or, and, mind, let no one know he comes.'

The woman in a short time returned with Scip. There was not a trace of
fear or embarrassment in the negro's manner as he entered the room.
Making a respectful bow, he bade us 'good evening.'

'Good evening, Scip,' said the Colonel, rising and giving the black his
hand; 'let us be friends. Madam tells me I should forgive you, and I
do.'

'Aunt Lucy say ma'am am an angel, sar, and it am tru,--it am tru, sar,'
replied the negro, with considerable feeling.

The lady rose, also, and took Scip's hand, saying, '_I_ not only forgive
you, Scipio, but I _thank_ you for what you have done. I shall never
forget it.'

'You'se too good, ma'am; you'se too good to say dat,' replied the darky,
the moisture coming to his eyes; 'but I meant nuffin' wrong,--I meant
nuffin' dis'specful to de Cunnel.'

'I know you didn't, Scip; but we'll say no more about it;--good-by,'
said the Colonel.

Shaking hands with each one of us, the darky left the apartment.

One who does not know that the high-bred Southern gentleman considers
the black as far below him as the horse he drives, or the dog he kicks,
can not realize the amazing sacrifice of pride which the Colonel made in
seeking a reconciliation with Scip. It was the cutting off of his right
hand. The circumstance showed the powerful influence held over him by
the octoroon woman. Strange that she, his slave, cast out from society
by her blood and her life, despised, no doubt, by all the world, save by
him and a few ignorant blacks, should thus control a proud, self-willed,
passionate man, and control him, too, only for good.

After the black had gone, I said to the Colonel, 'I was much interested
in old Lucy. A few more such instances of cheerful and contented old
age might lead me to think better of slavery.'

'Such cases are not rare, sir. They show the paternal character of our
"institution." We are _forced_ to care for our servants in their old
age.'

'But have your other aged slaves the same comforts that Aunt Lucy has?'

'No; they don't need them. She has been accustomed to live in my house,
and to fare better than the plantation hands; she therefore requires
better treatment.'

'Is not the support of that class a heavy tax upon you?'

'Yes, it _is_ heavy. We have, of course, to deduct it from the labor of
the able-bodied hands.'

'What is the usual proportion of sick and infirm on your plantation?'

'Counting in the child-bearing