e's got ter go; he's boun' fur ter
be dar! de money can't hol' 'im! De Lord, he ain't gwine ter say, 'Scuze
dat nigger, caze he got money piled up; lef 'im erlone, fur ter count
dat gol' an' silver.' No, sar! But, marster, maybe in de jedgemun' day,
wen Ole Bob is er stan'in' fo' de Lord wid his knees er trim'lin', an'
de angel fotches out dat book er hisn, an' de Lord tell 'im fur ter read
wat he writ gins 'im, an' de angel he 'gin ter read how de ole nigger
drunk too much wisky, how he stoled watermillions in de night, how he
cussed, how he axed too much fur doct'in' uv hosses, an' wen he wuz
men'in' cheers, how he wouldn't men' 'em strong, so's he'd git ter men'
'em ergin some time; an' den, wen he read all dat an' shet de book,
maybe de Lord he'll say, 'Well, he's er pow'ful sinful nigger, but den
he tuck his money, he did, an' buy'd de little baby fur ter give 'im ter
his mammy, an' I sha'n't be too hard on 'im."

"Maybe he'll say dat, an' den ergin maybe he won't. Maybe he'll punish
de ole nigger ter de full stent uv his 'greshuns; an' den, ergin, maybe
he'll let him off light; but dat ain't neder hyear nur dar. What'll yer
take fur de baby, caze my min' hit's made up?"

"And mine is too, Uncle Bob," said his master, rising, and grasping in
his the big black hand. "Mine is too. I will give Ann her freedom and
her baby, and the same amount of money that you give her; that will take
her to her husband's relatives, and she can die happy, knowing that her
baby will be taken care of."

The next day Uncle Bob dug up his money, and the bag was found to
contain three hundred dollars.

His master put with it a check for the same amount, and sent him into
the laundry to tell Ann of her good fortune.

The poor woman was overcome with happiness and gratitude, and, throwing
her arms around Uncle Bob, she sobbed and cried on his shoulder.

She wrote at once to her husband's relatives, and a few weeks after
Major Waldron took her to New Orleans, had the requisite papers drawn up
for her freedom, and accompanied her on board of a vessel bound for New
York; and then, paying her passage himself, so that she might keep her
money for future emergencies, he bade adieu to the only slaves he ever
bought.

CHAPTER IX.

AUNT EDY'S STORY.

Aunt Edy was the principal laundress, and a great favorite she was with
the little girls. She was never too busy to do up a doll's frock or
apron, and was always glad when she could am