ts and three children?'

'It strikes you as too many, Mr. Kirke,' said the lady, 'and it _is_. It
is our Southern way; but every additional servant makes additional work
for the mistress.'

'I think you are right, madam,' I replied; 'a Northern lady that you
know of, takes care of me, Frank, the two young children, and a large
house, with only two servants and an errand boy; and she never has
anything to do after two o'clock in the day.'

'But you have the Irish; they are better house-servants than our blacks;
and you can discharge them if they won't work,' said Preston.

'I would rather have Phyllis than any servant I ever saw at the North.
With her, the cook, and one more, I will promise to get on beautifully,'
remarked his wife.

Preston gave her a look of indescribable tenderness and affection. What
the negro trader had said to me, gave me a key to the thoughts that were
passing in his mind. His wife's trust in him was so great, that she was
willing to again admit into her family the woman who had made him
forget, through long years, the promises he made her in their youth!
Truly, the angel of perfect love and forgiveness makes its earthly home
in the breast of woman.

Preston's voice quivered as he replied: 'I--I appreciate what you
say--Lucy. Do as you think best.'

'But, madam,' I said, 'I think you are really taking too much on
yourself--the care of the children will be a great tax on your
strength. Would it not be better to employ a governess to instruct them?
What is now expended on Joe would pay a competent person.'

'What do you say to that, Joe?' asked his father; 'would you like to
come home, and have a woman teacher?'

'I'd like to do what mother wants me to,' said the lad, putting his arms
about her neck, and kissing her.

'You're a good boy, Joseph,' said his mother.

'But, you'll let me keep the pony, won't you, father?' said the lad.

'Yes, my son, and if you learn well, you shall go with uncle James when
you're fifteen.'

Shortly afterward we separated for the night.

CHAPTER XI.

On a gentle knoll, a few hundred yards from the negro quarters, and in
the midst of a grove of pines, whose soft brown tassels covered the
ground all around it, stood the negro meetinghouse. It was built of
unhewn logs, its crevices chinked with clay, and was large enough to
seat about two hundred persons. Though its exterior resembled a
backwoods barn, its interior had a neat and tasteful appearance.