ontumely. Harry welcomed his
sister home, with the wild delight of his boyish days, regardless of the
presence of strangers in their family circle; while old Vingo, who had
been beside himself for a week past, with the prospect of at last
actually beholding his missy face to face, capered about the room, as if
he were not so near his second childhood. The Sea-flower pressed his
bony, black hand to her lips.

"Ah! I know dat you neber change, missy; I know you always be de same! I
tells mysef dat, dese long years past, and bress de Lord, poor old Bingo
hab one friend as long as he hab a hope ob libin'!"

"Yes, my good Vingo," said the Sea-flower, "you may truly rely upon one
friend,--that best of friends, he will never forsake you; but," and she
spread out the veritable handkerchief, so precious to the poor black
woman, before his wondering eyes, "you are deserving of the rich
blessings of earthly friends; for had I been tried, as it has been the
will of an overruling providence that you should be, I doubt if I had
borne my cross with the submissive spirit which you have manifested.
Tell me," added she, pointing out the crooked marks in the corner of the
handkerchief, "do you recognize that?"

Vingo drew forth the bandanna, which always accompanied him in his
wanderings, and laid it by the side of the other. They were just alike;
there were the two crooked marks upon each, speaking as accurately as
the most highly finished ambrotype of the day.

"Praise de Lord foreber!" shouted the negro; "I neber 'speck to see dat
sight, while I not'ing but ole brack Bingo! I can lib to de end ob my
days wid joy at de sight ob dat! it am next to finding poor Phillis
hersef. Pray, missy, did you find dat in some accidental cotton bag? or
am Bosting only the Christian name for wicked old Kintuck? I shouldn't
tink dat angels could lib in dat cannibal hemisphere!"

It was with difficulty that those who witnessed the fellow's ludicrous
movements, could refrain from a smile; but when, at a summons from
Natalie, the door opened, and the black woman, so nearly allied to the
human family as to have manifested an appreciation of the beautiful,
stood before them, there was not a dry eye in the room. It was an
affecting sight, to witness the meeting of this man and wife, who had
been separated for so many long years, and under such trying
circumstances. To be sure, they were poor ignorant negroes, who are
looked upon by a large portion of the