rward.
The great tears were streaming down his face, as he stepped timidly
toward his master, and said: 'I'll do dis, massa, don't you trubble
yerself no more.'

'It's good of you, Jim. You'll forgive me for being so cruel to you,
won't you?' said the Colonel, taking the black by the hand.

'Forgib ye, massa! _I_ war all ter blame; but ye'll forgib me,
massa--ye'll forgib me!' cried the black, with strong emotion.

'Yes, yes; but say no more about it. Come, let us get Julie home.'

But the poor girl was already _home_--home where her sufferings and her
sorrows were over, and all her tears were wiped away forever!

We four bore away the mother and the child. A number of blankets were in
the bottom of the wagon, and we laid the bodies carefully upon them.
When all seemed ready, the Colonel, who was still standing by the side
of the dead, turned to my new friend, and said: 'Barnes, will you loan
me a pillow? I will send it back to-night.'

'Sartin, Cunnel,' and the farmer soon brought one from the house.
Lifting tenderly the head of the drowned girl, the Colonel placed it
beneath her, and smoothing back her tangled hair, he gently covered her
face with his handkerchief, as if she could still feel his kindness, or
longer cared for the pity or the love of mortal. Yet, who knows but that
her parted soul, from the high realm to which it had soared, may not
then have looked down, have seen that act, and have forgiven him?

* * * * *

In the first moments of grief the sympathy of friends and the words of
consolation bring no relief. How much more harshly do such words grate
on the ear when the soul is bowed down by remorse and unavailing regret!
Then the wounded spirit finds peace nowhere but with God.

I saw that the Colonel would be alone, and turning to him, as he
prepared to follow the strange vehicle which, with its load of death,
was already jolting its way over the rough forest road, I said:

'Will you pardon me, if I remain with your friend here for a while? I
will be at the mansion before dark.'

'Oh! certainly, my friend; come when you feel disposed,' he replied, and
mounting his horse, he was soon out of sight among the trees.

'Now, Barnes,' I said, shaking off the gloomy feelings that had
oppressed me; 'come, I must see that wife of yours, and get a glimpse of
how you live.'

'Sartin, stranger; come in. I'll give ye th' tallest dinner my 'oman can
scare up, an' she's sum