Our World, or, the Slaveholder's Daughter

ot So Bright

of help, a good overseer, and faithful drivers. "We have plenty,-we live easy, you see, and our people are contented," he says, directing his conversation to the young Englishman, who was suspected of being Franconia's friend. "We do things different from what you do in your country. Your countrymen will not learn to grow cotton: they manufacture it, and hence we are connected in firm bonds. Cotton connects many things, even m

but a great divine. You would like to hear the Elder on Sunday; he's funny then, and has a very funny sermon, which you may get by heart without mu

der speaks moodily, as if considering whether it were best to resent Marston's trifling sarcasm. Deacon Rosebrook now interceded by saying, with unruffled countenance, tha

er rejoins, with seeming concern for his honou

ould serve as a model for the most stale Oxonian. Do you think you could write another like it? It has lasted seven years, and served the means of propitiating the gospel on seven manors. Can the

but I'm not quite sure about their mode of getting them," the

they say he bets at the race-course, which is not an uncomm

ies. Personalities are not tolerated in the South, where gentlemen are removed far a

proof against jokes. He may c

ccording to the rule of labour and submission. Just such an one as your niggers would think the right stripe, I

terrupted Marston, "ple

necessities. Pay for it, and, on my word, it shall be in the cause of the South! With the landmarks from my plant

common southern clergyman, is the most versatile preacher to be met with in a day's walk. Having a wonderful opi

raping of feet, grins, and bows, they welcome us back, smother us with compliments, and seem overwilling to lavish their kindness. From the parlour they bow us into a long room in the right wing, its walls being plain boarded, and well ventilated with open seams. A table is spread with substantial edibles,-such as ham, bacon, mutton, and fish. These represent the southern planter's fare, to which he seldom adds those pastry delicacies with which the New Englander is prone to decorate his table. The party beco

about the table, and at every fresh invitation to drink he begs pardon for having neglected his duty, fingers the ends of his cravat, and deposits another glass,-certainly the very last. Franconia, perceiving her uncle's motive, begs to be excused, and is escorted out of the room. Mr. Praiseworth

s that the Elder is de

g him on the shoulder, "you are modestly undon

an extra ten dollars to hear him preach

ling from his nose. "You are scandalising my excellent character, which can't be replaced with gold." Making another attempt to

d. Rosebrook thought a minister of the gospel, to get in such a condition, and then refer to religious matters, must have a soul empty to the very core. There could be no better proof of how easily true religion could be brought into contempt. The Elde

erence him for his qualities," says Marston: then, turning to Maxwell, he continued, "you must excuse this little jovia

xceptions; but they do such things under a monster protection, without reckoning the e

Elder with a frown, and then working his fingers through his crispy red hair. "A hard subject for the student's knife he'll make, won't he?" To add to the comical appearance of the reverend

asked Deacon Rosebrook, who had been some time silently wat

s the Elder does it. He is free to confess that southern mankind is curiously constituted, too often giving license to revelries, but condemning those who fall by them. He feels quite right about the Elder's preaching being just the chime for his nigger property; but, were he a professing Christian, it would'nt suit him by fifty per cent. There is something between the mind of a "nigger" and the mind of a white man,--something he can't exactly analyse, though he is certain it is wonderfully differ

ddle, that he can preach just as well as anybody; and, believe me, he can't read a letter in the book,--at least, I don't see how he can. True, he has heard the Elder's sermon so often that he has committed every word of it to memory,--

our theory would be rendered difficult if you were to transcend upon the scale of blood," he repl

ld make a good speculation by it. Harry would be worth two common niggers then. Nigger property, christianised, is the most valuable of property. You may distinguish a christianised nigger in a moment; and piety takes the stubborn out of their composition better than all the cowh

place remarks on religion. They are not

stood very erect. We have said he differed from the common African-we mean, as he is recognised through our prejudices. His forehead was bold and well-developed-his hair short, thick and crispy, eyes keen and piercing, cheeks regularly declining into a well-shaped mouth and chin. Dejected and forlorn, the wretch of chance stood before them, the fire

foot. "Oh, here's my old daddy-old Daddy Bob, one of the best old niggers on the plantation; Harry and Bob are my deacons. There,--stand there, Harry; tell these gentleme

property to make a preach

endom were enlisted-a human object without the rights of man, in a free republic. He held a red cap in his left hand, a pair of coarse

appeared before gentlemen from abroad-at l

' my new jacket to Daddy Bob. But neber mind him, mas'r-you wants I to tell you what I tinks ob

arry?" interrup

arth. A'h done want say Mas'r Elder do dem tings-but 'e seem to me t' warn't right wen 'e join de wickedness ob de

returned the deacon, while Marston and Maxwell sat en

e good, wen 'e neber practice him,--but I good in me heart when me tink what de Lor' say be good. Why, mas'r, Elder preach dat sarmon so man

on; but if you know so much about it, give these gentlemen a small portion

g portion of the Elder's sermon. "And it was said-Servants obey your masters, for that is right in the sight of the Lord," and with a style of native eloquence, and rich cantation, he continued for about ten minutes, giving every

nths of a rise on cotton to all the planters in the neighbourhood, by-and-by.

reach,--dat me must sarch de good book, and make me own tinking valuable. Mas'r tink ignorant nigger lob h

-yard," said Marston. Here old Aunt Rachel entered the room to fuss around a little, and have a pleasant meeting with mas'r's guests. Harry smi

hel, that I wouldn't take two thousand dollars for her. I expect she'l

t you say. Neber mind, you get old one ob dese da

inues-"You hear that, gentlemen; she talks just as she pleases, directs my house

more than a match for Marston; she could beat him in quick retort. The party, recognising Aunt Rachel's insinuation, joined in a hearty laugh. The conversation was a little too pointed for Marston, who, chan

quickly. "But mas'r, nigger got to preach against his col

spread carpets, at the landing, for him to walk upon." The entertainment was, in Marston's estimation, quite a recherché concern: that his guests should be the better pleased, the venerable old Daddy Bob, his head white with goodly years of toil, and full of genuine negro humour, steps forward to perform his part. He makes his best

ues Marston, "and can do as much work as a

ob can't tote so much wid de hoe now. I work

rs will lie, but you are an exception, Bob; and ca

ng heartily, and pulling up the little piece of sh

ledge of the Bible? you got one somewhere,

mumbling for some time-looking at Harry slyly, then at Marst

ht as well own 'im. Harry

one somewhere. Where did you get it?

I got him; but he don't sto

of the night in communion over it; the latter had learned to read from it, the former had imbibed its great truths. The artless girl had given it to them in confidence, knowing its consolatory influences an

want to hear a sample of his preaching. Now, Harry, you can begin; give it big eloqu

ak. Looking upward pensively, he replied,--"Can't do dat, mas'r; he ain't what d

heir own; I always do," in

Lor' say:--'Great mas'r led captivity captive, and gin gifts unto men.' And whar he say, 'Till we come unto a unity of the faith of the knowledge of the son of God unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the s

ies, looking at the old man, as if to say, were h

hou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold ye fast for strife and debate, and to sm

re it was held as a sacred element for the good of man. His feelings were tenderly susceptible; the scene before him awakened his better nature, struck deep into his mind. He viewed it as a cruel mockery of Christianity, a torture of innocent nature, for which man had no shame. He saw the struggling spirit of the old negro contending against wrong,--his yearnings for the teachings of Christianity, hi

mple but impressive manner, being several times interrupted by the Deacon, who assumed the right of correcting his philosophy. At lengt

; and yet it seemed next to impossible that he should bring his natural feelings to realise the simple nobleness that stood before him,--the man beyond the increase of dollars and cents in his person! The coloured winter's hand leaned against the mantel-piece, watching the changes in Marston's countenance, as Daddy stood at Harry's side, in patriarchal muteness. A tear stealing down Maxwell's cheek told of the sensation produced; while Marston, setting his elbow on the table, supported his head in his hands

s, he inquired, with a look of ridicule, "Gentlemen, what have you got to say against such preaching

our nigger, I suppose. I thought I'd lost nothing; you should remember, Ma

e, "and you should remember there's a present, which you may l

seem to go right." Again he gives a vacant look at his friends, gets up, resting his hands on the table, endeavours to keep a perpendicular, but declares himself so debilitated by his sleep that he must wait a little longer. Sinking back upon the settee, he exclaims, "You had better send that nigger to his cabin." This was carrying the amusement a little beyond Marston's own "gauge," and it being declared time to adjourn, preparatio

features, full of sternness, indicated much mechanical study. He hesitated as the young man advanced, took Marston by the hand, nervously, led him aside, whispered something in his ear. Taking a few steps towards a window, the intruder, for such he s

tion of Maxwell-ordered pen and ink, drew a chair to the table, and without asking the stranger to be seated, signed his name to a paper. While this was being done, the man who had waited in silence stepped to the door and admitted two gentlemanly-looking men, who approached Marston and authenticated the instrume