ron. Mothers, you
perceive, are all alike, from the days of Hannah, who made a "little
coat" for her son Samuel, and "brought it to him from year to year,
when she came up with her husband to the yearly sacrifice," down to the
present time. Nothing pleases them more than to provide things useful
and pretty for their little ones. Even this slave-mother, with her
scanty means, felt this same longing. It did her heart good to be
doing something for her child; and so she was constantly planning and
preparing for these visits, that she might never be without something
new and gratifying to give her. In the warm days of summer, she would
take her down to Sweet-Brier Pond, a pretty pool of water right in the
heart of a sweet pine grove, a little way from the house, and Tidy
would have a good splashing frolic in the water, and come out looking
as bright and shining as a newly-polished piece of mahogany. Her mother
would press the water from her dripping locks, and turn the soft, glossy
hair in short, smooth curls over her fingers, put on the new frock,
and then set her out before her admiring eyes, and exclaim in her fond
motherly pride,--

"You's a purty cretur, honey. You dun know noffin how yer mudder lubs
ye."

Tidy remembers to this day the delightful afternoon thus spent the
very last time she went to see her mother, though neither of them then
thought it was to be the last. Mr. Carroll, Annie's master, was very
close in all his business transactions, never allowing, as he remarked,
his left hand to know what his right hand did. He stole Tidy away, as we
have already told you, from her mother; and this was the way he usually
managed in parting his slaves, especially any that were much valued. He
said it was "a part of his religion to deal TENDERLY with his people!"

"'Tis a great deal better," said he, "to avoid a row. They would
moan and wail and make such a fuss, if they knew they were to change
quarters."

Humane man, wasn't he?

Mr. Carroll got into debt, and an opportunity occurring, he sold Annie
and her four boys. The bargain was made without the knowledge of any
one on the estate; and in the night they were transferred to their new
master. Nobody ever knew to what part of the country they were carried.

When the news reached the ear of Marcia, Annie's mother, it proved to be
more than she could bear. Her very last comfort was thus torn from her.
When she was told of it, the poor, decrepit old woman fell fro