had held the cable, standing there till
the Queen Charlotte was but a white speck dotting the landscape in the
lower harbor, then walking with faltering steps to her desolate home.

XXIV.

IN THE OLD HOME.

"Here, Miss Ruth, I has a cordial for ye. Drink it, honey," said
Phillis as Ruth sank into a chair.

"Don't be down-hearted, Miss Ruth; old Pomp will take keer of ye."

"I do not doubt it. You and Phillis have always been good to me, and
now I have something to say to both of you. Would you like to be free,
Pompey?"

"Would I like to be free, Miss Ruth?" the negro asked, hardly knowing
what to make of the question.

"Yes, would you like to be free, to own yourself, to come and go as
you please?"

"'Deed I would, Miss Ruth. Massa and missus was always very good to
old Pomp, but 'pears I would like to be myself."

She rose and took Pompey and Phillis by their hands.

"Your old master has given you both to me, and now I give you to
yourselves. You are both free now and forever," said Ruth.

"Free! Miss Ruth! Did you say we is free?"

"Yes, you are no longer slaves; you can go and come, now and always;
you are your own."

"Oh, Miss Ruth, old Pomp never will leave ye, never. Old Pomp free!
'Pears like de New Jerusalem has come," said the negro, sinking upon
his knees, kissing her hand and bathing it with tears.

"Oh, Miss Ruth, honey, I has held ye in my arms when ye was a little
baby, toted ye in de garding when de flowers was bloomin', rocked ye
to sleep when ye was pinin'; I've seen ye grow to be a woman, and now
ye is my missus tellin' me I'm free. I'll cook de chicken and de
johnny-cake for ye till I can't cook no more," said Phillis, clasping
Ruth in her arms, with tears rolling down her cheeks and laughter
bubbling from her lips.

The foresight that had seen the probable departure of the British
troops was forecasting the immediate future; that the interval before
the arrival of General Washington's army would be one of peril, from
vagabonds, camp-followers, and the ragamuffins enlisted by Creen
Brush, commissioned by General Howe to organize a battalion of Tories.
Through the day the British regiments were sullenly taking their
departure. Pompey informed Ruth that the vagabonds had begun to
plunder the stores and break into houses.

"Dey won't git into dis yeer house, honey. I'se got de water b'ilin'
hot in de kitchen for 'em," said Phillis.

Ruth did not doubt a mansion like hers wo