; 'dat's de ting dat spile de 'gestion ob de king; and
in him sleep, such dreams do come ob suffin' better'n dis, some
undiscobered country, whar de virgin trees weep tears so white as
crystal, and turn to gole de moment dey'm barrled up, dat--'

'Come, Joe, that'll do,' said his master, laughing; 'don't give us any
more, or you'll murder _us_, as well as Shakspeare.'

'You don't 'preciate dat great man, master Robert,' rejoined Joe, also
laughing.

'No, I don't--not just now.'

'If you could satisfy your outside creditors that things were likely to
go better with you in future, could you put off the payment of the three
thousand dollars for a time?' I asked.

'I reckon I could--nearly all of it,' replied Preston.

'Well, then, I'll make you a proposition. Buy ten thousand acres on the
line of the Manchester railroad. It is finished to Whitesville, and you
can buy land within twenty miles of that station, at seventy-five cents
an acre. We'll advance the twenty per cent. you'll have to pay down, and
five hundred dollars more to start you there, and hold the deed of the
land to secure us. Ship your produce to us, and agree to forfeit the
land, if, at the end of three years, you have not paid all the original
advance. Move your stills, and your able-bodied men and women there,
leaving the old and the young negroes here to raise corn and cotton.
_Hire_ fifty more prime hands, and put Joe over the whole, with
unlimited power to work them to death if he pleases.'

Preston leaned his head on his hand, as if bewildered. He seemed not to
understand me, but Joe's face lighted as if a stream of electricity were
playing under his dark skin. Mrs. Preston was the first to speak. Rising
and taking my hand, she said: 'Robert will do it, Mr. Kirke; and how can
we ever thank you enough for your generous--your _noble_ conduct toward
us? You have taken a weary load off our hearts.'

'It is a simple business transaction, madam; I expect to make money by
it. I insist on your husband's consigning his produce to us, and I shall
require the forfeit of the land and the improvements, if he does not pay
our advances within three years.'

'We kin pay 'em in _one_ year, an' you knows it, sar!' exclaimed Joe,
springing to his feet, and almost dancing around the room. 'Come, master
Robert, look up, an' tell 'im we'll do it, for ole Joe'll make de chips
fly as you neber seed 'em fly afore.'

Preston looked up, and a tear rolled down his face