cted upon this suggestion. The ladies politely rose, took their
extra shawls, and made a nice pillow for the invalid's head. My master
wore a fashionable cloth cloak, which they took and covered him
comfortably on the couch. After he had been lying a little while the
ladies, I suppose, thought he was asleep; so one of them gave a long
sigh, and said, in a quiet fascinating tone, "Papa, he seems to be a
very nice young gentleman." But before papa could speak, the other
lady quickly said, "Oh! dear me, I never felt so much for a gentleman
in my life!" To use an American expression, "they fell in love with
the wrong chap."

After my master had been lying a little while he got up, the gentleman
assisted him in getting on his cloak, the ladies took their shawls, and
soon they were all seated. They then insisted upon Mr. Johnson taking
some of their refreshments, which of course he did, out of courtesy to
the ladies. All went on enjoying themselves until they reached
Richmond, where the ladies and their father left the train. But,
before doing so, the good old Virginian gentleman, who appeared to be
much pleased with my master, presented him with a recipe, which he said
was a perfect cure for the inflammatory rheumatism. But the invalid
not being able to read it, and fearing he should hold it upside down in
pretending to do so, thanked the donor kindly, and placed it in his
waistcoat pocket. My master's new friend also gave him his card, and
requested him the next time he travelled that way to do him the
kindness to call; adding, "I shall be pleased to see you, and so will
my daughters." Mr. Johnson expressed his gratitude for the proffered
hospitality, and said he should feel glad to call on his return. I
have not the slightest doubt that he will fulfil the promise whenever
that return takes place. After changing trains we went on a little
beyond Fredericksburg, and took a steamer to Washington.

At Richmond, a stout elderly lady, whose whole demeanour indicated that
she belonged (as Mrs. Stowe's Aunt Chloe expresses it) to one of the
"firstest families," stepped into the carriage, and took a seat near my
master. Seeing me passing quickly along the platform, she sprang up as
if taken by a fit, and exclaimed, "Bless my soul! there goes my
nigger, Ned!"

My master said, "No; that is my boy."

The lady paid no attention to this; she poked her head out of the
window, and bawled to me, "You Ned, come to me, sir,