Bacchus is forced at this crisis to put down the banjo and wipe his face
with his sleeve, breathing very hard. He was thinking he wouldn't get near
so tired if he had a little of the "Oh, be joyful" to keep up his spirits,
but such aspirations were utterly hopeless at the present time: getting
tipsy while his master, and Mr. Barbour, and Alice were looking at him, was
quite out of the question. He made a merit of keeping sober, too, on the
ground of setting a good example to the young servants. He consoled himself
with a double-sized piece of tobacco, and rested after his efforts. His
promising son danced Juba at Mr. Weston's particular request, and was
rewarded by great applause.

A little courting scene was going on at this time, not far distant. Esther,
Phillis's third daughter, was a neat, genteel-looking servant, entirely
above associating with "common niggers," as she styled those who, being
constantly employed about the field, had not the advantage of being called
upon in the house, and were thus very deficient in manners and appearance
from those who were so much under the eye of the family. Esther, like her
mother, was a great Methodist. Reading well, she was familiar with the
Bible, and had committed to memory a vast number of hymns. These, she and
her sister, with William, often sung in the kitchen, or at her mother's
cabin. Miss Janet declared it reminded her of the employment of the saints
in heaven, more than any church music she had ever heard; especially when
they sang, "There is a land of pure delight."

That heart must be steeled against the sweet influences of the Christian
religion, which listens not with an earnest pleasure to the voice of the
slave, singing the songs of Zion. No matter how kind his master, or how
great and varied his comforts, he is a slave! His soul cannot, on earth, be
animated to attain aught save the enjoyment of the passing hour. Why need
he recall the past? The present does not differ from it--toil, toil,
however mitigated by the voice of kindness. Need he essay to penetrate the
future? it is still toil, softened though it be by the consideration which
is universally shown to the feelings and weaknesses of old age. Yet has the
Creator, who placed him in this state, mercifully provided for it. The
slave has not the hopes of the master, but he is without many of his cares.
He may not strive after wealth, yet he is always provided with comfort.
Ambition, with its longings for f