-NRLF 
 
 BY- 
 
 SYLVESTER FIELD 
 
LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 DAVIS 
 
 UNIVERSITY PUCE 
 BOOK SHOP 
 
 6* University Place 
 
Job Trottei 
 
 Seeks Health 
 
 Finds Negroes' Earthly Paradise 
 is Africa 
 
 Sytvestet Field 
 
 ^Publishing Company 
 Yotk 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
Copyrighted, 1904, 
 
 BY 
 SYLVESTER FIELD. 
 
 All Rights Reservtd. 
 
DEDICATED 
 
 TO 
 
 MY FAITHFUL HELPMEET. 
 
JOB TROTTER. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 JOB TROTTER was a handsome young man, 
 who with his widowed mother lived with her 
 brother, a successful merchant in an eastern 
 city. 
 
 Mr. Post offered his sister a home in his 
 family when her husband died, and his wife 
 and only son did all in their power to make 
 their home a pleasant one to these greatly be 
 reaved relatives. The cousins were about the 
 same age. Both chose mercantile life, and a 
 course in a commercial college; after which 
 Mr. Post took them into his employ. 
 
 Mrs. Trotter mourned for her husband un 
 til her health was undermined, and she wilted 
 like a crushed flower. After five years she, 
 too, was laid in the grave. Job was prostrated 
 with grief. His love for his mother was in 
 tense. She was his earthly idol, and he won 
 dered that he could live without her. Time 
 and close application to business helped him to 
 recover from the first shock, but his continued 
 
2 Job Trotter. 
 
 sadness and dislike of company changed him 
 so that his uncle offered to start the cousins 
 in a branch store in a neighboring village, that 
 the entire change of scene might restore Job's 
 interest in life, and give both young men a 
 new chance for advancement in business. 
 
 Louis Post with his cousin had been active 
 in their church life, and were favorites among 
 the young people. Now Louis had to join in 
 the entertainments alone. Such a change in 
 Job inclined Louis to accept his father's offer 
 with enthusiasm, and a pleasant village, one of 
 the prettiest in New England, was decided on 
 for the new store. 
 
 Job invested a part of the fortune his father 
 left him in it, and the prospect seemed very 
 bright. Their young friends all regretted their 
 going, and Louis became engaged to one with 
 whom he was desparately in love. 
 
Job Trotter. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THEY took rooms in the best hotel in the 
 place. A new building was rented for their 
 store. It was well stocked with goods. Plenty 
 of advertising brought them customers, and 
 life began again to look attractive to Job. He 
 enjoyed the close attention given to his work. 
 
 Louis not only liked the business but was 
 rejoiced to have Job more like his old-time 
 self, for the cousins were as fond of each other 
 as David and Jonathan of olden time. 
 
 They took an interest in their church, and 
 were again loyal to "Christ and the Church." 
 They met pleasant people, old and young. 
 Their business grew steadily and more clerks 
 were employed. They decided more time must 
 be given to recreation. Louis insisted upon 
 it, so they joined in the athletic games of the 
 village and became popular with all they had to 
 do with. The village people soon discovered 
 that two fine young men had come among 
 them to reside. Louis made friends easily. 
 
4 Job Trotter. 
 
 His good nature and manliness won all their 
 hearts. Job was more quiet, but his handsome 
 face, fine form and unusual height of six feet 
 impressed all who saw him as an attractive 
 man, and a perfect gentleman in manners. 
 
Job Trotter. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 WHEN summer came and the school vaca 
 tions took place many new young ladies 
 patronized the store. College girls were in 
 evidence. 
 
 Louis sent to his father for more fancy no 
 tions, and had a display in the windows of 
 pretty ribbons, silver ornaments, and trinkets 
 and a variety of attractive articles to catch the 
 fancy of the girls, so their store became more 
 popular than ever. Pretty girls and plain girls, 
 old ones and young ones all came. Louis 
 showed some attention to all. Job said he 
 liked the plain and old ones the best. They 
 bought what they wanted with less talk and 
 fuss. He never waited on any of them unless 
 the number in the store required him to as 
 sist. 
 
 But, alas! for theories one day a customer 
 came in, who so attracted him, by her beauty, 
 that he forgot his professed preference for plain 
 ones, and made the selection of goods and price 
 so easy for her that her purchase was a large 
 
6 Job Trotter. 
 
 one, and it was with eager delight he took her 
 address where the goods were to be sent. It 
 was to Mr. Settledon's, Vine Avenue. As 
 soon as he could have a word with Louis he 
 asked him if he knew them. Louis said, 
 "No, and yet knew of them." Squire Set- 
 tledon was one of the rich men of the place, 
 who had an elegant home on the Avenue. His 
 wife had been in the store, but Job had not 
 noticed her. This must be the eldest daughter, 
 who had been" away to college. A younger 
 sister had been in the store several times, but 
 he had waited on her, as Job did not care for 
 "pretty girls." 
 
 He observed that both sisters were con 
 sidered pretty. He had heard a good deal in 
 their praise as active Christian girls. He had 
 never seen the elder one, and asked Job what 
 he thought of her. 
 
 "She is superbly beautiful. I never saw 
 such large, expressive eyes, or such an ex 
 quisite complexion on any young face before. 
 I hope she will come into the store often." 
 
 Days passed and she did not come. He 
 walked past her home often, but could not see 
 anything of her. He consulted Louis as to 
 how they could contrive to get acquainted with 
 her. They ascertained her family went to the 
 Methodist Church, so to the Methodist Church 
 they went, for a change. They did not wish 
 to be considered "narrow-minded," besides, 
 
Job Trotter. 7 
 
 were not some of their best customers in that 
 .church too? They found it so pleasant to see 
 Hope Settledon enter the church that Job said 
 he much preferred that church, not that he 
 liked his church less, but this one (when Hope 
 was there) more. They watched her as she 
 came in with her family. They visited the 
 Sabbath School. She was there a teacher. 
 They went to evening meeting, ^she was there. 
 Job could think or talk to Louis of no one else. 
 He said he would give half of what he was 
 worth to know her. 
 
8 Job Trotter. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Louis wrote to his father asking if he knew 
 Squire Settledon, and if so to give him a letter 
 of introduction. 
 
 The desired letter came. He took it to the 
 Squire's office, and was kindly received. Soon 
 an invitation came for him and his cousin to 
 dine with the family in their house. It was 
 a blissful occasion for Job. He had not antici 
 pated the half of what the realization was, to 
 be near and to talk to the eldest daughter, 
 whose name was Hope. Louis did his part by 
 making himself agreeable to the older people 
 and younger sister. His heart was true to 
 "the girl he left behind him." He was not 
 now taken with beauty and bright eyes, but was 
 glad to have Job interested once more in com 
 panions of a suitable age. 
 
 While Louis had made his selection of a 
 sweetheart, Job had been considered rather as 
 a flirt. He always said his heart belonged 
 to his mother, and he was well content in her 
 love. Now he seemed to have met his fate. 
 Would the "Course of true love run smooth," 
 or meet with its usual fatality? 
 
Job Trotter. 9 
 
 When they went to call a few evenings 
 after the dinner, there were four hats on the 
 rack, and Job was greatly disappointed. The 
 call was a short one. Hope was brilliantly 
 beautiful, and entertained all with ease and 
 fluent conversation. Job felt quite miserable. 
 Could the "Rose that all were praising" be 
 for him? He feared not; and notwithstanding 
 the encouragement Louis gave him he was 
 dreadfully despondent. 
 
 He called again, but others were there, and 
 she showed him no special favor. He called 
 in the afternoon, and invited her to a concert. 
 She accepted. Oh, what bliss in imagination, 
 and more yet in realization! He complained 
 of the many hats on the rack when he called 
 in the evenings. She said they were old friends 
 who came to while away their time. 
 
 How did Hope like him? She told her 
 father she had never met any one so agree 
 able as he was, never in her life before, and 
 that if he did not like so many hats on the 
 rack she would be out for the first part of every 
 evening, until her old beaux left off coming, 
 so that he could call in peace, and they enjoy 
 themselves together. 
 
 Her father told her that would be too 
 marked a preference for him; but she was de 
 cided that she wished to see no one else but 
 him. 
 
io Job Trotter. 
 
 "Would you be willing to marry him, my 
 dear?" 
 
 "Indeed, I would; if he asked me I would 
 jump at the chance." 
 
 "You must be careful. Don't think too 
 much of him. He is only an acquaintance." 
 
 "I don't care if I do say it to you, I am fas 
 cinated with him. I want no other friend. 
 I will give up every one who comes here, so 
 that he will enjoy coming." 
 
Job Trotter. ' n 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 How did Job feel? He told Louis: "It is 
 no use for me to flatter myself that Hope 
 would prefer me; she has so many admirers. 
 I am only one of the last of her acquaintances. 
 She must like her old friends best. She is so 
 polite to all; so kind-hearted always; no- more 
 to me than to any one else. I can never win 
 her. I might as well give up the thought, 
 and attend to my store." 
 
 "No," said Louis, "you have as good a 
 chance as any one. When she knows you bet 
 ter she will appreciate you, for I will say a 
 better, purer man never lived in this town. If 
 she does not understand your worth, and treat 
 you well, she will lose the rare chance of a life 
 time. Ask her to ride with you, get her by 
 yourself; cut out those other fellows. You 
 can do it, if you will." 
 
 It was one of Job's blue days. He had not 
 seen Hope for a week, when, wonderful to 
 relate, she came into the store one morning, 
 looking as fresh and sweet as a lily. 
 
 "Now, Job," said Louis, "there's a chance 
 for you." 
 
12 Job Trotter. 
 
 Job advanced, the smiling clerk withdrew. 
 Hope lingered over the goods she was looking 
 at, and finally purchased the piece he liked 
 best. It was for a dress for herself. This so 
 encouraged him that he asked her if she would 
 ride with him in the afternoon. She said, 
 "Yes" so sweetly that he believed she was 
 pleased with the invitation. 
 
 They had a charming ride, so both thought. 
 He asked her if she would go again on a 
 pleasant lake drive some miles away, some day. 
 She said she would, and she set the day she 
 could go. 
 
 Job was so delighted with this success that 
 he bought a gentle, beautiful horse and easy 
 phaeton for the occasion. When the day for 
 their going arrived, and she saw the rig she 
 praised it as in perfect taste, and was charmed 
 with the pretty carriage that moved so easily. 
 They rode to the lake. The horse was left 
 in charge of a hostler, and they went into a 
 grotto on the bank. The view, the quiet, and 
 the lovely girl at his side all conspired to en 
 able him to be agreeable and to talk with a 
 freedom and ease that enchanted her. 
 
 He asked her, "Do you really like my horse 
 and carnage?" 
 
 "I admire it very much. I never rode in a 
 more comfortable one." 
 
 "It will give me pleasure to give it to you. 
 Will you accept it from me?" 
 
Job Trotter. 13 
 
 "Oh 1 , I could not accept such a valuable 
 gift." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "Papa has always said I must not accept 
 a gift from a gentleman I am not engaged to." 
 
 "Then that objection can be removed. Will 
 you engage yourself to me?" 
 
 "Oh, what have I said?" and Hope buried 
 her face in her hands. 
 
 Then Job had the opportunity of telling all 
 his love for her. Hope burst into tears. 
 
 "Why, my darling, why do you weep?" 
 
 "Because I am so happy." 
 
 And then followed words and loving ex 
 pressions that beggar description. Imagina 
 tion never fails us ! 
 
14 Job Trotter 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 TIME, relentless time, at last warned them 
 to return home. Hope asked Job to dine with 
 them. He accepted the invitation. He wanted 
 to see her parents, and to get their approval 
 of him as a son. He watched Hope enter her 
 father's door, and thought, "She is my Hope; 
 truly she loves me ; her heart is mine, and mine 
 alone." It was not long before he returned 
 from the livery stable. Hope was waiting at 
 the window for him. She rushed to the door, 
 and embraced him. He asked to see her 
 father, and she took him to the library. 
 
 "Papa, we want to talk with you." 
 
 Her father laid aside his book, and greeted 
 Job kindly, who said: 
 
 "I have come to ask your consent to my pos 
 session of your daughter. I have her heart, 
 and she has mine. My life and all it is worth 
 are hers. Will you accept me as your son, and 
 sanction our union ?" 
 
 "Hope, do you really love him as you should 
 love to unite your life with his?" 
 
 "Father, I cannot tell how much I love him. 
 
Job Trotter. 15 
 
 I can only say that I am perfectly happy in his 
 love/' 
 
 "Then, my children, I give my consent. I 
 am well acquainted with the character of his 
 relatives, and of his late father. I am per 
 fectly satisfied with what I know of him. God 
 bless you both in your choice of each other." 
 
 "You are the best papa in the world." 
 
 They went to look for her mother. She 
 was in the cheerful sitting-room. She wel 
 comed Job cordially, and asked if they had had 
 a pleasant ride. Job answered for both : 
 
 "Hope has said she enjoyed it, and for me 
 it has been the pleasantest of my life, a memor 
 able ride. Hope has promised to be my wife. 
 We want you now to give us loving congratu 
 lations on our true love for each other, and 
 happy prospects." 
 
 "Oh, mother, I am so happy," said Hope, 
 as she put her arms around her mother's neck, 
 and laid her head on her mother's breast. The 
 tears came into the mother's eyes as she held 
 Hope in her arms, and said : 
 
 "How can I give you up, my precious child ?" 
 
 "You need not," said Job, "only take me as 
 your son; your daughter's husband. It will 
 be our delight to stay near you, and add all 
 we can to your happiness, as long as you live. 
 Will you accept me as your son, with all a 
 son's devotion? As I loved to care for my 
 mother, so will I gladly care for you," 
 
1 6 Job Trotter. 
 
 "You can't help loving him, dear mother, 
 when you know him, as I do. He is a true 
 Christian, mother." 
 
 "Well, my darling, you have settled the mat 
 ter in earnest. I believe you do love each 
 other. I shall not oppose your decision. Job 
 is welcome to come to our home at any time 
 as one of our family. It is time that dinner 
 was served. I will ring that I am ready for 
 it. Job will remain and dine with us, I am 
 sure." 
 
Job Trotter, 17 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Louis was convinced that Job had met with 
 pleasant experiences as he heard him whistling 
 the next morning right merrily, and before he 
 was fairly awake, Job rushed into his room 
 and told the good news. 
 
 "I do, indeed, rejoice with you," said Louis. 
 
 "I came home at twelve and looked in on 
 you, but you slept so soundly, I did not like 
 to wake you." 
 
 "It was well you did not. I am a bear when 
 disturbed at night, and would have thrown the 
 furniture at you." 
 
 "Then I would have thrown you out of the 
 window." 
 
 "You must have been in a fighting mood." 
 
 "I felt strong enough to challenge the wind, 
 if it blew rudely on Hope." 
 
 "When will you be married?" 
 
 "Very soon, I trust. I shall ask Hope this 
 morning, when I go to see her, to set the 
 day." 
 
 Hope said, "Most folks are engaged two 
 years." 
 
1 8 Job Trotter. 
 
 "Let us start a new and better fashion. Say, 
 two weeks." 
 
 "Oh, that is too soon. College begins next 
 week, and I graduate in another year." 
 
 "You are not going to return to college?" 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "I can't spare you." 
 
 "I ought to finish my college course." 
 
 "And leave me?" 
 
 "I will be awfully sorry to." 
 
 "I will get sick and die." 
 
 "If you are sick I will return and take care 
 of you." 
 
 "It is no use of your going then, as I will 
 be taken dangerously ill the first week, if you 
 do. You know enough of usual studies now. 
 We will be married and read lots of books 
 together, and we both will enjoy the same read 
 ing then." 
 
 "I am willing, but what will papa say?" 
 
 "He will say it is the best way. 'An ounce 
 of prevention is worth a pound of cure' for 
 my health." 
 
 The parents demurred, but finally were won 
 over, and Christmas was the time set for the 
 wedding. 
 
 Her father gave her a new pretty house near 
 his. It was rented for the summer, but the 
 tenants would soon leave, and he would have 
 it newly decorated and furnished for them. 
 
 Christmas came at last. A private family 
 
Job Trotter. 19 
 
 wedding was given to Hope, and they went 
 to housekeeping in the loveliest of residences, 
 the gift of her father. It was all their own. 
 They planted rare roses, trained more vines 
 over the verandas, planted memorial trees, 
 "For," as Hope said, "this will always be our 
 home, and we will make it the most attractive 
 place in the world. What shall we name it?" 
 " 'Home, sweet home,' " said Job. 
 So that became its name, and all said it 
 was a most suitable one. 
 
 Five years followed of comfort and devo 
 tion, during which a precious boy was born 
 to them. They called him Gaylord, after her 
 father. He was a fine healthy child, but when 
 he was three years old he had the whooping 
 cough. 
 
 Anxiety for his boy, and a bleak winter of 
 storms resulted in such a severe cold to Job 
 that it settled on his lungs and nothing seemed 
 to cure him, so the doctor insisted upon his 
 going South. 
 
 "Shall I go alone?" he asked Hope. 
 "No, indeed, we will all go." 
 "And leave this beautiful home?" 
 "It is worth nothing to me without you." 
 Hasty preparations were made, and soon 
 all three were speeding to the "Sunny South." 
 
20 Job Trotter. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE change of climate was most delightful. 
 The balmy air worked like a charm on Job. 
 Out-of-door life was an agreeable and effica 
 cious remedy. Their hotel life was comfort 
 able. The Southern people they found were 
 social, with agreeable, easy manners. Hope 
 fell in love with their ways at once; only she 
 did not like to hear these elegant gentlemen 
 say: "I'll kill that nigger." 
 
 This they did repeatedly when there was 
 any slight fault to find, or when an order did 
 not receive immediate obedience. Every one 
 else was allowed, and expected to be slow, and 
 to do little or nothing. Hope soon discovered 
 she was in a slave state. Pleasant as this life 
 was they became tired of it, and they all 
 longed for home life once more. After some 
 time spent in looking for a house, they suc 
 ceeded in obtaining a cottage belonging to a 
 planter near his own, and once again they en 
 joyed a quiet and beautiful home. 
 
 The next three years were full of quiet en 
 joyment. The planter's family were most kind 
 
Job Trotter. 21 
 
 and social. His wife was somewhat of an in 
 valid. She often called for Mrs. Trotter to 
 ride with her in her carriage. She was a typi 
 cal Southern lady, and did not care to walk. 
 Her slave attendant expressed it: 
 
 "My Missus is a lady, and her foot ain't 
 'quainted wid de groun'. I jes' obsarves sum 
 folk usinized to walk. She isn't, sho nuff." 
 
 Beautiful flowers and delicious fruits came 
 with "my compliments." Their only son, 
 Cecil, came often with his "Nigger Mose" 
 to play with Gay. 
 
 The boys found lizards and snakes that were 
 harmless, so Gay became accustomed to them. 
 One morning he called the boys to see his beau 
 tiful nest of lizards. 
 
 "Them isn't lizzards, them's 'gaters," said 
 Mose. "Them's bites." 
 
 Gay rushed to the house. "Come, mother, 
 and see my * 'gaters,' " he said. 
 
 She went wth him, and admired them, of 
 course, but made Gay promise he would not 
 handle them, and he was content to see them 
 grow. He found chamelions and fed them 
 with flies; saw them change color when put 
 on different colored leaves, and in this way the 
 boys had royal good times together. 
 
 Mrs. Trotter was privileged to have one of 
 the planter's house-servants for her use, and 
 an old mammy that was allowed to earn a little 
 
22 Job Trotter. 
 
 money for herself by extra work, took the 
 washing for her. 
 
 "I 'lowed to do it mighty cheap, Honey, ef 
 yo' prowide de ingregiances" (soap and 
 starch). 
 
 Job enjoyed the trees of this land. Some 
 pines were eighty feet and more high. The 
 water oaks, straight and crooked, laden with 
 Florida moss, some hanging six feet and eight 
 feet from the trees and swaying gracefully in 
 the mild breeze, were found in abundance. 
 This wonderful growth of moss with a tough 
 hair-like fibre through every stem to place of 
 clinging is not a parasite, but lives on air, and 
 in the spring it has small green flowers on it. 
 He also admired Indian River, wide and 
 straight, parallel with the Atlantic, 160 miles; 
 the shores fringed with the orange blossoms. 
 Magnolias and honeysuckle were plentifully 
 found. The Indians loved to camp here. 
 
Job Trotter. 23 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 JOB'S health became established. The easy, 
 joyful life he expressed in a quotation from 
 Longfellow : 
 
 "O Gift of God! O perfect day: 
 Whereon shall no man work, but play: 
 Whereon it is enough for me, 
 Not to be doing, but to be! 
 
 "Through every fibre of my brain, 
 Through every nerve, through every vein 
 I feel the electric thrill, the touch 
 Of life, that seems so much. 
 
 "I hear the wind among the trees 
 Playing celestial symphonies; 
 I see the branches downward bent; 
 Like keys of some great instrument. 
 
 "And over me unrolls on high 
 The splendid scenery of the sky, 
 Where through a sapphire sea the sun 
 Sails like a golden galleon. 
 
24 Job Trotter. 
 
 <f O Life and Love! O happy throng 
 Of thoughts, whose only speech is song! 
 O heart of man! canst thou not be 
 Blithe as the air is, and as free?" 
 
 He had much poetry in his nature and mem 
 ory, and it was awakened by these pleasant 
 surroundings, as he and Hope sauntered in the 
 woods listening to the mocking-birds and other 
 songsters. Bluebirds and cardinal grosbecks, 
 with their gay plumage, were there also by the 
 lake side. The moonlight evenings were spent 
 out-of-doors, watching nature's changes so 
 quickly made. 
 
 The brief twilight and the sunsets, leaving 
 rays of splendor, were very greatly admired 
 as they sat on the verandas or in a boat. The 
 dark nights were enjoyed as much, though in a 
 different way, in the house in each other's com 
 pany, with reading and music. Both were good 
 players on the piano, and their voices harmo 
 nized so that one of their greatest pleasures 
 was that of singing together. 
 
 "This is an ideal life," said Hope, "and has 
 given you your health, my precious husband. 
 I hope we can live here always. Will you 
 not buy this cottage, and have it for our win 
 ter home? and let us name it Pine Grove Cot 
 tage. It is so rural. It is a real bower of 
 beauty. We have the eastern sun that rises 
 in bright orange color, and the western that 
 
Job Trotter. 25 
 
 sets in golden rays. We might name it 
 'Paradise/ it is so like what that must be. 
 We can live and die here, and go to Paradise 
 having a foretaste of it." 
 
 "I am willing to buy it, if the planter will 
 sell it to me, but I think we had better try it 
 one year longer before we decide." 
 
* 
 
 26 Job Trotter. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE planter invited them to visit his plan 
 tation. They accepted and went with him. 
 Hope became interested in some old negroes, 
 almost blind. She afterwards visited them, 
 read the Bible to them and taught them Gos 
 pel songs. She also taught some of the chil 
 dren to read. Her kind heart went out to 
 these ignorant slaves whose lives were con 
 trolled by their owners. She heard of the 
 kindness of their friend, the owner of the plan 
 tation where they lived, and thought the neat 
 cabins were good homes, and their planta 
 tion songs interested her such as "Old Black 
 Joe," "Suwanee River," and others like them. 
 They never tired of them, and she often heard 
 them singing before she reached a cabin : 
 
 "One little hut among the bushes 
 
 One dat I love, 
 
 Still sadly to my memory rushes 
 No matter where I rove. 
 
 11 When shall I see de bee a-hummin', 
 
 All round de comb, 
 When will I hear de banjo tunimin' 
 Down in my good old home?" 
 
Job Trotter. 27 
 
 She could not meditate on the woes of 
 slavery; the sad experience of children sold 
 away from their parents, as bad as the home 
 sickness of all children away from home and 
 those they love. It seems so strange that any 
 one who has a human heart could keep en 
 slaved their fellow-creatures who have the 
 same God-given aspiration for happiness, home 
 and heaven; and what a blot on this summer 
 land where heaven bends down to earth caress 
 ingly. 
 
 Some of the old darkies told her harrowing 
 stories of some who were sold to cruel masters. 
 One old slave said that her mother belonged 
 to a bad man, who, when she grew old and 
 valueless let her starve, and when dead had her 
 put into a cart and then in a hole dug way 
 off, and buried like a hog. 
 
 Another story was of a slave who was made 
 to feed sick cows, and being with child when it 
 was born its eyes rolled like those of a sick 
 cow, and he was club-footed and had a with 
 ered hand. He was shown as a curiosity by 
 his inhuman master, and then met a sudden 
 death and rude burial. 
 
 The planter heard that Hope sympathized 
 with his slaves, and he told Job it would not 
 do; and from that time the friendly relations 
 of the planter's family ceased. 
 
 Cecil was not allowed to play with Gay, 
 and their disfavor was so apparent that Job 
 
28 Job Trotter. 
 
 thought they had better give up the cottage 
 and move away. 
 
 There were now rumors of a war against 
 the North for Southern independence. Hope 
 was sorry to leave the spot where her dear 
 husband enjoyed such good health, but she 
 agreed with him that it was wise to do so, 
 and succeeding events proved it to be the wis 
 est course, as their sympathies were all with 
 the North, and against slavery. 
 
 They went to St. Louis. Here they found a 
 pleasant home in a private boarding-house, and 
 had kind neighbors. The climate was mild 
 and the city was settled by stirring business 
 men. It was a life that suited Job better than 
 the lazy life he had been living further south. 
 But soon news of war followed them. A 
 border state did not seem to be a place of set 
 tled enjoyment to a man with Northern prin 
 ciples against slavery. The constant discus 
 sions were distasteful to him, and the strong 
 expressions against the North, by the majority 
 of women, were greatly disliked by Hope. 
 They were loth to leave the Union friends 
 they had made in the house, but definite views 
 must be expressed and all there agreed that the 
 Union and her flag must be respected. So they 
 bought a large Union Flag and flung it to the 
 breeze from the front of the house. This made 
 a great commotion. Their secession neighbors 
 talked against it. They would not pass on 
 
Job Trotter. 29 
 
 the sidewalk under the flag, but crossed over 
 to the other side. The children acted as the 
 parents did. Gay was again left by his 
 playmates, and not only that, but they insulted 
 him every chance they had. He often came 
 in crying and told his mother that the boys did 
 not like him any more, because of the flag. 
 Hope heard women say, "If I thought I had 
 a drop of Yankee blood in me, I'd cut it out." 
 Hope and Job decided it would be better to 
 move to a free state, and so parted from their 
 friends, and went to Chicago. 
 
30 Job Trotter. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 THEY arrived in Chicago with glad hearts. 
 Here they found fine accommodations in a 
 hotel on the beautiful lake. The delightful 
 drives and the views of extensive prairies in 
 terested them very much. 
 
 A funny experience came to Hope one day. 
 As she wished to go to the West side she 
 crossed on the bridge, but before she reached 
 the other side it had to turn to let a boat 
 through. That brought her to the same side 
 she had left, but she did not notice, and walked 
 off and went some distance before she dis 
 covered her mistake. There were so many 
 beautiful homes on the South side Hope wanted 
 to rent one and begin life anew. So they se 
 lected a nice one, and adorned it with pretty 
 things, and settled down once more to enjoy 
 home life again. 
 
 Years passed on. They spent some months 
 of each winter further south, but this was their 
 home, sweet home, once more. Gaylord had 
 a private tutor, and was fast becoming an 
 agreeable companion to his father and mother. 
 
Job Trotter. 31 
 
 This happy condition was unduly disturbed by 
 the great fire, when all they had vanished 
 forever from their sight. That is, all that 
 could burn. 
 
 Job, Hope and Gaylord were spared to each 
 other, and they were so thankful for their own 
 preservation that all else seemed as nothing. 
 They fled to a place of safety, and witnessed 
 the most appalling sight that one can behold, 
 a city on fire. Hotels, churches, public build 
 ings, business blocks, mercantile establish 
 ments, newspaper offices, humble homes, costly 
 residences were all leveled amid flames and 
 smoke. It was a horror unimaginable! 
 
 The anxiety, suffering and excitement, pen 
 cannot describe nor picture it to those who did 
 not witness it. "What shall we do?" "Shall 
 we have anything left to start anew ?" "Where 
 can we go ?" was heard on all sides. Job said, 
 "Shall we return to New England?" Hope said, 
 "No, we will run no risk of your health." 
 
 They went finally to try New York. There 
 they found the rush for wealth, social posi 
 tion and public prominence carried out to a 
 fabulous extent. All could not be at the top 
 notch, so jealousy, heart burnings, and expen 
 sive display was the result while vying with 
 each other for popularity. This was the life 
 of many. 
 
 Job found, in the church of his choice, noble 
 Christians, men of great wealth, but who were 
 
32 Job Trotter. 
 
 greater in themselves than all their money, 
 good as, or better than, gold ; who gave loving 
 service to their church. Job and Hope gave 
 themselves to a part in the church work that 
 was not very popular with the many. The 
 Chinese school, a branch of the main Sunday 
 School, needed teachers. The superintendent 
 sent a notice to the church to call attention to 
 the fact. Job and Hope responded, and soon 
 after Gaylord and his tutor also were inter 
 ested. Hope had a scholar who admired her 
 very much, and at Christmas time sent her 
 silk handkerchiefs, red,, blue and green. This 
 was the best that he could do to express his 
 thanks for her teaching. Job was asked to take 
 another's class into his one man as his 
 teacher was away for a short time. When a 
 Chinaman is pleased his complexion is a light 
 yellow, but when displeased it grows a dark 
 brown. This man's face grew quite dark, as 
 Job took his teacher's chair, and he said : 
 "Me want old girl back, teach me." 
 He was slow to be pleased, but when the 
 old lady returned to teach him his face grew 
 radiant. 
 
Job Trotter. 33 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 JOB was then given a more advanced 
 scholar, who paid good attention, and eyed 
 his teacher with great interest. Before long, 
 he appeared dressed as "Mellican man," ring 
 on his finger, glass pin in his scarf, and 
 gloves! He told his teacher he was going to 
 give up his laundry and sell things slawber- 
 ries, rasbellies, oranges, ice-cleam and lice and 
 bread." When Job told Hope about it she 
 said he'd better put his watch chain in his 
 pocket or the man would spend all the money 
 he earned in jewelry, trying to imitate his 
 "Mellican" teacher, as they were especially 
 good at imitation. A story is told of the man 
 in the kitchen as a help for the cook, who 
 always slipped off his shoes as he had seen 
 the cook do when she peeled potatoes. 
 
 As each man had a separate teacher, it re 
 quired many as the school grew in numbers, 
 and many young ladies from the church were 
 invited to take classes. It proved a bad ex 
 periment, as the men became too fond of their 
 teachers, and one teacher consented to marry 
 
34 Jb Trotter. 
 
 her scholar and go with him to China. But 
 her friends opposed it so it had to be given 
 up, and he returned to China alone, probably 
 a heart-broken man. She left the school, as 
 it was "too narrow-minded" to suit her. 
 
 The annual boat excursion which was given 
 by the men to their teachers was frowned upon 
 by some in the church, and was given up, also 
 the expensive dinners given by the teachers to 
 the school each year were abandoned. 
 
 Job insisted that the object of the school 
 was to teach them to read the Bible, and to 
 teach them the way of salvation, that they 
 might return to China and carry the Gospel 
 to their countrymen. 
 
 They were fitted by language and acclimated 
 to the country, and could live there and work 
 for Christ better than the white people, as it 
 was proven more than once. One of the 
 teachers, an educated, noble, Christian woman, 
 fitted herself to go as a missionary to China 
 by learning the language as best she could by 
 two years' study with the intelligent men. She 
 went, and taught awhile, but took a fever and 
 died. Her devoted husband, a minister, went 
 with her and died also with the fever. A son 
 and daughter remained there, and did good 
 work, and kept well by returning home often 
 for a change of climate. 
 
 Job took the matter up in earnest. He 
 started a missionary society which was to send 
 
Job Trotter. 35 
 
 converts back to China to open chapels there, 
 and work to convert the^ native Chinese so that 
 they need not come to this country to learn of 
 Christ and salvation. They got a taste here 
 for money, so a large fund was started to fur 
 nish good salaries to the men to build chapels 
 and to do a special work in each school in 
 fitting out the men who love their Saviour and 
 love China and hope to return there before 
 they die, and if not able to do so wish their 
 bodies to be sent there. Such a home-loving 
 people should be helped to return to their 
 homes and their families and their country, 
 and so to spread the Gospel to their "end of 
 the earth." 
 
 It was a kind providence to other nations 
 to implant in the hearts of this prolific people 
 of 400,000,000 population with immense terri 
 tory, such a strong inborn tie to their native 
 land of China. 
 
36 Job Trotter. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE Trotter family spent their winters in 
 New York City, their summers out of town. 
 They went for several summers to a pleasant 
 country seat situated on the bank of the Hud 
 son River, where the high cliffs, the grand 
 scenery, the fine air, and pleasant surroundings 
 inclined them to locate permanently, but they 
 felt a desire to see the new city that had arisen 
 out of its ashes, and beholding it were amazed 
 at what man could accomplish in a compara 
 tively short time. More elegant buildings they 
 had rarely seen than were now to be found in 
 the city of Chicago. 
 
 Hope was greatly interested in the Woman's 
 Temple of white marble, suitable symbol of a 
 pure cause, rising up to its great height, mak 
 ing such a splendid sight by its fine architec 
 ture, showing such good taste, and furnish 
 ing needed conveniences for their Gospel work 
 under their noble leader, whose last act and 
 thought was for it as a great benefit to the 
 cause she loved and had consecrated her life 
 to its service, expressing so loudly "Love to 
 
Job Trotter. 37 
 
 God and Man." She little thought she was 
 working for her own , memorial, and where 
 the last view of her lovely face would be taken 
 by her comrades who so dearly loved her with 
 whom they had worked, and where in its spa 
 cious hall the incense of daily prayer had been 
 and continued to be, offered. Here souls had 
 been saved and helped by sisterly love follow 
 ing out the Golden Rule. The work faltered 
 not; though the dear one was promoted, her 
 spirit remained to encourage those left in 
 charge, and it was fitting that this splendid 
 temple should be her memorial. This "un 
 crowned queen" was entitled to one as beauti 
 ful, but the enemy entered even here and 
 impelled by envy and an evil spirit sent shafts 
 of spite in every direction under the pretense 
 of its showing an extravagant expenditure, 
 though no limit was set in other cases of ex 
 pensive travel and sight seeing. But God still 
 cares for his own. A rich man took an inter 
 est and by influencing others relieved all in 
 debtedness, and the Dove of Peace rested there, 
 where the Prince of Peace had been preached. 
 A lesson had been taught and learned that 
 leaders should walk in clean garments. Their 
 acts should be above suspicion. If they can 
 not praise they can keep silence. If they can 
 not help they need not hinder. The Union, 
 whose leader goes about stirring up strife and 
 brow-beating its members may retain his office, 
 
38 Job Trotter. 
 
 and wield mighty power, but his ways are not 
 American. We want no foreign potentates in 
 America with their secret motto "rule or 
 ruin" so different from God's rule "Blessed 
 are the peacemakers." 
 
 "I wish/' said Hope, "that all the fault 
 finding, dissatisfied, grumbling, mischief- 
 brewing, and beer-brewing folks might be ex 
 ported from our country, and never more al 
 lowed to return, both male and female." 
 
 "How would you do it?" said Job. 
 
 "I would fill ships with them every day in 
 the year if needful, and send them to the land 
 from which they came, and would have a po 
 lice force large enough to scour the country 
 and rid it of all such vermin, and then tear 
 down their houses and disinfect the country 
 North, South, East and West." 
 
 "If this were to be your woman's policy 
 I don't think we would have woman-suffrage 
 very soon." 
 
 "I, for one, do not want woman's suffrage. 
 Let them keep their homes sweet and pleasant." 
 
 "Some have no homes." 
 
 "Then they can bestow their inherited 
 mother love on forlorn, sweet, innocent, dar 
 ling little children, who have no home or any 
 one to love and care for them. Better care for 
 them than for pet dogs and cats." 
 
 "Don't you think woman-suffrage would 
 help some matters?" 
 
Job Trotter. 39 
 
 "No; any one can see that public life spoils 
 women. They get to wrangling and quarrel 
 ing, and make disgusting spectacles of them 
 selves." 
 
 "Do not the men also?" 
 
 "They do get excited in debate, and are 
 often undignified and ungentlemanly, and we 
 may be ashamed of them, but public women 
 are a terror. They would add fuel to the 
 flame, and no man or angel could quench it." 
 
 "Well, I trust the time is not far off when 
 men will uphold the right with gentlemanly 
 courtesy and old-fashioned politeness, and use 
 their influence for God and righteousness. I 
 think myself that suffrage should be restricted 
 rather than enlarged." 
 
 "Will it not be grand if the time ever 
 comes when workingmen save their earnings, 
 and support their families instead of the 
 saloons; and when rich men use their money 
 in large enterprises, for the good of their coun 
 try, and betterment of the world?" 
 
 "Yes, and then could be sung, not on one day 
 in the year only, but all the time, Teace on 
 earth, good-will to men/ ' 
 
40 Job Trotter. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 ANOTHER summer was spent at a sea-shore 
 place on the New Jersey coast, a very beautiful 
 and quiet spot where a religious community 
 made heaven seem nearer to earth than else 
 where. The grand ocean reminded them con 
 stantly of God's boundless love. Its billows 
 and surf in the moonlight told plainly of his 
 lavish beauty on sea and land. 
 
 "God of the Sea, 
 Majestic, most profound. 
 Enlarge my bound, 
 Broader and deeper let me be." 
 
 The grove of pine, the woods, the birds 
 chanted and whispered his praise. The con 
 genial company and the salubrious air con 
 vinced them they had found a pleasant rest 
 ing place. 
 
 Job bought a pretty cottage and gave it to 
 Hope. 
 
 "It is too bad/' he said, "that you who 
 loved your 'Sweet Home' and expected to 
 
Job Trotter. 41 
 
 live there always should have to follow me 
 in such a life of change. We have seemed to 
 emulate the 'Wandering Jew/ ' 
 
 "I think you are looking now at the outside 
 of things. I have had a permanent home in 
 your heart, and you in mine, for * 'Tis home 
 where the heart is.' ' 
 
 "Now, we can hope to have this cottage for 
 our permanent summer home." 
 
 "Yes, the cottage is very pretty and the air 
 suits you better than the coast of New Eng 
 land. We will enjoy it as we always do any 
 house where we can live by ourselves, and have 
 everything as we like it, free to go and come 
 as we please at any time; read, sing and play, 
 with no outsiders to be annoyed or displeased. 
 It will be an attractive refuge away from the 
 public eye." 
 
 They enjoyed the bathing with its exhilarat 
 ing effects. The boating and the fishing, also 
 the entertainments, concerts and religious ad 
 vantages were sources of pleasure and profit. 
 
 "It will well prepare Gaylord for his college 
 life that he will enter on in the autumn." 
 
 "What one can you find good enough for 
 our boy?" 
 
 "I have informed myself about different col 
 leges, and give my preference to one where 
 the President is a courtly and kindly gentle 
 man. One who is well-fitted both by culture 
 and example to be a model for young men," 
 
42 Job Trotter. 
 
 "I won't let him go to college," said Hope, 
 "if he is going to be hazed." 
 
 "No, I would not either if that was a neces 
 sity, but it is not; far from it. Those mean 
 tricks are of the past." 
 
 "I won't have my darling boy kicked about 
 by a set of bullies, his bones broken and badly 
 injured for life." 
 
 "No, it is simply barbarous; a lot of fel 
 lows against one. Gaylord is so tall and well- 
 developed that I would risk him against any 
 one boy. But it is not fair to be attacked 
 unawares by a pack of ruffians." 
 
 "I am not afraid but that he could hold 
 his own against any one of his age. His ath 
 letic training has had such good practice with 
 you and his tutor." 
 
 "It is not so much a question of strength as 
 of right and decency." 
 
 "I should think the officers of an Institution 
 for the betterment of young men might see 
 to their conduct." 
 
 "They might and do. The one I would se 
 lect, and have about decided on, holds its right 
 ful power over its students. They must bring 
 good well-known references as to character. 
 None are admitted unless such are satisfactory. 
 They must sign a contract to keep the rules 
 of the college, and always maintain a cour 
 teous behavior to all in the college or with 
 out. If any one disobeys he is suspended until 
 
Job Trotter. 43 
 
 he promises to reform, and for a second of 
 fence he is expelled." 
 
 "That is good, as then the college must 
 graduate well-educated and well-mannered 
 young gentlemen, such as I hope Gay lord will 
 be." 
 
 "I think he will truly enjoy his life there. 
 It will be pleasant and in many ways like his 
 life with us; and besides he will have the ad 
 vantage of the society of men who have at 
 tained high literary standing. He will ap 
 preciate all this, as he has already developed 
 great love for study and knowledge of all 
 kinds. He has a level head, as well as good 
 common sense." 
 
 "Yes, indeed, he has, and I think he will 
 enjoy such a life immensely." 
 
44 Job Trotter. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 WHEN he entered college the boys were at 
 first inclined to make fun of his name, and 
 called him "Gay Trotter," but they soon found 
 out he could trot faster than the best of them, 
 and they took great pride in his " feats as a 
 gay trotter," as well as in his feats of strength 
 in their games. He could row like a sailor. 
 He could pitch ball as well as some profes 
 sionals. At the same time he was first in feats 
 of scholarship, and so became a great favorite 
 with president, professors, and students. A 
 young ladies' seminary in the town gave them 
 an occasional opportunity to meet the fair sex 
 at receptions given by the President. Some of 
 Gay's letters had in them funny sayings of the 
 girls. "A Southern girl, in talking of good 
 things to eat, was asked : T)o you like fish- 
 balls?' 
 
 "She said : 'I never attended any/ 
 
 "Another story was of a Western girl who 
 was asked the old joke : 'Do you like Crabbe's 
 Tales?' 
 
 " 'I did not know crabs had tails/ 
 
Job Trotter. 45 
 
 " 'I meant read "Crabbe's Tales." ' 
 
 " 'I did not know red crabs had tails/ 
 
 "After that I wanted ^to run behind the barn 
 and laugh. She was rather excusable. She 
 was a mere chit of a girl, and this was her 
 first year of boarding school life. Her father 
 had loads of money, but not much brains. She 
 would inherit the most of his money, but 
 doubtful about brains." 
 
 In another letter he said: "The Southern 
 girl is not so bad after all. She is unusually 
 bright, handsome, and good-natured. I may 
 fall in love with her; but don't be frightened, 
 mother; I will never marry a girl that you do 
 not like to have for a daughter, but will keep 
 my heart in an ice-box if necessary until you 
 see her, which I hope will be at Commence 
 ment, when, of course, you both will be here." 
 
 His mother wrote him, giving good advice. 
 
 "Scatter the golden coin of courtesy freely, 
 if you would travel over the road that leads 
 to success." 
 
 And in answer to a letter that he was some 
 times lonely and almost homesick, she wrote: 
 
 "Seldom can the heart be lonely, 
 
 If it seek a lonelier still 
 Self -for getting, seeking only 
 Emptier cups with love to fill." 
 
46 Job Trotter. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 JOB had never been to a college to draw 
 learning from that fountain, but he loved 
 books, and was constantly bringing home all 
 the new and desirable ones, as well as old ones 
 on subjects he was interested in. He read and 
 enjoyed them, and then "passed them on" to 
 others. The motto of the whole family was, 
 "Pass it on!" 
 
 He learned the truth, that if you would thor 
 oughly enjoy anything, share it with another. 
 The family were of one mind in this respect. 
 Hope was constantly finding people, young and 
 old, who were feeding their minds on chaff. 
 She taught and gave away books. Poor little 
 children who could not read received from her 
 hands alphabets on blocks and primers. To 
 all she gave suitable books, and those which 
 would be helpful, with the advice, "Pass it on." 
 She influenced those she helped to help others 
 in their turn, to read to the blind and ignorant, 
 to visit and sing to the sick in their homes and 
 in the hospitals, and to sew for the ragged 
 poor. In fact, to "be a star in some one's 
 
Job Trotter. 47 
 
 sky." She did not seek to form new societies, 
 but each one she helped to become a society of 
 their own, and started kind acts in others, so 
 that as far as her influence went she was al 
 ways helpful to others. 
 
 In talking to Job about her work she said : 
 
 "What seemed like a great calamity to us, in 
 leaving our home nest stirred up so suddenly 
 by your sickness, seems to have been for the 
 good of others, as well as leading us to be less 
 selfish." 
 
 "You never were selfish. Our strange life 
 of wandering, I confess, has made me very 
 different. I was ambitious to be well thought 
 of by those who knew me ; to bear a fine repu 
 tation was my wish, but I have learned the true 
 value of my wife, who has turned every cloud 
 into sunshine." 
 
 "I, too, have learned the 'true value of my 
 husband/ My constant prayer is : 
 
 "Out of my selfish self, oh, lift me up, 
 To live for others, and in living so 
 To bear a blessing where'er I go; 
 Give me sunshine, and the clouds conceal 
 Oh! let them but their silver sides reveal." 
 
 Hope's interest in the Southern negro after 
 their freedom increased when she saw in every 
 city and town their surroundings of poverty, 
 uncleanness and degradation. Their mode of 
 
48 Job Trotter. 
 
 life was so very miserable and ignorant, not 
 knowing how to read or how to live in decency. 
 The only redeeming feature was their love of 
 song, one of their favorites being : 
 
 "He frees my soul! He frees my soul! 
 Hallelujah! Praise de Lord!" 
 
 Some seemed to think as much of this, as 
 that their poor bodies were free. 
 
 Her oft-repeated question was: 
 
 "What can be done for this poor, ignorant 
 people?" 
 
 'They must be educated." 
 
 "Of course they must ; but that will not suit 
 all." 
 
 "What else can we do?" 
 
 "I think of them as I do of the poor China 
 men, that the place for them is where they came 
 from. They never can be as we are. It is 
 impossible for them to assimilate with the 
 whites, and revolting to my thought. It must 
 be true, 'What God has put asunder let no 
 man join together/ Such union is against 
 nature, and must be repellent to others as well 
 as to myself." 
 
 "We want no mongrel race in our land." 
 
 "I can't live as they live; I can't eat as they 
 eat." 
 
 "We surely can work for their civilization 
 without living with them." 
 
Job Trotter. 49 
 
 "We could, but they won't. They aspire to 
 whatever we do and have." 
 
 "Many things are feeing done for them. 
 Many good men are as interested as you are." 
 
 "They don't visit them in their filthy homes 
 as I do." 
 
 "They were brought here against their will, 
 and it seems right that they should be well 
 cared for now by us." 
 
 "We are not responsible for their being here. 
 We did not bring them. If their condition 
 had been anything in Africa they could not 
 have been enslaved." 
 
 "Well, this is our work now, as they are 
 here and must be cared for." 
 
 "Why don't those who are better off among 
 them care for these wretched ones?" 
 
 "They do in the matter of education." 
 
 "But the houses need improving. They are 
 spots of destitution, and ought to be attended 
 to first of all; but if a colored girl leaves such 
 a home and goes among white people and earns 
 wages, she spends it on herself by trying to 
 dress like white folks with feathers on her hat, 
 dresses with trains to them. It is heartless in 
 them, to say the least." 
 
 "Well, the men are the same. They get a 
 cane, a tall hat, imitation jewelry, and a cigar 
 in their mouths, and try to be 'colored gentle 
 men.' ' 
 
 "It is strange. Why don't they first get 
 
50 Job Trotter. 
 
 neat, comfortable homes for their wives and 
 mothers, and live with them and teach them?" 
 "It is the same old story. Every one for 
 himself, and I almost believe what is so often 
 said, if a colored man is unusually smart, 'Why, 
 he has white blood in him/ " 
 
Job Trotter. 51 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 "IT is a pity that these smart leaders do not 
 start settlements among the poorer class, and 
 influence them to live nicer in their homes. 
 They could be clean, at any rate, however poor 
 they were. Water does not cost anything, or 
 fresh air. 
 
 "Then, too, the owners of the houses they 
 live in ought to see to it that they are kept 
 clean, and dispossess them if they do not keep 
 them so, and the poorest tenements should be 
 torn down, and good ones built in their places." 
 
 "Yes, I think instead of thousands of dol 
 lars spent in fine educational buildings for 
 the few, let the many have decent homes in 
 stead of the squalor and crowded rooms they 
 huddle into in the cities." 
 
 "Instead of the higher education for a few 
 hundred negroes, that he may do white man's 
 work, let the thousands in ignorance and neg 
 lect have a chance. Let him who knows 
 how to read teach him who cannot read. Let 
 them read to the old and blind stories from the 
 Bible and so teach them and fit them for eter- 
 
52 Job Trotter. 
 
 nal life, and ensure the salvation of their im 
 mortal souls before it be too late; that after 
 the storms and trials of this life they may 
 enter where there 'is fullness of joy and 
 pleasures at God's right hand/ It would be 
 better for them to have a small missionary 
 salary now, and start in their crown of rejoi 
 cing than to aspire to higher salaries that would 
 enable them to ride in Pullman cars with white 
 people." 
 
 "Some make good waiters in hotels, don't 
 they?" 
 
 "Yes, some do; others get their uniforms 
 and big wages and expect 'tips' then want 
 higher wages, and if their requests are not 
 granted they leave in a body in the height of 
 the season. Then the proprietor has trouble 
 to fill their places in a hurry, as they hoped 
 he would have; not thankful for the good 
 places they had and trying to do their best 
 and render faithful service they put off to 
 another hotel, often for the same wages, and 
 play the same game. Some are good, but 
 some prove untruthful and unreliable." 
 
 "How can their places be better filled?" 
 
 "At summer resorts by college boys and 
 girls. In winter by many who prefer these 
 situations to teaching all the year. This gives 
 employment to many white young people, who 
 ask : 'What can I do for a living?' ' 
 
 "Are the poor negroes at the North that 
 
Job Trotter. 53 
 
 you have seen in worse condition than the 
 poor whites there ?" 
 
 "Yes, I think they are. The poor whites are 
 bad enough in their dirty houses, but most 
 of them have spells of cleaning up, and do 
 air their rooms, but the negroes do not like 
 much air. They like a warm climate and make 
 themselves as warm as possible; in winter they 
 will put on all the clothes they have, rag after 
 rag, until they look like a very bundle of rags." 
 
 "Are they worse off now than they were at 
 the South in their homes?" 
 
 "Yes, in respect to cleanliness. There the 
 overseer obliged them to have clean cabins, 
 and at the master's house the housekeeper re 
 quired every servant in the mistress's employ 
 to be neat and tidy. Their dresses and aprons 
 must be spotless. There they were a distinct 
 race from the white people, and knew it, and 
 kept their proper place as respectful servants 
 and working people." 
 
 "Have you heard how it is at the South 
 now with the negro?" 
 
 "Some friends spending the winter there 
 say that as a rule they are lazy and shiftless 
 and require constant help. The years make 
 no difference. They are not thought well of 
 as to truthfulness and honesty, and on most 
 places dogs are kept to prevent chickens from 
 being stolen. They are no benefit to a place, 
 as they are not neat in their houses. When 
 
54 Job Trotter. 
 
 a wash comes from them each piece must be 
 examined to see that there is not brought into 
 your home undesirable occupants." 
 
 "Have they not preaching now and teach- 
 ing?" 
 
 "Yes, such as it is. It is mostly by min 
 isters, as they are called by those who go to 
 hear them and by themselves, but they can't 
 read and write, and their preaching is a noisy 
 ranting, most of it senseless, only screaming 
 and moaning; for instance this was heard at 
 one of their Sunday services: 
 
 " The disciples had their feet washed (a 
 groan) um urn um so must we um um 
 um by Jesus it was done um um um 
 so must we um um um/ What with 
 feet washing and the holy dance they make 
 religion a holy horror to a real true Christian." 
 
 "There seems too great a difference be 
 tween the educated and the ignorant negro." 
 
Job Trotter. 55 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 "THIS deplorable condition of the negro 
 ought to be studied into by our wisest busi 
 ness men, and some plan arrived at, and car 
 ried out in kindness to the American and to 
 the African." 
 
 "Why don't you study the subject?" 
 
 "I believe I will." 
 
 Job took his time to investigate the subject 
 thoroughly. He read all the books he could 
 find published by travelers, explores, and mis 
 sionaries. He was convinced that Africa with 
 its 13,000,000 square miles was the garden spot 
 of the world for the Africans. Its immense 
 mines, its water falls, especially "The Victoria 
 Falls," 800 feet deep with vapor like driven 
 snow, more beautiful than any other in the 
 world; its luxurious growth of fruits of all 
 kinds; in fact, all its natural advantages made 
 it an Eden for those who loved a hot climate, 
 and this was the most healthful and salubri 
 ous of such climates. The gold mines and 
 diamond mines made it a profitable country 
 
56 Job Trotter. 
 
 to live in and make money. If the richest man 
 in the world made his money by mines in Af 
 rica, why will not Christian capitalists let the 
 negro have the same chance there, for Christ's 
 sake? If a white man can live there to make 
 money, why not the negro to make pleasant 
 homes as well as money? It would not cost 
 them much to live there. They could go with 
 bare feet, as they like to do, all the year in 
 that climate, and so save shoes. Their feet 
 might get soiled, but it would not show. They 
 would need no hats, no bonnets, being no dan 
 ger of their getting tanned. They would not 
 have to wear such layers of clothing as they 
 do in America. 
 
 Job and Hope thought it just the most de 
 lightful home for the negro. 
 
 The wicked slave-trader brought them from 
 Africa, and the South winked at the sin, and 
 bought and sold these human beings. The 
 North forced them from their owners by a 
 war of which they \vere the cause; now the 
 Union should finish the job by making ar 
 rangements to give them the land that is of 
 right theirs. Africa for the Africans, say we. 
 The rich men of America can bring it about. 
 Then when God calls for the record of the 
 Nations, Africa as well as China, Italy and 
 other nations can each respond for their own 
 land. 
 
 He says, "When the Son of Man shall come 
 
Job Trotter. 57 
 
 in His glory, shall be gathered all nations." 
 "His eyes behold the nations." 
 "All nations shall call Him blessed." 
 "All nations whom Thou hast made shall 
 
 come and worship before Thee, O Lord." 
 
58 Job Trotter. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 "!T seems to me/' said Hope, "that this 
 must be God's plan for these people, and 
 that in helping them in it we would be doing 
 God's will." 
 
 "It would need a lot of money." 
 
 "I should hope that would be had easily, 
 "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness there 
 of." 
 
 Job spoke to some rich men about it. They 
 said the plan was feasible, and they would 
 take hold of it, so millions were promised. 
 The leading negroes were consulted, and they 
 said they would be glad to be "like Moses," 
 to "bring their people out." 
 
 The plan decided on was to buy a gold mine 
 in Africa and many thousand acres at first, 
 and take out as many families as liked to go 
 to begin a new life there. Each family was 
 to have a piece of ground given them as their 
 own, and a good cabin built for them, that 
 they might at last sit under their own "vine 
 and fig tree." The old men would plant their 
 
Job Trotter. 59 
 
 gardens with what they liked. The old wom 
 en would keep bake shops. The young men 
 would work in the mimes and the profits be 
 divided, one-half to be theirs, the other half to 
 provide schools and churches and support 
 preachers and teachers. The young women 
 would be dressmakers and milliners, keep the 
 houses nicely and marry the young men. A 
 colony would be formed with a President and 
 other officers, to serve for a term of years, and 
 then give others a chance. So the smartest 
 and best educated men would be in power to 
 settle all public affairs. Not a white man 
 would be allowed to stay there, and interfere 
 with them. The large capital behind the en 
 terprise would be a permanent one, as those 
 willing to help had their own families pro 
 vided for to an amount best for them. "We 
 brought nothing into the world, and it is sure 
 we can take nothing out of it," but will find 
 "much treasure of ours in Heaven, laid up 
 for us," if we put it there while we live. 
 
 "If men cared less for wealth and fame 
 
 And less for battlefields and glory; 
 If writ in human hearts a name 
 
 Seemed better than in song or story; 
 If men, instead of nursing pride, 
 
 Would learn to hate it and abhor it; 
 If more relied on love to guide. 
 
 The world would be the better for it. 
 
60 Job Trotter. 
 
 "If men were wise in little things 
 
 ] Affecting less in all their dealings; 
 If hearts had fewer rusted strings 
 
 To isolate their kindred feelings; 
 If men when Wrong beats down the Right 
 
 Would strike together to restore it; 
 If Right made Might in every fight, 
 The world would be the better for it." 
 
 M. H. COBB. 
 
 It was decided to appoint a committee to 
 go to Africa and buy the land in the best lo 
 cation possible. Job was asked to go as 
 leader. He said he was willing, if his wife 
 would let him go. 
 
 He asked her and she said : "Yes, of course ; 
 it was a splendid chance to do good. An op 
 portunity that could occur only once in a life 
 time." 
 
 "You can stay with Gaylord in his college 
 town, and then you won't miss me." 
 
 "I shall go with you. We have been mar 
 ried twenty years, and moved from place to 
 place forty-one times. We have never been 
 separated. Our life has been all golden. I 
 have kept step with you, and shall I stop now ? 
 No, never. ' Whither thou goest, I will go; 
 where thou lodgest, I will lodge; where thou 
 diest, will I die; naught but death shall part 
 thee and me/ and that but for a short time." 
 
 "We are not going to Africa to die." 
 
Job Trotter. 61 
 
 "I would be willing to die in such a cause." 
 "You are a brave little woman." 
 "Why should I be afraid of death? A 
 beautiful poet calls it Emancipation." 
 
 "Why be afraid of death, as though your life 
 
 were breath? 
 
 Death but anoints your eyes with clay. O 
 glad surprise! 
 
 "Why should you be forlorn? Death only 
 
 husks the corn. 
 
 Why should you fear to meet the thresher of 
 the wheat? 
 
 "Is sleep a thing to dread? Yet sleeping you 
 
 are dead 
 
 Till you awake and rise f here, or beyond the 
 skies. 
 
 "Why should it be a wrench to leave your 
 
 wooden bench? 
 
 Why not with happy shout run home when 
 school is out? 
 
 "The dear ones left behind! O foolish one 
 
 and blind, 
 
 54 day and you will meet a night and you 
 will greet! 
 
6z Job Trotter. 
 
 "This is the death of Death, to breathe away 
 
 a breath 
 
 And know the end of strife, and taste the 
 deathless life. 
 
 "And joy without a fear, and smile without a 
 
 tear, 
 
 And work, nor care to rest, and find the last 
 the best." M. D. B. 
 
 A party of twelve men formed the company 
 that went to Africa, six white men, four took 
 their wives, and six colored men. They real 
 ized that what was to be done must be ac 
 complished soon ; as the negro population now 
 of 8,000,000 in a few years would increase 
 to 16,000,000 and be a nation within a na 
 tion. 
 
Job Trotter, 63 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 GAYLORD was greatly surprised by a visit 
 from his parents, and the news they had to 
 tell him. He appreciated their feeling in the 
 matter, and said : 
 
 "It was just like them and they must not be 
 gone long but return to see him graduate." 
 
 He introduced them to "his pretty Southern 
 girl, Grace Lovell," and they too were much 
 pleased with her. Her intelligent face, her 
 pretty manners, and best of all, her strong 
 Christian character, as Gaylord described it to 
 them, made them satisfied with his choice. His 
 frequent letters cheered his parents during 
 their absence. His favorite theme was 
 "Grace." 
 
 "I may have fallen in love with her, but 
 don't be frightened, I will not marry a girl un 
 less you love her too, and are willing to have 
 her for a daughter; as I have said before, I 
 would rather keep my heart in an ice-box un 
 til I know of your approval; but she is so 
 bright and handsome, and good-natured, that 
 you, too, will be in love with her, as you know 
 her better. You can't help it." 
 
64 Job Trotter. 
 
 His many letters had many jokes in them to 
 entertain his parents. In one he told of a 
 bright conundrum Grace had originated. 
 
 "Seeing a glass pitcher with roses in it, she 
 asked : 
 
 " 'Why is a pitcher a suitable vase?' 
 
 "He gave it up. 
 
 " 'Because it has a nose for flowers/ 
 
 " 'Very good, wasn't it, for a girl ?' 
 
 "She is the victim of a good joke that has 
 got out about her. She does not know that 
 any of us fellows know about it. At one of 
 our receptions, she was trying to entertain, 
 and make herself agreeable to, one of the 
 learned professors. He is a little hard of hear 
 ing. She asked him if he liked bananas? He 
 did not answer, but looked at her inquiringly. 
 So she repeated the question a little louder. 
 He looked thoughtful, and then in a low, dig 
 nified voice, replied : 
 
 " 'I have not given the subject of pajamas 
 any attention. I judge it to be a Japanese 
 word.' It is needless to say she blnshed, and 
 turned the subject to one less personal, and 
 soon after left the room to breathe the fresh 
 air out of doors." 
 
 Another joke was on a freshman, who was 
 rather simple, and some of the fellows got 
 in the habit of calling him a flat. He told his 
 chum, after a visit to his home, that his 
 mother, who was a godly woman, had hung up 
 
Job Trotter. 65 
 
 on the wall the motto, "God bless our flat." His 
 chum thought it was too good to keep to 
 himself, and told Gaylord. While his parents 
 were in Africa, Gaylord accepted an invita 
 tion of the brother of Grace to spend his win 
 ter vacation with him at his Southern home. 
 He was treated so well by all the family that 
 he became in love with them all in general, and 
 Grace in particular. 
 
 When his parents returned from Africa, he 
 told them of his love for Grace and wish to 
 marry her. An invitation was extended to 
 Grace and her brother to visit them at their 
 seaside home. The result was that the whole 
 family came North and took board at a hotel 
 in a nearby resort. 
 
 The families became well acquainted, and 
 were mutually pleased. Gaylord and Grace 
 became engaged, and spent such happy hours 
 together as is only possible by the seaside; 
 hearing what the wild waves say to each 
 other and to them; talking love and romance 
 inspired by the moonlight on the water. 
 
 Gaylord was asked by his father what he 
 proposed doing for a living. He answered he 
 would like to have an orange grove at the 
 South and cultivate it. 
 
 This project found favor with his parents, 
 and one was purchased and given to him with 
 the understanding that he must be practical 
 and know that every soul employed by him 
 
66 Job Trotter. 
 
 did right and received righteous treatment. 
 He said he would take all responsibility con 
 nected with the business, and was sure his 
 parents would be satisfied with his manage 
 ment. He selected his servants carefully, both 
 for the plantation and for his house. He was 
 his own overseer, provided well for all, paid 
 good wages, and gave them short hours for 
 work that they might have time for rest and 
 improvement. They were provided with a 
 public hall, used on the Sabbath for preaching 
 and teaching, and during the week as a read 
 ing-room with a good library and writing ac 
 commodations. 
 
 They had a good living, and saved up 
 money in the bank. When any one wished 
 to get married he furnished them with the 
 needful things, and sent them to Africa to 
 establish a new home there. 
 
Job Trotter. 67 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 GAYLORD found by experience that white 
 labor was better than the negro labor, so he 
 fitted out all his servants in good condition 
 and gave them a fair start in Africa. 
 
 His plantation was more successful and 
 easier managed after that, as one white man 
 could in half a day do more and better work 
 than one negro in a whole day. The same 
 was true in his house, with white servants 
 there. He employed the poor Southern whites, 
 giving them a chance to make a good living. 
 He also employed for outside work some 
 Italians, who enjoyed the warm climate and 
 took naturally to fruit and flowers. They 
 would save up in a few years enough of their 
 wages to return to their beloved Italy, and 
 could go into business there. Their inspira 
 tion and anticipation was Italy, land of beau 
 tiful skies and gorgeous sunsets and genial 
 air. 
 
 "O, Italy, delightful Italy, 
 My heart longs for thee, 
 A wanderer now, my thoughts turn hopefully 
 Thy beloved shores again to see." 
 
68 Job Trotter. 
 
 In the course of time, Gaylord and Grace 
 were married and began life together in their 
 pleasant Southern residence. A more beau 
 tiful home where love reigned it were hard 
 to find. God was honored. His day was 
 honored. Gaylord became the teacher and 
 preacher in the Hall he had built, and without 
 seeking honors they came to him, for the 
 promise is : 
 
 "Them that honor me I will honor." "O, 
 what a glory doth this world put on, for him 
 who with a fervent heart goes forth under the 
 bright and glorious sky, and looks on duties 
 well performed and days well spent." 
 
 THE END. 
 
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 Job Trotter 
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