished never
to be reminded again of those wretched little Crosbys."
" Well, my dear, I suppose you could change their
names, if you-like. Were \they ever christened, Chloe?"
" Yes, sir, dey bin christian by de minister wid dem
names."
4 It is too late to change them, now.  I think their
being named Sally and John very little matter, my dear."
" Oh! I don't care much about it, Mr. Stephens."
Such an accession to their numbers reminded them of
the necessity of sending Molly and Kate back home.





238


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


They were directed to get their clothes, to go back to
Selma, and say to their master and mistress that Mr. and
Mrs. Stephens sent their best love and thanks for their
kindness, and that they were sent back because they had
no further use for their services. Mr. Stephens had that
morning borrowed Dr. Boswell's two-horse wagon, but had
not hinted to the Doctor what he wanted with it. The
truth was, he was somewhat ashamed to let the Doctor
know that he intended to purchase negroes.
c What in the world has happened, now?" said the
Doctor, when the girls delivered the message. "T I suppose
your mother, Ann, has heard of this sale, and it has metamorphosed those girls into poor creatures again."
cWhy doesn't mamma want you any longer, Kate?"
said her mistress.
Dc De dun brung heap o' servants of de own dar, madam,
de dun got Major Scott Peter, an' Aunt Chloe, an' Sally,
an' John, madam."
The Doctor and Mrs. Boswell looked at each other with
astonishment.
"4 My prophecy, Ann, has had its fulfilment in a much
shorter time than I expected."
" Suppose we walk over, after dinner," said Mrs. Boswell, " and see this.wonder of wonders, my father and
mother surrounded by slaves of their own."
They went over in the afternoon, and were met by the
old people with countenances which would be vulgarly
called sheepish.
The Doctor, in a playful manner, said, <, I understand,
Mr. Stephens, you have been buying some of these (poor
creatures' at last."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


239


" Oh! Doctor," said Mrs. Stephens,," don't be too hard
upon us, we have only given you an evidence of the thorough
change in our feelings and sentiments; and as for (poor
creatures,' let the expression become obsolete with us, at
any rate; let us remember it as a thing that was, and that
is now gone for ever."
c" Well, madam, it belonged to you, and you can make
what disposition of it you please, even to bury it for ever.'"
The new purchase was brought in for the Doctor to pass
judgment upon the bargain. He pronounced them very
cheap.
" What are the names of your children, Chloe?" asked
the Doctor.
"De gal name Sally, an' de boy John, sir."
",Mrs. Stephens, I should think you would like those
two names to become obsolete, and to be buried alongside
of 'poor creatures'."
S"It will be a hard trial to me, Doctor, to have those
names always sounding in my ears, but I hope after a
while to forget those detestable children they now remind
me of."
4"Doctor, what shall I do with Rachel?" asked Mr.
Stephens. " We have no use for her now, as Chloe will be
our cook hereafter."
"She is free, you know, and she can go where she
pleases. Give her some little matter to release you from
your contract with her, and she can get employment elsewhere without any difficulty."





240


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


CHAPTER XIII.
A TRIP TO BOSTON.
ARRANGEMENTS had been made by Mr. Benson to leave
for Boston, on the day after the sale: he, his wife, Mr.
Hicks, and Mammy Betty, left Major Scott's early in the
morning of that day for the depot. Mrs. Scott and the
Major had suffered so much in anticipation of that event,
that the reality was rather a relief than otherwise. Amelia
promised, when she left, to pay them a visit at the end of
twelve months; to which Mr. Benson consented conditionally, if trade was slack in the following June. We will
follow them to Boston; nothing of importance occurring
in their journey, except that an effort was made in Philadelphia to prevail upon Mammy Betty to leave them. Old
Mr. Benson's house was on State street, at which they
arrived in the afternoon of the fourth day from Virginia.
Amelia was received by her father and mother-in-law, not
with that warmth of affection with which a Bostonian
daughter-in-law would have been received in Virginia, but
with as much kindness and politeness as the old people
were capable of manifesting. Mr. Benson, Sr., was the
prototype of Mr. Benson, Jr. Trade and its incidents,
with him, never gave way to any protracted exhibition
of kindness or politeness; and, in a few minutes after his
first introduction, he was in his counting-room again.





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


241


Mrs. Benson the elder was a middle-aged lady, cold
and formal in her manners, extremely neat and precise in
her dress, the style of 'which was that which prevailed in
New England a hundred years before; she was unquestionably of Pilgrim descent, and, to all appearance, not
many generations distant from Pilgrims of the olden time,
She and her son conducted Amelia to the parlour, and
Mammy Betty, not knowing where else to go, followed
them. Mrs. Benson the elder eyed the latter with intense
curiosity.
",Robert," she said, " who have you brought here with
your bride?  I trust you haven't brought a slave along
with you, my son?"
" Mother, you know there can be no slaves in Massachusetts; this old woman was a slave in Virginia, but she
is now free, and as she is very fond of Amelia, having
nursed her, I consented to her coming with us; we should
have to hire a servant at any rate for our chamber, and
she will answer very well as Amelia's chamber cleaner, at
lower wages too than we could possibly get a white one."
" You are so accustomed to black waiters, child, that
you don't want to be waited on by white ones, I guess?"
addressing herself to Amelia. " Moth--moth-Mrs. Benson," said Amelia, I have no dislike to white servants,
madam, but my old Mammy Betty and myself are so fond
of each other that we couldn't bear to be separated."
" Is it possible, child,'you call her mammy?  That's
like the poor people here, who, when they say mammy,
mean mother."
" In Virginia, madam, all the children call their black
nurses mammy."
21





242


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


SWell, child, it does sound mighty strange; the people
here will laugh at you, child, but I guess it won't be long
before this old woman you call mammy will take herself
off from a person who has so long held her in bondage."
"No, missis," said Mammy Betty, c I'll never leff my
'Melia, madam, while my head hot; ebery body in dis big
town, madam, can't 'duce me to leff my 'Melia."
S"Well, old woman, if you stay here, you'll have to keep
Amelia's room very nice, and bring her water, and in the
winter keep her in fire."
" Missis, madam, I kin do all dat, if so be dat de wood
ant too far to brung, madam."
" How curious she talks, child; is that the way the
slaves in Virginia all talk? You needn't be afraid, old
woman, of having too much to do-the wood and water
won't be very far off. Amelia, child, I hear the bell ringing for supper; come along with me."
" Whar mus' I go, missis?" said Mammy Betty.," Why, you don't expect to go with us to supper, I hope?
we don't eat with blacks in this country."
"Dey don' do so nudder in Fugginny, madam."
" Do you go up those stairs, and turn into the first right
hand room, that's Amelia's room, and I will send you some
supper. Does she know which is her right hand, child?"
" Oh, yes, madam," answered Amelia.
When supper was over, the old lady carried her daughter-in-law up into the room which had been prepared for
her, and which had all the comforts and adornments of a
bridal chamber. Mrs. Benson the elder opened a door
into a small apartment, and told Mamnmy Betty that,
although it had been intended as a closet to Amelia's
room, she might occupy it as a bedroom.





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


243


Mr. Benson, Sr., and his son repaired to the countingroom when the ladies left the supper-table. "R1obert,"
said the old man, "how did you make out in Virginia;
any cash, my son?"
" Oh, yes, sir, I got property which I converted into
cash; the old gentleman gave me ten negroes, which I
sold for about four thousand dollars."
" Upon my word, Robert, it won't tell well in Boston,
that you have been selling slaves in Virginia; but as that
was your wife's dowry, and you were not allowed to bring
them here, I don't see how you could have done otherwise."
" No, sir; if we come lawfully into possession of what
is property in the South, in our hands it must carry along,
and be subject to all the incidents of property; and sald
and barter, you know, are its incidents."
" I see, Robert, you have brought an old woman with
you; what are you going to do with her?"
" I have just told mother of our arrangements in regard
to her; she is an old woman much attached to Amelia,
and Amelia to her; she will live with us on very moderate
wages, and will do all the work, of a chamber servant."
" But she is old, and can't be useful many years; what
will you do with her when she is past work?"
" My father-in-law, Major Scott, will take her back at
any time; and at some future period, when she seems to
be failing, Amelia and I can take her back to Virginia,
and leave her there. Well, father, how has trade gone in
my absence?"
" It has been as brisk as it usually is in the summer
season; there's every promise of a good fall business."
" Any shaking, father, within the last month?"





244


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


" Yes, the firm of Coots & Co. like to have gone; we
are clear of that concern, however; I saw the danger
ahead, and prepared for it. Benson & Son are off their
paper, but I think they will recover from the shock and
keep up."
Their conversation about trade and its incidents was
kept up until a late hour. Mrs. Benson saw but little of
her husband during the day; her mother-in-law was not
very agreeable to her, and she was perhaps less so to the
old lady; consequently, she spent most of her time in her
own room, where she enjoyed the company of her mammy
more than she would have done even that of her husband.
In the afternoon of the third day after their arrival in
Boston, old mammy Betty came suddenly into the chamber
and threw herself on the floor, frightened almost into a
state of insensibility, exclaiming, " Oh, my 'Melia, my
'Melia, I don' see jus' now in de street one crazy man,
an' if you b'leve me, he jump at me jus' like he gwine
seize me."
" Well, mammy, don't be frightened; he can't hurt you
now."
" Oh, my 'Melia, he's great big nigger man, he hardly
got any clothes on, an' when I fus' see him he was bent
almos' double, coughin."
" Mammy, I don't reckon he's mad, it's some poor old
beggar; he didn't intend to hurt you.'
" Yes, he did, 'Melia; if he had cotched me he'd a tare
my very life out o' me."
The old woman had to go into the street every afternoon for water; the next time she went she came running
back, if possible more frightened than before; she hastily
put down her pitcher, and wringing her hands, cried, " Oh,





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


245


my 'Melia, I don see dat mad man 'gin; he follow me to
de do', and jus' miss ketchin' me by my frock; he now at
de do' if you b'leve me."
"t Well, I will hoist the window, and see what he wants."
She hoisted the front window, and saw a black man
standing before the door, half bent, and coughing. He
had a few rags around him.
" What do you want here, my man?"
"Missis, I seed one ole black 'oman go in at dis do',
an' I knows her, madam. Please, missis, ax her to come
down here; I wan' talk wid her. I wouldh' hut her, missis, for anything in de worl'; I loves her too much, missis,
to hut 'er. Ax her please come down."
After a great deal of persuasion, she consented to go,
provided her 'Melia would hoist the window again, and
look out while she was talking with him.
As soon as she reached the door, the man threw his
arms round her neck, burst into tears, and said, " Mammy
Betty, don' you know Tom?"
4 My goodness!" said she; $ is dis my masser boy Tom?
Oh! Tom, I's so glad to see you."
SMamn Betty, how you lef' my poo' mammy an' daddy?
Mam Betty, I ain' bin see any peace sence I lef my masser house. Oh, Mam Betty, if I was but back dar 'gin,
how happy I would be! I mos' gone in 'sumption, Mam
Betty; I bin 'blige to sleep out 'pon de ground, and I
shill neber git shut of dis cole I bin cotch. Tell me, Mamr
Betty, what brung you to dis place?"
" Tom, you daddy an' mammy was bofe well; and dey
was moughty sorry when you lef'. I com' here, Tom,
wid my 'Melia, who dun marry one man in dis very house,
Tom."





246


UNCLE ROBIN IN RIS CABIN;


VWas dat my Miss 'Melia dat hice de winder?"
" Yes, Tom; she dun gone from dare, now."
" Oh! Mam Betty! Mam Betty! what shill I do? I
does wan' go back so much to Fugginny, to see my daddy
an' my mammy, my masser and my missis, an' all de
black folks. Oh! Mam Betty, ax my young missis to sen'
her pa word I's here, an' dat I does wan' so much to go
back to he planta,tion. Oh! Mam Betty, if I could but
lay dis poo' achin' head 'pon my mammy bres, how happy
I should be! Poo' Tom gwine neber see he daddy an' he
mammy 'gin.    Oh! Mam    Betty! Mam   Betty! Mam
Betty! what is I to do?"
" Tom, you does 'stress me mightly; I wishes I could
do somethin' fur you. I'll ax my 'Melia to git you som'
clothes, Tom."
SMaim Betty, I almost starve', an' mos' naked, but I
don' wan' anything to eat or to war. All I now want in
dis worl' is to go back home, and die 'pon my mammy
bres."
" Tom, what becom' o' Harry?"
" Harry dun ded, Mam Betty. When we fus' corn'
here, we gits som' wuck 'pon de street; an' Harry an' one
white man begin to quarrel, an' de white man say, (If
ebery master had he due, you wou'dn' be here now,'
meaning dat Harry was one runaway; and Harry, thinkin'
he was free, strike de white man, and he tak' up one bar
o' iron an' hit Harry 'pon de head, an' kill him, Mammy
Betty."
c Tom, does dey let white man kill niggers, here?"
"Dey try him fur it, Mam Betty, but t'other white
mens swar Harry was gwine kill him; an' dey let him off.





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


247


Dese very folks who tell Tom he was runaway, if my
masser was to come here fur me to-morrow, would swar
dey know'd I was born free."
Tom was too much distressed by his cough to say more.
Mammy Betty told him he must meet her at the door the
next afternoon about the same time. She returned to the
chamber, told Mrs. Benson who he was, and what had
passed between them. Mrs. Benson said she would write
to her pa after supper.
At the supper table, Mrs. Benson the elder said to
her child, " What is the matter with the old woman? I met
her running up stairs very much alarmed, as I thought."
"4 She saw in the street, madam, a negro man, and supposed he was crazy; but she afterwards found out, that
he was a man who had run away from my pa, some months
ago. P.oor fellow, he is in a mighty bad way, and wants
to get pa to come for him; and I'm going to write to pa
this night, and ask him to come."
c Amelia," said Mr. Benson, Sr., "I shouldn't like
that any owner of a runaway slave should be informed by
any member of my family where he might find and recover him; and I had rather you wouldn't write."
" He belongs to pa, sir, and don't you think pa ought
to have him?"
" By no means; your father had no right to hold him
in bondage; and as he has escaped, it would be cruel to
give information where he was."
" My Mammy Betty says he's mighty low in consumption; he can't work, and I think it would be more cruel
to let him stay here and starve to death, than for my pa
to come after him, and take care of him until he dies; at





248


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


my pa's house; he would be with his father and mother,
too.", But if he gets well, child," said Mrs. Benson the elder,
9 after your father got him back, he would make him work
as-a slave again, and that would never do."
" He's never going to work any more, from what my
Mammy Betty tells me." Saying this, she left the table,
and returned to her room.," Mammy, these people say I mustn't write to pa about
Tom; but I will write, no matter what they say."
Mr. Benson, Jr., was in the habit of writing letters on
business after he retired to his chamber at night, and Mrs.
Benson found pen, ink, and paper at hand. She wrote
a letter to her father, from which we extract that portion
which relates to Tom.
" My good old Mammy Betty saw your man Tom in
the street, and he begged her to ask me to write and request that you would come for him. Please, pa, come."
The next morning the old woman carried the letter to
the post-office; and when she returned from the office, she
said to Mrs. Benson:
" My 'Melia, I does wish poo' Tom had one blanket, som'
baker bread, an' som' tea, an' som' sugar."
SI wish he had, my dear mammy; but I haven't one
cent of money."
" Oh, I hab plenty, my 'Melia; Mas' George an' my
Julia giv' me heap when we did com' 'way."
She paraded the foot of an old yarn stocking, and with
much delight exhibited two dollars and fifty cents; she
put it carefully back in the stocking, which she wrapped
in a piece of newspaper, and went out upon a shopping





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


249


expediticn, in which angels might have participated. In
about an hour she returned, and the display of her purchases gave her 'Melia and herself more heartfelt satisfaction than is experienced by the votaries of fashion,
after lavish expenditure upon jewelry, silks, and velvet.
She had only fifty cents left, which was put away carefully
in her box; that day she spent in restless anxiety for the
hour of meeting with Tom to arrive. In the afternoon
she told Mrs. Benson she would go into the kitchen and
make Tom some tea, and put it into a bottle for him to
carry to his home; where that was, she had not yet learned
from Tom.   When she was about pouring the boiling
water into the tea-pot, Mrs. Benson the elder came in,
and said, a What in the world are you about, old woman?"
SI dun buy som' tea, madam, for dat poo' half-starved
cretur, Tom, my masser black man who run away from
masser. Nobody in dis town seem to take any pity 'pon
him, and I mus' do what I kin for him, 'cause he bin my
feller sarvant in ole Fugginny, an' I knows he mammy
an' he daddy, madam."
" If he's so poor and so sick and half starved, as you
say he is, the town authorities had better send him to the
almshouse."
" Does dey sen' black folks to dat sort o' house,
madam?"
" Yes, everybody that's sick and poor and naked.", I's sure, den, madam, dey ought to bin sen' Tom dar,
long time ago."
"( Your masser, as you call him, hadn't ought to have
held him in bondage; you see what's come of it, old
woman."





250


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


" Madam, if Tom had stay where he was, dis thing
never wou'd bin corn' 'pon him; he'd bin well now, madam,
an' look mighty diff'rent from what de poo' cretur look
now."
When her tea was ready, she carried it up into her
chamber, put it into a bottle, and carried the bread, tea,
and blanket to the door, where she found Tom waiting for
her.
SWell, Tom, how you do to-day, my chil'?"
" Mam Betty, I gwine mighty fas'. I does feel poorlier to-day den I bin feel yit; and de misry in my bres'
is more den I can 'scribe."
" Tom, here's som' good tea, and som' good baker bread,
and one good blanket for you, chil'; an' I hopes you'll
feel better, 'fore to-morrow."
" Mam Betty, I doesn' thinks I shill eber feel better in
dis wor'."
" Tom, does you eber pray to de Lord to pardon you
sins? does you eber think of leavin' dis worl', and whar
you goin' to when you die?"
" Mam Betty, I does try heap to 'member what I bin
hear Mr. Grattan say in my masser house, an' what I bin
hear Uncle Robin say in he cabin, over at Dr. Boswell;
but, Mam. Betty, I's bin so sinful, I fears de Lord ain'
gwine pardon me."
" Tom, did you neber hear Uncle Robin say dat de blood
of Jesus Christ can 'stroy the biggest sins, dat you mus'
pray to him to take he blood an' wash you wid it?"
" Yes, Mami Betty, I bin hear 'im say so, an' I try o'
nights to pray; but den I begin to think 'pon my daddy
an' my mammy, an' den I does forgit all 'bout prayin'."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


251


" Well, now, Tom, dat de very thing dat ought to make
you pray dat the Lord will let you meet you daddy an'
mammy in Hebbin."
SMaim Betty, does you thinks I bin sin when I run
away an' lef' my masser?"
" Yes, dat I does, Tom; de Lord say servants mus'
'bey der masters; an' in de room of 'beyin' you masser,
Tom, you bin runaway from him; and besides, Tom, de
Lord giv' you good sitiation, an' you lef' it, an' brung all
dis 'pun you. Don' you call dat sinnin', Tom?"
" Oh! Mam Betty! Main Betty! I is so sorry for what
I bin do! Does you thinks de Lord will pardon me, Mam
Betty?"
" Yes, Tom, if you pray to him to take dat sin, an' all
you oder sins, an' wash 'em wid de blood of he son.
Where'bouts does you stay o' nights, Tom?"," One hos'ler, Mam Betty, giv' me leave to sleep 'pun
de hay in he stable-loff; an' I is gittin' so weak, Mam
Betty, I's feard dat I can't git here 'gin. I wan' show
you whar de stable is; an', if I don' corn' back here tomorrow evenin', you mus' com' an' see me."
She went with him to the next cross street, and he
pointed out the stable in which he lodged; when they
parted, she said, c" Tom, I gwine hav' som' mo' tea ready
fur you to-morrow evenin', an' you mus' corn' if you kin;
an' 'member, Tom, what I bin talk to you 'bout."
" I'll try, Mammy Betty; an' I mighty thankful to you,
seein' you is de only frien' I got in dis worl'."
STom came the three following afternoons, and received
his tea and bread, but Mammy Betty discovered at every
visit that he was getting weaker, and his cough more trou




252


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


blesome. On the fourth afternoon he was not at the door;
she concluded that he was worse, and determined to go to
the stable.  When she got there, she inquired of the
hostler if that was the stable in which a sick negro man
slept; and being informed that it was, she requested to be
permitted to go up and see him; he pointed to a ladder,
which she ascended; although it was early in the afternoon, it was quite dark in the loft; in a low voice she
said " Tom!" no answer being returned, she was much
alarmed; -she repeated, " Tom!"
" Is dat Mam Betty?"
", Yes, Tom, 'tis me."
" Oh, Mam Betty, I is so glad to see you. I is too
weak to go up an' down dat ladder, an' I couldn't go to
see you. Cum here an tak' hold o' my han', Mam Betty."
She followed the direction of his voice, and took hold
of his hand; it was hot and wet with clammy perspiration.
<( Tom, I brung you som' tea an' bread."
" Oh, Mam Betty, how good you is to po' Tom; but I
can't eat anything now. Mam Betty, when you call me
I was 'sleep, and dream I seed my daddy an' my mammy;
an' I thought mammy say, 'What make you go 'way from
us, Tom?' an' I say, ( Mammy, I bin mighty sorry eber
sence I leff you;' and den she say, You dun com' back,
Tom, an' say you mighty sorry, an' now I tak' you to my
arms, an' I is so glad to see my poo' boy, 'gin.' "
" Tom, dat's jest de way wid you Farder in Hebben:
if you tell Him you sorry, and dun corn' back to Him, He'll
tak' you in He arms an' say He so glad to see you com'
back 'gin, jest like you mammy in dat dream."
" Main Betty, I bin pray heap sence I see you, an' I













1LL~7
1111'


MAMMY BETTY HANDING TOM HIS BLANKET AND TEA.
Page 250.










AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


253


hope de Lord dun wash my sins in dat blood you tell me
'bout. Mam Betty, is Miss 'Melia bin hear from her pa,
yit? Oh, Main Betty, all I want now is to git back an'
die in my daddy an' mammy house. I's 'fraid poo' Tom
gwine die here pun dis hay; an' when you gone, no frien'
here wid 'im. Oh, Mam Betty, if my daddy an' mammy
was jus' but here to close dese eyes, I could die in peace.
Oh, Tom, Tom, what mak' you do so? to lef you daddy
and mammy, and com' here to die in dis lof'."
The old woman had told Mrs. Benson that she was
afraid Tom was worse, from his not meeting her at the
door; and said if she found him very low, she should like
to stay with him all night. Mrs. Benson with great reluctance consented, and throwing her arms round her neck,
gave her a kiss at parting. As soon as she felt the cold
clammy sweat of death upon his hand, Mammy Betty had
determined to stay with him; she sat by him the whole
night, and talked much to him about his God and Saviour;
about midnight he seemed inclined to sleep; a still, solemn
darkness reigned in that loft until the dawn of day. The
old woman became alarmed-she took his hand-it was
cold in death. There he lay, a corpse, with his blanket
around him, a monumeieu to Northern philanthropy,
entwined in the drapery of Southern barbarity. We will
direct the hand of Mammy Betty while she sketches an
inscription in her own language. "Poo' Tom! dey didn't
treat you as dey promise to do; if you had bin know
you own good, you wouldn't bin here now." It is hoped
that the hostler, for his own comfort's sake, informed the
town authorities that there was a dead body in that loft,
and that it was decently disposed of.
22





254


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


Mammy Betty restrained the violence of her giief until
she arrived at home. As soon as she entered the chamber,
she threw herself into a chair, and in a flood of tears,
exclaimed, " My 'Melia, my 'Melia, poo' Tom dun dead."
Mrs. Benson, not ordinarily very sensitive, appeared to
sympathize deeply with her mammy at the death of Tom.
In a few days after that event she received a letter from
her father, from which we extract that portion which was
responsive to Tom's application.
" My dear Amelia:
" I received this morning your letter requesting me
to come for poor Tom, which I must decline doing for
several reasons: in the first place, I know it is highly
probable that the people of your town would not suffer
me to bring him back to Virginia; in the nex't, my neighbours would be up in arms against my keeping a negro
who had run away to a free state, and been recovered;
and after the trouble and vexation attending his recovery
(if it was effected), I should be obliged to sell him. to a
trader. I am truly sorry to hear of his nakedness and
cough; enclosed are twenty dollars, with which you must
get him clothing, and whatever is necessary to make him
comfortable."
SMammy Betty," said Mrs. Benson, " now that Tom
is dead, you must have back your two dollars out of this
note, and I will send the balance back to pa."
" My dear 'Melia, when I did buy dem things for Tom,
I neber 'spect anybody was gwine pay me back de money.
I ain gwine take it, 'Melia, dat I aint."
" My dear mammy, pa's got plenty of money, and you
have but a very little left; and you must take it."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


255
0!--;~,;. Ol 5


iNo, dat I won't, my 'Melia; you s'pose I gwine take
pay for de little I gin poo' Tom? Neber, no neber; poo'
Tom dead now, an' de poo' feller welcome to what I bin
giv' 'im."
" Well, Mammy Betty, you can do as you please; but
if pa knew that you had spent two dollars for Tom, and
that I had not paid you back, he would not like it, I know."
"c He ant 'bliged to know anything 'bout it; jest sen'
back he money, and say nothin' to anybody 'bout what I
bin do for poo' Tom."
c Old woman," said Mrs. Benson the elder, as she unexpectedly entered the chamber,  I have just heard that
you were out all night a few nights ago; and I am come
to let you know that we don't suffer our servants to be
out prowling about the streets at night."
c" Missis, madam, I ain' bin prowlin' 'bout de street; I
did stay out, madam, all night, but I stay in one hay-loft
wid a poo' dyin' feller sarvant, madam. I's sure I wouldn't
lef my 'Melia, an' my own bed, for sich a place as dat,
but dat I thought 'twas my duty, madam, to be wid him
when he fetch he last bref."
4 I don't see why it was your duty to be there with
him, when there are so many other people in this town
who might attend to the sick."
", Yes, missis, der's plenty oders mought bin tend to him,
madam, in dis town, but from der lettin' Tom go 'bout asi
he did, an' die whar he did, dey can't be willin' to do much
for black folks here, madam."
" There are plenty of houses here in town, old woman,
where they would have taken him in, if he had applied."," Missis, if I had bin knowd dat, I'd a ax you to take





256


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


him in, some o' dem ebenins when he was standin' here at
the do', madam."
"4 We are not fixed, old woman, for taking in such people.
I wouldn't have a dirty negro man to be staying in my
kitchen for any consideration. I'm sure I shouldn't be
able to eat a meal while such as he remained there."
( Madam, I reckon dar's heap o' tothers in dis town,
ain't fixed for takin' in sich a poo' naked cretur' as he wus."
", Well, old woman, there was certainly no necessity for
his going off to a stable, and dying there with the brutes.
Was there nobody with him when he died, but you?"
" Madam, I hope Tom Lord an' Saviour, who wus born
in one stable, wus wid Tom when he die dar."
" I wish from my heart, old woman, there was no such
thing as slavery in the world; it is really horrible to think
upon the misery it produces."
" Well, missis, I neber seed sich misry as poe' Tom's,
tell I corn' here, madam, an' if all de folks 'way down
home, yonder, wus to set all der niggers free, we'd hab
plenty o' Tom misry, madam."
CHAPTER XIV.
CRUEL MERCIES.
MRS. BENSON the younger was visited by many of the
Boston ladies who were in that circle in which the Benson
family moved. We regret that she was so poor a sample
of Virginia refinement and cultivation. Many were the
remarks which were made about her simplicity, and her





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


257


calling an old black woman mammy; but it was generally
allowed that she was good enough for that plodding, sombre,
disagreeable-looking creature, Bob Benson.
The months of July and August were mostly spent by
her in receiving and returning visits, and in long conversations in her own room, with her dear Mammy Betty.
Occasionally, Mrs. Benson the elder would come with her
work, and spend some time in her chamber, and she returned the old lady's visits with as much punctiliousness
as she did those of other visiters.
About the first of September, when she was returning
from a morning call, she was overtaken without umbrella,
by a shower, and before she reached home was completely
drenched. That night she complained of hoarseness and
sore throat, and her mammy thought she had a slight fever
when she retired to bed at a much earlier hour than usual.
When Mr. Benson, Jr., came up to bed, the old woman said
she thought her 'Melia was right sick. " Oh! she'll be
well in the morning," he replied. Mammy Betty retired
to her closet, not to sleep, however. About the middle
of the night she went'to her bedside, and called her in a low
voice: " 'Melia-my 'Melia!" " I'm not asleep, mammy,"
she answered, ",my head aches so bad, and my temples
throb so I can't sleep."
"c Well, my chil', I'll set by you, wid my ban' 'pun you
head; may be dat will do you som' good."
She remained by her until the day dawned, when she
left the room to get her water, and some wood to make a
little fire, as it was a damp drizzling morning. When she
returned, Mr. Benson had dressed himself, and gone down
to his counting-room as usual.
22*





258


UNCLE ROBIN IN H1IS CABIN;


SHow you do now, my chil'?" she inquired.
" Oh, Mammy Betty, I'm mighty sick; I don't think I
ever felt before as I do now."
" You eyes does look mighty red; does de pain you,
my chile?"
" Yes, mammy, I'm in pain all over."
" My 'Melia, you ought to hav' one doctor to see you."
" Oh, no, mammy, I hope I shall get better after a while."
After the old woman had made a little fire, she went
down and told Mrs. Benson the elder, that she thought
her 'Melia was mighty sick, and asked her to go up and,see her. She went up immediately, and finding her much
more unwell than she had expected, sent the old woman
down to ask Robert to come up. When he came into the
room, she said,
~ Robert, indeed I think Amelia is very sick; she
should take some medicine, but you know we don't keep
medicine, and if we did we don't know what kind to give.
Don't you think we had better send over for Dr. Reid?"
" Yes, mother, if you think her very sick, I will go over
myself for the Doctor."
Ie soon returned with the Doctor, who examined the
symptoms of her disease, and pronounced her quite sick.
He gave her some medicine, and said he hoped she would
be better after a while; that he would be back again,
towards the afternoon. Mr. Benson, Jr., took a seat by
his wife's bed, remained about an hour, and then returned
to his business, leaving his mother and her mammy to
take care of her.
The medicine which she had taken was all thrown off
her stomach in a very short time after it was administered.





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


259


When the Doctor returned, towards night, he found her
much worse, and repeated the dose which he had given in
the morning. He told Mrs. Benson that the fever was
increasing in violence, that she was a little flighty, and
that if the last dose did not produce a change for the
better, she would have a severe spell. Mammy Betty
overheard what he said, and it was with much difficulty
she could be restrained from breaking out into violent
grief. The Doctor told her that her young mistress's recovery depended in a great measure upon her being kept
quiet. With much exertion she suppressed her grief while
in the chamber. She often went, however, into her closet,
shut the door, and gave vent to her tears.
Mr. Benson, Jr., was informed by the Doctor that his
wife's situation was dangerous. As soon as he heard it
he left his business, went up into the chamber, where he
remained all the afternoon, assisting in nursing her. She
had a restless, sleepless night, and on the following morning the Doctor pronounced her in imminent danger. Her
fever raged with such violence as to take from her all consciousness. It caused exquisite torture to Mammy Betty,
to find that her 'MNlia did not know her. During the
day the Doctor proposed that her father should be telegraphed, thinking that she might possibly live until his
arrival. Old Mr. Benson went to the office and sent a
despatch to Winchester, with a request that a messenger
should be sent with it to Major Scott's.
Dr. Reid, at the suggestion of Mr. Benson, Jr., called
in an assistant physician of high reputation, who confirmed
the opinion before expressed by Dr. Reid, that her case
was hopeless. Mammy Betty, now that she could no





260


UNCLE ROBIN IN IIIS CABIN;


longer disturb her 'Melia, indulged in violent grief. She
could be persuaded to take scarcely a mouthful of food,
and no persuasions could induce her to take rest. She sat
every night in a, chair by the bed, wringing her hands,
and weeping bitterly.
In the afternoon of the fifth day from the telegraphic
despatch, Major Scott arrived. His daughter was still
living, but in a state of insensibility. When he entered
her chamber, Mammy Betty threw her arms round his
neck, screaming, 0 O, masser, my 'Melia gwine die."  It
was with difficulty he could disengage himself from her.
He walked up to the bed, kissed his daughter's forehead,
and sank into a chair by her side. Understanding that
the family had been sitting up for several nights, Major
Scott proposed they should take rest, and that he should
be suffered to watch over his daughter that night. Mrs.
Benson and her husband, who both required rest, retired
early. Mr. Benson, Jr., remained, and occasionally took
a little sleep on a trundle bed which had been brought
into the room for his convenience. Mammy Betty and
her master watched the whole night; in the morning there
were no favourable symptoms. She lingered until the
morning of the ninth day, when she expired.
Mammy Betty's grief was beyond all description. She
threw herself upon the bed near the corpse, and in agony
exclaimed, "My 'Melia! my chil'! talk to you mammy;
let you poo' mammy hear de soun' of dat voice once mo'.
My darlin' chil' gone and lef' me here by my poo' lone
self. What is I to do? what is I to do, now my poo' chil'
gone?"   Mr. Benson, Jr., was deeply distressed. Major
Scott paced the room, in anguish of soul too deep for





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


261


utterance. While those arourd him were bewailing their
individual bereavement, his heart was stricken by his own,
and the sorrows of a far distant mother and sister.
Mammy Betty was carried and laid upon her own bed.
The violence of her grief subsided into a deep settled
melancholy, bordering  on insensibility to everything
around. At four o'clock the next day, a respectable procession followed the corpse to its final resting-place, where
another frail tenement of clay was consigned to its kindred earth.
Major Scott, on his return from the funeral in a hack with
Mr. Benson, Jr., expressed his intention of leaving Boston
in a steamship, which he understood would get under
weigh for Philadelphia, from the harbour, about ten o'clock.
He told Mr. Benson it was his wish to carry Betty back
to Virginia.
4 I would wish you to do so, sir," he replied, "c as I suppose she would like it above all things; but, Major Scott,
it must be done with as much secrecy as possible, or she
might be prevented from going."
" I don't exactly understand you, Mr. Benson; who
would think of preventing her from goig?"
" If she were your own servant, Major, it is doubtful
whether you would be suffered to take her; but, as she is
known to be free, the difficulty will be greatly increased,
from an apprehension that you, a Southern slave-owner,
were about to carry a free negro from Boston to make a
slave of her in Virginia."
4c But, sir, I suppose free people of colour here have a
right to go where they please; and if she proclaims to
the mob, who were attempting to take her, not only her





262


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


willingness, but her great hnxiety to go, would they not
let her exercise her own choice?"
"4I have understood, Major, that in some instances,
where that willingness to go has been declared to the mob,
they said the assent had been obtained by trick and deception, and that they did not regard it as any positive evidence of the inclination of the free person to go away."
4" Well, sir, what precaution had we better take to avoid
these difficulties?"
" Why, I know of no other than to take her to the
steamship in a hack, as secretly as possible."
" We will engage, then, the hack we are now in to be
at your door about nine o'clock to-morrow morning."
When they returned, Major Scott went up into Mammy
Betty's closet. A cold shuddering came over him as he
passed through the chamber which had been once his
daughter's, and from which he had seen her corpse taken
but a short time before. He found the old woman in a
doze, perhaps the first she had taken for several days and
nights.
" Betty! Betty!" he called.
" Who dat call me?"
" Don't you know me, Betty?"
SIs dat my masser, my 'Melia pa?  Yes I does know
my 'Melia pa: what dey gwine do wid my 'Melia? where
dey gwine car' her to?"
" I am come to know of you, old woman, whether you
wish to go back with me to Virginia?"
"c Yes, masser, I go if dey let my 'Melia go."
" Old woman, don't you know that your Miss Amelia
is dead, and that she can't go back to Virginia?"





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


263,If dey don' let my 'Melia go, masser, Betty no go
nudder, masser."
The Major, finding that her mind was wandering, either
from want of rest or from excessive grief, postponed further
conversation with her until the morning, when he hoped
she would be more rational after a good night's rest. He
returned below, and requested Mrs. Benson to have her
removed to another room, and something given her to eat.
The next morning, early, he went to the room to which
she had been removed, found her awake, and quite rational.
" Old woman, will you go back to Virginia with me?"
" Yes, masser, dat I will, I neber gwine stay here, sir,
now my 'Melia gone."
" Well, you must get up and have everything ready by
nine o'clock."
SO, my masser, I is so glad I gwine from dis place.! I
bin see nothin' but trouble an' sorrow here, masser. Poo'
Tom he die, an' 'stress me mightly; but dis las' blow, 0
'tis too-hebby, too hebby for me to bear!"
S"It is indeed heavy, very heavy to us all, Betty; but
it has come, and we must bear it."
" Masser, I hope de Lord will 'nable us to bear it, sir."
SI hope so indeed, Betty."
After breakfast, the hack was soon at the door; Major
Scott and Mammy Betty took a cordial leave of old Mr.
and Mrs. Benson. Mr. Benson, Jr., went with them in
the hack to the steamship; when they approached, they
saw a crowd on the deck of the ship, and many persons
on the wharf.   The Major, Mr. Benson, and Mammy
Betty wLiit immediately on board.   Just as they got
there, a tall stout man, wearing the badge of office,





264


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


stepped up and asked, "Is this Major Scott of Virginia?"
"4 Yes, sir, my name is Scott.", I am a constable, sir, of the city, and have a precept
from Judge Thorndike, commanding me to take from your
possession, and bring before him, a free negro woman
called Betty, information having been given his honour, on
oath, that you, Major Scott, are about to convey this said
negro woman Betty to Virginia, with the supposed intention of m-aking her a slave.", I have no intention of doing any such thing, sir. The
woman is free, and is very anxious to go back with me to
Virginia, where all her relations reside, and she will be as
free there as here; I can't let you take her, sir," taking
hold of Mammy Betty as he spoke.
The captain of the ship came up, and addressing himself to Major Scott said, " Stranger, yoi'd better mind
what you are about; this is an officer of the law, and if
Syou resist him we shall have the devil to pay here. You
must give up this woman, sir. I shall be made to suffer
as captain of this vessel if I take her away."  The words
",look out," were sounded with the bell; the crowd
rushed to the wharf, the officer dragging away Mammy
Betty, the vessel was off in a moment, and Major Scott
and Mammy Betty were separated for ever. She uttered
an unearthly shriek, and not another sigh or groan
escaped her. She was led by the officer to the Judge,
who said to her, "4 Old woman, were you willing to have
gone with Major Scott to Virginia?"
Withn a shriek she fell dead at his feet; the word Virginia had fallen as a flash of lightning upon her heart,
and riven its last chord. Another monument was there





U


E-l
W
W
Fr(
r/l
n
E~r
s:
W
FI
cll
W
Fr
W
X
r~
W
W
n
P;
m
k
n
g










AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


265


erected to Northern philanthropy, upon which we will
inscribe from Holy Writ, " Thy prayers and thine alms
have come up as a memorial before God," and 4, the tender
mercies of the wicked are cruel.2'
Great was the excitement in the crowd; many were
heard to say, that that occurrence was only one of the
many evils of slavery.  A South Carolinian, however,
who had been spending the summer in Boston, and was in
that crowd, thought differently; and fearlessly expressed
his thought, that it was the result of an officious meddling
with Southern rights, miscalled philanthropy.
CHAPTER XV.
RETURN TO VIRGINIA.
READER, the sorrows of our coloured friends in Boston
are over. Poor Tom, we trust (though houseless here),
has found a mansion in the skies not made with hands;
and ere this has welcomed Mammy Betty to a participation of his joys. We will leave their remains to the protection of mother earth, and retrace our steps to Virginia,
where our hearts (stricken with sorrow for the miseries
we have witnessed) will find consolation in a better state
of things. The sacredness of grief must not be intruded
upon by a visit to Major Scott's; we will inform the reader,
however, that George Preble, upon hearing of the death
of Mrs. Benson, abandoned all thought of going to California. It was settled between the M2ajor and himself,
23





266


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


that he and Julia should reside with her parents; that he
should have the management of the Major's estate during
the life of himself and wife.
We will go to the Cottage, where we shall find Doctor
and Mrs. Boswell; the one attending upon Miss Priscilla
Graham, who is ill, as her physician; the other as assistant nurse with Miss Evelina Preble.
" Have you heard," said the Doctor, addressing himself
to Miss Evelina, c that the abolitionists in Boston had
taken poor old Mammy Betty forcibly from Major Scott,
after they had gotten on board a steamship? My heart
bled for the old creature, when I heard it. Can you
conceive of a more forlorn situation than hers? in deep
grief for the loss of her soul's darling Amelia, anxious as
she must have been to return to her relations and friends
here, and now cut off from all comfort, and all prospect of
ever seeing any of them again, in the midst of strangers,
too, who care nothing about her, and who may treat her
just as we heard they had treated Tom; Oh! it is too
bad! too bad!"  Mrs. Boswell and Miss Evelina were
both weeping over the fate of poor Mammy Betty, and
made no reply.
"4 What did you say was too bad, Doctor?" asked Miss
Priscilla, who had overheard his last sentence, though
pronounced in a whisper. He went up to her bed, and
repeated what he had said. She put her hands upon her
forehead, over her eyes, and remained silent for some
time, when she said, "c The ways of Providence, Doctor,
are inscrutable; his ways are not our ways;' he makes
good to come out of what to us appears' evil. Perhaps
poor old Betty, who had acted the part of the good Samaritan, and had bestowed the widow's mite, may have had





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


267


some other idol, after the loss of Amelia, to draw her
affections from her God and Saviour, and this blow may
have been sent to sever her last tie to the things of earth,
and to secure for her Maker and her Redeemer her entire,
undivided affection."
"No doubt, madam, Providence has some good design
in all its dispensations. But I had rather you would not
talk any more, Miss Priscilla, as your fever is now rising,
and the excitement of talking might increase it."
"cDoctor," said Mrs. Boswell, " can't we devise some
plan for getting the old woman back? ' I've got twentyfive dollars that I would most cheerfully put into a joint
fund for that purpose."  " I will give as much," said Evelina;-" And I will give fifty," said Miss Priscilla, who
overheard again what they were saying.
"Ladies," said the Doctor, "I don't know how your
charity is to be brought to bear upon this subject, unless
we could prevail upon the abolitionists of Boston to sell
her to us; and indeed, if they are all like Bob Benson, we
may not even find that a very difficult matter."
" But, Doctor," said Miss Evelina, " although no amount
of money could effect her restoration to her friends, her
situation there might be rendered much more comfortable,
by sending a fund there, to be laid out for her benefit."
" That's well thought of, Miss Evelina; I will make inquiry as to a proper individual to whom to intrust the
fund, and we will send her on some money as soon as we
have found out to whom to direct it. She who spent
nearly her little all upon poor Tom, should not be forgotten when she stands in need of charity herself. Mr.
Grattan will be here this afternoon, Miss Evelina, will he
not?"





268


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


" Yes, Doctor, he comes every afternoon, to read and
pray with Aunt Priscilla."
SI suppose Mr. Grattan must know, or have heard of
some Boston minister, who would be the very person to
send this fund to."
The report which old Mr. Frazer had told Dr. Boswell
was in circulation, viz., that the Rev. Mr. Grattan had
been forbidden to visit at the Cottage, was entirely without foundation. His visits there had not been very frequent after the wedding at Major Scott's, up to the time
of Miss Priscilla's sickness, since which time he had been
there every afternoon, at the particular request of Miss
Priscilla, who, although she needed no instruction upon
the doctrines of Christianity, derived comfort from his
conversation and prayers. The little matter of misunderstanding between himself and Miss Evelina had been adjusted to the entire satisfaction of both.
To the Doctor's inquiry when he arrived, whether he
knew personally, or by name, any minister in Boston, he
responded that c he knew intimately, the Rev. Mr. Scholfield, a minister of the Congregational church, a man of
great piety, and peculiarly fitted, by an uncommonly benevolent disposition, for the proper expenditure of any fund
which might be intrusted to him for charitable purposes."
It was determined forthwith, that the fund, which was
increased by contribution from the Doctor and the Rev.
Mr. Grattan, should be forwarded to him.
Miss Priscilla Graham's fever raged with considerable
violence that afternoon, and the Doctor advised Mr. Grattan to hold no conversation with her. She asked him
herself to read a chapter in the Bible, and pray.   He





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


269


inquired of her whether she would wish read any particular chapter. She said they were all good, very good,
precious; but that she was particularly fond of the third
chapter of John. When he had finished reading it, she
repeated in an audible voice: "l He that believeth on the
Son, hath everlasting life," and then exclaimed, " Lord, I
believe, help Thou mine unbelief."  Mr. Grattan then
offered up a short prayer. When it was finished, Dr. Boswell and himself went down into the parlour. The Doctor
informed him that Miss Priscilla's symptoms were unfavourable; he had but little hope of her recovery, as she
was very old, and her system had been much shattered
by frequent spells of illness.,I do not think, Doctor," said Mr. Grattan, " that I
have ever seen any individual better prepared for entering
the world of spirits, than Miss Priscilla. Hers, I understand, has been a life of piety and devotedness to her Lord
and Saviour; she knows and feels the reality of that new
birth spoken of in the chapter she selected; she has given
a beautiful exemplification of it through life, and if her
mind is spared she will give a crowning testimony at her
death."
Old Mr. Preble, who had been taking his evening walk,
joined them in the parlour; his manner towards Mr.
Grattan was cold and chilling.
" Have you seen Major Scott since his return, Mr.
Preble?" said the Doctor.
" No, sir; I saw George to-day, who says they are in
great distress; and he believes their distress has been
greatly increased by their disappointment at not seeing
the old woman Betty return with her master."
23*





270


UNOLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


<( That must have been a great shock to Mrs. Scott and
Julia; I think, Mr. Preble, the conduct of the Bostonians
was outrageous in that affair; I can't see upon what
ground they acted in taking her away from the Major.
She was acknowledged to be free by the gentleman who
carried her to Boston, and by her former master, and was
anxious to return to Virginia. I did suppose they would
Aet free people go where they pleased."
4Thinking, Doctor, as the Bostonians do upon the
subject of slavery, I don't well see how they could have
acted differently; and besides, sir, admitting that she was
free, I don't think the law of our state would allow Major
Scott to go to Boston and bring a free person of colour
here."
SWell, sir, if such is the law of our state, I can't
exactly see how it concerns the Bostonians; we don't
/want their assistance in enforcing the laws of Virginia.
We should be very thankful to them if they would enforce
the constitution of the United States, and a law of Congress passed some years ago in relation to slavery."
While the above conversation was carried on in the
parlour, a much more interesting one was held in the room
of Miss Priscilla Graham. As soon as the Doctor and
Mr. Grattan left, she called Miss Evelina to her bedside,
and said, " Evelina, my dear, I think it my duty to inform
you, that it is my firm belief that I shall not hold out
many days longer. I have a feeling I cannot describe,
which convinces me that my death is rapidly approaching.
It is scarcely needful for me to tell you, Evelina, that
death has no terrors for me, I shall meet it, not with
indifference, but with joy. You know very well, my dear,





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


271


that every feeling of my heart, every action of my life, had
reference to that event; and now that it draws near, it
seems that I am about to exchange faith and hope for
never-ending fruition. The only cloud which passes over
the sunshine 6f my last days upon earth, is the thought
of leaving you  but that is dispelled when I reflect that
I shall leave you under the protection of your Heavenly
Father, whose ability to guard you from evil and lead you
in the right way, is infinitely beyond any effort that
your poor, frail aunt has ever been able to make in your
behalf. My child, I shall leave you with a firm, unshaken
confidence that you will put yourself under the protection
and guidance of that Father, by a strict obedience to his
revealed word; that you will continue prayerfully to make
His precepts and His statutes your study, your delight,
and your counsellors.,, Evelina, my dear, your situation at present is a peculiar one. Your aspirations after worldly happiness are
drawn from a source which we both unite in believing is
calculated to insure it. But your earthly parent thinks
otherwise; and you are now exercised by an embarrassing
and difficult conflict between duty and inclination. Such
being the circumstances in which you are placed, I have
thought that the advice of one to whom you have always
appealed in difficulty might be needed, and would be
thankfully received by you.
"As long, my dear, as your father objects to your
union with Mr. Grattan, my advice to you is not to marry
him. So far your duty should carry you. If your father,
however, should require you not only to give up Mr. Grattan, but to marry another, on whom your affections were





272


'UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


not placed, your father, I think, would stretch his authority over you too far, and you would not be bound to obey.
In that case, the duty you owe yourself, a proper consideration for your own happiness, and the happiness of
him to whom you would be required to give your hand and
not your heart, are paramount to parental authority."
" My dear aunt," said Miss Evelina, 4 I trust the Lord
will prolong for years a life so necessary to my happiness
as yours; but, if it should be his pleasure to take you from
me, I hope your example and admonitions will be blessed
to one for whose spiritual and temporal welfare you have
always evinced a mother's solicitude."
" I have a great deal more to say to you, Evelina, but
my strength fails me for the present, and I must postpone
it to another time." She was so weakened by the exertion
she had made, that the ladies thought it advisable to send
for the Doctor to come up. He found her very much
prostrated, and said that many more such efforts as he
was told she had made, would hasten an event which he
feared must soon take place. When Miss Evelina heard
the opinion of the Doctor, her fears were much more
aroused for the situation of her aunt than by the old lady's
own foreshadowings of her death; and she left the room
to mourn in solitude. Miss Priscilla had an uncomfortable night. The next morning the Doctor thought her
end rapidly approaching. Mr. George Preble and his
wife were sent for; they arrived about eleven o'clock,
after which time none of the family left her bedside, each
one catching an indistinctly-uttered parting benediction.
Her last words were distinctly heard by them all, " Come,
Lord Jesus, come quickly;" " I know him in whom I have





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


273


believed." Her spirit took its flight to the mansions of the
blest, about four o'clock in the afternoon.
Miss Evelina's grief was deep, though silent and unobtrusive. George had always felt for his aunt a filial affection, and was more violent in his expressions of sorrow
than his sister; but his was destined to give place to a
natural buoyancy of spirit, before hers had reached its
height.
Notice was given throughout the neighbourhood, that
her funeral sermon would be preached by the Rev. Mr.
Grattan. In life she had been the friend of all, particularly of the poor labouring whites, and of the blacks, both
free and in bondage. Mr. Grattan preached to a large
congregation, from the text, " Mark the perfect man, and
behold the upright; the end of that man is peace."  He
said that as his funeral sermons were intended for the
living, he rarely adverted to the deceased, but in the present instance he took pleasure in dwelling upon the excellencies of a character so transcendently adorned by all
the Christian graces; and that the highest possible good
he could wish for the living souls around him, was an imitation of her virtues.
After the funeral, Dr. Boswell was furnished with the
key of her desk, and requested by old Mr. Preble to see
if she had left a will. He found a paper neatly folded up,
sealed, and endorsed " My will, to be opened after my
death." It was opened in the parlour, in the presence of
the family and a few remaining friends. It was written
entirely in her own handwriting, and was dated about
twelve months before.
She left her slaves (seven in number) their freedom,





274


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


provided they would go to Liberia, and in that event fifty
dollars to each. If, however, they preferred not to go to
Liberia, they were left to her,"dearest niece, Evelina
Preble."  The balance of her property, amounting to
about seven thousand dollars, was left to Miss Evelina.
At the earnest solicitation of Doctor and Mrs. Boswell,
old Mr. Preble and his daughter went over that night to
Selma, and the Cottage doors were closed upon gloom and
solitude. Miss Evelina, as soon as she got there, retired
to her room, and as she was silent and indisposed to conversation, Mrs. Boswell left her and joined the gentlemen in the parlour.
" What a beautiful discourse Mr. Grattan gave us this
afternoon, Mr. Preble," said she; " I have heard sermons
from the same text, but I don't think I ever heard one I
liked so well as that."
"Yes, madam," he responded,,"it was a very good
sermon, but I don't think it was anything very uncommon.
Miss Priscilla was everything that he made her out to be,
madam."
SFrom what I know of Miss Priscilla, and from what
I have heard from those who knew her better than I did,
I would say his was a very just tribute. It would, be impossible to exaggerate the excellencies of Miss Priscilla
Graham's character. Mr. Grattan was well acquainted
with her, and spoke from his own knowledge of her worth.
Miss Priscilla also had a very high opinion of Mr. Grattan,
for I have frequently heard her express herself in the most
affectionate manner of him; indeed, I don't know how
anybody can be acquainted with Mr. Grattan, and not love
him."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


275


"I can't say that I know much of Mr. Grattan, madam,
although he is frequently at my house. It has so happened that we have had very little communication; he's
very distant and reserved towards me.", I have always thought him remarkably affable, Mr.
Preble."
" He does seem so, madam, with everybody but myself."
4"I have observed," said the Doctor, c"that he is reserved towards persons who don't make an effort to bring
him out in conversation, which proceeds, I suppose, from
his diffidence, fearing lýst he might obtrude his conversation upon persons who evince no disposition to be sociable
with him. Now, sir, if, the next time you meet with him,
you make anything like an advance, you will find him
very willing to enter into conversation upon any subject
whatever, and that he is well informed upon all subjects."
" I can't say, sir, that I have any great desire to overcome his reserve towards me. I shall always be polite to
Mr. Grattan, but I suppose our intercourse will never be
more cordial than it is at present."
Mrs. Boswell had purposely given the conversation the
turn it took, hoping that Mr. Preble might say something
about Evelina and Mr. Grattan, which would afford the
Doctor and herself an opportunity of urging him to give
over his opposition to their union; but, as he avoided any
mention of the subject, they felt a difficulty in introducing
it, and their conversation took another turn.
The next morning Mr. Preble returned home, leaving
Evelina to remain some days at Selma. She confined
herself to her room until the afternoon, when she walked
into the garden, where she met with Uncle Robin.
" My young missis," said he, "I mighty glad to see





276


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


you, madam. Dey tells me you take on mightly 'bout de
death of you aunt. Now 'tan' wo'th while to do dat;
wou'd you wish dat angel, dat now is, who leanin' 'pun de
bosom of her Lord an' Saviour in Hebbin, to cor' back
to dis bad worl', where you know she bin feel nothin' but
pain an' misery in her ole age? Don' you know, young
missis, dat she now enjoyin' happiness which our eyes
neber see an' our ears neber bin hear of?"
" I hope and trust, Uncle Robin, that she is now in the
enjoyment of that happiness in Heaven."
4, Madam, I don' hope 'tis so, I know 'tis so, jus' same
as I know you standin' dare; an't God's word true, madam?
an' don't dat word tell us dat de righteous shill inherit
de kingdom of Heaven, an' dat dey dat believe on de Son
o' God shill be saved? an' Missis, who ever been righteous
if Miss Priscilla Graham wan't? and who ever bin believe
'pun de Son o' God, if she didn't? tan't only hope, madam,
wid me 'bout you aunt happiness; I know it; de truth
of God's word pledged fur it; dese thoughts ought to
make you 'joice instead of cryin' 'bout it."
" But, Uncle Robin, though I know she is happier in
heaven, I can't help grieving for the loss of the society
of one I loved so dearly."
" Now, my young missis, I tell you how you mus' git
ober dat; you stribe to walk in de footstep of you aunt,
follow de good lessons she bin gin you, an' bum by you'll
go to Hebben too, an' be in her 'ciety not for short time,
but for eber and eber. Misses, is you bin hear 'bout poo'
Tom, how he bin die yonder in Bosson, in one hayloft?"
" Yes, Uncle Robin, I've heard all about it, and how
kind old Mammy Betty was to him; poor old Mammy
Betty, I wish she was here with her friends."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


277


" I does wish so, mightly, madam; if dat boy Tom had
mine de tex' o' de scripturs, which say, (Put ye not you
confidence in de guide,' he'd neber bin gone dar to die; he'd
bin here now, dat he would. My missis, tan't wo'th while
for we to pine at what de Lord order, madam; He does
make de wickedness of man tell o' He glory; all dese
things wuck out somethin' we don' 'speck."
Dr. Boswell received that afternoon, through the postoffice, a letter from a mercantile house in Boston, informing him that a draft which had been drawn by Mr. Henry
Stephens, of Norristown, Pennsylvania, dated the 2d of
June, and endorsed by him, had been protested, and that
the holder looked to him for payment. Mrs. Boswell was
not present when the letter was received, and he determined to say nothing to her about it, fearing that she
might be made uneasy at the prospect of his being involved
in difficulty for her brother. He wrote to Mr. Stephens
immediately, informing him of the protest, and urging
him to pay the draft without delay. Although he had
been assured by Mr. Stephens that it should be paid at
maturity, the receipt of the protest caused him much
alarm, lest he should be made to pay so large a sum of
money, for which he was not at all prepared. His crop
of the present year had been exhausted in paying off his
store accounts, and the balance of a debt of his father's,
which last had taken also the money received for his two
boys; he knew of no way of paying the draft than by
selling slaves, to which he was very much opposed. He
cheered himself, however, with the hope that Mr. Stephens
would be able to take up the draft; and that if he himself was made to pay, he might be enabled so to arrange the
24





278


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


payment with the creditor as to save his negroes. He
waited in much anxiety for an answer from Mr. Stephens;
at length it came, and he was informed by him that he
had found out, after his partner left for Europe, that he
had involved the firm to an amount greatly beyond its
solvency; he said it pained him very much to have involved
so dear a friend; that he was entirely innocent of any
intention to deceive; that he himself had been duped and
ruined by a swindler. If the reader has ever been tortured
with the apprehension of having to pay three thousand
dollars of security debt, he may form some idea of the
feelings of Dr. Boswell, after reading that letter. There
are few readers, however, who would have borne such a
blow with like equanimity, or with fewer hard thoughts
of the individual who had brought it upon him.
While he was pondering upon the ways and means of
liquidating so large a debt, the sheriff of the county was
announced, who informed him, that he had a writ from
the clerk's office of the superior court of law, at the suit
of Hicks and Son, of Boston, holders of a draft which had
been drawn by Henry Stephens of Norristown, and endorsed by him. The Doctor inquired who was the attorney
for the plaintiffs, and the sheriff, upon examining the writ,
found the name of Melchezedek Squashum endorsed on it.
The Doctor was quite alarmed when he saw who were the
plaintiffs in the suit; he had hoped that through the influence of their attorney they might be induced to give him
time, so as to avoid the disagreeable necessity of selling
negroes, particularly if an appeal should be made to their
humanity; but the conduct of Mr. Hicks while he was in
the neighbourhood in June, and that of his Cousin Bob,





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


279


gave no promise of a favourable result from such an appeal.
He determined, however, to see Mr. Squashum, and make
the appeal through him.
The Doctor had never been personally acquainted with
Mr. Squashum, but from what he had heard of him, his
calculations of enlisting his sympathies in behalf of his
servants were not very sanguine. Mr. Squashum was
originally from Vermont, and had been in Virginia about
fifteen years. He came here as a book agent, and having
been instructed by his employers as to the general scope
of the works he offered for sale, in a written summary of
their contents, which he had committed to memory, he had
taken up an idea that he was really a man of literature,
determined to abandon his calling, and betake himself to
the study of the law in Virginia.
In about two years he obtained a license and rented an
office, which last act generally precedes, and is in anticipation of the coming in of fees sufficient to satisfy the
landlord. Mr. Squashum had a peculiar tact at impressing
others with a belief that he was a man of business; he
was for ever talking of his success in the recovery of
doubtful claims, and of his cunning and astuteness in the
management of difficult cases; in short, he was the prince
of pettifoggers, a class of lawyers who are obnoxious to
their more respectable and high-minded brethren of the
craft, but often run ahead of them in pocketing fees.
Whenever he thought a purpose beneficial to himself
could be subserved, he was in words a thorough-going abolitionist; consequently much of his business came from
that respectable portion of the community denominated
Friends. It was strongly suspected,' when he travelled
rc





280


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


through the country as book agent, that he tampered with
slaves, being seen frequently where he could have had no
other business than to hold conversations with them. His
wit, of which he imagined he had a considerable fund, was
lost upon every one but himself, as he rarely enlisted
another to join in his incessant giggle. Suich was the
man to whom Dr. Boswell introduced himself-as he entered his office.
"4 Take a seat, sir, take a seat; sit down, sit down,"
said Mr. Squashum, in his usually hurried, consequential
manner.
"I am come to see you, sir," said the Doctor, "upon
the subject of a lawsuit you have brought against me for
a client in Boston."
" Boswell did you say your name was? Boswell-let
me see-let me see; I must turn to my memorandumbook. Ah! true, here it is; " writ ordered versus Boswell- ads. Hicks and Son, Boston, trading under the firm
of Hicks and Son, Boston: a, d, s, means ad sectum, ad
sectum, sir, at the suit of-we lawyers, sir, can'.t keep in
our heads the number of suits we bring; we must refer to
our memorandum-book-well, what of it, sir? I suppose
the writ has been served, and you have come to pay the
money, I hope. Ha! ha! ha! quick work, quick work,
sir."
The Doctor being a man of education, smiled at the
4 tum," and replied:
"No, sir; you must be aware of the difficulty of a
farmer's raising so large an amount, coming upon him
so unexpectedly, too. So far from bringing the money,
sir, my business with you is to solicit your aid in





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


281


getting indulgence for some months after your judgment
is obtained. I have parted with my crop of wheat of the
present year, and my only dependence for paying this
debt is my growing crop, which I suppose can't possibly
be ready for market sooner than about twelve months
hence; your judgment will be obtained much sooner than
that, and if I don't get a stay of execution, my negroes
will have to be sold by the sheriff, as the balance of my
personal property would bring but little. I have never,
sir, sold a negro, except for some flagrant offence, and it
would occasion great uneasiness to myself and family, to
have them sold by the sheriff. I am emboldened in
making this application to persons like your clients, who
profess great sympathy for slaves, and whose chief objection to the institution of slavery is its constant liability
to a severance of the ties of nature by sale. I ask in
their behalf, indulgence only for a few months. I hope
the humane feelings of your clients will induce them to
grant so trifling a request, and I shall esteem it a favour
if you will lay my proposition before them."
" Ha! ha! ha! that's good, sir, that's good; Southern
people calling upon the North for humanity towards their
slaves! humanity had better begi.intheSouth, si. Ha!
ha! ha! they'd better do the thing right at once-set
them free, sir, set them free. No, I can't advise my
clients to do any such thing; it's a very dangerous thing
to meddle with judgments and executions. You may pick
some flaw, some flaw hereafter, and my clients may lose
the whole debt, sir."
" You are but little acquainted with my character, Mr.
Squashum, if you suppose I would take advantage of any
24 *





282


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


informality or mistake in the proceedings, to get rid of
the payment of a debt I justly owe, sir."
" I don't know anything about that, but the safest plan
is for the execution and the judgment to be contemporaneous-yes, sir, I say contemporaneous. Why, sir, the
credit in this transaction was given to your nanme because
it was known you held slaves, sir. It's property, sir, and
must follow all the laws of other property. Ha! ha! ha!
/advise my clients to jeopardize their debt, out of humanity
to property-yes, sir, I say, to property-ha! ha! ha!"
" I have been entirely misinformed, sir, as to your views
and feelings in relation to slavery. I have always understood you were an abolitionist, and that you professed
much sympathy for persons held in bondage."
" My philanthropy, sir-my philanthropy embraces the
whole human family. I should rejoice to see every human
being upon earth as free as air-yes, sir, I say as free as
air.","I should suppose, sir, that, having a desire to see
every human being as free as air, if you could not accomplish that desire, your philanthropy' would extend to ameliorating the condition of every human being who was not
free; and that, sir, is just as far as I wish your philanthropy to go; when you can't accomplish your grand
desideratum of setting them all free, to lessen as much as
possible the miseries of those that are not so. It was to
effect such an object as that, sir, that I came here
to-day."
4 I will not advise my clients, sir, to do any such thing;
and I now tell you, once for all, sir, that the execution
will be contemporaneous with the judgment. Ha! ha!





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


ha! very laughable, indeed, that the South should just
have waked up to the evils of making human beings property. Ha! ha! ha! it's too ridiculous!"
The Doctor left him in disgust, and determined to make
the appeal to Hicks and Son, himself, by letter, which
he wrote and sent to the Post Office after returning home.
CHAPTER XVI.
SUCCESSFUL INTERCESSION.
Miss EVELINA PREBLE, after remaining a few days at
Selma, had returned to the Cottage. George and his wife,
hearing of her return, went over with the intention of
staying with her until she had become accustomed to a
home made dreary, and distressingly gloomy to her, by
the death of her Aunt Priscilla. George loved his sister
sincerely, and her present forlorn situation excited his
warmest sympathy. He knew that she was ardently
attached to Mr. Grattan, and was apprehensive that his
father's opposition to their union might have a serious
effect upon her health, which was naturally delicate.
He had never conversed with his father upon the subject,
and although he had a great desire to do so, his resolution
failed him whenever he had proposed to himself to make
the attempt. Mr. Preble's manner was distant and austere
to every one, but particularly so towards his children, who,
when young, had stood very much in awe of him, and now
that they were grown, could not approach him with the





284


UNCLE IOBIN IN HIS CABIN;


ease and familiarity of friendship. George, however, determined that this visit should not end before he expressed
to his father his views fully upon the engagement between
Mr. Grattan and his sister; he had frequent opportunities
for doing so, as his sister never left her own room, and
his wife spent most of her time there too. On the fourth
day of his visit to the Cottage, his father and himself were
left together in the parlour. In a tremulous voice, he said:
" Father, I have for some time had a desire to converse
with you upon a subject in which I feel great interest,
and which ought deeply to interest us all. Our dear aunt
has left us, and we all feel very sensibly her loss, but none
half as much so, as our poor dear Evelina; she has lost
one who was her mother, her companion, her adviser; her
situation then is calculated to excite our warmest sympathy
and compassion. I have apprehended, father, that this
bereavement, coming upon her at a time when she had
been suffering under other causes of inquietude, might
prove of serious injury to a constitution naturally feeble;
and that the time might not be far distant when you would
be called on to mourn the loss of an only daughter, and
I an only sister. To avert such a calamity it behooves
us to put forth every effort to restore her to the enjoyment of tranquillity and happiness. Your very apparent
dislike to the Rev. Mr. Grattan, your cold, distant, and
forbidding conduct towards him, has, I presume, prevented
an announcement from him of his engagement with your
daughter, which fact, I now take upon myself to say, does
now exist. Mr. Grattan is a gentleman of unquestioned
piety, most respectably connected, and one eminently
calculated to make an impression upon a heart like Eve




AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


285


lina's; and I know, sir, that he has made so deep an
impression on her heart, that, if their union is forbidden,
the consequences may be deplored by us, when it is too late."
"r Well, George, you know that I could not give or withhold my consent until it was asked; and if it had been
asked, George, I will candidly say to you that it would
have been withheld. Mr. Grattan, I understand, has no
property with which he could support Evelina but a small
salary, which you know is very precarious; and you have
often heard me say, that my property does not pass from my
hands during my life. Under such circumstances, George,
how could they get along, and how could they expect my
consent to be given?"
" Father, you have forgotten that Aunt Priscilla left
Evelina, at the lowest calculation, seven thousand dollars.
The interest of that, and Mr. Grattan's income, ought to
support them very comfortably; besides, situated as you
are, I should think it would be the first wish of your
heart to have your only daughter to live with you;
and instead of residing here alone, to have the company
of so pleasant a companion as Mr. Grattan. If they were
to live with you, sir, and not encounter the expenses of
housekeeping, they might lay by a portion of their income every year. I, father, shall have an abundance of
this world's goods for my purposes, and rather than that
Evelina should be made miserable for the balance of her
life, I will agree to give up to them every cent's worth of
property you may intend for me."
Mr. Preble's heart of stone was somewhat softened by
the noble generosity of his son.
" Well, George," he said, 6 I'll think upon this subject,
and we will talk more about it at another time."





286


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


George was highly delighted at his father's last remark.
He knew his character perfectly-he knew that when determined upon a particular course of conduct, that determination was expressed in a positive, impatient manner,
bordering on violence; and from the mild stand to which
he had brought him, he augured a favourable result.
During the day he went into Evelina's room, and George
thought he looked upon her with more commiseration than
he ordinarily manifested for the sorrows and afflictions of
others. Words of condolence never passed his lips upon
any occasion, but he did say to Evelina, while sitting in
her room, "that he had supposed the good counsel she
had so often received from her aunt, would have enabled
her to bear with more fortitude her loss."
Dr. and Mrs. Boswell rode over to the cottage that
afternoon to see Eyelina. George was particularly pleased
to see the Doctor at such a crisis; he saw that it was
necessary that the wavering of his father's mind should
be turned to some advantage at once, before the old gentleman's apparent sympathy for his daughter should be
succeeded by the coldness and indifference so natural to
him; and that his present irresolution should not be suffered to give place to his rigid inflexibility of character.
He was unwilling himself to renew the morning's conversation with his father so soon; but the arrival of Dr.
Boswell determined him to call in his assistance at a time
so propitious. He told the Doctor what had passed between
his father and himself, and requested him to use his influence with the old man. The Doctor had for some time
been disposed to converse with Mr. Preble upon that
subject, and readily consented. George soon left them
together.





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


287


"4 Mr. Preble," said the Doctor,, I hope you will not
attribute to me any officious intermedding with your family
concerns, when I address you upon a subject which might
seem exclusively to belong to your own family circle; and
I trust, sir, I need offer no other apology for doing so,
than a warm and sincere friendship for yourself, and for
every other member of your family. I have known for
some time, Mr. Preble, that there was an engagement
between your daughter and the Rev. Mr. Grattan; and
I fear, sir, from what I have heard, that their union will
not be sanctioned by you. I may not be fully aware of
your reasons for withholding your assent; but be they
what they may, you will pardon me for saying, that from
my intimate acquaintance with that reverend gentleman,
I must presume they are based upon no just foundation.
I know of no individual in the circle of my acquaintance,
to whom you could intrust with more safety the happiness
of your daughter, than to him: he is a clergyman of
piety, refinement, and cultivation; his family connexions
are as respectable as any in Virginia. I have reason to
believe, Mr. Preble, that your daughter is ardently attached
to him, and that her happiness for life depends upon their
union. I hope, sir, you will suffer me to convey the glad
tidings that your opposition is withdrawn?"
" I must say, Doctor, that this match is not according
to my notions of suitableness; but, as you all tell me
that Evelina's happiness depends upon it, and as the poor
child is so much distressed at her aunt's death, you have
liberty to say that my consent will be granted, provided
that Mr. Grattan will let himself down so far as to ask it
in person."





288


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


", That he will do, sir, most joyously I can assure you."
Mrs. Boswell whispered it to Evelina; and they took
their departure, anxious to communicate it to Mr. Grattan,
whom the Doctor sent for as soon as he got home. They
found Mr. and Mrs. Stephens at Selma; they had come
over to spend the night; and Mrs. Stephens, finding them
absent, went into the garden to see her old friend, Uncle
Robin.
"4 Well, Uncle Robin, you see I pay you a visit every
now and then, and you never think of coming to see me."
" Missis, I always moughty glad to see you, madam;
an' I's bin thinkin' o' goin' ober to-what you call it,
madam? Freedom Place-ah! dat's it-for som' time,
but I does hab so much to do in de mornin's tendin' to de
plantation, an' in de ebenin's fixin' my garden for de
winter, dat I ain' bin had time, madam."
" Uncle Robin, our place never was called Freedom
Place; in my folly I called it Fredonia, but I want to
change that name, now. I wish you would think of some
pretty name for me."
" Missis, Robin got moughty poo' head, madam, for dem
(hings. Lem me see-lem me see-s'pose you call it
ýatefaction, madam?"
" Uncle Robin, I don't think that would sound so well."
"c Well, missis, I bin tell you poo' nigger head ain',noughty good for givin' name to gentlefolks' greathouse,
mnadam."
cc Suppose I call it Felicity, Uncle Robin? that means
happiness."
" Madam, if you is happy dar, I would call it Flissity."
" I think, Uncle Robin, I never enjoyed more happiness
in my life than I do now."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


289


S"Well, madam, dat's jist what I tell you sometime
back; der's much more flissity, madam, in habin' black
folks to wait 'pun you dan white folk, anyhow."
" Then you think Mr. Stephens was right, Uncle Robin,
in purchasing slaves?"
" Sure I does, madam. It does seem to me, missis, dat
som' folks was born to wuck an' wait 'pun t'other som' dat
wa'n' born to wuck. Now, missis, jest look at you small
han' an' arm, an' den look at my Elce han' an' arm, an'
tell me, missis, which you think was born to wuck; eberybody mus' say Elce. Well, dat bein' de case, whar de
moughty.difference whether dem dat's born for wuck hab
black face or white face, madam? an' if de black face gib
you mo' flissity dan de white face, you shou'd bin hav' um.
Dat's what make me say Mas' Stephens right in buyin'
nigger, madam."
" But, Uncle Robin, some people think it wrong to hold
human beings in a state of slavery. I once thought so."
" Well, now, missis, I gwine ax you some questions, an'
I gwine answer dem, too, as I go 'long, an' if I don' answer right, you stop me, missis. Was you wait 'pun by
whitefolks where you com' from? Yes. Did de make
you fire an' bring you water? Yes. Did de cook for
you? Yes. Did de clean out you chamber?   Yes. Did
de wuck in you garden?    Yes. Did de do all sort o'
plantation wuck? Yes. Did de clean Mas' Stephen'
boot an' shoe? Yes. Did de do, missis, whateber you
tell um to do?  Yes. Is I right, madam, when I bin say
<yes?'"
SPretty much so, Uncle Robin."
SWell, den, missis, dat's jist what de niggers do in dis
25





290


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


country, an' I don' see -de moughty difference between um,
madam."
By this time the Doctor and Mrs. Boswell had returned,
wid Mrs. Stephens went back to the house.
"Ann, my dear," she said, 6I have had a long talk
With Uncle Robin, and I don't think I ever leave him
<ithout being edified by his conversation."
" Mamma, you will find but few people like Uncle Robin,
for strength of mind; I mean in his sphere. I am particuarly struck with his very homely but forcible illustrations.
If he had been well educated he would have made a considerable man, no doubt."
", There are but few people as good as Robin, in this
world," said the Doctor. " Mrs. Stephens, I suppose your
shrubbery is coming on finely, at Fredonia."
"ý Oh, Doctor, pray never let me hear you call it Fredonia, again; Uncle Robin and myself have just changed
its name 'to Felicity. I was a good deal diverted at his
calling it Flissity."
" Well, madam, that's about as close as Robin ever
comes to correct pronunciation. I don't know but that
Flissity is the most euphonious of the two. I think I
could have given you a better name still."
"4 Doctor, let me hear it; I am not particularly fond of
Felicity, and if you can-give me a name more appropriate,
[may adopt it."
" How would you like Crosbia, madam?"
"4 Oh, Doctor, Doctor, don't tease me any more with
those Crosbys, if you please! Any word in the English
language, no matter how beautiful, if it had the letters
C.R 0 S following in regular succession, would be shocking to me."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


291


The Doctor was told that Mr. Grattan had arrived, and
went into the yard to meet him.
" Well, my friend, I do from my heart congratulate you."
" For what, Doctor?" said Mr. Grattan.
" That you are to marry one of the most charming creatures upon earth-Miss Evelina Preble."
"c Why, is it possible, Doctor, that you have just heard
of our engagement? I thought you had known that a
long time ago. Before you offer your congratulations,
you should recollect that engagements and matrimony are
two very different things, and that one does not necessarily
follow the other, as I very much fear it will be in my case.
I understand that old Mr. Preble is violently opposed to
it, and neither would Miss Evelina or myself wish to act
counter to his wishes."
" Then, sir, you don't wish to be congratulated until
after your marriage, I see."
" If Mr. Preble, Doctor, were to withdraw his opposition, I might then be congratulated as the most fortunate
and the happiest man in existence.",4 I now, sir, renew my congratulations to a gentleman
who is made the most fortunate and the happiest man in
existence, by the communication that Mr. Preble has withdrawn all opposition, and I have authority for making that
communication from Mr. Preble himself."
They reached the parlour door, and there was no opportunity for further explanation, nor had Mr. Grattan any
idea to whom he was indebted for so great a blessing.
From the devotional appearance of his manner, it was
apparent that his first impulse was to return thanks to
that Being from whom all blessings flow.





292


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS ChABIN;


Mrs. Stephens had not been to any place of worship
for many m~onths, never since she left Norristown, and
she told her daughter she would like to hear Mr. Grattan
lecture that night. When Mr. Grattan had heretofore
lectured at Selma, it had generally been in Uncle Robin's
cabin; but, as Mrs. Stephens was afraid to turn out at
night, it was determined that the lecture should be delivered in the dining-room; and Charles was told to inform
Uncle Robin and the other servants, most of whom came
in and were seated around the room. Mrs. Stephens
looked upon them that night, not as poor creatures, but
as beings surrounded with comforts and gospel privileges.
After the lecture was over, the Doctor and Mr. Grattan
were left together, and the latter was informed of the
manner in which old Mr. Preble had been brought over.
Many were the praises lavished upon George for his noble
conduct. Mr. Grattan determined to go the next morning to the Cottage, to perform the condition imposed by
the old gentleman.
On the following day there was a general 'breaking up
of the party at Selma. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens returned
to Felicity (as we shall hereafter call it), Mr. Grattan
went to the Cottage, and the Doctor and Mrs. Boswell
paid a visit to Major Scott's, the first since the affliction
in their family.  They found them alone, George and his
wife being still with Evelina. Mrs. Scott was much more
composed than they expected to find her. George's determination to remain, in consequence of Amelia's death,
had in a great measure reconciled them both to that event.
The Major gave them a minute account of Amelia's illness, Mammy Betty's violent grief, and of the manner in





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


293


which she was forcibly taken from him. Much sympathy
was expressed, and many tears shed at the relation of her
sufferings. Major Scott said that he was determined to
make another effort to get her back to Virginia, no tidings
as yet having reached him of her death. As Mr. Grattan
was much beloved by all his parishioners, his love-matters
became the subject of conversation. The communication
made to the Major and Mrs. Scott, of old Mr. Preble's
consent having been obtained, gave them much pleasure.
It seemed to be generally agreed that their union should
take place at once; but Mrs. Boswell was of opinion that
Evelina would not consent to be married until some months
had elapsed from the time of her aunt's death. When
the Doctor and Mrs. Boswell were returning home, they
called at the Cottage, where they learned that Mr. Grattan had been kindly received by the old gentleman, that
he and Evelina had had a private interview, the result of
which was that they were to be married sometime during
the next spring.
CHAPTER XVII.
COLLEGE FRIENDSHIPS BETTER THAN NORTHERN HUMANITY.
As the time approached for the Doctor to receive an
answer to his letter to Hicks & Son, in the regular course
of mail, he became very anxious; and in about fifteen
days from the date of his, he received the following:
25*





294


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


" Sir:
"Your communication has been received, and its
contents noted. Your proposal fills us with astonishment,
and was indeed calculated to excite our risibility, at a
proposition coming North to enlist our sympathy in behalf
of Southern property. Why, sir, you could not have
foreseen the injurious consequences of such a proposition
to the South itself! it is calculated to destroy Northern
confidence in Southern responsibility. Your wealth consists in slave property, and, in our dealings with the South,
credit is given you upon the availability of that sort of
property, in enforcing our contracts. Now, if a call is
to be made upon our humanity, to arrest the progress of
those measures which we resort to for the recovery of our
claims, we must either disregard the call, or we must
cease to deal with the South altogether. Our attorney,
Mr. Squashum, has his instructions, and will proceed in
this matter in a manner most beneficial to the interest of
his clients.     Your obedient servants,
" HICKS & SON."
The Doctor felt much chagrin and mortification at
reading this letter; having made a determination (as soon
as he found out he would have to pay this debt) never to
become security again for any one, he felt himself therefore
precluded from asking a favour of any friend which he
could not reciprocate; and determined to make no effort
for procuring the money from the banks, or any other like
source. He saw that the sale of some of his negroes was
inevitable, and determined that the sale (when it was made)
should not be a voluntary and private one, but should be
forced by execution.





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


295


The winters and springs in this region of country being
cold and dreary, the roads unfavourable for country visit
ing, the incidents of that of 1849-'50 are consequently
few, and not worth relating.. The reader is informed that
Mr. Squashum attended the June court, obtained a judgment against Dr. Boswell upon the protested draft, and
made his memorandum for the clerk to issue an execution
as soon as the court should rise.
As the circumstance of his indebtedness for her brother
could no longer be concealed from  Mrs. Boswell, the
Doctor made to her the communication; she was much distressed, and wept bitterly; after her grief had somewhat
subsided, the Doctor proposed that she should assist him
in selecting such negroes for sale as would produce the
least possible severance of natural ties.  Four young
unmarried men, and as many unmarried young women,
were selected, as sufficient to raise the amount of the
execution. The sheriff came in a few days, and informed
the Doctor that he was not authorized by law to levy his
execution on slaves, if there was other personal property
sufficient to pay the debt, unless he instructed him to do
so. The instructions were given, and the slaves left in
the Doctor's possession until the day of sale. After the
sheriff was gone, Uncle Robin came to the house to see
his master.
" Masser,"' said he, "I understands dat a moughty
'stressin' thing gwine take place here 'mong us, sir."
SYes, Robin; a security debt has come against me
from Boston, and I shall have to sell at least eight young
negro men and women. It has already caused me great
sorrow of heart, and I don't know how I can bear it when
the time comes for them to be sold."





296


UNCLE ROBIN IN HIS CABIN;


" Masser, when trouble an' sorrow does cor' 'pun us, sir,
we mus' pray de Lord to 'nable us to b'ar it, an' be thankful
too, masser, dat 'tis no wus wid us den 'tis. Der's one
ithing, masser, I can't see into; dese people from 'way
back North, hears folks say dat you's a rich man, 'case
you got heap o' slaves, an' dey comes here to git you in
der debt, an', arter a while, dey sells you slaves to make
Sder money, an' den dey turn roun' an' 'buse you, and
Isays de Lord gwine punish you for habin' slaves. Now,
mnasser, dat ane right, to force 'pun you dis thing, an' den
imake you bear all de blame on it."
" It certainly is not right, Robin, for them to do so."
" Masser, Robin sometimes use to take pun heself to
'vise you pa 'bout things, an' he hopes you'll scuse him
for speakin' he mind to you, sir. As dis thing dun com'
pun you, masser, de bes' way is not to take on too much,
but to do de bes' you kin to git out o' dis trouble, an' try
neber to git into anoder like it. De wise man in de Bible
say, 'IHe dat is surety for stranger, shill smart for it;
an' he dat hates suretyship is sure.'"
" Robin, your advice is certainly very good, and I will
try to follow it."
SMasser, der's one thing I wan' you to try an' do, sir."
c What's that, Robin?"
SWhen dese gals an' boys is sold, sir, I wan' you to try
an' keep 'em from goin' to de soul drivers, to be car'd to
Orleens. I bin hear 'em say, sir, dat when dey gits 'em
to Orleens, dey cars 'em to a great big wa'rhouse, where
de folks from de Red country round Orleens comes to buy
niggers, an' dat dem folks beat de deble an' all he imps
for badness, sir. Dey tells me, sir, dat dey wucks hard





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


297


all de year to make truck to sell in Orleens to git money,
an' when dey gits dar money, sir, dey goes to dis big
wa'rhouse an' gives monstrous big price for niggers, jist
to car' 'em home an' make de t'other niggers dey got dar,
whip 'em to death, sir."
" Why, Robin, you are not blockhead enough to believe
that, I hope?"
" Masser, 'tis moughty hard to believe, sir, but dey tells
me it come moughty straight, sir, from people who bin dar
an' see it."
4 Robin, those are lies raised by people who never were
within a thousand miles of New Orleans, for the purpose
of making money."
", Masser, you.don' say so, sir; why dem people sartinly
don' read der Bible. De Proverb say, 'De gittin' of treasure
by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to an' fro of dem dat seek
death.' Masser, der's one nother thing dey bin tell me 'bout
dat Red country, which I couldn't b'lieve 'fore you tell me
'twas all lie. I hearn 'em say, sir, dat de only chance
niggers have dar to rui away from dar massers, is to make
der massers b'lieve dat der great-hous' is haunted; dey says,
sir, dat white folks dar, and der blood houn' too, mighty
fraid o' ghosts, and when dey git frightened dey don' care
any mo' bout niggers, sir, an' dey gits off. Now, masser,i
what make me know 'twasn't true, was, dat I knowd white
folks got too much sense to be 'fraid o' ghosts, an' none butl
woolly-head niggers, sir, 'fraid o' dem things."
6C Well, Robin, you are right there, white people would
be much more apt to impose ghost-stories upon negroes,
than negroes upon white people; but, as I said before, it's
all false from beginning to end."





298


UNCLE ROBIN IN IHIS CABIN;


The day of sale at length arrived. The Doctor carried
the negroes to the Court House, and delivered them to
the sheriff. The crowd was unusually large; each individual seemed to be acquainted with all the circumstances
under which the sale was to be made; the sympathy for
the Doctor and his negroes was great; there was a general
agreement that no one would bid for them; even Mr.
Bosher declared that he would not bid. One of the men
was put uipon the block, and was cried a long time without
a bid; at length there was one of five hundred dollars, at
which he was proclaimed to be sold to Mr. Melchezedek
Squashum.
"c That's the way you squashes them, is it, Mr. Melkeesidic?" cried old Mr. Frazer, who was half seas over, as
the saying is in Virginia.
There was a gentleman in that crowd from the county
of- Augusta, whose name was Banks, who had come down
to purchase negroes for his own use. He and Dr. Boswell
met in the crowd.
c" Why, John," said he to the Doctor, " is this you, my
old college friend, and are these your negroes they are
selling? I had no idea of it. John, it reminds me of old
William and Mary to see_.you. But why are you selling
your negroes, John?"
The Doctor told him the circumstances.
" Well, sir, not another shall be sold. I have the money;
you shall have the amount of the execution, and we will
get back the negro that has been sold."
cc My friend," said the Doctor, "4 you are very kind, but
I fear you will put yourself to great inconvenience to wait
until I can make the money."





AND TOM WITHOUT ONE.


299


" Never mind that," said Mr. Banks; " pay me in two
years, and that will answer my purpose." He then turned
to Mr. Squashum, and told him that he would pay the
amount of the execution for Dr. Boswell, and that th(
Doctor could take back home all his negroes.
" Not too fast, sir, not too fast; I've bought one of them
a great bargain, great bargain, sir; can't give him up ftl
less than six hundred dollars.",I don't wish to have many words with you, Mr.
Squash; I will give you five hundred and fifty."
" Well, sir, it's a bargain, it's a bargain."
The execution was settled, the fifty dollars extra p id
Mr. Squashum, and the Doctor and Mr. Banks took their
leave for Selma.
A few days after the sale, the nuptials of the Rev. Mr.
Grattan and Miss Evelina Preble were witnessed at the
Cottage, by Dr. and Mrs. Boswell, Mr. and Mrs. George
Preble, and the old gentleman.
Our narrative closes about the time when quiet and
tranquillity was restored to the South by the passagt of.
the Compromise Acts.   Mr. Bosher said to Dr. BosM ell,
that i He must now seek some other employment, as he
could no longer grab runaway negroes flying."


THE END.





J. W. RANDOLPH,
Publisher &     Bookseller, 1 2 1 Main St., Rioihmond,
OFFERS TO THE TRADE, AND FOR SALE IN ANY QUANTITY,
Munford's Virginia Reports, 6 vols. 8vo.
Randolph's Virginia Reports, 6 vols. 8vo.
Wythe's Virginia Reports, 8vo.
Jefferson's Virginia Reports, 8vo.
Hall's Digested Index to the Virginia Reports, 2 vols. 8vo.
Branch and Hening's Maxims in Law ihd Equity, 8vo.
Matthews' Guide to Commissioners in Chancery, 8vo.
Hening's Lawyers' Guide, vol. 2, 8vo.
Mayo's Guide to Magistrates, 8vo.
Virginia Criminal Cases, from 1789 to 1826, new and improved edition, 2 vols. in 1, 8vo.
Tucker's Lectures on Natural Law and Government, 12mo.
Tucker's Lectures on Constitutional Law, 12mo.
Upshur's Review of Story on the Constitution, 8vo.
Westover Manuscripts, 8vo.
Dew's Essay on Slavery, 8vo.
Virginia Resolutions and Debates of 1798-9, a new and improved edition, 8vo.
Journal, Acts and Proceedings of Virginia Convention 1850, 8vo.
Statistics.of Virginia to 1850, from oflicial documents,-8vo.
Constitution of Virginia, 8vo.
Proceedings and Debates of Virginia Convention 1829-30, 8vo.
Ruffin's Essay on Calcareous 'Manures, 5th edition, enlarged and improved, 8vo. and 12mo.
Sermons by Rev. J. D. Blair, 8vo.
Bland's Papers and Memoir, 8vo.
Jefferson's Memoir and Correspondence, 4 vols. 8vo.
Edgar's Sportsman's Herald and Stud Book, 8vo.
'Southern and South-Western Sketches-Fun, Sentiment and Adventures, 12mo.
Martin and Brockenbrough's History of Virginia, 8vo.
Campbell's History of Virginia, 8vo.
Howe's History of Virginia, 8vo.
Lee's Strictures on the Writings of Jefferson, 8vo.
Plantation and Farm Instruction, Regulation, Record, Inventory and
Account Book-by a Southern Planter, 4to.
Burke's Virginia Springs, new edition, 12mo.
NOW PRINTING.
Jefferson's Notes on Virginia, a new edition, with Mr. Jefferson's last
corrections and additions, 8vo., plates.
IN PREPARATION.
Hening and Munford's Virginia Reports, 4 vols., new edition, with
notes.
Digest of the Laws of Virginia, adapted to the New Code.
Practice, adapted to the New Code.
Book of Forms, adapted to the New Code, 8vo.
Barradall's Virginia Reports, 8vo.
Randolph's Gardening, 12mo.
Ruffin on Agricultural Education, 8vo.
Dr. C. J. B. Williams & others, on the Principles of the Water-cure,
with Comments and Explanatory Remarks, by J. Timberlake. 12mo.