NEGRO LIFE IN AMBRIOA. Q9

might talk! We don’t need them to tell us; you know I never
thought that slavery was right—never felt willing to own slaves.”

« Well, therein you differ from many wise and pious men,”
said Mr Shelby. ‘You remember Mr. B.'s sermon, the other
Sunday ?” VE

“ T don’t want to hear such sermons; I never wish to hear
Mr. B. in our church again. Ministers can’t help the evil, per-
haps—can’t cure it, any more than we can ; but defend it! it
always went against my common-sense. And I think you didn’t
think much of that sermon, either.”

“Well,” said Shelby, ‘I must say these ministers sometimes
carry matters further than we poor sinners would exactlydo. We
men of the world must wink pretty hard at various things, and
get used to a deal that isn’t the exact thing. But we don’t quite
fancy when women and ministers come out broad and square, and
go beyond us in matters of either modesty or morals, that’s a fact.
But now, my dear, I trust you see the necessity of the thing, and
you see that I have done the very best that circumstances would
allow.”

“Oh, yes, yes!” said Mrs. Shelby, hurriedly and abstractedly
fingering her gold watch. “I havent any jewellery of any
amount,” she added thoughtfully, ‘“ but would not this watch
do something ?—it was an expensive one when it was bought.
If I could only, at least, save Eliza's child, I would sacrifice any-
thing that I have.”

“T’m sorry, very sorry, Emily,” said Mr. Shelby, ‘T’m sorry
this takes hold of you so; but it will do no good. The fact
is, Emily, the thing’s done; the bill of sale is already signed,
and in Haley’s hands; and you must be thankful it is no worse.
That man has had it in his power to ruin us all, and now he is
fairly off. If you knew the man as I do, you’d think that we had
had a narrow escape.” |

‘‘Ts he so hard, then ?”’

“Why, not a cruel man exactly, but a man of leather—a man
alive to nothing but trade and profit—cool, and unhesitating,
and unrelenting as death and the grave. He'd sell his own
mother at a good per centage—not wishing the old woman any
harm either.”

a And this wretch owns that good, faithful Tom, and Eliza’s
child !”

“Well, my dear, the fact is, that this goes rather hard with
me—it’s a thing I hate to think of. Haley wants to drive matters,
and take possession to-morrow. I’m going to get out my horse
bright and early, and be off.. I can’t see Tom, that’s a fact; and
you had better arrange a drive somewhere, and carry Eliza off.
Let the thing be done when she is out of sight.”

“No, no,” said Mrs. Shelby; ‘I'll be in no sense accomplice
or heln in this cruel business. I'l go and see poor old Tom,

Fi ieeenninm a