.
They have never known any other land. America, however, is not their
real home. They really belong to Africa.

8. How is it that we now find them in America? When the white men of
America began to grow cotton and sugar, they needed black men to work in
the fields. Men called "slavers" went to Africa in ships. They landed
and pushed inland. When they came to villages they seized the people and
drove them off to the ships.

9. The poor blacks, who were thus dragged from their home and kindred,
were thrust into the holds of ships and carried to America. Sometimes
they suffered much on the voyage. The weakest of them died, and were
thrown overboard.

10. When they reached America they were sold to the cotton-growers and
sugar-growers, who carried them off to work in the fields. Sometimes
they were kindly treated; sometimes they were flogged to make them work.
But whether kindly or cruelly treated, they were no longer men and
women, but slaves.

11. This went on for many years. At last some kind-hearted men in the
northern states said, "It is wicked to own slaves. All the slaves in
America shall be set free."

12. The farmers of the south were very angry when they heard this, and
said that they would not free their slaves. Then a fierce war broke out.
The North beat the South, and when the war came to an end all the slaves
in America were set free.

13. The blacks still work in the cotton and sugar and tobacco fields;
but they now work for wages, just as I do. They are free to come and go
as they please.

[Illustration: {Five black children}]

14. The darkies are very merry and full of fun. When their work is over
they love to sing and dance to the music of the banjo. Some of their
songs are very pretty. I will sing some of them to you when I come home.
Good-bye, dears. I shall soon be with you now.--Your loving FATHER.

* * * * *

29. HOME AGAIN.

1. The telegram came soon after breakfast. Father was coming home that
very day. We were so delighted that we sang and danced and clapped our
hands, just like the darkies.

2. Mother was very busy. "You must all come and help me," she said. "The
house must be made beautiful for father's return."

3. May and I worked with mother, but the day passed very slowly.
Father's train was to arrive at six o'clock. By half-past five we were
all at the station waiting for him.

4. At last the train steamed in, and out jumped father. Oh, ho