you runaway
rascal!"

On my looking round she drew her head in, and said to my master, "I beg
your pardon, sir, I was sure it was my nigger; I never in my life saw
two black pigs more alike than your boy and my Ned."

After the disappointed lady had resumed her seat, and the train had
moved off, she closed her eyes, slightly raising her hands, and in a
sanctified tone said to my master, "Oh! I hope, sir, your boy will not
turn out to be so worthless as my Ned has. Oh! I was as kind to him as
if he had been my own son. Oh! sir, it grieves me very much to think
that after all I did for him he should go off without having any cause
whatever."

"When did he leave you?" asked Mr. Johnson.

"About eighteen months ago, and I have never seen hair or hide of him
since."

"Did he have a wife?" enquired a very respectable-looking young
gentleman, who was sitting near my master and opposite to the lady.

"No, sir; not when he left, though he did have one a little before
that. She was very unlike him; she was as good and as faithful a
nigger as any one need wish to have. But, poor thing! she became so
ill, that she was unable to do much work; so I thought it would be best
to sell her, to go to New Orleans, where the climate is nice and warm."

"I suppose she was very glad to go South for the restoration of her
health?" said the gentleman.

"No; she was not," replied the lady, "for niggers never know what is
best for them. She took on a great deal about leaving Ned and the
little nigger; but, as she was so weakly, I let her go."

"Was she good-looking?" asked the young passenger, who was evidently
not of the same opinion as the talkative lady, and therefore wished her
to tell all she knew.

"Yes; she was very handsome, and much whiter than I am; and therefore
will have no trouble in getting another husband. I am sure I wish her
well. I asked the speculator who bought her to sell her to a good
master. Poor thing! she has my prayers, and I know she prays for me.
She was a good Christian, and always used to pray for my soul. It was
through her earliest prayers," continued the lady, "that I was first
led to seek forgiveness of my sins, before I was converted at the great
camp-meeting."

This caused the lady to snuffle and to draw from her pocket a richly
embroidered handkerchief, and apply it to the corner of her eyes. But
my master could not see that it was at all soiled.

The silence which prevailed for a few