*

Mr. Villars had taken the precaution to invest his available funds in
Ohio Railroad stock some time before. Arrived in Cincinnati, he would be
able to reap the advantages of this timely forethought. But in the mean
time the expenses of a long journey must be defrayed; and he found it
impossible now to raise money on his house or household goods. All the
ready cash he could command was barely sufficient to afford a decent
burial to his daughter. He was discussing this serious difficulty with
Virginia, whilst preparations for Salina's funeral and their own
departure were going forward simultaneously, when Toby came trotting in,
jubilant and breathless, and laid a little dirty bag in his lap.

"I's fotched 'em! dar ye got 'em, massa!" And the old negro wiped the
sweat from his shining face.

"What, Toby! Money!" (for the little bag was heavy). "Where did you get
it?"

"Gold, sar! Gold, Miss Jinny! Needn't look 'spicious! I neber got 'em by
no underground means!" (He meant to say _underhand_.) "I'll jes' 'splain
'bout dat. Ye see, Massa Villars, eber sence ye gib me my freedom, ye
been payin' me right smart wages,--seben dollah a monf! Dunno' how much
dat ar fur a year, but I reckon it ar a heap! An' you rec'lec' you says
to me, you says, 'Hire it out to some honest man, Toby, and ye kin draw
inference on it,' you says. So what does I do but go and pay it all to
Barber Jim fast as eber you pays me. 'Pears like I neber knowed how much
I was wuf, till tudder day he says to me, 'Toby,' he says, 'times is so
mighty skeery I's afeard to keep yer money for ye any longer; hyar 'tis
fur ye, all in gold.' So he gibs it to me in dis yer little bag, an' I
takes it, an' goes an' buries it 'hind de cow shed, whar 'twould keep
sweet, ye know, fur de family. An' hyar it ar, shore enough, massa, jes'
de ting fur dis yer 'casion!"

"So you got it by _underground means_, after all!" said Virginia, with
mingled laughter and tears, opening the bag and pouring out the bright
eagles.

The old clergyman was silent for a space, overcome with emotion.

"God bless you for a faithful servant, Toby! and Barber Jim for an
honest man."

"Dat's nuffin!" said Toby, snuffing and winking ludicrously. "Why
shouldn't a cullud pusson hab de right to be honest, well as white
folks? If you's gwine to tank anybody, ye better jes' tink and tank
yersef! Who gib ol' Toby his freedom, an' den 'pose to pay him wages?
Reckon if 't hadn't been fur dat, ma